It was once again a pretty boring day. I had planned to teach a little bit about Hercules, but it turned out “A Raisin in the Sun” took up the whole class period, and so I watched the movie three times and tweaked my lesson plan. I realized today that I haven’t really seen Ms Greene teach a lesson because we’ve either been watching a movie, reading, or filling out a worksheet.
I also realized today that I have no control over the students. This morning I took attendance and the students would not be quiet. Then, before each class viewed the movie, I would ask a couple of discussion questions, and still they would not be quiet. I don’t know what to do; I feel like I’m talking to myself. Thus I have bought candy as a bribe, and tomorrow hopefully I’ll be able to start some new management technique to make them all listen to me at least long enough that I can give them instruction. I will also begin cooperative learning in a class that has failed at this method in the past, and I will explain it to them as being a privilege. I WILL bring order to this classroom.
Ms Greene and I were able to find some good websites with fun games on them; one has a jeopardy template and she began filling it out right away. I enjoy seeing her enthusiasm, and I hate when that excitement doesn’t become a reality.
Earl Carter spoke this afternoon. Honestly, I was tired and zoning out. I did catch a couple arguments though: namely, teaching is more than just a job, and it is so critical to make connections and relationships with urban students. This is something I’ve been struggling with – I see 75 students a day and I only know a handful of names. I do not expect that I will learn many more than I already know (which is possibly a bad mindset), and this is not good in classroom management and discipline. I do not have time to build relationships with all or any of them in eight days. I am with them for a small period of time, and so the rapport that I build with them by saying hello in the hallway or helping them in class is critical. I have also been realizing Carter’s point about teaching being more than just a job; it is an investment in students’ lives. However, it was this part of teaching that made me want to be a teacher in the first place. I hope that in these two weeks and during my teaching career I will be able to be involved in students’ lives and honestly be a living sacrifice and witness to them.
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