Jr.+Block+Field+Experience-+Thoughts,+Feelings+etc.

3/4/12- Day before day 1 of "all day, every day" at Sedalia Elementary...

Goodbye sleep, Goodbye daylight, Goodbye free time, Goodbye life. Hello students, Hello lesson plans, Hello teaching, Hello my future life. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">3/13/2012 <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">I have now been in Ms. Allen's first grade classroom as Sedalia Elementary in Groveport, Ohio for a little over a week. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">First off, I am so thankful for this experience. It has been both challenging and rewarding. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">A major thing I am taking away are the things that they do not teach you in college about being a teacher, and sometimes it's the little things that make the difference. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="background-color: #ffffff; display: block; font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The students did a great job cooperating while placing their rulers to measure the room. This lesson required a great handle on classroom management. Even though this class is quite large with 28 students, this lesson was still a success. I called the students by table, and they noticed before me that I had actually created a pattern with the different colors of the rulers. If I did this again, I would intentionally create a pattern. This was a great hands on and visual lesson.
 * <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Learn names as quickly as possible, and learn them correctly. It is amazing the difference in respect and attention you receive from knowing that one simple thing ( and the lack of respect when someone is trying to correct behavior- but consistently and obviously uses the wrong name).
 * <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Don't be afraid to ask questions! Doing anything new can be intimidating, but that is why there are people around to help you.
 * <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif; text-align: left;">Have a notebook or piece of paper handy for notes and question, it is amazing how much can happen in only one day.
 * <span style="font-family: 'lucida grande',tahoma,verdana,arial,sans-serif;">Routine, routine, routine! freedom of choice and expression are great, but young students need **some**form of structure.
 * Review the safety plan of your room. Today we had a fire drill, I knew where the emergency pack was, and could have lead if my teacher was gone because I took the time to look.
 * Check out your cooperating teacher's sub plans! Mine explained some of the little things I never knew- like why there was a piece of tape on the floor. It is a special spot near the teacher for the student helper of the day to sit.
 * Don't be scared to try and fail. This is the time to have a real experience with only some pressure, so take advantage of it.
 * Don't forget to take care of yourself, Eat, sleep (occasionally at least) and try to leave "teacher world" every once in awhile. Talking about your day in the staff lounge at lunch or on the drive home is great, but remember sometimes that you do know people that are not Ed. majors. Find out what they have been up too as well (then turn something interesting they did into a lesson plan :p ) . Being at school all day is an adjustment, but it is possible.
 * More later...
 * Tomorrow I'll be teaching a math lesson plan on measurement, and starting a social studies one on maps. : )
 * __Reflection of Math lesson__