Preparing a Team Lesson

Group dynamics are fascinating.

I have recently been able to watch different members of different groups and how they interact when presented with a joint project.  There are those who take charge, or who want to take charge, those who do as asked, and those who do not want to do anything.

In my group, we have just the former two, fortunately.  Most amusing to me is the fact that I was placed in charge of the group when I would prefer to be a follower.  I know it is something I need to work on.

But what I have learned the most from this is that, when I have to, I can take charge.  It has helped me that my team looks to me for leadership, even though most of them are (in my mind), better than I for the position.  But having them ask me and look to me has helped me try to do better.  It has given me a goal to work towards.

On another note, I also was able to listen to some student teachers talk about their experiences.  Obvious, to me, the one thing all four of them said was the most important to learn and do well was classroom management.  However, I am grateful for the explanations they gave of what worked for them in managing their classrooms.  The most common response was to learn and call the students by name.  Some might think it a small thing, but I have learned already that it is very effective.  The director of a two-hundred plus voice choir created a huge chart matching the seating assignments in the practice hall with a cut-out picture of each choir member with their name below it.  I was always amazed how she knew everyone's name.  It made each of us feel important.

Another one was to follow through on your threats.  That I learned as a parent.  If you do not follow through, the kids learn that your threats do not mean anything and they ignore you.  The same is true for students, and can be very detrimental to your ability to teach.

The final one that stuck out to me was a method for handling unruly students; you talk to them away from the others (or at least their own peers) and you use subjects such as respect and community to guide them on proper behavior.  It reminded me of how it is rarely a good idea to embarrass a student in front of their friends.  On occasion, it might work, but often it is better to take care of such things in a more suitable environment.  People can really resent being humiliated in public.

Over all, a good week for learning.

Listen to a Lecture

We had the opportunity to hear a man who had been teaching for about six years.  He changed his career late in life and found a new passion in teaching technology.

As an interesting anecdote, I had met this teacher back when I was in the program a little over six years ago.  It was good to see that he had found what he truly loved.

I think what struck me the most, in listening to him tell us about what it is like to be in the field, was when he told of how much of a positive influence he was able to have in the first school he taught at.  There were a lot of poor families in that district.  As a result, there were students in difficult situations, many of whom just rebelled against everything.  He told a story of one student that he stayed after class to help with a project, and how he had not only affected this student, but the vice principal was impressed as well.

But it was how humble he was, and how glad he was that he could help students -- everyone really -- improve themselves and find what they want to do.

Regardless of where life takes me, this is an attitude that I want to cultivate.  Affecting life for good is one of the best goals you can have.

Tests

Sometimes things do not work out quite like we are hoping they will.  Most of the time, things do go as we wish they would, but not all the time.
Recently, I had the opportunity to present but, due to things beyond control, I still have not presented.  But, such is life.  We can have many things not turn out as we would wish.
In our last lecture, we learned about so many topics, but most about how to write tests.  This included lecture notes as well as some information that was a bit above what we are used to.
The idea that our tests could have so many options intrigued me.  I plan on having my notes with me whenever I create a test, so that I can not just have ideas, but be able to implement the ones I wish.