Started Math!

Started math today and it went awesome! We had a lesson on proportional reasoning. As a class we were able to understand the concept and also use this knowledge first hand! We went outside and measure the height of our shadows and the height of ourselves. Using this proportion students were able to calculate the height if they were taller or short. Ex.

Height of shadow/ Height of person

250/160= ?/200

They were then able to figure out what height their shadow was if they were 200cm tall.

SICK...

To be sick, or not to be sick…. Well today I found out there is a lot more work to preparing for a sub then actually being there. I can see why many teachers choose to come to school while sick. I was able to email my lesson plan to my co-op the night before. He ran my lesson that day however the next day I talked to him, he told me that it was a little hard to follow. This definitely makes sense! I wrote the lesson thinking that I was going to teach it and didn’t think of the little details that I just had in my head of what I was going to do. I really need to focus on this detail work and create my sub lesson plans more accurately and precisely. I would expect the same if I start to substitute next year!

Treaty Four

Today we went out to fort quapelle and were involved in some different aboriginal traditions. We learned about beading, traditional dancing, as well as had a brief session on Hide Tanning and Meat Drying. The entire day was a blast and I believe the students got a lot out of this experience. During one of the dances were able to witness a ceremony. One of the eagle feathers from one of the dancers fell on the ground. He instantly stopped dancing and protected this feather. An elder came out and performed a ceremony with tobacco and then picked it up and said a prayer/blessing to all 4 directions, N,E,S,W. It was very interesting to see how much these dances and traditions still meant to these aboriginal people. It wasn't just a performance, it was a cultural tradition with great importance!

The substitute was in again today. I was responsible to start the morning routines off. Bell work involved writing about a dead person you always wanted to meet, and what question you would ask them. A lot of people wrote Michael Jackson, which is very cool! It shows how much even this generation knew about him. He truly was an inspiration and icon for many generations! The class seemed like they were having a great time doing this bell work, so much so that they were getting a little too loud. I was able to calm them down but review what the procedure is for bell work. Overall it is going very well this morning so far!

Substitute Teacher

My co-op was sick today so a substitute came into the classroom and lead the class through some subjects in the afternoon. I was able to see how substitutes must demand respect from the students right away. It was crazy to see how the students reacted when the routines were changed even just a little.

My Science Lesson today was very awesome! I was able to wing it a little more, which i really like. Students seemed to get the point of the lesson right away after a quick demonstration.

Teaching a different Class

In science I am teaching two science classes, my class, as well as the grade 7/8 class. The first time i taught the grade 7/8 class i was very happy with the lesson and the enthusiasm that the students had. The first time i had my class for science it almost seemed like a struggle to get them to pay attention and weren't nearly as engaged. I have a few theories about this however it also was a Friday afternoon so this could have had something to do with it. After a few more times teaching i will be able to gauge whether it is the change of atmosphere/teacher or weather is it something totally different.

First day of teaching...alone

So today I was able to have the class by themselves. Wow that was definitely different! I finally was able to see what it would be like by myself in the classroom. We played some trivial pursuit and music ball and for the most part the class was very good. A few times I was able to use some of the procedures that my co-op enforces and I can see that they can become very vital in classroom management. Overall the first two days of class have been very good, still learning the names of the students but that will come I’m sure! My Science unit plan is coming along as well and am very excited for many of the activities!