My biggest teaching improvement during this past semester would be classroom management. I have been better prepared for every class this semester. Last semester, I would be looking for extra things for my students to do in concluding the class time. Sometimes, I would be fifteen to twenty minutes short before the end of class time. It was difficult for me to get the classroom time down to a specific time allotment. This semester has been totally different. I now have good lesson plans that fit the time allotted for the class. When I finish ten to fifteen minutes early, I have several student activities I use until the class is over. Therefore, one important learning subject that was worthwhile and useful for me was the lesson plans.
The aspect I need to keep working on is developing new lesson plans for a different course level that I will be teaching during the spring semester. During the fall semester, I had three levels to teach, levels I, II, III. During the spring semester, I will teach level I, II, IV. Level IV is a course that will require much research to make it fun and interesting. I will have to come up with enough lesson plans to cover the entire course. I know with the knowledge I have learned from N.T.I., I will be able to meet the challenge regarding these lesson plans.
I feel for you, four levels! That is a lot of lessons to plan. I will be building each year. I guess that makes up for starting a new program and implementing it. I spend hours on one, I guess I will have to get faster or learn to go without sleep. I am so glad the rest is going well for you. I wish we could all see each other in action. We do observations twice a month and it really helps. Everyone has a different style.
ReplyDeleteHi, Mark - great post. Having observed your classes I can attest that they are engaged bell to bell.
ReplyDeleteI have no doubt your next challenge will be well met. Looking forward to hearing all about it as I know you are excited to be creating something new for your students.