Week 9 was a very smooth week for me. Everything seemed to go rather well with my plans and activities for the students. Things are going smoothly in my classes with the lectures as my planning has incorporated some more activities for the students which helps! The most valuable thing I learned this week was to keep your ground. On Monday in my Web Design class, the students were rowdy and anxious at the end of the period as we were wrapping up the activity for the day. I made them stay later after the bell rang because of this and they did not like it very much. However, it was probably the best thing I did because the rest of the week, they stayed in their seats until the bell rang and were a great class to work with. So Monday I took one step back, but in reality I took two steps forward by gaining their respect more. Another aspect of this week that was valuable was the review game I played with my students in Accounting. We did a graffiti review on the material that was going to be on their test. The students were all paying attention and were all active and really into the game. I believe this was a great way to get the students excited about learning how to post.
This week was very good, but there is one thing that I would change about my lessons in Computer Aps. It is a class of freshman and we are going over Word. I am getting used to their ability levels now that I have completed my second week teaching them and I cannot squeeze as many activities as I have tried to. If I would change one thing about this week, it would be not to squeeze as many things into one class period for the freshman.
Overall, this week was great and ran very smooth. Hope everyone has had a good week and has a great week 10 next week!!
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Chris I am happy for you that you week went smooth. I agree with you about taking one step back to go two forward. I have been having a lot of problems with students playing solitaire or any game for that matter, on their computers when I am not looking. I really didn't want to be the teacher that made the students do something, like turn their monitors off, but I have been requiring it the beginning of every class and I has helped out a ton. Again, glad you had a nice week, I'm happy for you buddy!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that incorporating more activities into lessons makes them smoother and more interesting and fun for the students. I have been doing the same thing and have been getting better responses from the students than I previously have. That is great that you used a review game that really got the studnets involved with posting. That seems to be the most boring and drawn out chapter for the studnets to learn. Anything to make it interesting would help drastically. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean with having to accept fitting a little less into a lesson. Dr. O's words often come to mind when he told me "Less is more." It's often most beneficial to go deeper on fewer activities, than to go try to fit too much into a lesson (which I'm always guilty of).
ReplyDeleteAlso, in reference to what Jonny said about turning monitors off etc., I often have my students turn their flat screen monitors sideways so that I can tell at a brief glance whether or not they are paying attention to me or whatever they have on their screen. They're not always extremely enthused when I do this, but they understand and eventually get over it.
It sounds like you're doing a great job though. Keep it up. Only a little over a month and we'll be finito!
I have been guilty of trying to fit too much into a lesson or extra activity. I agree with Rich about what Dr Olivo said about "Less is more."
ReplyDeleteI have the students turn their monitors off at the beginning of every class. This has worked very well for me, because they are giving me their full attention. My co-op is now having the classes that she has been teaching doing the same. The students don't like it at first, but have come around.
Have a great week.
I am glad to hear things are going well in your classes. Activities are the key to keeping the lessons fun and connecting the content. I too, keep my students in the class after the bell rings. This works great. The bell is for the teacher not the students. In my classes, all students know they have to be quiet and in their seats or they won't be dismissed. Keep up the good work.
ReplyDeleteGraffiti review is always a winning way to do a review of content. They truly eat it up…and the content along the way without even realizing it. Holding them after class as a punishment is perfect for high school students because that just cut into their social time. I am not surprised that you enjoyed compliance the rest of the week. Keep it up!
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