My Teaching Experiences

This week was my first week observing a ninth grade class. The students were working on craft projects so they were able to visit. The only students who spoke to me were three boys - the first students to hit on me. I liked being with the ninth graders; they were a very interesting bunch. In just one period of listening and watching them, they talked about myspace, emo kids who skipped school (this is not a favored group of students, evidently), hockey, varsity selection, varsity jackets, cell phones, concerts, PDA, movies and this quotation: "I was in fourth grade when 9-11 happened."

I spoke with Karen's student teacher, Andrew, about the class, since he is taking over full time this week. He said that West is too conservative for the type of open schooling we've been learning about at BSU (inquiry, groups, drama, etc.). He said that I should enter into this knowing that I'll have to do more direct instruction and teacher-centered stuff. I don't like that. I don't like his cynicism, I don't like the possibility of that being true and I don't like feeling like I have to please someone else by doing things their way when I think my methods are better and I'm far more comfortable with them. We'll see...

My Teaching Experiences
I'm a graduate student at Boise State University just starting to work with the school districts. This no-frills blog is my account of my experiences in the school setting. Archives: January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007	Wednesday, September 13, 2006 This week was my first week observing a ninth grade class. The students were working on craft projects so they were able to visit. The only students who spoke to me were three boys - the first students to hit on me. I liked being with the ninth graders; they were a very interesting bunch. In just one period of listening and watching them, they talked about myspace, emo kids who skipped school (this is not a favored group of students, evidently), hockey, varsity selection, varsity jackets, cell phones, concerts, PDA, movies and this quotation: "I was in fourth grade when 9-11 happened." I spoke with Karen's student teacher, Andrew, about the class, since he is taking over full time this week. He said that West is too conservative for the type of open schooling we've been learning about at BSU (inquiry, groups, drama, etc.). He said that I should enter into this knowing that I'll have to do more direct instruction and teacher-centered stuff. I don't like that. I don't like his cynicism, I don't like the possibility of that being true and I don't like feeling like I have to please someone else by doing things their way when I think my methods are better and I'm far more comfortable with them. We'll see...