My last day has come. I am both excited and sad. The excitement stems from the fact that I love completing things, and student teaching was my last class. Plus, it is exciting because I can now go on my spring break and hang out with my nephews, who have taught me so much about language development. (Anyone thinking about taking a class about language acquisition, you need to have a 2 or 3 year in your life as a real life subject).
Anyways, I am also a little bit sad. This has been a really good experience. I have learned a lot, mainly because of my cooperating teacher who has been great. But it is also sad that I won't get to see things to their completion. As I leave, the classes that I have focused on are both in the middle of the unit. I hate that I won't get to see the units all of the way to completion. I am just such a big fan of closure and fresh starts. It is really weird for me to leave in the middle - especially as one of the units I am in the middle of teaching was the unit I spent so much time working on in my ESL training and I will probably never finish the other unit that I have been working on. But it is time for me to move on, so I must go.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Day 19 - ESL Population Diversity
One thing that I have been thinking a lot about is different ESL populations and how it can really change the dynamics of your classroom. I have taught the same lessons to a population of ESL students all with DPI Levels of 2s and 3s and to a general classroom with a few students with DPI levels of 3-5. I am amazed at how much better in some ways that the ESL students are doing with the material. It makes me realize that my current teaching experience where the students come from a predominately Spanish background is so different than my experience where I taught students with a Hmong background. It has just been interesting to realize that the differences of language and culture can really make a difference.
I am really grateful for having a chance to work with a different ESL population. I feel like it is making me a better teacher. It has definitely broadened my experience and made it more realistic to American demographics.
I am really grateful for having a chance to work with a different ESL population. I feel like it is making me a better teacher. It has definitely broadened my experience and made it more realistic to American demographics.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Day 18 - Change
Today marked a beginning of a new term. The last few days and today have been half days for exams and the start of the new term. I don't know how I am going to go back to not only regular days, but days where minutes have been added to the schedule.
Besides complaining and dreading tomorrow, what the above is really making me realize is how easy you can get used to something new. However, you can really struggle with change. Today, a student that I have worked with a lot is having an aide accompany him in hopes of helping. It was really interesting to see how he hated the change that was meant to support him. I mean he completely acted differently with this aide as he reacted to the change. It just makes me realize how hard it is for some students to cope with change and how different personalities can be at odds, hurting one's education.
Besides complaining and dreading tomorrow, what the above is really making me realize is how easy you can get used to something new. However, you can really struggle with change. Today, a student that I have worked with a lot is having an aide accompany him in hopes of helping. It was really interesting to see how he hated the change that was meant to support him. I mean he completely acted differently with this aide as he reacted to the change. It just makes me realize how hard it is for some students to cope with change and how different personalities can be at odds, hurting one's education.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Day 17 - Exams
Today I was helping a student on his history exam. Part of my time here has been focusing on this one student as he learns about U.S. History. We have spent a lot of time reviewing, trying to figure out historical thinking skills, and understanding new terminology.
The great news is that he got an A on the exam! With this grade, and moving his grade from the teens into the sixties, it also means that he will pass for the term. It is nice to get these little bits of good news.
The great news is that he got an A on the exam! With this grade, and moving his grade from the teens into the sixties, it also means that he will pass for the term. It is nice to get these little bits of good news.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Day 16 - Senioritis
Today was the first day of exams. It was very interesting when one of the other teachers mentioned that the seniors have already checked out - one asked as he walked in if they had exams today. It just made me remember that even though this is my last week, I want to stay engaged and finish well.
On another note, the Booster Club gave us a lunch today in the cafeteria (Side note: I think I understand why students sometimes don't know about the rest of the world - this was my first time venturing out of the few wings I have come to know). It was really sweet to hear how appreciated the staff was. Coming from small schools, it was also amazing to see how big of a staff there was.
On another note, the Booster Club gave us a lunch today in the cafeteria (Side note: I think I understand why students sometimes don't know about the rest of the world - this was my first time venturing out of the few wings I have come to know). It was really sweet to hear how appreciated the staff was. Coming from small schools, it was also amazing to see how big of a staff there was.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Day 15 - Time Management
One thing I would love to impart to all of my students is using time wisely. It is so frustrating when I give them time to work on a project and they squander it. Plus, it is frustrating when a simple task becomes difficult because they haven't being doing their work all along.
As a teacher, I wonder how I can instill time management to students. How do you teach them to keep in mind long term goals when they are so overwhelmed by the daily tasks? How do you help them see the forest and the trees?
As a teacher, I wonder how I can instill time management to students. How do you teach them to keep in mind long term goals when they are so overwhelmed by the daily tasks? How do you help them see the forest and the trees?
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Day 14 - Vision
I went out walking today; it was finally sunny. On one way of the trip I was able to look around and see my surroundings, to see what was up ahead. On the way back, the sun was in my eyes, so I had to look down so I didn't squint for the whole walk home.
As I was looking down, I realize how fixated I was on the area right in front of me in order to avoid looking up. It made me think about students and how sometimes they seem so overwhelmed by the new language that they can only looking right in front of them, making it hard for them to see the big picture. As a teacher, I have always struggled with trying to impart to my students the bigger picture and the immediate picture. I wonder how to instill both.
As I was looking down, I realize how fixated I was on the area right in front of me in order to avoid looking up. It made me think about students and how sometimes they seem so overwhelmed by the new language that they can only looking right in front of them, making it hard for them to see the big picture. As a teacher, I have always struggled with trying to impart to my students the bigger picture and the immediate picture. I wonder how to instill both.
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