Reflection Two

Week Two Reflection
Leigha Tracey – BSU Student Intern
For the week of August 26- 30

Observation and Participation (15)

This week students continued with the writing process using their peer interviews. Students were stressed and in a panic after having been assigned rough drafts of their personal interview feature stories. I found that Mr. Smith’s style of working with these lessons did not feel comfortable to me, being a new teacher. After a discussion, Mr. Smith modeled a different approach for me utilizing a more structured format and I took over from there. I felt that it was beneficial for me to see how an experienced teacher is able to maximize the students, material and energy of the class. In addition, it was a good lesson in knowing that I need a more structured and secure plan as I start out.
Through the writing process this week I was able to see how creating a need (discovery learning) can be successful. As students moved through each stage of the process, they became more engaged.
I was given the opportunity to participate in the editor selection process for both newspaper and yearbook. This was a wonderful experience and I am grateful that Mr. Smith and Mrs. Davis allowed me to take part. Choosing publication editors is an essential part of journalism publications as it can make or break the school year for both the advisor and staff. I was impressed with the effort the students put into their applications and the respect, amount of time, and seriousness the teachers put into selecting a staff. As a process, Mr. Smith discussed the different positions available in class, made the applications available, and gave the first writing assignment in order to have a sample of student writing before making a decision.

Intern Log

• Attended and participated in an open house
• Observe and shadowed a school guidance counselor (new student orientation meeting)
• Rode bus 41 and interviewed driver Val Masters
• Planned and updated the homework hotline
  

Teaching (20)

This week I worked with students on the writing process and then moved them into yearbook theme development. I wanted to try some group work and collaboration. What I discovered is that several of the classes were prepared to handle discussions, alternative seating arrangements, group work and creative processes. I had one class that is unable to handle discussion in any format. Mr. Smith told me to write in my journal this week that I did a good job adapting to diverse learners and basically handling a tough group. I found myself getting pretty frustrated with my seventh period class after having adapted the lesson in several different ways to try to accommodate their maturity levels. I finally just stopped and told the class that I was unwilling to compete with them and that we would spend the rest of the period on an in-class assignment. I apologized to the students that were participating and making an effort. I also told them that they might want to have a word with their classmates that were being disruptive. The next class period went well in the beginning, but as soon as a discussion began, they lost control. I stopped the class again and asked the class to give me suggestions what they thought would work for their class in the way of discipline. I explained that I wanted them to be able to have fun and do creative things, but needed to have some sort of understanding with them that was reasonable. I think this worked well and started to build a sense of ownership with the class.

Notes

• I am still working on names and most likely will continue for the next few weeks. It is hard for me and is so important.
• Transitions are coming along well and I am feeling confident. I do feel that at times I am not successful in controlling the ‘chatter.’ Then, I remind myself that these are middle school kids and some of that should be expected.
• I felt that I lost credibility with one class this week because I did not understand the style requirements for Mr. Smith’s assignments. After talking to Mr. Smith about it, I think it was okay.
• Opening Activities Ideas
  1. Free-write
  2. Current events questions
  3. Word of the day
  4. On this day in history
  5. Write directions for….
  6. Describe your idea of a perfect day using 15 adjectives
  
• Alternative assignment for newspaper – Have students write two pages describing how their bedroom looks. Students must have 25 adjectives. Students pass their papers to the front, then pass them out and have students try to draw the bedrooms based on the descriptions.
  ÿ I learned several new excuses for not having homework and several effective ways to handle these excuses. The students have the e-mail address and phone number of Mr. Smith and they are supposed to call with problems. No discs, papers must be printed before class.
• Extra credit for current events assignment is for students to discuss their current events with their parents and have their parents sign their homework.
• For open house, I think it would be nice to put together a presentation of photo’s, yearbook covers, and maybe even a former student interview for parents to watch.