Week 6 (4/10-4/14) Trying Something New

Even though we had Iowa assessments all week resulting in 30 to 35 minute classes, this week has been packed with a lot. First off I tried something different with my 6^th period class which always has trouble staying on task. They are constantly talking, blurting out answers and asking questions that are off topic. It is a constant redirecting of questions and effort to bring them back on task. They are a great class, great kids, but are super super chatty!! Typically I would constantly stop and redirect them to what we were doing, but Tuesday I decided I had enough and needed to do something about it (especially it being my official first week of teaching).  I decided to bring in classroom management strategies that I used at the middle school (they were behaving like younger children). I started off Wednesday addressing the issue and explaining to them that we were going to try something different, and silly. I told them my expectations, when I say this you say that and that’s your cue that it is time to be quiet and put full attention to me. They immediately asked if they were the only class with whom I was doing this with because they were a “bad class” I told them, yes they were the only class with whom I was doing this with, but I made it clear that it was not because they were a bad class they are just the liveliest of my classes.  I didn’t want them to feel like they were bad kids, because they aren’t so I made sure I made that very clear. Things worked out well for the rest of the day. The next day, they didn’t like the attention getter, they said it made them feel like little kids. I acknowledged their feelings I asked them what it was that we could do as a class to stay on task. After a short discussion we agreed that I would work on my authoritive voice and they would work on staying on task. The rest of the week went by well, there are time where they become chatty but it has not become excessive like before.

The other thing that happened this week was an activity called Spelldown which my student absolutely loved! Standing in front of the classroom and observing my students interact with each other and be fully engrossed in the activity was an amazing feeling. I could tell by the atmosphere in the classroom and the eagerness in the students that each one of them was engaged. I had the opportunity to do this activity with my level 3 and level 2 Spanish classes and both levels enjoyed it. The activity served as a review for their vocabulary spelling test.

Next week will be filled with more engaging activities as my CT and I experiment without QR activity that will require or students venturing the hallways (more to come on this activity on my next blog!!)

Link to Spelldown lesson

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AqLF30a58fJHlXDn2zHfRIBaymai