Thoughts from a Student Teacher Week Three

Once again another good and exhausting week at the middle school! We began our repeated readings schedule on Monday and Tuesday so I had my own classroom all day long. The largest group I have is 8 kids. It went very well.

To answer some more of the journal topics I think I’ll start with “How do I plan for and engage in professional development?” Often, things like this happen spur of the moment. For example, Thursday I attended a 504 review. Mrs. T and I had talked about me possibly going to one and then at the last minute I went. The review wasn’t anything exciting, but I had never really known what all the school does for kids with learning disabilities so now I feel like I have some more information under my belt. To add to this, I go to any teacher meeting I can go to and whenever Mrs. C goes to talk to the principle or any other colleague I am her shadow.

To give students opportunities to participate actively I usually ask questions and call on each one at some point in time or another. I often call on those who raise their hands last or those who don’t raise their hands. I do this because I want to tell them that I know they are smart enough to answer. I want them to know that being shy is okay, but sometimes it is okay to get up the courage to answer from time to time. The quiet students are often the smartest ones who are just unsure of themselves.

I’m realizing that managing student behavior is the one of the hardest things to do as a teacher. There was a few times this past week that Mrs. C was gone for several minutes to a whole period and I had to make sure everyone was getting to work. I finally found my “teacher” voice and realized that with this age group sometimes you have to raise it to get their attention. I also had to give out Steps to four students due to their incessant talking which was not pleasant. I’ve realized that it is easier to give them chance after chance because I just don’t want to punish them for their bad behavior. I want them to like me, I guess, but I’m realizing that I’m not there for them to like me and providing a calm learning environment is more important than winning their favor.