Hello all,
This week I definitely had a shocking moment in which my students did the unexpected. I have brought up the issue of a rowdy (for lack of a better word) 6th period class with several of you and I have gotten some great tips on how to handle this class. Well, this past week was rough with this particular class. They have had a lot of freedom to shoot their video for several days, but when it came time for us to be back in the classroom to edit, they would not settle down. I ended up losing my cool a bit and making them sit in silence for most of the period to reflect on how to be respectful. Needless to say, this put me in an awful mood. I am bad about taking my work and emotions home with me. I went home and brewed all evening about how much I just did not like this class and that they would never be the class I want them to be. I kept focusing on all the reasons they made me angry and how I just knew it would not get any better, no matter what strategies I implement (I tend to get a little dramatic when I'm angry).
Anyways, the next day I was dreading 6th period all day. It would put me in a bad mood just thinking that I would have to teach this class again. I was very surprised when the class came in and worked diligently. Was it perfect? No, but the students were much more behaved and I actually saw some of them helping each other to understand the editing system. I was very impressed by this. The class is mostly sophomores, but there is one senior in the class. She came up to my privately and said, "Mrs. Miller, I would like to apologize on behalf of the class. I know we have all been disrespectful and that's just not right." This shocked me and also made me feel pretty guilty. The night before I had gone home and just though about how I did not like the class as a whole, and I based those emotions off of one day. The class is capable of behaving and they proved that to me. I have to remember not to base my beliefs on students' abilities on one unpleasant class period. The class stepped up and they are continuing to work hard to meet their deadline for their first video project.
Anna
*Please don't judge me for this post. I am so embarrassed by my reaction to this situation and that I kind of gave up on the kids for a day before realizing I was completely wrong!
This site is a class blog space for new Career and Technical Specializations and Heathcare Science teachers enrolled in the New Teacher Institute (NTI) at Georgia State University in Atlanta, Georgia.
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2. Show respect and consideration of others when posting and commenting. This includes individuals, students, organizations, political parties, colleagues, etc.
3. Check all posts for spelling and grammar errors before posting.
4. Protect the privacy of others. Gain permission from other people before you write about them. Avoid sharing someone else's last name. Use job titles or pseudonyms when writing about experiences with your co-workers or students.
5. Watch your language. Use politically correct and non-offensive language.
6. Make sure you write about things that are factual.
7. Keep your postings education-oriented. Avoid discussing plans for the weekend, etc.
FINAL BLOG POST - OUR "DAILY TRIPLE" (DUE 12/1).
This week I would like you to use your imagination. You have just won the lottery and will leave your teaching post immediately to travel around the world. As you leave your keys you meet your replacement. You are asked to give this new teacher just ONE piece of advice. What would that be, and why? Enjoy your world expedition!
Blog Post - Week 7
This past week in my own teaching I felt a little disconnected which prompts my question to you, "What was the moment (or moments) when I felt most disconnected or disengaged as a teacher - the moment(s) I said to myself, I'm just going through the motions here?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 6
For the past couple of weeks you have experienced asynchronous online learning (doing modules by yourself). Previously this semester you have experienced synchronous online learning (all together in the Collaborate room). Which do you think is more effective and why do you think that? Which do you like better, and why?
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 5
This week we have what we call "open mic." You can write a post about anything related to your teaching that you would like responses from your classmates.
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 4
Here is this week's question: "What was the event that most took me surprise this week - and event that shook me up, caught me off guard, gave me a jolt, or made me unexpectedly happy?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 3
Please write a post about the following question, "In thinking about my past week teaching what is one thing I would do differently, and why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 2
Please write a post about the following question, " In thinking about my teaching activities this past week, of what do I feel most proud? Why?"
Fall Semester 2016 Blog Post - Week 1
Describe something you used in your program in the first weeks of school that you learned in the summer NTI program. How did it work? Did it get you off to a stronger start than last year?
2 comments:
Anna,
Please do not be embarrassed of your post of your behavior. You are not alone! I certainly have "been there, done that". I had a "bad" 7th period last year and this year my senior class is my 7th period and they are keeping the streak rolling. I have felt what you are feeling and I applaud you for overcoming it!
Your post tells me that even though your student were misbehaving...they still respect you as a person and as their teacher. They showed this by their markedly improved behavior and team work the next day. They reflected on how they acted and because they have respect for you...they changed their behavior for the better. In my opinion, this speaks volumes to your character as a person and an educator!
Keep your head up!
Anna,
I think your 6th period class must be my 2nd block from my first year of teaching!! So, no judgement here. I would literally dread them walking through the door. For most of the semester, it would take me twice as long to cover material with them compared to my other classes because I had to stop so frequently to deal with behavior problems.
They were rowdy, immature, disrespectful to each other (not usually me, fortunately)and many of them did not want to be in my program. I feel like I threw a fit with them at least once every two weeks just to roughly bump along. I didn't have many tools in my classroom management tool box back then, and I hope that if (when) I get another class like that I will manage better.
I think that you are doing everything a good classroom manager would to handle a tough class (and some are just hard to handle for anyone!). I have found that with my rowdier classes I often have to reconsider certain activities (breaking them into smaller chunks, using partners instead of groups to work, giving more structure to otherwise "creative" work). I don't know how that might look in your classroom, but it's a thought!
Keep calm and carry on :)
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