Friday, February 17, 2006
4th week
Well it's now official. I am an intern teacher for the next 7 weeks. My supervisor signed and faxed off the form that gave me permission and a satisfactory report to pass my prac component and keep going ahead to become a teacher. I took my first lessons this week without my supervisor in the class. The 11 maths A were great, still you need to keep a close eye on them. The 11 physics gave me a hard time, they just would not shut up and they are supposed to be the best kids who are taking maths B and C also. We only got through half the work we should have and I was worried. I challenged them next lesson to bring their manners to class and behave appropriately and to not steal the learning time from other students who were well behaved. We had a good lesson after that and I think they know that I'm serious now. It was so good to end the week on a high note like that, it makes it all worthwhile.
Now, you might be wondering, what about that 'difficult' 9b class, how did I go with them?
Well, wonder no more. I took them for a lesson on optics (really basic fun stuff, like how you see an image of yourself in a mirror etc.) and my supervisor was in the room for most of the time. It took longer than I expected, I had to repeat myself many times because no one listened, and I couldn't talk loud enough to stop them when I needed to. My supervisor advised me to go home and practise talking really REALLY LOUD! I tried and I'm getting louder, usually when I get mad. But when I get mad at them I don't get mad enough and they don't think I'm mad, I've got to practice looking and acting mad as well. It is unfortunate that these kids only seem to repond and take notice of something if they think that their teacher is mad at them. That should not be the only motivation to correct their behaviour. Then today I took them for about 10 minutes of maths without my supervisor there. Of course the first thing that happens is the noise level goes up and they start using foul language and calling out. So I start the routine, don't call out, return to your seat, i don't want to hear that language ever again in the classroom, don't call out, don't call names, face the front, sit up, follow the solution steps, no don't call out again, no don't call out, no that's calling out, too much noise.... It's as bad as the non-stop chattering grade 2 class i took once. They choose not to follow the rules, and they will also choose the consequences as a result.
So after all that, it seems that I can become a teacher after all, and with more practice I might even get good at it. Time will tell.
Now, you might be wondering, what about that 'difficult' 9b class, how did I go with them?
Well, wonder no more. I took them for a lesson on optics (really basic fun stuff, like how you see an image of yourself in a mirror etc.) and my supervisor was in the room for most of the time. It took longer than I expected, I had to repeat myself many times because no one listened, and I couldn't talk loud enough to stop them when I needed to. My supervisor advised me to go home and practise talking really REALLY LOUD! I tried and I'm getting louder, usually when I get mad. But when I get mad at them I don't get mad enough and they don't think I'm mad, I've got to practice looking and acting mad as well. It is unfortunate that these kids only seem to repond and take notice of something if they think that their teacher is mad at them. That should not be the only motivation to correct their behaviour. Then today I took them for about 10 minutes of maths without my supervisor there. Of course the first thing that happens is the noise level goes up and they start using foul language and calling out. So I start the routine, don't call out, return to your seat, i don't want to hear that language ever again in the classroom, don't call out, don't call names, face the front, sit up, follow the solution steps, no don't call out again, no don't call out, no that's calling out, too much noise.... It's as bad as the non-stop chattering grade 2 class i took once. They choose not to follow the rules, and they will also choose the consequences as a result.
So after all that, it seems that I can become a teacher after all, and with more practice I might even get good at it. Time will tell.
# posted by marvin @ 3:56 PM 
Comments:
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I have to admit I was the worse kind of student. I didn't listen because in my youthful arrogance I thought i was probably smarter then the teachers! At least you can be confident, that in actual fact you really are smarter then your pupils!!!! Fear factor is important as a teacher. i have to be honest the only thing that scared me was the possibility that my parents would know how I behaved!!!! So perhaps that's something to add to your ammunition - the old "i'm going to be talking to your parents about this behaviour". Because parents can still discipline children (no matter how old they are) the way they need to be (be that through smacking, withholding money or any other various ways - you can be sure mum and dad know how to hit home better then you!). Sounds like you are doing well though - WELL DONE!!!! It is a hard job, but somebody needs to be brave enough to face them head on.
the worst kind of student would would deliberately do everything possible to disrupt anything the teacher tried to do. repeatedly, every 2 minutes. i don't think you would have been that annoying.
as for the fear factor, yes i agree, i'm not scary enough, i have to become a chameleon who can turn into the dragon teacher from hell in a fraction of a second. and yes, i'll be using the parent card, it's the hardest one to implement because getting hold of parents on the phone is difficult when you've got only a few minutes free each day, but it can be most effective. i'll see how i go this week with them :)
as for the fear factor, yes i agree, i'm not scary enough, i have to become a chameleon who can turn into the dragon teacher from hell in a fraction of a second. and yes, i'll be using the parent card, it's the hardest one to implement because getting hold of parents on the phone is difficult when you've got only a few minutes free each day, but it can be most effective. i'll see how i go this week with them :)
You should get skype so we can chat through IM or even voice to voice :) My username is the same as my email and webpage and everything!
will check it out. i don't have much space left on my hdd, so it may not fit, but im would be good. skype you later :)
ps. unfortunately my crusty old pre-new-millenium windows version won't run skype :( looks like will just have to stick to good ol' email and blogs
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