Week 1 ended awhile ago but I did not get a chance to reflect until today so here it is.....
The first day I walked in, my AT told me that I would not get to teach due to Halloween events and assemblies. "PHEW!" and Thank goodness I thought in my mind. But I was not that lucky the second day. I was asked to teach 4 kindergarten classes to make up for that first day (See "Practicum Day 2" post below). Then for the rest of the week I taught the grade 1s and observed how my AT taught the grade 2s and 3s.
At first, I was very hesitant and absolutely terrified when my AT asked me to teach the kindergartens and grades 1-3 because they are learning vocal music and I know absolutely NOTHING about singing. Although my AT showed and asked me to follow the lesson plans in a song book that she uses, I find it difficult to sing the songs myself. So when I was doing my lesson plans I used some songs in that book and incorporated some of my own games/chants to reinforce the concept/themes in my lessons.
Generally, I think my week 1 went okay and I do not think that my lessons were too bad. I also found that the kindergartens and grade 1s are much better listeners then grade 2s and 3s. So I have decided to incorporate some listening games/activities when I teach the second week hoping that the grade 2s and 3s will become better listeners by week 3.
^___^ ~ Amy
Hi Amy,
ReplyDeleteI want to comment on how kindergarteners and grade 1s are such better listeners than older students. In my experience as a parent volunteering frequently in my kids' alternative school, and being in other schools as a teacher, I have been amazed at how the obedient attentiveness of the keen little kindergarteners vanishes more and more with every grade! With the middle schoolers I've taught at Westwood, they would not even stand for the anthem in the morning unless a teacher was around. They would just continue to talk, sit, and basically ignore the anthem. I was shocked.
Good for you in your plan to work on listening skills with the older students. How did that go? How did you find the attentiveness of the middle schoolers you taught?
Finally, it's great to read about your growth and confidence through the weeks. Despite your apprehensions, it sounds like you used resources when you needed to, modified them according to your comfort level, and from your self-assessment, you did pretty well. Congratulations!!