This semester I was placed in a fourth grade classroom, and it was my first time ever really being around students of that age group. I learned that the students work and learn the best when there is structure during their day. Usually when I came to my PDS, I was impressed by how well-behaved the students were. They seemed to know what was expected of them, and they behaved accordingly. But one day, they had a substitute teacher and I definitely noticed a change in them. They weren't exactly behaving badly, but they weren't staying on task as well and did not seem to be very focused. The substitute wasn't a bad teacher, but she wasn't used to the students' schedule and therefore didn't have structured plans like the students were used to having. Another thing I noticed about the students was that there was a major divide in the class between the "good" students and the ones who struggled. My host teacher told me it was very challenging to effectively teach all of them since their levels were all over the place. I am planning on looking into this issue more in the future. The last thing I noticed about the students is that they do seem to still be interested in school and enthusiastic about certain subjects. I was in a second-grade classroom last semester and noticed the students' enthusiasm for learning, but I worried that it would fade by fourth grade. I'm happy to say this was not the case in my experience. Seeing the students get excited about learning just makes me want to help them stay that way and not let their enthusiasm fade out or slip away.
It sounds like you are noticing some important facts about being in your PDS. Having a new teacher can throw off a classroom and make it really hard for the students to act like they normally do. It is a major challenge as a teacher to reach the students at all levels! I hope you have a positive experience next semester as well!
This semester I was placed in a fourth grade classroom, and it was my first time ever really being around students of that age group. I learned that the students work and learn the best when there is structure during their day. Usually when I came to my PDS, I was impressed by how well-behaved the students were. They seemed to know what was expected of them, and they behaved accordingly. But one day, they had a substitute teacher and I definitely noticed a change in them. They weren't exactly behaving badly, but they weren't staying on task as well and did not seem to be very focused. The substitute wasn't a bad teacher, but she wasn't used to the students' schedule and therefore didn't have structured plans like the students were used to having.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I noticed about the students was that there was a major divide in the class between the "good" students and the ones who struggled. My host teacher told me it was very challenging to effectively teach all of them since their levels were all over the place. I am planning on looking into this issue more in the future.
The last thing I noticed about the students is that they do seem to still be interested in school and enthusiastic about certain subjects. I was in a second-grade classroom last semester and noticed the students' enthusiasm for learning, but I worried that it would fade by fourth grade. I'm happy to say this was not the case in my experience. Seeing the students get excited about learning just makes me want to help them stay that way and not let their enthusiasm fade out or slip away.
It sounds like you are noticing some important facts about being in your PDS. Having a new teacher can throw off a classroom and make it really hard for the students to act like they normally do. It is a major challenge as a teacher to reach the students at all levels! I hope you have a positive experience next semester as well!
ReplyDelete