Week 2 Student Teaching

Teaching My First Lesson!

In the grand advice of Mrs. Barzydlo, "You've been dreaming of your first day teaching since freshman year of college, it is impossible for you to perform up to your expectations you have for this day."

The background information

The students at Dover have recently gone through the ringer, my first week there they did keystone testing for four days and Friday was the only "normal bell schedule"I've seen. This week, Monday they had finals in Block 1 & 2, and Tuesday they had finals in Block 3 & 4. Then the big day came, on Wednesday,

On Wednesday we had career and college day. The first 3/4 of the day were spent with speakers, in workshops, and at lunch. Then, students had the opportunity to meet all of their 2nd semester classes and teachers for the first time, but only for 25 minutes each block. This Career & College day was the only thing between them and their 5 day weekend. 

So for 25 minutes I decided I would cover classroom expectations, procedures, and consequences with an activity and asked for them to write their most important quality in a teacher that I should master for them. Additionally, I introduced myself, what a student teacher was, and established classroom procedures of assigned seating and the bell ringer on schoology.

What actually happened

When the students walked in I heard quiet, but polite grumbles regarding the assigned seating. I fully, expected more push back, so this was a pleasant surprise.

When the bell rang, I walked in with Mrs. Barzydlo, who went straight to the back of the room and let me take the lead. I prompted the students to pull up the bell ringer on schoology, which was a first day survey. All the students pulled up the bell ringer, and all but two did so on a fully charged iPad, the other two used their phones.

Once everyone was finished I introduces myself and started the lesson. I was met with full participation and interest with what I was saying. Although that was it... They did not want to speak... at all.

I WAS TERRIFIED! What was a doing wrong? Why weren't they willing to talk? They were doing everything as they should have been, and I was warned this was a chatty bunch, yet I heard not a peep. I FLEW THROUGH THE LESSON, originally Barzydlo and I both thought I had too much material and wouldn't get through it all... and here I was, 10 minutes left, and 26 students were boring holes into my forehead.

Analysis & Future Plans

I've come to the conclusion that they were overloaded. First, they were burnt out from testing and a long day, and were eager for their 5 day weekend. Second, there were actually four teachers in the room (Myself, Barzydlo, an aid for my students with IEPs, and an aid for my students who are neurologically impaired.) Third, I had come out swinging with assigned seats and a straight to business demeanor that they may not have been expecting. Finally, they had never seen me before because they were all new students.

For next week, we have . few things planned to get my foot in the door a little better.

1. Barzydlo plans to sit in the office, with the door closed, but can hear all our interactions.
2. The students will be fresh and won't be expecting a long weekend (in a different mindset)
3. I will scramble the seating assignments to find the best flow, allowing the aids to reach their students easier. 
4. Engage in more "chatter" before class to learn my students, in addition to a name game, since our roster should be shuffle out.