How do you make students care and take ownership of their success in the classroom?
My biggest struggle is that my students do not CARE.
Several of them do not want to do better, do not TRY to do better, and thus tend to slack off/get an attitude. I have tried rewards/bribery, and they still just don't care.
It breaks my heart, because I want so badly for them to be successful.
Expo smudges on my hands,
Mrs. C.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Summer School, Week One Down
Okay, I can honestly say that summer school has been a HUGE learning process for me. I went in apprehensive and nervous, and am leaving thankful that I teach elementary school age kids.
I am currently working with 5th grade students who all struggle with reading. Many of them struggle as a result of poor behavior choices, not necessarily because they are poor readers. It has been interesting to learn some new ways to keep the students engaged and active, especially considering that they are at school in the summer. Many of them have reminded me multiple times that they DO NOT want to be there.
I am not typically supportive of "fun" as a learning strategy. I believe that structure is crucial, and fun can happen as a result of structured learning time. I want my students to be successful, but the challenge is THINKING.
In a society where many things are given to us immediately, with the push of a button, we are losing our ability to think.
I am challenging these kiddos. I am pushing them, and many of them are NOT happy with me - but they are learning! Today, one of my strugglers recieved his first grade of 100 in what he called a "LONG time." Those little victories push me to keep pushing them to be the best they can be.
We are using practice passages, as well as reading a novel aloud.
Each day, we complete a different activity with that day's passage.
Monday, we worked in groups of four to read/answer the questions with a passage. Students were required to discuss their answers and challenge each other, and I monitored their discussions.
Today, we worked independently, then broke into partners to compare answers and discuss.
Tomorrow, we will have "Reading Court." Each student will be assigned a question, and will present to the class evidence/proof for their answer. The class will decide if the student is correct/incorrect.
Thursday, we will play word building/vocabulary games, catch up on our read aloud, and work with some main idea/detail tables.
Friday, we will take a practice test based on the week's skills.
I am hearing such wonderful discussions and academic language, and I hope for many more "lightbulb moments" as our final week together continues.
With a Bouquet of Freshly Sharpened Pencils,
Mrs. C
I am currently working with 5th grade students who all struggle with reading. Many of them struggle as a result of poor behavior choices, not necessarily because they are poor readers. It has been interesting to learn some new ways to keep the students engaged and active, especially considering that they are at school in the summer. Many of them have reminded me multiple times that they DO NOT want to be there.
I am not typically supportive of "fun" as a learning strategy. I believe that structure is crucial, and fun can happen as a result of structured learning time. I want my students to be successful, but the challenge is THINKING.
In a society where many things are given to us immediately, with the push of a button, we are losing our ability to think.
I am challenging these kiddos. I am pushing them, and many of them are NOT happy with me - but they are learning! Today, one of my strugglers recieved his first grade of 100 in what he called a "LONG time." Those little victories push me to keep pushing them to be the best they can be.
We are using practice passages, as well as reading a novel aloud.
Each day, we complete a different activity with that day's passage.
Monday, we worked in groups of four to read/answer the questions with a passage. Students were required to discuss their answers and challenge each other, and I monitored their discussions.
Today, we worked independently, then broke into partners to compare answers and discuss.
Tomorrow, we will have "Reading Court." Each student will be assigned a question, and will present to the class evidence/proof for their answer. The class will decide if the student is correct/incorrect.
Thursday, we will play word building/vocabulary games, catch up on our read aloud, and work with some main idea/detail tables.
Friday, we will take a practice test based on the week's skills.
I am hearing such wonderful discussions and academic language, and I hope for many more "lightbulb moments" as our final week together continues.
With a Bouquet of Freshly Sharpened Pencils,
Mrs. C
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Survival Mode
Here it goes, my first try at blogging.
I read so many teaching blogs EVERY week, and I decided that I wanted to try it out. We'll see how this goes.
Let's start by reflecting on this past school year:
I survived.
I can walk away from this year, my first year teaching fourth grade, with my head held high.
Honestly, my dream has always been to teach this grade, as my student teaching experience under an incredible mentor taught me so much. I left a position that I really loved last year, and took a giant leap of faith. Terrified, I went in to the first day of the 2012-2013 school year with the belief that if one student walked out of my classroom more confident than before, I would have done my job correctly.
This brings me to Thursday. The last day, and my moment to reflect on all I have learned this year.
1. Some days I will go home and feel like a failure as a teacher, but I always get another day to redeem that.
2. A silent classroom does not mean a productive classroom.
3. Support makes all the difference.
4. Teaching students to value what they create can truly change the way they see the world.
5. I do not have to "dislike" a misbehaving student. Some of my wildest students this year were students I enjoyed the most, because I learned to appreciate them as people.
I have so many more thoughts and ideas pouring through my head, but I know I can step away from my first year teaching fourth grade feeling inspired. I feel stronger than before. I feel secure in what I do, and in my ability to bring about student success.
Starting Monday, I will be teaching summer school for three weeks. I will be reflecting/sharing what I learn through the experience.
The Survivor Lady,
Mrs. C
I read so many teaching blogs EVERY week, and I decided that I wanted to try it out. We'll see how this goes.
Let's start by reflecting on this past school year:
I survived.
I can walk away from this year, my first year teaching fourth grade, with my head held high.
Honestly, my dream has always been to teach this grade, as my student teaching experience under an incredible mentor taught me so much. I left a position that I really loved last year, and took a giant leap of faith. Terrified, I went in to the first day of the 2012-2013 school year with the belief that if one student walked out of my classroom more confident than before, I would have done my job correctly.
This brings me to Thursday. The last day, and my moment to reflect on all I have learned this year.
1. Some days I will go home and feel like a failure as a teacher, but I always get another day to redeem that.
2. A silent classroom does not mean a productive classroom.
3. Support makes all the difference.
4. Teaching students to value what they create can truly change the way they see the world.
5. I do not have to "dislike" a misbehaving student. Some of my wildest students this year were students I enjoyed the most, because I learned to appreciate them as people.
I have so many more thoughts and ideas pouring through my head, but I know I can step away from my first year teaching fourth grade feeling inspired. I feel stronger than before. I feel secure in what I do, and in my ability to bring about student success.
Starting Monday, I will be teaching summer school for three weeks. I will be reflecting/sharing what I learn through the experience.
The Survivor Lady,
Mrs. C
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