What a week, forget the week, what day!
Here is a summary of my week.
Due to the short week, it was a continuation of last weeks topic, numbers 0-29. On monday with the 7th graders I collected and reviewed their homework with them and then I did an around the room activity. I had them counting in Spanish in order, out of order. More or less the class behaved themselves.
On tuesday I reviewd the numbers again and went around the room in order, out of order and by 2's. THen I began the shopping activitywith them, explaining to them what they have to do. They had to create a shopping list of classroom objects, write down the price and present how much it cost to class. Tuesday we focused mostly on getting their "shopping list" written down.
On Wed, I reviewed the numbers again, let them finish up their shopping lists and then had them present it to the class. Dr. Goebel was also there to observe me. The students then came up to the front of the room and presented thier shopping lists. Afterwards, Dr. Goebel and I spoke about what could be improved.
Thursday was the holiday.
Today, Friday was a very difficult day in terms of behavior, class participation, and cooperation.
I started off the class by asking how the students were in Spanish, reviewing the greetings, going around the room and saying como estás and Que pasa, then I transitioned itno doing math in Spanish, and strictly in Spanish. I did uno y uno son dos. I did not use english for the math. I tried increasing the amount of Spanish I used with the 7th graders but they were very resistant to it today. Furthermore, I had several behavioral issues from 2 girls in the class. THey are good students in terms of grades, but have a very bad attitude in class. THis one student tried to write notes in class everyday this week and each time I told her to put it away. I did not take it, read it aloud or embarass her. I just simply asked them to put it away, but she talked back and and gave me an attitude which really bothered me. Then the other girl wouldn't stop talking after I had asked the class to silencio twice! So I called her name and said silencio directly to her in a stern voice. She talked back to me and gave me lip saying " I don't care, I'll talk if I want to!" In response to t hat, I said drop the attitude or you can stay for detention. And then at that point I decided to say their names out loud and said, stay after class. So when the bell rang, I spoke to the 2 students with Mrs. Reffner by my side as a witness. I told them that they are both good students but they need to drop the attitudes, and tha tif keeps up they will have detention. Mrs. Reffner then reinforced that, but she has a more nurturing affect.
Now we get to the 9th graders, 3rd and 7/8 period. I graded their projects from last week and was rather dissap;ointed in a lot of the 3rd period class.
After they took their test, I told them that I had their project grades but b4 I gave it to them, I wanted them to write on a piece of paper what they think they deserved and why and I collected it. THe purpose of this was for me t o see later, what they thought they did and what their perception of the project was. ( I should note that Mrs. Reffner was in the room for this period and wrote down her own set of comments which I factored in to my own grades). Unfortunately, many of them had this "I don't care" attitude all last week and didn't take the project seriosly, and furthermore many were unprepared, and therefore they f ailed. Well teh students starting yelling, and s creaming, and one student threatened me saying that her mother is going to call and set things s t raight. So.. I just made PUBLIC ENEMY #1 in that class.
Let's move on to period 7/8. This an h onors group of students and they peformed excellent for the presentation. THere was defintely some negotiation of meaning. They used improvisation and ome reliance on their written scripts. I did the same thing with this group as far as telling me what t hey think they deserved THen I handed out their grades. Only 3 students failed due to lack of participation, unpreparedness, and lack of materials.
However one student had a very Adverse reaction. HE got up and shouted "THIS IS F'N BULLSHIT" and then walked out of the room and went to the office. Mrs. Reffner th en went to the office and spoke with him and the principal and I later found out that the principal sided with us.
So as you can see, I had quite a day today.
Sincerely,
Josh
Due to the short week, it was a continuation of last weeks topic, numbers 0-29. On monday with the 7th graders I collected and reviewed their homework with them and then I did an around the room activity. I had them counting in Spanish in order, out of order. More or less the class behaved themselves.
On tuesday I reviewd the numbers again and went around the room in order, out of order and by 2's. THen I began the shopping activitywith them, explaining to them what they have to do. They had to create a shopping list of classroom objects, write down the price and present how much it cost to class. Tuesday we focused mostly on getting their "shopping list" written down.
On Wed, I reviewed the numbers again, let them finish up their shopping lists and then had them present it to the class. Dr. Goebel was also there to observe me. The students then came up to the front of the room and presented thier shopping lists. Afterwards, Dr. Goebel and I spoke about what could be improved.
Thursday was the holiday.
Today, Friday was a very difficult day in terms of behavior, class participation, and cooperation.
I started off the class by asking how the students were in Spanish, reviewing the greetings, going around the room and saying como estás and Que pasa, then I transitioned itno doing math in Spanish, and strictly in Spanish. I did uno y uno son dos. I did not use english for the math. I tried increasing the amount of Spanish I used with the 7th graders but they were very resistant to it today. Furthermore, I had several behavioral issues from 2 girls in the class. THey are good students in terms of grades, but have a very bad attitude in class. THis one student tried to write notes in class everyday this week and each time I told her to put it away. I did not take it, read it aloud or embarass her. I just simply asked them to put it away, but she talked back and and gave me an attitude which really bothered me. Then the other girl wouldn't stop talking after I had asked the class to silencio twice! So I called her name and said silencio directly to her in a stern voice. She talked back to me and gave me lip saying " I don't care, I'll talk if I want to!" In response to t hat, I said drop the attitude or you can stay for detention. And then at that point I decided to say their names out loud and said, stay after class. So when the bell rang, I spoke to the 2 students with Mrs. Reffner by my side as a witness. I told them that they are both good students but they need to drop the attitudes, and tha tif keeps up they will have detention. Mrs. Reffner then reinforced that, but she has a more nurturing affect.
Now we get to the 9th graders, 3rd and 7/8 period. I graded their projects from last week and was rather dissap;ointed in a lot of the 3rd period class.
After they took their test, I told them that I had their project grades but b4 I gave it to them, I wanted them to write on a piece of paper what they think they deserved and why and I collected it. THe purpose of this was for me t o see later, what they thought they did and what their perception of the project was. ( I should note that Mrs. Reffner was in the room for this period and wrote down her own set of comments which I factored in to my own grades). Unfortunately, many of them had this "I don't care" attitude all last week and didn't take the project seriosly, and furthermore many were unprepared, and therefore they f ailed. Well teh students starting yelling, and s creaming, and one student threatened me saying that her mother is going to call and set things s t raight. So.. I just made PUBLIC ENEMY #1 in that class.
Let's move on to period 7/8. This an h onors group of students and they peformed excellent for the presentation. THere was defintely some negotiation of meaning. They used improvisation and ome reliance on their written scripts. I did the same thing with this group as far as telling me what t hey think they deserved THen I handed out their grades. Only 3 students failed due to lack of participation, unpreparedness, and lack of materials.
However one student had a very Adverse reaction. HE got up and shouted "THIS IS F'N BULLSHIT" and then walked out of the room and went to the office. Mrs. Reffner th en went to the office and spoke with him and the principal and I later found out that the principal sided with us.
So as you can see, I had quite a day today.
Sincerely,
Josh