Today I was able to finish the lesson I had planned yesterday. Yesterday I began the book, and today we read chapter 2. I tried to think of something interactive for them to do or get them up and moving - they loved the visual of the bridge yesterday because it involved something other than sitting. Ms Greene and I also decided today to change the seating arrangement, and so we made six groups of four. For the most part they worked, although we had a couple tables that wouldn't stop complaining about who they were sitting with. I explained to those individuals that they needed to learn the life skill of interaction and communication, and that they wouldn't always be with people they liked. I let them know that I was going to be firm and wouldn't let them move; I told them that they must be civil. So as I assigned each of the groups a character to review from chapter one, I had a couple tables that would not talk to each other. That was frustrating and I didn't know exactly how to handle it. On the other hand there was some really great interactive group work which was very encouraging. I had a representative from each table tell the rest of the class about their character, and that was how we reviewed from chapter 1.
Ms Greene and I also began a points system where each table begins with 10 points, and we take away and add points as need be. I don't know how much they really care about it, but it's nice to be able to reward them for good behavior as well.
My lesson went on as I read chapter 2 to them and interacted with the text, asking questions and explaining things to them that they wouldn't understand because it's kind of a different culture; for example, I explained canning, milking a cow, and what a rooster is.
So I taught the lesson three times, and the third time was awful. The class was actually usually the best one, but they came from lunch, and I just got so tired at lunch time and started feeling sick. During the first two classes I walked around reading, and during the last class I had to sit down, and I found that I became ticked off more easily which wasn't good.
This afternoon Mayor Nutter spoke to us, and though I appreciate him coming I wasn't extremely impressed. Not that I'll get into politics, but I didn't think it was appropriate for him to arrive 30 minutes late to what is supposed to be a professional seminar (though who I am to say it was professional when there was a mouse running around?) to speak to up and coming professional teachers. I do appreciate that he didn't give a political speech to us though. The Q & A wasn't as good as I wished it would have been; I didn't ask any questions, but I think that many of the questions he was asked didn't really pertain to him, many of the questions were about state or federal operations that he had no say in. It was good of him to come, however.
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