Hi Class
Imagine how you will enter the classroom on your first day. How will the room be set up? What will students do when they walk in? How will you decorate the room? Where will your desk be? What will be your expectations of your students? What will be your expectations be of your principal? What will be your expectations of yourself? Who will you turn to in you have questions if you do not have a mentor?
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13 comments:
*wow what a lot of information in one day
This is a true daze, indeed.
I like the way this class keeps moving all the time. Thx.
Hi :) I would have never made a blog on my own but this is pretty cool.
I did it!!!
Yeah for Blog!!!
Does this really work?
I really enjoyed exploring the possibilities of wikis and blogs. I've been trying to think of ways to incorporate this if the district and students don't have the resources to regularly access computers, or if the district has strict policies on internet access.
Hi, Dr. M,
In an ideal world...
My students will enter a carpeted classroom (clean, with windows) with desks and chairs which can be arranged in various ways. When they enter, the desks will be arranged in a horseshoe or circle. Some posters will be displayed - but the walls and space await the contributions of the students - their ideas and work - but - the room will be colorful and warm. There will be a class library, a computer work area for project and some individual work, there will be an comfortable area with cushions/soft chairs for individual work, group work and quiet dicussion. There will be artifacts from my life so the students can get a sense of who I am. Lighting will be natural - not harsh and glaring. My desk will be in a corner at an angle - I will not teach from it. I will expect my students to be uncomfortable, tired, bored and a little anxious. I will perhaps use one or two classroom theatre games to ease tension, then get down to housekeeping items. I will expect my principal to expect more from me than I can deliver at first -but I will grow to meet those expectations. I will expect the best of myself but realize this is the beginning and I will improve (and relax) with time and experience. I will ask questions of those teachers who I perceive to be enthusiastic and motivated and who seem like they would help a new teacher...but, until all is sorted out, I can figure out the mechanics. In an ideal world...
Dear Prof. Mee,
When I enter my middle school social studies classroom on the first day of school, I hope I will have round tables and chairs set up for the students. Since a lot of schools don't offer these, I will push desks into groups of four to create "pods" if needed.
When students walk in, I will ask them to look at a seating chart on the wall and take the seats I have assigned them. Like you, I struggle with names, so I will need to have students in specific places when the year starts. I will plan to mix them up later.
At the start of class, I am planning to quickly take a digital photograph of each student and then one of the whole class. These will immediately go up on the bulletin board and be supplemented with some kind of display that we will create during the first week to allow the students to tell me about them.
Most of the bulletin board space will initially be reserved for the students' display and the class constitution we will create in class during the first week. I'm not sure how I will decorate the rest, because it will depend somewhat on what subjects I am teaching.
I will try to put my desk in an unobtrusive place in the back corner of the room. I will have files set up for all of my students so I can collect their work to periodically discuss their progress with them and their parents.
My expectations of the students will depend upon the grade I am teaching. There is a big difference between 6th graders and 8th graders. Since I haven't done my student teaching yet, I am keeping my mind very open about expectations, because I still have a lot to learn. I think it's important for expectations to be high but realistic, and so much will depend on the type of school I am in and the types of students attending that school.
I hope my principal will have an orderly orientation process for new teachers that will give me all of the background information I need about the school, its policies, procedures, technologies, etc. I hope that the orientation will provide time for me to get to know a few other teachers so I can establish some beginning relationships before I am alone in my classrom.
I tend to have unrealistically high expectations for myself, so being reasonable in my expectations will be something I will be working on. For the first year, I need to demonstrate that I can manage my classroom. I need to establish a warm, friendly, safe, empathetic environment for my students. I need to take good care of myself to maintain my physical and emotional health, and not try to be "superteacher" (at least, no right away).
If I don't have a mentor, I will turn to other teachers that I meet during my orientation. I might turn to my academic advisor at National-Louis, since she is a very experienced teacher. I might also turn to my husband, who will be starting his life as a teacher at the same time I am. Finally, I have a dear friend who has been a middle school teacher for 25 years, and she is just a phone call away.
Ms. F
Hello. I just wanted to say that I appreciate that you are trying all different approaches to teaching. I think that introducing us to this electronic world is fantastic. I've had a myspace for about a year, but his is a nice extension to include classroom participation.
On my first day I would like my room to be spacious enough to accomodate various seating arrangements. Ideally enough room to even set up a small area for retreat or "chillin out".
When my students enter the room on their our first day I will have some type of activity designed for us to get to know one another. I would like to be able to incorporate,into that activity, ideas to include student in-put in class rules and decoration. I mean, they need to help establish the environment in which they are spending the next nine months. I want my students to feel part of the solution and not part of the problem. My room is my desk, Iguess I never really thought about where my desk should be, I probably should!
I will expect our class to learn about treating each other with respect. I need to model this lesson in my words and actions. This would be the start to building a classroom community where all students feel safe and important. I hope that if I am open and honest with my principal, that he or she will reciprocate with supportive and tangible advice.
I worked at the same company for 25 years and, even with all my experience, would have to deal with new situations almost weekly. You can never have to much experience. Saying that, I guess I would expect myself to be prepared as possible and ready to deal with my class in a patient/reflective way. To aspire to keep my students interested in what we do. I will rely on colleagues,family and flexibility. Most importantly, if I am lucky enough to get a job at a middle school, your class.
M.S.
Good morning from lovely Detroit (actually a hotel in Troy)
Class has been great - the CD work is superb- I maxed out at the 8 songs suggested and probably could have added 80 more.
But, classroom wise, I'd like big, individual desks that could be moved together.
Computers would be great.
I'd like 2 walls of books - one for my favorites that are borrowed by students and one for the kids favorites that they lend each other.
Sound proof wall would be mandatory .
And fianlly, some all encompassing signal (like a massive light switch) that could get everyones attention without shouting (I hate shouting in classrooms)
See you Monday
Bob
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