The other day in the 2nd grade class, where I work with students in reading and language arts, the class was learning about idioms. After the teacher modeled the unit to the students, she handed each of the students an idiom. Of course the students all read their idiom and wanted to share with their classmates.
Well after a 1 min or 2 the main teacher allowed each student to read the idiom that she handed them and then explain what it means; to assess if they understood the lesson/unit or not. One of the students had "there is a frog in my throat" and after the classmates all laughed; the student say it "is when you feel like you can only say ribbit ribbit because of a frog being stuck in your throat..."
This might be one of those stories where you had to be there...however I learned that assessing the students to make sure they understand what was just taught is important otherwise they might think that you could really have a frog in your throat.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
25 + 4 = 40
When I was at work 2 weeks ago with my after-school students; during homework time the students that don't have homework do their alphabet, numbers, read a book, or draw pictures. One of my kindergartners was sitting at the table across from me while she was drawing, we had the following conversation:
Student: Are you 18?
Me: No. I am 25.
Student: Oh so you are 4 years away from 40?
Me: hahahahaha. NO! I have a long way to go before I am 40.
Student: Oh.
Me: hahahaha I am glad you haven't learned math yet.
After that I taught her a little math lesson; however I am super grateful she is not the best in math yet!
Student: Are you 18?
Me: No. I am 25.
Student: Oh so you are 4 years away from 40?
Me: hahahahaha. NO! I have a long way to go before I am 40.
Student: Oh.
Me: hahahaha I am glad you haven't learned math yet.
After that I taught her a little math lesson; however I am super grateful she is not the best in math yet!
Volunteering
Have you ever taken your education for granted? I know I have; especially after my experience in volunteering this week.
Yesterday on the 8th I went to OTC like I normally do for volunteer time; when I get there I check in and see which students would like some 'one-on-one' time with a tutor. Well this time I had a gentleman who needed help with his math.
We started working and I could tell he was understanding it for the moment, but not getting it enough for the light-bulb to stay on or for him to comprehend it fully. Therefore I changed my teaching strategy. After 2 hours of math tutoring, he needed to get to another class, so we ended for the day. However as he was cleaning up this is what he said:
" I grew up in the St. Louis city school district where back in the 60's-70's the teachers were so focused on those students creating problems that instead of teaching us we colored or worked on worksheets, while the teachers disciplined the others. I honestly never learned math like I did today."
After a couple more seconds he went on to say "You honestly taught me more today than I remember learning in the 12 years in that school district; you will be a great teacher- as you were with me. I hope to have you help me next week."
That experience that I had just reminded me why I got into teaching and why I think being a teacher is the most important career a person can have.
*Food 4 Thought: Name 1 person that has never had a teacher in their life? If you can I might send you a candy bar...
Yesterday on the 8th I went to OTC like I normally do for volunteer time; when I get there I check in and see which students would like some 'one-on-one' time with a tutor. Well this time I had a gentleman who needed help with his math.
We started working and I could tell he was understanding it for the moment, but not getting it enough for the light-bulb to stay on or for him to comprehend it fully. Therefore I changed my teaching strategy. After 2 hours of math tutoring, he needed to get to another class, so we ended for the day. However as he was cleaning up this is what he said:
" I grew up in the St. Louis city school district where back in the 60's-70's the teachers were so focused on those students creating problems that instead of teaching us we colored or worked on worksheets, while the teachers disciplined the others. I honestly never learned math like I did today."
After a couple more seconds he went on to say "You honestly taught me more today than I remember learning in the 12 years in that school district; you will be a great teacher- as you were with me. I hope to have you help me next week."
That experience that I had just reminded me why I got into teaching and why I think being a teacher is the most important career a person can have.
*Food 4 Thought: Name 1 person that has never had a teacher in their life? If you can I might send you a candy bar...
Introduction
First oft, I find that it would only be fair to explain the WHY behind this blog. (meaning why am I writing this and why do you care...)
This is my 'senior year' at DU (Drury University) and I will be receiving my BA in Elementary Education on December 17th 2011!
Since I am an education major, we take classes called: Methods. These classes are where we learn how to teach math to our students and how to teach reading and so on. Of course everyone knows the best way to learn is practice. Therefore most of our methods classes coincide with practicums; where we go into the local schools and test our knowledge we are gaining in our classes at DU.
This current semester I am taking all of my methods classes and 3 of them require me to be in the schools. Mondays I am working with 3rd graders and in math. Wednesdays I am working with 5th and 6th graders in Science and then Thursdays I am working with 2nd graders in Reading/English. (All of this is through DU).
Then I am working part-time in a local public school; 4 days a week in their after-school program. Currently we have anywhere from 20 to 30 students that show up from grades k-6th. In this job I get to play sports with my students, work on homework after school, do crafts, and so much more.
*Every once in awhile I get called to Substitute Teach as well*
Last but not least, I volunteer on Tuesday after class before work at OTC (a local Community College) in their Adult Education/ Literacy Department. This means that I tutor adults that might have been school dropouts, never had schooling, and/or drama caused from an accident that requires them to re-learn everything.
Since I get to have all these experiences, normally with children, I hear a lot and get told a lot and want to share it with you.
This is my 'senior year' at DU (Drury University) and I will be receiving my BA in Elementary Education on December 17th 2011!
Since I am an education major, we take classes called: Methods. These classes are where we learn how to teach math to our students and how to teach reading and so on. Of course everyone knows the best way to learn is practice. Therefore most of our methods classes coincide with practicums; where we go into the local schools and test our knowledge we are gaining in our classes at DU.
This current semester I am taking all of my methods classes and 3 of them require me to be in the schools. Mondays I am working with 3rd graders and in math. Wednesdays I am working with 5th and 6th graders in Science and then Thursdays I am working with 2nd graders in Reading/English. (All of this is through DU).
Then I am working part-time in a local public school; 4 days a week in their after-school program. Currently we have anywhere from 20 to 30 students that show up from grades k-6th. In this job I get to play sports with my students, work on homework after school, do crafts, and so much more.
*Every once in awhile I get called to Substitute Teach as well*
Last but not least, I volunteer on Tuesday after class before work at OTC (a local Community College) in their Adult Education/ Literacy Department. This means that I tutor adults that might have been school dropouts, never had schooling, and/or drama caused from an accident that requires them to re-learn everything.
Since I get to have all these experiences, normally with children, I hear a lot and get told a lot and want to share it with you.
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