Day 81

Today was day number 81.  We had a writing common assessment.  We did some word work.  And I gave both classes about 60 minutes to work on their wiki book reviews.  This was the last chuck of class time I am going to be able to give them for the next week and a half.  I pushed back the research project start date until Friday 1-7-10 (tomorrow) because both classes expressed a need for some refreshers on using wikispaces and Portal to post their reviews since they were going to be required to get them done primary at home.

I am going to talk more about myself in this entry.  It's a difficult thing to look at ones self and try to figure out the areas that need honest improvement. 

1) Small Groups: I do not conduct consistant and pre-planned small group instruction.  This has always been a struggle for me.  Because I get uncomfortable with keeping the time under 20 minutes.  I have recived a lot of small group instruction training through several reading coaches at my school over the past couple of years but have never felt successful implementing it.

2) Conferring with Readers: I LOVED conferring with writers.  I always had something to say or something I wanted to teach.  It was easy for me to spot what needed work and where to go with a writer.  I feel very uncomfortable conferring with readers.  I always walk away feeling like I didn't help at all or very skeptical that the student will use the practiced/demonstrated strategie.  How can I know without demanding some proof? 

3) Hands on Experiments: I have seen great improvement in myself in this area.  My first year teaching, I hardly ever let the kids get their hands on the science.  I demonstrated experiments or we read about them or we watched videos or we did worksheets.  My second year, I dove in a little here and there.  My third year, I did the workshops full out but put the kids in large groups to conduct experiements or build models (4-5 students).  In my fourth year, I am much more confident in letting my students try out the science.  I find their observations more specific and their understanding of the concepts more complete.  I think adding in the choice board homework and technology has only improved my students science scores.

4) Planning farther ahead: In general, I have most of the week planned before Monday morning.  Usually I have all of reading planned because I need to get the ASL prepared in order for the technique to be successful.  I usally have the science planned but I scramble to adjust and prepare my materials the day before or the day of.  Fridays are usually wide open for make ups, reviews, or reteaches, and quizes.

There are more but these are the glaring struggles I feel are most important.  If you read this and you have tips, strategies, or ideas on how to help a young teacher with these areas!!!  Please don't hesitate to comment.