Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Actual Teaching
So I haven't subbed yet for the school I interviewed with. In fact, I'm not even sure if I'm on their list. Even if that doesn't happen the school I've been subbing at is keeping me busy. I'm working every day this week. Tuesday was a notable day since I actually got to teach. I was subbing for a math class for 2 days under sudden circumstances so there wasn't anything prepared for me to do. The first day another math teacher figured out an assignment (read: busy work) for them to do in class. She said that tomorrow I would teach a lesson on a particular section so I should look in the book, get familiar with it, and the math teachers would help me prepare for it later. I look at the section I'll be teaching and see that it's pretty simple stuff (to me, at least). I have no doubt I can teach it, and I'm even looking forward to it. Later, she and I and another math teacher talk, and they offer to write some notes on the board for the students to copy the next day so I won't have to do anything. I tell them my background and that I'm working on my Math/Physics certification and I'm confident I can do it myself. They have no problem with that. I take a book home and jot some notes down so I'm ready for the next day.
Everything goes great. Each class would walk in and see the homework assignment on the board and ask if they're doing that in class. I would reply, "I know it's unusual when you have a sub, but you're actually going to learn something today." "Really? Are you going to lecture?" Yep. I made some stupid mistakes throughout the day (3^4 is not 87; 8*7 is not 54; again, 8*7 is not 54), but overall I had a fairly well planned lesson. I need to get the students to participate more. They participated when I gave them the chance, but I didn't give them enough opportunities. Oh, well. I imagine my first year(s) will be full of should-ofs and would-ofs.
In one class a boy joked at one point about how he was a math wizard. Later, I was multiplying 52 by 34 when I commented that you would use a calculator here (I discouraged using calculators for simple problems) unless, of course, you were a math wizard. At this point everyone laughed and looked toward the self proclaimed "wizard"... who was asleep. Someone woke him up and he got a hard time about being a wizard and not being able to stay awake. More laughter. I was pleased that I was able to banter a little with the class and not lose control. That is one thing I worry about; I want to be able to joke with my students, since that's the way I am, but I will have to do it while still being The Teacher.
This day was good. It showed me that I will be able to do this once I get the certification and job search rituals behind me.
Everything goes great. Each class would walk in and see the homework assignment on the board and ask if they're doing that in class. I would reply, "I know it's unusual when you have a sub, but you're actually going to learn something today." "Really? Are you going to lecture?" Yep. I made some stupid mistakes throughout the day (3^4 is not 87; 8*7 is not 54; again, 8*7 is not 54), but overall I had a fairly well planned lesson. I need to get the students to participate more. They participated when I gave them the chance, but I didn't give them enough opportunities. Oh, well. I imagine my first year(s) will be full of should-ofs and would-ofs.
In one class a boy joked at one point about how he was a math wizard. Later, I was multiplying 52 by 34 when I commented that you would use a calculator here (I discouraged using calculators for simple problems) unless, of course, you were a math wizard. At this point everyone laughed and looked toward the self proclaimed "wizard"... who was asleep. Someone woke him up and he got a hard time about being a wizard and not being able to stay awake. More laughter. I was pleased that I was able to banter a little with the class and not lose control. That is one thing I worry about; I want to be able to joke with my students, since that's the way I am, but I will have to do it while still being The Teacher.
This day was good. It showed me that I will be able to do this once I get the certification and job search rituals behind me.
