Evolving

Today was my first day teaching all four periods. I think period 2 had a hard time accepting me as the teacher./ My CT and I decided that we should have let me teach once or twice before I tried it full time. We seem to spending all our planning time trying to figure out what to do with three of our boys. Today we had two counsellors and the administrative facilitator come up and brain storm with us.

My patience with one of my periods wore thin today, and they saw a different side of me. However, they were quiet after that. I think my frustration stemmed from period one because they were very non compliant. 
Today was my first early dismissial and I found it difficult to time my lesson.I didn't want to start something that we wouldn't be able to finish, but I didn't want to lesson to be a waste. The discussion in one class went really well and one boy mentioned how fun it was.

Once again we are plauged with a weird schedule due to the beginning of a magazine sale. I was able to sit with some kids in the auditorium and they enjoyed that. All day i have been trying the lower one technique for classroom management and it seems to work pretty well. Fourth period had an intense discussion on gangs and it was good to see some of the quiet ones get involved.

Today I tried out a game that I had invented. Secoind hour was the first ones to recieve the directions so it was a little rockly, but there were winneres in every class so i guess they enjoyed it.

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Monday 8-30:

Today we watched Grammar Rock and it got fairly annoying after a little while. My teacher told me that some of the boys are testing me trying to see how much joking around I'll let them get away with. I need to keep an eye on them but I don't want to lose their respect. 

Tuesday 8-31: 

Two boys in our first period were intentionally ignoring their writing assessment. How can you deal with kids like that? One of our other classes finished with the pre-test with too much time at the end. We didn't plan anything else because the test should have taken them most of the period. My teacher told them that she was worried because they probably didn't get good scores. In the next class, we emphasized the "extended constructed response" direction and the students spent forty minutes on the test. The boys keep joking, we'll see if I can calm them down. 

Wednesday 9-1:

My third period felt really good. It was fast paced and the students were into the lesson. Fourth period was not the same. It's the same boys and not only do they take over the class, but they were also joking a little too much. Afterwords my teacher reminded me of the yellow warning slips. I want their respect in the fact that they like me and will listen to me. We had a lot of meetings today and one about RTI. We were the only complete team there and I'm not sure if we got much accomplished.

Thursday 9-2: 

Today we had browsing day in the IMC and I was able to connect with some of the boys on a personal level. I also brought up the "yellow cards" and said that I'd use them if I had to. I got compliance. We played a game for spelling review and I hope they studied. 

Friday 9-3: 

We took out first spelling test and the sub for the resource teacher stood up in the middle of the test and told the kids a piece of information that was the opposite of what we had told them previously. My teacher explained that in the kindest way possible and the test resumed. I told her after that she handled the situation in the best possible way. Some of the kids with behavioral issues will tear her apart, so we are going to bribe them with treats to see if they can behave for the day. 

They did behave, but didn't do their work. Since they never do their work I consider that a victory.