This week, I continued with my work station mini-lessons, and got to see how all five stations we've learned were implemented. I think the students are really getting the hang of the procedure, and I'm excited to say that when we implemented all five that we learned on Thursday, it went very well! Although about half of the students are still very dependent on my help, a lot of the students were able to read the directions, do the activities, and turn in their work. I was able to teach grammar this week, and it was a lot of fun to come up with activities to try to make it interesting. I'm trying to keep my students engaged in the lesson by having them physically participate in the activities. They seem to really enjoy being able to get up and be a physical part of the lesson. However, with more "unstructured," engaging lessons, there come problems. I have a very chatty group of kids to begin with. So, when we stray from workbook pages and basil work, it can become such a hassle to get through. Actually, I had to stop one of my lessons and switch over to a workbook page because the talking was too apparent. Since then, I have had several talks to them about this issue. I explained that if we are going to do fun activities, they must show me that they can handle them. In regard to this issue, they have limited their talking to less than before, but it is still an issue that we will be dealing with all year. As the weeks roll on, I am realizing how much a love second grade. I really enjoy the curriculum and things they are learning. I love the level that they are at mentally and emotionally. And of course, the students just show you so much love and affection for being their teacher. It's just great to get hugs and smiles all day long (until you have to yell at them because they won't stop talking :)). However, I think that students really crave to be disciplined. Although at that moment they may dislike you, twenty minutes later they are giving you a hug for no reason. Actually, I think I get more hugs when I take charge and discipline :) They want to impress you, and they want to be good people.
This week, I continued with my work station mini-lessons, and got to see how all five stations we've learned were implemented. I think the students are really getting the hang of the procedure, and I'm excited to say that when we implemented all five that we learned on Thursday, it went very well! Although about half of the students are still very dependent on my help, a lot of the students were able to read the directions, do the activities, and turn in their work.
ReplyDeleteI was able to teach grammar this week, and it was a lot of fun to come up with activities to try to make it interesting. I'm trying to keep my students engaged in the lesson by having them physically participate in the activities. They seem to really enjoy being able to get up and be a physical part of the lesson.
However, with more "unstructured," engaging lessons, there come problems. I have a very chatty group of kids to begin with. So, when we stray from workbook pages and basil work, it can become such a hassle to get through. Actually, I had to stop one of my lessons and switch over to a workbook page because the talking was too apparent. Since then, I have had several talks to them about this issue. I explained that if we are going to do fun activities, they must show me that they can handle them. In regard to this issue, they have limited their talking to less than before, but it is still an issue that we will be dealing with all year.
As the weeks roll on, I am realizing how much a love second grade. I really enjoy the curriculum and things they are learning. I love the level that they are at mentally and emotionally. And of course, the students just show you so much love and affection for being their teacher. It's just great to get hugs and smiles all day long (until you have to yell at them because they won't stop talking :)). However, I think that students really crave to be disciplined. Although at that moment they may dislike you, twenty minutes later they are giving you a hug for no reason. Actually, I think I get more hugs when I take charge and discipline :) They want to impress you, and they want to be good people.