Reflection #8

Tuesday we had another classroom visit. This time I watched Kristin Massic teach at Springville High School. It was definitely an interesting visit because she didn't do any teaching. Her first period class was a prep period, and her second period Robotics class was having a work day. Normally i would have chosen to go and watch another teacher, but since I know Kristin from high school i thought it might be worth my time to talk about things from her perspective. She has been teaching for 3 years and has already taught at two different schools in two different districts. It was interesting to hear what she said about Nebo School District because that would be the district that is closer to my home.

I would really like to get a job in Nebo but the benefits are all out in Alpine School District. She explained a couple of the perks that Nebo has and none of them seemed any better to me. But... she did mention that it is easier to get a job in Nebo and they allow for more choice in what you would like to teach.

Kristin was having some interesting problems with her class. She had just barely moved into her classroom a week ago and the new computers that she was given were not set up yet. PRO - new classroom with new computers, CON - half way through the semester and she still cannot program the robots properly in her robotics class. PRO - new class = new robots. I was amazed to hear that the district was willing to buy her 25 robots at 900 dollars a piece. I would have expected them to say that she needed to buy a couple over the next few years. CON - no program on the computers yet!

Anyway it looked like Kristin had a great class going. The students were well behaved and immediately started working on their assignments, and you could tell that she had developed some really good curriculum. Kristin was also very professional and has done her research for each of her classes.

Reflection #7

This week has been a week full of teaching! Not that I really think listening to the 20 minute lessons of each person in the class is fun, it is good to hear the comments and feedback of each lesson. It seems like have learned more from the mistakes/teaching methods of others than I have from the actual teaching experience.

I did get the chance this week to teach about STL #20. I thought the lesson went really well and got some really positive feedback. I taught a short lesson on how to read a set of working construction drawings. I think the hardest part about it was narrowing the lesson down to twenty minutes. While preparing I realized that I could easily have turned this lesson into a two week unit. Luckily I found that out before I started teaching and had some time to prepare a good lesson. So far that has been the biggest difference in each of the lessons shared. It really shows who has prepared and who has just gone up there thinking they can wing it. Honestly I spent 2 hours getting the activity ready and making sure that it makes sense.

I have to admit that I was still pretty nervous about the actual teaching, but I think i was able to settle in and just teach alot sooner than previous attempts. Overall I felt it was a good lesson. Feekback from Geoff = draw a bigger example on the board... and he was right. After I turned around and looked I had drawn an example fascia that was about a centimeter tall. Ha Ha.

This weeks funny note, how to deal with the class know it all...

Reflection #6

This week has been weird being back in the classroom. It seems like so long since our last discussion. This week we had the first round of the 20 minute STL's. It was nice to see people teach what is closer to a real lesson. It made a big difference in the teaching to have some time to actually set something up. It was also nice this week to get into some class discussions about differenct teaching strategies along with common feedback. It really seems to help me more to see somebody else do something that is considered wrong, rather than somebody tell me after the fact that I did the same thing.

I really enjoyed the activity that David did on thursday. He split the class into two groups and gave a simple, but direct prompt on what each team should act out in sharades. Not only did he bounce back and forth between groups, but he also gave positive feedback and truly listened to what was being discussed.

Tuesday we had a good discussion on what a powerpoint presentation should be. I think it cleared up alot of the questions that I had about it. I really feel like there are some people that rely to heavily on the presentation and it ends up becoming a lessonn on who can read the quote on the board rather than a teacher led discussion. Powerpoints should be used as prompts and a way to emphasis the key points. There is nothing wrong with a picture or short video, but I think as a rule, if there is something written on the presentation it shouldn't be read word for word.

Now I hope that I can come up with a good lesson for Tuesday. Geoff said he only expects each lesson to get better as we go along. (I guess its good mine is no longer the last STL)

Reflection #5

I am a little confused about what we are supposed to write about it class considering we did not have a class period between reflection #4 and #5.

Today i was able to watch Terry Hunters CTE class. Mr Hunter was a great teacher 14 years ago when i had him as a 7th grader and has only improved since then. I was very impressed with the interaction and the care that he gave to each student. His instruction at the beginning of class was very clear, he checked for understanding in multiple ways and times, and had clear objectives for the students.

Mr. Hunter invited me to walk around and help students. Today they were working on a small truss bridge that they had previously designed and were now making out of small wooden sticks and Elmer's glue. The students had clear parameters for the assignment including dimensions, materials, and even different jobs assigned to each one. As i walked around helping the students as much as i thought i should, i noticed Mr Hunter was not only answering questions but he was right down in, working with each on of the students. Multiple time i watched as he gave large hints, sanded sticks to the right angle, or even glued pieces together for the students. Not only did it reinforce what he had previously taught but it gave the struggling students a one on one demonstration and push towards the final goal. I didn't ever feel like he was doing it for the students but helped them just enough to fulfill the goal for the day.

I was able to watch "E" time as well. Mr Hunter has a great working relationship with the kids and you could tell that he want all of them to succeed. Each of the students that needed the extra 20 minutes of help received it. Very impressive. About the only negative mark that i would give to Mr Hunter would be the overwhelming amount of things in his classroom. He does so many fun activities with the students that the amount of decorations and equipment kinda overpowers the room. It was not a messy classroom at all, but the combined desks, computer stations, and example activities, gives the room a claustrophobic feel.

Reflection #4

Better late than never i guess...

For this reflection i would just like to write a few things from my last school visit to Mt. Nebo Jr. High. i was able to watch Mr. Christiansens 7th and 8th grade Intro to Technology classes. It was very interesting to say the least. Mr C has a very interesting way of teaching. On one hand he is probably the most organized teacher that i know of. On the other, he is the laziest!

I was very impressed with the packets that had been prepared for each class. He used about 20 or so different activities, covering different subjects involving technology, and put all of the information and worksheets into separate binders. The students were working in groups of 2 or 3 and the objective was to cycle through each binder. I was very impressed with the idea of the students learning and teaching each other, and figuring new things on their own. What i was not impressed with was the lack of instruction at the beginning of class and watching the teacher sit at his desk the entire class period.

The idea was there... the follow through and involvement with the class was not. Babysitter!