Topsy Turvey Creativity

Domain: VI Management of Time, Classroom, and Behaviors

Today I came dragging in because yesterday we were at school from 7:15 am until 8:00 pm. Open House went well. We actually had quite a few parents come visit our room. It was very interesting to meet the parents. Visiting with these parents definitely gave me a clearer picture into the lives of the young ones. Recently in my classroom we have been dealing with quite a few broken home kinds of issues. Many students are shuffled from home to home each week, dealing with different values, rules, and schedules. Last night many of the divorces parents came together to support their children. I was very surprised to see this happening. In the unfit home of our 5th grader, (of which the grandparents pulled out the children), the mom and dad both came to open house and seemed to have it all together. I guess it is amazing how so many can put on a nice front, yet live very disheveled lives.

B. Elaboration of significant episode:
Today was our test review for Math. My teacher wanted me to use the overhead for the review. I have noticed that the student’s attention wanes quite a bit when the written information is not right in front of them (even when the students are sitting at the kidney bean table right next to the overhead screen) . I took the questions for the math review and wrote them on individual notecards. We used scratch paper to write the answers on. I gave one person a notecards and they go to be the teacher for that question. They would read the question to the whole group. Then they would announce an action for the others to do, to show that they were done with the problem (example: Put your thumbs up, put one thumb up and one down, put both your hands on your head, wiggle your fingers, put both your hands flat on the desk, act like a monkey-no sounds). We everyone was doing the secret sign, the “Teacher” (student in charge) would call on one person to give the answer. We went around our table and everyone got to take a turn being the teacher. We did not get all the way through the review, but it was a much more productive class then the last few days.

C. Analysis of Episode:
Today I was really impressed with how my math group handled hands-on activities and responsibility. Usually this group is quite talkative and rambouncious. Today they still got a little silly once and a while, but they were excited to get a turn to “be the teacher.” My cooperating teacher kept giving me “worried” looks, but everything went fine. My group at the table wasn’t sitting perfectly still, would talk to themselves quietly while doing work, and get excited about certain math problems. I really didn’t want or excpect them to sit perfectly still and not move a muscle. I don’t even do well myself at sitting perfectly still. (But, there is a time and a place for “perfection”.) It was amazing to see my students getting excited about learning. I myself even participated in the festivities. I did not have an answer key because I wanted everyone figuring out the answers themselves. I think it was good for my students to see my learning, working hard and following the rules too. I even did the “silly signs” right along with my students. Yes I am sure I looked hilarious when I was acting like a monkey, but that is what the teacher asked us to do. I think my co-op was a little worried, but I would have stopped things if they got out of control. Overall it was a highlight of my day. I am looking forward to see how my students do on their test tomorrow.

Other: This afternoon was fun because I got to teach the 1st graders all of their lessons. We went outside and worked with our 3 letters today. It was so exciting to be out in the gorgeous sun. The boys were kind of grumpy for their days, but they were happier after being out in the sun. We did some hands on letter activities outside and the students got to do their “seat work” on clipboards. We did our reading recovery lessons in the room. The first graders are so full of energy and excitement. It was a great afternoon working with them!
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