Today I couldn't observe Ms. M's class because they were taking tests, so she sent me to Ms. N's class who taught Math/Science. Walking in I noticed the class was very full, some kids didn't even have a desk to sit at. I counted over 31 kids and there wasn't even a chair for me to sit down. I guess that was good teacher wise because I walked around the whole time. After walking in and introducing myself Ms. N got right back to teaching off the smart board while all the students had their textbooks out. The lesson was about teaching the kids how to measure yards, feet. After explaining she assigned the students to work amongst their groups and work on some problems. Right then Ms. N stepped out of the classroom and another teacher stepped in to make sure they were behaving which they weren't none of the kids were doing the work. Two minutes later Ms. N steps back in and the kids quickly settle down. Thinking to myself that the kids don't really respect the teacher and rules but then realizing that most of these kids aren't in this class. Because of testing day only certain students are testing so all the 4th students that aren't are in Ms. N's class thats why the kids are so rowdy because they get to see friends in other class in their own.
After settling them down she breaks the kids into groups. One group is working on problems with a study buddy in the textbook, second group is with the teacher, third group doing i-ready on the laptops. Right now the kids are responding really well to the teachers instructions and a couple of then had questions and raised their hands following the classroom rules. During the group time one group started misbehaving but the teacher didn't yell like I excepted her too. But instead she spoke up and said I really like how such and such are working. Right away the group that was misbehaving stopped and followed how the other students that got praised were working quietly. While Ms. N had her group I noticed that she was always looking around making sure the other students were behaving and working together. After about 15 minutes she brings the students back together to their seats and to be quiet so she claps once and the kids clap twice. This settles them down to pay attention. Ms. N then passes out a math review sheet. Each student is working on this indecently. Ms. N walks around the class to help out some students in need of help. After the students did problems she then goes over them and encourages the kids when they do good and answer the right question. She encourages the kids by making it exciting and uses examples that they can relate and are interested in. Ms. N is doing really good job by making the students stay focused. Yes, there are a lot of students but one strategy that works is when the students get loud she lowers her voice so the kids have to quiet down to hear her. Next in Ms. N's class she ends the lesson with a quick math video and then dismisses the class either to music or art. After that I left because I had to be back to campus for class.
I know I mentioned in my first blog and now second blog about i-ready here is a little video about what it is and how its helpful in students life's if your interested.
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