Week Eight

This week has had some high highs and some low lows.  The good news is that I think I am doing a good job teaching math.  I have a routine down.  I know how to carve out extra time for struggling students during guided math.  I know how to use my own materials as well as the workbook.  I think I explain things well.  It is really gratifying to see students work through material and finally understand something that took some effort for them to understand.

 

In other good news, I think am doing fine in social studies and science.  We finished a six-week social studies unit, and have started a six-week science unit.  Without freaking out, I managed some last minute scheduling changes as well as a class period in which I expected to use my CT’s laptop to show some videos, but she was called down to a meeting (with her computer) so I had to use another approach. 

The bad news is that I am struggling in language arts.  I am overwhelmed by the amount of content that has to be covered in a short period of time.  My CT helped me plan all of the lessons this week and I am inefficient with these lessons.  I do not feel like I am connecting with the students like I do in math.  I feel like there is more gray area in language arts too.  Math has a clear trajectory must be followed.  Social studies and science at my school are guided by six-week lesson plans that are required for all second grade teachers.  There is some flexibility with these lessons, but I see the big picture.  In language arts, I am missing something.  My CT and I talked about this today.  She is telling me that it is not for my lack of work, effort, preparation, or understanding of the standards or lessons.  However, I do not have the students with me and something is missing.

I am blessed to be working with a wonderful CT.  She assures me that I need not despair. We will figure out how to get me where I need to be with language arts.  One thing that she has noticed is that she and I have different styles of teaching.  I have found my way in math, social studies, and science.  I need to find my way in language arts, and this may mean that we have to choose activities that are better suited to my style than to hers.  Because we have different styles, she has also suggested that during planning periods next week I can go observe in other classrooms during their language arts so I can see other teachers’ approaches.  She says her style works for her, but that does not mean it works for anyone else.  It would be good for me to see other methods.  I agree with this and I am looking forward to it.

I think part one problem related to the different styles of teaching is my inability to totally picture the process involved in the activities selected by my CT.  She chooses activities that she would do, that she has done, that she knows fits with the standards, etc.  However, for many of these I cannot really see how the activity is going to go until I am doing it.  Then I feel like I am fumbling.  Math is the opposite.  I know what I am doing in math, I choose all the instruction and activities, and I am generally left alone to plan, teach, and grade.  I need to get to the point in language arts where I can plan, teach, and grade with confidence like I do in math.

My CT has offered me so much good feedback.  It is truly constructive criticism in the best sense of the words. Most of my problems with classroom management occur during language arts, and this is a sign that I do not have the students “hooked” during these lessons.  As my CT puts it, they need to “buy in” to the lessons, and when their “buy in” is big, they make more of an effort. 

The hardest thing about all of this is that when I am not doing a great job, I feel like I am failing my students.  It is not about me. It is about them.  My missteps affect my students.  Most of them are so low academically, that any time lost or any poor lessons are that much more of a detriment to their learning.  I don’t want to fail them.  This is why I am teaching.  It is for them.  It is to help them learn what they need to learn. 

My big goal for this week is to improve my teaching in language arts, especially in reference to my development of Illinois Professional Teaching Standard 4N which states, “The competent teacher engages students in and monitors individual and group-learning activities that help them develop the motivation to learn.”  I need to hook them and get them to buy in to learning during language arts, which I have done with more success in math, science, and social studies.

To end this dreary post on a better note, I would like to change tone.  I am not despairing.  My CT is going to help me get better.  The only way to improve is to get up every time I fall and to learn from my mistakes.  I struggled with math at first too.  Now it is my second favorite part of the day (the first being my receiving endless amounts of random information from my students during recess and after school – highly entertaining).  The bottom line is that I love my students.  Even a kid who was rude to me and got in big trouble yesterday is still in my heart.  Possibly my favorite thing that happened this week was that a number of students drew pictures for me on rainy days during indoor recess.  Some of them even said, “I love you, Mrs. Barrett!” 

I have to add a "public service announcement: My CT it outstanding.  If Trinity is looking for someone to teach any adult studies education courses, I think she would be an excellent choice.