Since when did I only update this after the first week? I swear I had done it at least one more time since then...
Anyway, the whole thing is going great, and I can't wait to start teaching and have my own class room. The thing about this prac which has been the best, is that all of the teachers have been completely different, and have allowed for me to see who different people teach, and pick up little bits and pieces from them. While I may not have agreed with many of the techniques shown (in one class in particular) it has allowed me to see it, and therefore, not repeat it.
Dynamics of staff in the staff room has been interesting, especially when it came to one lunchtime and Union membership came up. I think that this has been an ongoing "discussion" between these two members of staff, but it got really heated, and I couldn't understand how the union member couldn't just leave the non-union member alone. I guess it really comes down to the current negotiations with the government and a lot of non-union members ending up on basically the same contract as union members, but I digress.
One student has had me going through all of my classroom management skills, but I think, after 5 weeks, I might have nailed it. It all came down to getting him to choose his punishment. So far we've only had one class with this agreement, and I think only two to go, but hopefully it will hold out for all of that. I tried getting him to write an apology, giving an after school detention (no apology materialised)
My lesson plans have become very diverse, but unfortunately my Year 10 ones have only done so in the last week or so. I'm finding it difficult with very few resources available to me in hard copy, but this is fine. I also found out that when you get to use a data projector with a class that doesn't normally get to, it makes everything a little easier as year 10's really like it when you use technology, on the other hand, make sure that you have a backup for when the technology crashes (I learned the hard way!)
Right, I will get back to telling this tale at the end of next week...
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Prac 2 Week 1
School isn't so bad. The first day left me a bit apprehensive as to what the rest of my time at the school will be like. The only classes I sat in on had a prayer said, and of course the crossing of yourself. In these classes I am still slightly uncomfortable with the crossing as I am the only person who doesn't do it, but with prayer I am a lot better. It was just the shock of having a prayer being said in the classroom when it was not a religious class that got me I think. Now, going into a Special Character school I should have been prepared for it, but I wasn't.
I have 4 classes teaching 2 subjects. I am having trouble with my junior classes as they are running from a theme approach, yet the associate is presenting to to me more as a strand approach. The theme should incorporate more than one strand, if not all four, whereas the strand approach would have me focusing on a topic directly related to a strand. Combining the two is a little different, and quite difficult as I am finding. The other problem is that the two classes are doing different strands, but very similar topics, so I have to really get into my head which class I am creating lessons for! It's not that easy, and I really don't understand how my associate does it.
My other classes are pretty good, one of my associates has given me a list of what needs to be covered by the end of the term, and I've taken into account the school exams and a chance to allow the students to have a review week, will also have to remember to leave time in the last week to allow the return of exam scripts, which I will be helping to mark for both of my senior classes.
I'm quite nervous about the marking as I didn't do very well with the practice ones that we did while at college. For the most part I was too harsh or too light, especially when I had a marking schedule with specific details or knew the topic. When I had neither of those things, I was about spot on. I guess that came from using the master marking schedule for the essays, and not looking at the topic specific ones.
I managed to teach one class over the course of the week, well, the last period on Friday (which is essentially the only class after lunch). I thought that this could be a little difficult with a Year 12 class (glad it wasn't Year 10's...) but I brought enthusiasm into the classroom. The first thing I did was a name game so that I could learn the students names, then we did a quick revision task, which involved moving around the room and writing things on the whiteboard. The actual learning task took up the rest of the time, which meant the students did not get to watch the video, but they still enjoyed the period a lot more than what they would have with my associate.
When I walked into his room I thought there is no way that this is conducive to students learning in the 21st Century. I felt like I was walking into an exam. When the "learning" began, the students sat there supposedly following the text as my associate read it, stopping every so often to add bits and pieces. The students to me did not look like they were engaged at all, I wasn't, that's for sure, I spent most of my time trying to work out their names. So I've already decided how I am definitely NOT going to be teaching my class :)
I have 4 classes teaching 2 subjects. I am having trouble with my junior classes as they are running from a theme approach, yet the associate is presenting to to me more as a strand approach. The theme should incorporate more than one strand, if not all four, whereas the strand approach would have me focusing on a topic directly related to a strand. Combining the two is a little different, and quite difficult as I am finding. The other problem is that the two classes are doing different strands, but very similar topics, so I have to really get into my head which class I am creating lessons for! It's not that easy, and I really don't understand how my associate does it.
