Just thought I would let you all know why I have been able to post this week until now. I think I have spent at least 5 hours on the phone with Charter this week and they still have not solved my internet problems. I am at the Portage Public Library posting this (in between my two teacher certifications test). So, I have developed a new disdain for Charter.
Besides that the week went by very quickly. My CT returned Wednesday and if felt like the rest of the week involved playing catch-up. I now realize how important it is to be there as a teacher. There is so much you are out of the loop on when you return. Now, I know there are certain circumstances in which you must miss, but I now know to avoid it at all cost. I think it made it worse that she was gone for a week straight, so when she returned she was slightly behind. I have never done as much grading as I completed in the past week.
Also, I was able to observe other teachers around the building this week. I found this to be very beneficial. I saw quite a few teaching techniques which I would like to implement in my classroom. There were many other actions or techinques I had to sit back and question. In part it comes down to what you are comfortable doing, but the other part of it is whether or not the students are learning as you are using these methods. I will have some interesting points when we talk about PowerPoint this next Monday. I was able to watch a teacher make good use of the technique and I was able to watch another teacher use it in an incredibly unproductive way. Looking at other classrooms caused me to want to develop my own. I would compile the many different strategies I have found effective over the years. It made me want to jump right in, doing my own thing.
I hope everyone is getting the chance to view other classrooms in their school. I think this is an essential tool in really developing a sound classroom. I am excited to come and watch one of my peers in action and hopefully pick up some good pointers from them also.
I’m looking foward to next week. I am getting ready to take over with a unit on imperialism:)
