Week Six 11-2-2005
Lather, Rinse, Repeat.
One aspect of what happened at my lesson observation, that both Mrs. Koenig and Mrs. Lebovits identified independently, was the necessity of repeating, restating and repeating again whatever explanations and instructions are needed for the class.
One aspect of what happened at my lesson observation, that both Mrs. Koenig and Mrs. Lebovits identified independently, was the necessity of repeating, restating and repeating again whatever explanations and instructions are needed for the class.
It’s a Pirate’s Life for Me.
One young man (who had to have been a pirate for Halloween) made a point of beginning every conversation with me by saying “ARRRRR!!, Walk the plank, matey!” I couldn’t help myself and responded with an “ARRRR!” of my own on every occasion. I don’t know if talking like a pirate undermines my position of authority in the classroom, but I really couldn’t help but respond the way I did.
Observations.
Ordinarily, the prospect of being observed would send me into a fit of self-doubt and sleeplessness. I slept great and felt no undue tension. I credit this to (mostly) being prepared and to the fact that the teachers and supervisors I am working with have been incredibly supportive and helpful. Laura (my wife, the math teacher) was also observed recently and reminded me about the public nature of teaching and how being pushed can be very motivational. She credits her principal for being ‘hard’ on the teachers in her school with making them all better teachers because of it.
Reflections.
Mrs. Koenig reminded me again today about being reflective on your practice and of being conscious of your methods, attitudes and behaviors in the classroom. In the theory classes I have taken, this comes up frequently as a primary method of enhancing professional practice. One other element of a teacher’s life we talked about was classroom management. Given that I have an assignment due next week, I was asking Mrs. Koenig about her classroom management practices. She claimed not have a formal program for classroom management…and then proceeded to show me like 10 things she had implemented that function as classroom management tools. She said that what you have done as a parent to control and influence behavior will work in the classroom. I will need to reflect on that because that is still a work in progress.