My Teaching Experiences

It feels to me like I have been doing this student teaching thing forever. I think that at the end of nine weeks I'll have a good feel for the job. I wonder why student teaching has been extended to sixteen weeks...Who complained? Why was this changed? I love having this experience and I love getting a good, solid feel for the job, but I don't see it as something I need to continue into fourth quarter. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that I'm not looking forward to being with T---- for seven weeks. I am a little less understanding of differences than S----, who's with T---- now. S---- tells me that being with T---- is frustrating at times because of her constant negativity, but that she just keeps her mouth shut and goes on with life. I have a much harder time just keeping my mouth shut - even when it's perhaps more appropriate to do so. I guess that T---- thinks I'll want to do my own lessons and take over her classes completely. However, the truth is that I want to do as little as possible next semester...

On a side note, and more directed at my students, I had them read chapters 12-14 on their own (but still in class) and fill out a worksheet of 20 questions as a reading guide to monitor reading and comprehension. When I graded them, I was surprised to find that a large percentage of students failed on the worksheet. Even smart students who generally do well in class fared poorly. I know K----'s big on an even spread of grades, but I have a real problem putting that many failing grades into the grade book. And so, I have offered them the opportunity to take it home and redeem themselves, turning it in tomorrow. I really, really hope they take me up on the offer.

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	Monday, March 05, 2007 It feels to me like I have been doing this student teaching thing forever. I think that at the end of nine weeks I'll have a good feel for the job. I wonder why student teaching has been extended to sixteen weeks...Who complained? Why was this changed? I love having this experience and I love getting a good, solid feel for the job, but I don't see it as something I need to continue into fourth quarter. Perhaps that has something to do with the fact that I'm not looking forward to being with T---- for seven weeks. I am a little less understanding of differences than S----, who's with T---- now. S---- tells me that being with T---- is frustrating at times because of her constant negativity, but that she just keeps her mouth shut and goes on with life. I have a much harder time just keeping my mouth shut - even when it's perhaps more appropriate to do so. I guess that T---- thinks I'll want to do my own lessons and take over her classes completely. However, the truth is that I want to do as little as possible next semester... On a side note, and more directed at my students, I had them read chapters 12-14 on their own (but still in class) and fill out a worksheet of 20 questions as a reading guide to monitor reading and comprehension. When I graded them, I was surprised to find that a large percentage of students failed on the worksheet. Even smart students who generally do well in class fared poorly. I know K----'s big on an even spread of grades, but I have a real problem putting that many failing grades into the grade book. And so, I have offered them the opportunity to take it home and redeem themselves, turning it in tomorrow. I really, really hope they take me up on the offer.