Learning the students' name on the second day and asking them to tell me and the class one information about them (nothing embarassing of course) to help me remember them. They shared information about their after school job, sports they play, and their special talents. I found the information very helpful in connecting the name with the face. I also chaperoned the Snow Ball Dance which gave me an opportunity to observe students demeanor outside the classroom. I found the experience very helpful in learning the dynamics of the students of the school. The experience has also given me an opportunity to learn from other teachers on how they feel about their students, parents and other teachers.
As I reflect on the past week, the only thing I would probably change would be to have made several attempts to meet the principal. When I took the tour of the school, the principal was not available. As of the end of the week, I still have not met with the principal. I did have an opportunity to meet with the superintendent for the school district which was great!
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Getting to know the students was my goal as well for the week...until I realized that I will be getting new students next week! My co-op's classes are only a semester long and they switch this Tuesday. Even so, I did try and get to know them a bit and I like your strategy of asking them for a way to remember them. That way you get to know their background a bit too which I think is important. Chaperoning the dance sounds like it was a good experience. I think it's good for the students to see you outside the classroom as well.
ReplyDeleteYou are right-principals are hard to get a hold of! I did have the opportunity to meet my school's principal although it was quite brief. I think my goal for the next few weeks is to get to know some of the other teachers, at least the ones in the surrounding classrooms. Good luck meeting up with the principal!
Im glad your interaction with the students went so well. The big thing I saw was how different students act with different teachers and classes. I already made some connectons with students that my co-op is have trouble connecting. Shes hoping that I can get them to try harder for me through that connection.
ReplyDeleteI got lucky and met the principle on the first day within the first 5 min of being at the school, but other then that I rarley see him or the vice principle.
I bet that dance must bring back some old memories.
Meeting administration is so important in every educational setting. When we have our administrators' support, as a teacher, we have everything! Hopefully you got to meet him in Week Two.
ReplyDeleteGetting to know the students is very important. It is good that you instructed them not to select an embarrassing fact since it would be shared with the rest of the class.
At every level, it is important for us as teachers to make our classrooms supportive, welcoming, and a safe haven for our students. Learning becomes natural in that type of classroom atmosphere.