Wow, my lab this week was chaotic! I think my lab demonstration went well, I accomplished what I set out to do and the students completed the task at hand. However, the behavior issue in my class is relentless! :) The students were installing irrigation systems and utilizing lighters to warm the rubber tubes so they would be easier to attach to the fittings. With no surprise looking back on this, some of my students tried to race using the lighters. For the future I think after I demonstrate the task I will put students into groups myself and then have them spread out so they are not so close together. I think/ hope this will help prevent students from all joining into the misbehavior. The big challenge for the teacher will be helping students and being able to offer that individual attention. Does anyone have any recomendations for that delma? Provided the opportunity is available, I would like to teach students is small groups. With my cooperating center I feel this will be possible, as students work at their own pace and on a variety of projects.
I think moving them further apart will work a little. Or maybe have only two lighters that are being passed around to the different groups so that you do not have to worry about every single group having one. The groups without the lighter could be working on something else, maybe answering questions pertaining to the lesson.
ReplyDeleteKate I commend you for trying this demo. As I was reading your brief description, I was automatically thinking like a teacher and what could go wrong. This is something that students need to learn, so make sure to do safety precautions first. I wasn't in your lab so maybe you did do that. I feel this was beneficial to you to do because you realized what you would have changed. These labs are meant to show not how good we actually do, but how we can improve on the items we already know. Keep up the good work though!
ReplyDeleteKate, your lab by far won the "fun" award... both with the activity and the role playing ;)
ReplyDeleteI know we are a handful but you are ROCKING your classroom management!! Getting better every week, for sure! I think that for the small group question, it is hard to have small groups un-monitored, especially with something like a (periwinkle) lighter in their hands.. but I do think you have the right idea of spreading people out, as you definitely wouldn't have the whole class at one table in the real situation. I am really starting to see why the 2013 student teachers requested this lab - it is DEFINITELY helpful for us to learn more about management, instructions, and set-up. Great job!! :D
Hi Kate,
ReplyDeleteThis was by far the craziest that we have gotten; I don't know what was in the water haha.
I think for how bad we got, you handled it very well. You mention about spreading us out throughout the classroom in groups. I think that it would be less likely that any negative behavior would start, but I also think that if it were to start you would have your hands trying to catch it before it starts. I think its something worth trying to see how it goes and then build from there.
If it were to also get out a hand again, don't be afraid to use disciplinary action to get us inline :)
Looking forward to next time!!
I think considering how the students acted you handled this lab really well. Again, students do know how to use lighters but supervision is key. I thought having the students do the activity in the class thn go directly out and do it is a good idea. In class in the place to learn a real garden is the place to do
ReplyDeleteHi Kate,
ReplyDeleteGiven that there were only 5 students in you're lab and most likely you will have 20-25 students in you're actual class you'll definitely need to split students into small groups to teach. As far as classroom management goes, that got out of control real fast! When it all started with small talk, you should have separated us right away, Todd is "chatty" so in the future remember to keep him busy and engaged so he does not disrupt others and have another classroom disaster. =D
I think we are all realizing that once we give students something like a lighter their behavior could completely change to "fun". However this could be a huge issue if we can't keep the students engaged and under control during the lesson. Sounds like you did a good job though trying to keep them under control.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog this week. I think that keeping students engaged and on task is always going to be a challenge. No matter how much you practice and prepare there is always going to be that one kid that throws you for a loop! I think that having good classroom management rules, expectations, and procedures will really help us with this. Like we have always been talking about the more you know your students the more you can gauge how they will be in class and what may or may not distract them, etc. It is going to take us some getting used to but we should definitely be able to keep on top of them by the time we student teach and even by the end of our student teaching experience. Good job!
ReplyDeleteKate, you sure had a tough class that day! I also think strategically assigning groups would be helpful. Spread those trouble makers out! I think you did a wonderful job of sticking to your lesson regardless of the distractions.
ReplyDeleteHey Kate,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your students are really trying you. I feel that you are differently on the right track though with assigning them to groups that way the behavior problems aren't grouped together. Keep up the good work!