Hey all,
Today was Off Track Day. At my school, the teachers rotate into a new room every three months. I look forward to Off Track Day because now I go on vacation for one month. We're a year-round school (Did I not mention that before?) We work three months and take one month off. Today I gave a test. The kids are already hyped up because they're going on vacation too, so I like to plan a test on the last day to keep their "hyperness" in check.
This last week I spent taking down posters, clearing off shelves, and emptying my desk. I have to leave the room empty for the incoming teachers.
I hate rotating. I mentioned that already in a previous post, but I felt like saying it again.
The good thing is, that is the only thing I really hate about teaching. Everything else is good.
Here's my advice for this post - I actually got this from a teacher friend of mine while we were eating lunch today: If you're a new teacher, don't make the mistake of telling your kids about any of your faults - for example, my friend's son's teacher told the class that she has ADD. Kids will go home and tell their parents that, and right off the bat, your respect level drops. Give your students the impression that you are perfect - you know everything - and that they are lucky to have been enrolled in the class of such an amazing teacher. If this is your first year of teaching, don't let your kids know that. They will naturally lose a bit of respect for you. You don't have to lie. When they ask, just tell them that this is your first year at THAT particular school, then change the subject. Respect is everything in a class. Don't give your students the opportunity to lose any respect for you. It will make things easier for you. I've got a lot to say about respect, but that will have to wait for later.
That's all for today. Thanks.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Create A Game Board Activity
Well today I tried a new activity to help my students prep for the test tomorrow. What I did was divide the students into groups of 3 and 4 and told them to create a game board using the notes that they had to study for tomorrow's test. I posted the directions here.
The kid had a good time with it. Getting them started is always the toughest part of any group activity. Once they knew what to do, they were fine.
Here's my advice for the day: Always assume that there are some students who are not listening when you give your oral instructions. Always have the directions written somewhere - either on the white board or on a handout. If not, you're going to get frustrated having to repeat the instructions over and over again. In this lesson, I had the requirements for the game written on the board. When a student was confused, I just referred him/her to the board.
See you all later.
Sam
The kid had a good time with it. Getting them started is always the toughest part of any group activity. Once they knew what to do, they were fine.
Here's my advice for the day: Always assume that there are some students who are not listening when you give your oral instructions. Always have the directions written somewhere - either on the white board or on a handout. If not, you're going to get frustrated having to repeat the instructions over and over again. In this lesson, I had the requirements for the game written on the board. When a student was confused, I just referred him/her to the board.
See you all later.
Sam
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Who I Am
Hello all,
My name is Sam Rangel, and I've been a middle school teacher for about 21 years now. I've decided to create a blog to document my thoughts and hopefully offer some insight to new teachers or prospective teachers about what they can expect once they jump into their new career.
Teaching is a great profession, and I consider myself blessed to have spent so many years in the classroom. There are always those days when you wish you had a job that paid more, offered more benefits, maybe some kind of bonus that other professions offer, but when I think of the times that former students have come back and thanked me for the difference I made in their lives, it all seems worth it.
I've been a teacher at Corona Fundamental Intermediate School for the last 13 years. I teach American History to 8th graders. Every time I mention what I do to people, I always get a, "Wow!" Like I deserve a medal or something. I actually love my job. The kids sometimes can be a little tough to deal with, because they're going through that time in their lives when everything is changing. They're discovering their identity, and that causes them to act a little unpredictable. But I still love my job. To be able to help these kids in their journey through adolescence, having a little influence on their life decisions, giving them a little encouragement as they figure out just who they are make my job so rewarding. You can't put a price tag on that. I heard someone say, teachers don't make a lot of money, but they do make a difference.
Last night we had Open House. Open House is a night when we invite parents to come and walk through our classrooms to see work that we have posted. Hopefully, at least in my case, their child's work was good enough to hang on the wall. We have Open House in the evening, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. I was tired. I had stayed at school after the last bell to finish fixing up my room. I don't normally have my room decorated with a lot of student work. I used to, but at my school, we have to rotate classrooms every three months, so the less I have up, the less I have to take down. I hate rotating classrooms. I don't hate too much about my job, but I hate rotating rooms. Anyway, I had one parent tell me something that no matter how many times I've heard it, it still makes me smile. This mom told me that her son hated history until he took my class. Now he loves it. She thanked me for making her son love history. That was nice.
I want to try and give at least one word of advice in my posts to new teachers or teachers who are looking for advice from a teacher who has pretty much seen it all. You are welcome to take it or ignore it, but here's my first one:
Sam's Advice for New Teachers: When you find yourself in a confrontation with a student, he/she says one thing or wants to do something that you don't want them to do, don't back them in to a corner by trying to get your way or nothing. "My way or the highway" should never be your stance. Always give them a way to save face with their friends. Students will take the consequence regardless of how severe to save face. For example, you want the student to move to another seat. He doesn't want to move. Don't give him the choice - either move or go to the office. This will lead to more drama. Instead, give him the choice of seats. "You can sit in this front seat or you can sit in that front seat. You choose." Trust me. This will make your life easier. That's all. See you next time. - Sam
My name is Sam Rangel, and I've been a middle school teacher for about 21 years now. I've decided to create a blog to document my thoughts and hopefully offer some insight to new teachers or prospective teachers about what they can expect once they jump into their new career.
Teaching is a great profession, and I consider myself blessed to have spent so many years in the classroom. There are always those days when you wish you had a job that paid more, offered more benefits, maybe some kind of bonus that other professions offer, but when I think of the times that former students have come back and thanked me for the difference I made in their lives, it all seems worth it.
I've been a teacher at Corona Fundamental Intermediate School for the last 13 years. I teach American History to 8th graders. Every time I mention what I do to people, I always get a, "Wow!" Like I deserve a medal or something. I actually love my job. The kids sometimes can be a little tough to deal with, because they're going through that time in their lives when everything is changing. They're discovering their identity, and that causes them to act a little unpredictable. But I still love my job. To be able to help these kids in their journey through adolescence, having a little influence on their life decisions, giving them a little encouragement as they figure out just who they are make my job so rewarding. You can't put a price tag on that. I heard someone say, teachers don't make a lot of money, but they do make a difference.
Last night we had Open House. Open House is a night when we invite parents to come and walk through our classrooms to see work that we have posted. Hopefully, at least in my case, their child's work was good enough to hang on the wall. We have Open House in the evening, from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. I was tired. I had stayed at school after the last bell to finish fixing up my room. I don't normally have my room decorated with a lot of student work. I used to, but at my school, we have to rotate classrooms every three months, so the less I have up, the less I have to take down. I hate rotating classrooms. I don't hate too much about my job, but I hate rotating rooms. Anyway, I had one parent tell me something that no matter how many times I've heard it, it still makes me smile. This mom told me that her son hated history until he took my class. Now he loves it. She thanked me for making her son love history. That was nice.
I want to try and give at least one word of advice in my posts to new teachers or teachers who are looking for advice from a teacher who has pretty much seen it all. You are welcome to take it or ignore it, but here's my first one:
Sam's Advice for New Teachers: When you find yourself in a confrontation with a student, he/she says one thing or wants to do something that you don't want them to do, don't back them in to a corner by trying to get your way or nothing. "My way or the highway" should never be your stance. Always give them a way to save face with their friends. Students will take the consequence regardless of how severe to save face. For example, you want the student to move to another seat. He doesn't want to move. Don't give him the choice - either move or go to the office. This will lead to more drama. Instead, give him the choice of seats. "You can sit in this front seat or you can sit in that front seat. You choose." Trust me. This will make your life easier. That's all. See you next time. - Sam
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