My other classes are pretty good, one of my associates has given me a list of what needs to be covered by the end of the term, and I've taken into account the school exams and a chance to allow the students to have a review week, will also have to remember to leave time in the last week to allow the return of exam scripts, which I will be helping to mark for both of my senior classes.
I'm quite nervous about the marking as I didn't do very well with the practice ones that we did while at college. For the most part I was too harsh or too light, especially when I had a marking schedule with specific details or knew the topic. When I had neither of those things, I was about spot on. I guess that came from using the master marking schedule for the essays, and not looking at the topic specific ones.
I managed to teach one class over the course of the week, well, the last period on Friday (which is essentially the only class after lunch). I thought that this could be a little difficult with a Year 12 class (glad it wasn't Year 10's...) but I brought enthusiasm into the classroom. The first thing I did was a name game so that I could learn the students names, then we did a quick revision task, which involved moving around the room and writing things on the whiteboard. The actual learning task took up the rest of the time, which meant the students did not get to watch the video, but they still enjoyed the period a lot more than what they would have with my associate.
When I walked into his room I thought there is no way that this is conducive to students learning in the 21st Century. I felt like I was walking into an exam. When the "learning" began, the students sat there supposedly following the text as my associate read it, stopping every so often to add bits and pieces. The students to me did not look like they were engaged at all, I wasn't, that's for sure, I spent most of my time trying to work out their names. So I've already decided how I am definitely NOT going to be teaching my class :)
Sunday, August 8, 2010
New School
So tomorrow is a new day and a new school, and in a completely different area than I am used to. For one it is in a town I am not familiar with, and secondly it is at a school of special character, that is it is linked very strongly with a religion (and for those wondering, yes, it is Catholic).
All I know so far is that I will be able to teach 2 of my 3 chosen subjects as one of my subjects is not offered at this school. It shall be interesting, and over the next seven weeks, I have to spend at least 2 in a row teaching 15-18 hours, that is the load that I will be expected to be working at next year. Daunting, but I'm sure it will be well worth it.
We also have practice exams coming up, and I am aware that they have a Year 9 camp while I am here too, so I'm going to try and tag along on that one too. It should be fun and interesting, and will be on less week annoying my cousins and uncle as I invade their house!
I think one bonus for them though is that one of them is a Year 11 student (at another school) and for once will have someone who understands the stuff he is doing at school (in regards to assessment). The other is that when I am writing lesson plans I will be able to pick his brains. The other cousin is doing tertiary course, but I can still always pick her brains too.
Oh, and on a final note, sorry I haven't updated for a month, but I really do struggle to figure out things to write about while I am at College, or maybe it's that I think of things to write about but forget once I'm in front of a computer.
All I know so far is that I will be able to teach 2 of my 3 chosen subjects as one of my subjects is not offered at this school. It shall be interesting, and over the next seven weeks, I have to spend at least 2 in a row teaching 15-18 hours, that is the load that I will be expected to be working at next year. Daunting, but I'm sure it will be well worth it.
We also have practice exams coming up, and I am aware that they have a Year 9 camp while I am here too, so I'm going to try and tag along on that one too. It should be fun and interesting, and will be on less week annoying my cousins and uncle as I invade their house!
I think one bonus for them though is that one of them is a Year 11 student (at another school) and for once will have someone who understands the stuff he is doing at school (in regards to assessment). The other is that when I am writing lesson plans I will be able to pick his brains. The other cousin is doing tertiary course, but I can still always pick her brains too.
Oh, and on a final note, sorry I haven't updated for a month, but I really do struggle to figure out things to write about while I am at College, or maybe it's that I think of things to write about but forget once I'm in front of a computer.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
Ooops
Why has no one reminded me to update my blog?
In all honesty my life over the last few weeks has been full of non-teachery problems that has kept me from this.
