Well friends, once again I've made it to Wednesday.
Tomorrow is my last day in school for the week because on Friday we all meet back up at Macquarie to have an informal discuss-how-everythings-going class session.
I've been working hard. My host teacher put me in charge of both spelling and maths this week. And yes, for some strange reason Australians say maths rather than math. I like math better. To me it makes more sense.
So every day this week I am teaching 2 lessons on average. And it's hard!
For instance, today I was responsible for introducing graphs, how to read them, and how to make them in maths. Now, the lessons are supposed to be 50 minutes each. SUPPOSED to be. But, of course, they aren't. First of all, maths is after recess. Recess ends at 10:55 and maths is supposed to start at 10:55. It never starts until 11 when all of the students are back in the building. Secondly, some students switch rooms for maths and this adds to the confusion and number of students walking around in the classroom. THEN, as if that weren't enough, they need to have up to 3 books and worksheets passed out. Needless to say, I really only get 40 minutes at the most when the curriculum says I have 5 50 minute periods. Oh well.
Then comes the part of getting everyone to listen, be quiet, and pay attention. Now, if I had a classroom for an entire year, or even a 10 week term, this may be feesible. But, I am a visiting teacher in the school for 14 days. It took 3 days to learn names. It's rather difficult ot build up a rapport with the students without implementing new behaviour management techniques....which I don't really have the option to do because this isn't my permanent classroom and I don't have the ability to enforce anything that has yet to be taught to the students and agreed upon. So... yeah.
Anyways, I tried to teach them how to read graphs today. It was pretty much a miserable lesson. I didn't complete the things that I had wanted to get done and I had a handful of students that wouldn't be quiet.
After the lesson I replanned the lesson for tomorrow, restructured how it would be taught, and gave myself a pat on the back for trying.
THEN...I was supposed to teach a session on bullying this afternoon. The students were all out on a sporting event. They were supposed to be back at 2:15. But, of course! They didn't actually get back to the classroom until 2:50. Ten minutes. ten. Did I mention that this unit is to be taught over two class periods? No, I do believe I left that out. So, I get 10 minutes to get the students started on this unit. It actually went beautifully. I started by asking how many of the students had even been bullied. Nearly every hand in the room shot up. Then I asked students to share how it made them feel and I got some very good and deep answers. I must tell you that at this point I just wanted everyone to sit in a circle and continue to share how bullying affected them and what we can do to stop bullying in schools. I just wanted to hug each of them and tell them how much they are loved and valued. I wanted to tell them that they were created for a purpose and are treasured above all other life on earth.
But, I only had 10 minutes...and that wasn't actually part of the curricu-fied lesson.
All in all, what I want you to know is that I get 35 minutes tomorrow to finish the unit that I was supposed to get 100 minutes to do. Lame.
And, I would also like you to know that today was just kind of hard. I've been told that I am too hard on myself, but when I see that I could've done something differently or more efficiently or whatever I try to learn from it and improve. Obviously I am not, and won't be, a star teacher just yet. But I see the potential and so when I fall short of it I tend to get discouraged. I'm learning. And I think that's what I, and any up and coming teacher, needs to keep in mind. To teach is to learn and to learn is to teach. Deep huh? Yeah, I know, I just made that up.
Alright folks. This weekend I'm off to Port Stephens on a whale watching and wine tasting adventure.
Much love.
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