November 15, 2013

Recent presentation with an inattentive student. In my 4th period I have a group of students that are inattentive to me during class. They go to sleep or talk amongst each other every day. I decided that I needed to find a way to get them involved in the lessons and keep them on track. The first thing that I did was to seperate them in the room to curb the talking. With this they simply slepy. No matter how many times I woke them up they went back to sleep. The next thing that I did in order to get them involved was to call on them more throughout the class when I would ask questions. This got them involved, but I felt like it would at times embarass them also. The next day I tired something new. I gave them tasks to accomplish in the classes. I would ask them to take up journals or pass out papers. This worked for the first half of class but not the second half of class. to help with this I talked to my host teacher and he helped me develope a game that would keep them focused. He had a small foam football that wouldnt hurt at all. Then At the end of class I ask review question or call for participation. This keeps them awake because they want the chance to catch the football. Now they are engaged through the class and it has worked very well. I hope that I can shy away from the football to keep it new, but still keep their attention also.

November 8, 2013

Reflect on a lesson that went well. Why did it? A lesson that I really enjoyed with my class was a computer lab assignment I developed for the students to do. I wanted them to get in touch with a person from history that they have learned about. So I found a facebook template for the profile page online. I uploaded this to the students edline. Then I typed several famous peoples names from the Progressive era through the Great Depression. Then the students each drew a name out of a hat. We went to the lab and they researched these people to find out the biography, who their friends might have been, what they may have said, How they lived, and everything else on a facebook page. The students loved it, and it was a great learning tool. They go in touch with a person from history and the culture of the time. They were immersed in the time period and class flew by that day. I think this lesson went well because it was with it, it was something familiar that they use all the time, and there was the element of surprise that went along with it. The students really enjoyed this lesson and they learned a lot about U.S. culture through this time period. It was amazing.

November 1, 2013

Reflect on Professional Relationships with those other than your mentor teacher. I have several profressional relationships that have been built with staff other than my mentor teacher here at MHS. For instance I am friends with the athletic director Mr. Erinrich. During first period there is a drivers ed class in my room. There is no space in the class for me there and I am not able to work. So in the mornings I go to his office. He is a former teacher and always asks me how my teaching is going. I tell him if I am having issues and he provides me with useful adivce on how to troubleshoot problems in my classroom. This advice has come in very handy to me several times through out the semester. Another relationship that I have is with the couselor next door. She often talks to me about things to do that help students who she is working with. If I am having a problem with a student she is an invaluable resource to me. This has helped me to understand some of the things that I have seen with studetns in my classroom. Another important relationship is with one of the other members of the social studies staff. Mr. Crouso has helped me tremendously to find ways to engage learners and keep attention in the classroom. This has proven very helpful to me throughout my time here at MHS. With his help I have developed severl resources and methods to keep classes interesting. These type of professional relationships are vital to my sucess and I would say that they are vital to every teacher out there.