Tuesday:
It's interesting that children are panicking when the school goes into a lockdown drill. When I was in elementary school, the thought of an intruder in our school was ridiculous and we felt 100% safe in our classrooms at all times and that was before they had all outside doors locked! Now, children are well aware of the dangers that come with the terrible people. As much as it's good that these students are prepared, I am also sad that we live in a society that it's a mandatory part of education to teach about horrible people.
On another note, I have been working with several students on their math skills. We watch the way Mrs. Sutliff teaches something and then I help them individually. I specifically work with one student, Raqaia who is so sweet, but struggles because of a language barrier. I've helped her with many of her math skills from subtracting to rounding and one of the acronyms I taught her has really been helping! It's wonderful because she needs the extra help and I love improving my teaching skills. It's interesting how Mrs. Sutliff teachers math, she uses so many techniques that make adding and subtracting in my head easier. While she's teaching this, I can't help but think about all the fun lessons I could create when I'm a teacher to help the students visually understand what I'm teaching them. I can't wait to teach!
Wednesday:
Mrs. Sutliff always brings fun to the classroom! Today Mrs. Sutliff taught us her zombie stretches to encourage the kids to enjoy Halloween and also be a little stretched out! But, afterwards it became a very focused classroom as the students settled in to listen to the lesson. The students were learning about telling time and the lesson was very thorough and explained the fact that if the small hand is past a number it is part of that hour. It was a great way to explain it and all the students understood! Then I got the chance to grade some of the quizzes and I had the opportunity to measure their understanding of the material and they did great! I was so proud of them. Afterwards, I worked with some children in the hallway and they were listening and doing their best. It was fun because I could tailor the learning to match my teaching style. When it was time to go, I received several hugs from the children and I wanted to stay with them. These kids make it difficult to leave!
Thursday:
Today, Mrs. Sutliff had a surprise substitute! But, when I first arrived the guidance counselor was with them and she had finished up her lesson. Unfortunately, the substitute wasn't back yet, and there was a minute of panic because I didn't have any lesson plans and the children didn't know what they were supposed to do next. So, I had to jump in and I taught the kids for 10 minutes until the substitute came back and instructed them to stop what they were doing and follow the lesson plan. Even though it wasn't what we're supposed to be doing, I was able to control the class, not as easily as Mrs. Sitting, but I am still learning and that's ok! The lesson with the guidance counselor dealt with what do you like about yourself? And one student, Alaina, was depressed because she didn't know what she loved about herself. It took awhile, but we transitioned into a new activity, but it concerns me that she couldn't find something she loved about herself. During this time that she was upset, there was nothing I could do to say if you don't do this you're going to have to lose a "privilege" because that's not how Mrs. Sutliff works, so that was very challenging!
Afterwards, I was working with a Muslim student in the hall. Normally I wouldn't mention that she was Muslim, but she started hating on herself for not having the opportunity to share her beautiful hair and she continued to say that she was ugly and she wishes she could be normal like her friends. She told me that she hated herself. It broke my heart. I took time to console her, but she couldn't see her individual beauty now matter how hard I tried. Eventually, I had to leave so I borrowed one of Mrs. Hart's teacher aides and she sat down with her and talked. It was hard because I didn't know what to do. I e-mailed Mrs. Sutliff and hopefully she will give me some answers.
It's interesting that children are panicking when the school goes into a lockdown drill. When I was in elementary school, the thought of an intruder in our school was ridiculous and we felt 100% safe in our classrooms at all times and that was before they had all outside doors locked! Now, children are well aware of the dangers that come with the terrible people. As much as it's good that these students are prepared, I am also sad that we live in a society that it's a mandatory part of education to teach about horrible people.
On another note, I have been working with several students on their math skills. We watch the way Mrs. Sutliff teaches something and then I help them individually. I specifically work with one student, Raqaia who is so sweet, but struggles because of a language barrier. I've helped her with many of her math skills from subtracting to rounding and one of the acronyms I taught her has really been helping! It's wonderful because she needs the extra help and I love improving my teaching skills. It's interesting how Mrs. Sutliff teachers math, she uses so many techniques that make adding and subtracting in my head easier. While she's teaching this, I can't help but think about all the fun lessons I could create when I'm a teacher to help the students visually understand what I'm teaching them. I can't wait to teach!
Wednesday:
Mrs. Sutliff always brings fun to the classroom! Today Mrs. Sutliff taught us her zombie stretches to encourage the kids to enjoy Halloween and also be a little stretched out! But, afterwards it became a very focused classroom as the students settled in to listen to the lesson. The students were learning about telling time and the lesson was very thorough and explained the fact that if the small hand is past a number it is part of that hour. It was a great way to explain it and all the students understood! Then I got the chance to grade some of the quizzes and I had the opportunity to measure their understanding of the material and they did great! I was so proud of them. Afterwards, I worked with some children in the hallway and they were listening and doing their best. It was fun because I could tailor the learning to match my teaching style. When it was time to go, I received several hugs from the children and I wanted to stay with them. These kids make it difficult to leave!
Thursday:
Today, Mrs. Sutliff had a surprise substitute! But, when I first arrived the guidance counselor was with them and she had finished up her lesson. Unfortunately, the substitute wasn't back yet, and there was a minute of panic because I didn't have any lesson plans and the children didn't know what they were supposed to do next. So, I had to jump in and I taught the kids for 10 minutes until the substitute came back and instructed them to stop what they were doing and follow the lesson plan. Even though it wasn't what we're supposed to be doing, I was able to control the class, not as easily as Mrs. Sitting, but I am still learning and that's ok! The lesson with the guidance counselor dealt with what do you like about yourself? And one student, Alaina, was depressed because she didn't know what she loved about herself. It took awhile, but we transitioned into a new activity, but it concerns me that she couldn't find something she loved about herself. During this time that she was upset, there was nothing I could do to say if you don't do this you're going to have to lose a "privilege" because that's not how Mrs. Sutliff works, so that was very challenging!
Afterwards, I was working with a Muslim student in the hall. Normally I wouldn't mention that she was Muslim, but she started hating on herself for not having the opportunity to share her beautiful hair and she continued to say that she was ugly and she wishes she could be normal like her friends. She told me that she hated herself. It broke my heart. I took time to console her, but she couldn't see her individual beauty now matter how hard I tried. Eventually, I had to leave so I borrowed one of Mrs. Hart's teacher aides and she sat down with her and talked. It was hard because I didn't know what to do. I e-mailed Mrs. Sutliff and hopefully she will give me some answers.