What is interesting at the moment is looking at the changes to Assessment Standards so that they are aligned with the Achievement Objectives in the National Curriculum. What makes it all the more interesting is the freedom teachers and students will have in the topics they choose in their subject areas.
Although it seems daunting as a new teacher that this freedom is being given, it will not necessarily occur for must subjects, as the resources will still be around for the "old" topics, and will save the time teachers spend in setting up the class. Any resources for new topics would have to be found, but more likely, they would have to create their own.
This would happen in topics such as history, where student textbooks have been made for the set topics. This means that the textbooks are made for the students, in language that the students can understand, language the students can easily learn when they come across a new word so that they can increase their vocabulary.
It is also currently the middle of the holidays, and I've had a nice week doing absolutely no teaching stuff, but that will all stop, got to get all of the assignments done, more unit plans, more resources, more everything, but this will be my job next year :)
In all honesty my life over the last few weeks has been full of non-teachery problems that has kept me from this.
What is interesting at the moment is looking at the changes to Assessment Standards so that they are aligned with the Achievement Objectives in the National Curriculum. What makes it all the more interesting is the freedom teachers and students will have in the topics they choose in their subject areas.
Although it seems daunting as a new teacher that this freedom is being given, it will not necessarily occur for must subjects, as the resources will still be around for the "old" topics, and will save the time teachers spend in setting up the class. Any resources for new topics would have to be found, but more likely, they would have to create their own.
This would happen in topics such as history, where student textbooks have been made for the set topics. This means that the textbooks are made for the students, in language that the students can understand, language the students can easily learn when they come across a new word so that they can increase their vocabulary.
It is also currently the middle of the holidays, and I've had a nice week doing absolutely no teaching stuff, but that will all stop, got to get all of the assignments done, more unit plans, more resources, more everything, but this will be my job next year :)
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Unit planning
I've started working on my unit plans a bit more that what I have since I came back from practicum. That is, I've actually settled on a topic for one of my subjects, and the other one I just really really want my teaching folder back from my supervising lecturer, it will help with the resources and so forth.
To begin with one of my lecturers is on a working holiday overseas, so we don't have regular contact with him to check with what we are doing. Another just wasn't very helpful on how to actually do a lesson plan, they went over the content that the students need to know, but hasn't given any form of example for what is needed in each section of the template we are to use. The bonus is that my third subject lecturer gave me some of the best advice for unit planning. Instead of just handing us the college template adapted for his subject, he actually gave us something that he used for creating unit plans when he was a teacher. It is a "calendar" for the unit plan. The calendar can be used to write down the rough idea for what will be covered in each lesson. The thing is it's just a rough idea, you don't need to put the little bit extra info that you do for the unit plan, or the excessive amount that you do for a lesson plan.
Not that that it really is an excessive amount of information for a lesson plan, it really does help when you are in front of a classroom teaching students, to not be thinking off the top of your head all the time, because your mind does go blank, and it is always good to be able to look at a piece of paper to get your thoughts back on track (yup, I've had to do that with a class of 14ish year olds, better to be honest than to tell them lies I think).
I will be working hard on the unit plans over the next week though, no more relaxing like I have over the past few weeks, back into the hard work, which will involve (almost) as many hours as teaching in a school!
To begin with one of my lecturers is on a working holiday overseas, so we don't have regular contact with him to check with what we are doing. Another just wasn't very helpful on how to actually do a lesson plan, they went over the content that the students need to know, but hasn't given any form of example for what is needed in each section of the template we are to use. The bonus is that my third subject lecturer gave me some of the best advice for unit planning. Instead of just handing us the college template adapted for his subject, he actually gave us something that he used for creating unit plans when he was a teacher. It is a "calendar" for the unit plan. The calendar can be used to write down the rough idea for what will be covered in each lesson. The thing is it's just a rough idea, you don't need to put the little bit extra info that you do for the unit plan, or the excessive amount that you do for a lesson plan.
Not that that it really is an excessive amount of information for a lesson plan, it really does help when you are in front of a classroom teaching students, to not be thinking off the top of your head all the time, because your mind does go blank, and it is always good to be able to look at a piece of paper to get your thoughts back on track (yup, I've had to do that with a class of 14ish year olds, better to be honest than to tell them lies I think).
I will be working hard on the unit plans over the next week though, no more relaxing like I have over the past few weeks, back into the hard work, which will involve (almost) as many hours as teaching in a school!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Leading up to World Cup
Hmm, I never used to be a football person. I mean, I played when I was at primary school, I know the gist of the game, and most of the rules, but when did knowing who to follow during the World Cup?
Sorry, let me begin at the beginning. This week has pretty much felt like another waste of a week, the only bonus was that it was a short week anyway, with me getting to observe Queen's Birthday for the first time since I left High School. I haven't sat down to look at Unit Plans yet. I want my Teaching Folder back from practicum for one, and the other just really needs me to sit down and have a really good think about it. I think that is one that I will need to talk over with someone actually.
So I found myself looking at the FIFA World Cup, getting pulled into the hype. Looking at most of the pages that I got sent, looking at different calendars and so on. I have three teams to follow, NZ (as a given), my significant others home country, and the one team I am actually backing to win, and that would be Argentina, just so it is out there and everyone can call me on it by the end of the tournament.
I think what has made it interesting so far is that of the two games played already, no one has won, they both ended in draws.
On the teaching front, I haven't really had any thoughts on that over the last week, only that one should do work on a seminar before the teacher talks over the content (ie do it the week you are supposed to) otherwise the audience feels like they are getting the same information twice. I feel sorry for the group who that happened to and it wasn't their choice. But I digress, mainly because I've already started researching mine and it isn't due until the last two months of course (October and November).
Sorry, let me begin at the beginning. This week has pretty much felt like another waste of a week, the only bonus was that it was a short week anyway, with me getting to observe Queen's Birthday for the first time since I left High School. I haven't sat down to look at Unit Plans yet. I want my Teaching Folder back from practicum for one, and the other just really needs me to sit down and have a really good think about it. I think that is one that I will need to talk over with someone actually.
So I found myself looking at the FIFA World Cup, getting pulled into the hype. Looking at most of the pages that I got sent, looking at different calendars and so on. I have three teams to follow, NZ (as a given), my significant others home country, and the one team I am actually backing to win, and that would be Argentina, just so it is out there and everyone can call me on it by the end of the tournament.
I think what has made it interesting so far is that of the two games played already, no one has won, they both ended in draws.
On the teaching front, I haven't really had any thoughts on that over the last week, only that one should do work on a seminar before the teacher talks over the content (ie do it the week you are supposed to) otherwise the audience feels like they are getting the same information twice. I feel sorry for the group who that happened to and it wasn't their choice. But I digress, mainly because I've already started researching mine and it isn't due until the last two months of course (October and November).
Saturday, June 5, 2010
First week back
Wow, how weird it is to have to remember to look at the time, no bell to tell me when it is class time, the end of class, lunchtime etc. It is kind of refreshing, but having the bell was quite nice too, you didn't absolutely need to keep an eye on the time to know when different things were happening. In saying that, it also helped to have a clock or watch to keep an eye on, so you didn't start a task to late in the lesson that it can not be finished.
It has been great to back with other Student Teachers to talk about Practicum, to understand what other people have been through, and to realise that no matter how "bad" I thought my students behaviour was, there is always someone out there who had something worse happen.
It is kind of weird not having my day all planned out for me. Yes I have classes, but they are spread across the week and across the day, I have two days where I have no classes before 3pm. I also feel that even though I have assessments to do (two unit plans over the next week or so) it doesn't feel like a lot of work, I find my self wasting time rather than doing any productive work. Next week should be different though!
It has been great to back with other Student Teachers to talk about Practicum, to understand what other people have been through, and to realise that no matter how "bad" I thought my students behaviour was, there is always someone out there who had something worse happen.
It is kind of weird not having my day all planned out for me. Yes I have classes, but they are spread across the week and across the day, I have two days where I have no classes before 3pm. I also feel that even though I have assessments to do (two unit plans over the next week or so) it doesn't feel like a lot of work, I find my self wasting time rather than doing any productive work. Next week should be different though!
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