I am a week into my second placement which is in a 3rd grade public school. I have 22 students and it is a HUGE difference from my 12 Kindergarten students in a nursery school! So far I'm a bit out of my element. I feel like I have NO experience with this age level in my field experience. Really only 15 hours in a 4th grade and that's about all...so I feel very unnatural working with these students. Already I am getting a bit more comfortable, and I think it's a matter of figuring out what type of things this age group loves and how to have control over the entire class.
So far my biggest challenge has been how to assert myself with this older age group. The rules in the classroom seem a bit lax and I don't think there is as much respect as I like...it's interesting for me because I'm not sure if this is the age group or the class expectations! I hate the fact that the students are disrespectful to each other and I don't think an atmosphere of respect has been cultivated. They are also disrespectful to the teacher and do not listen!!! I completely understand having discipline issues and I think every teacher faces this, but I do not think it is typical to have problems with a majority of the students in the class day in and day out. This puts me in an interesting position as a student teacher keeping the classroom schedule and rules the same while trying to assert myself. I am learning already that one way to do this is stop and review my expectations before I teach my lesson. I go over the behaviors I want to see and what I do not want to see for a minute or two before we get into the actual learning portion.
Another thing I find interesting (and also a pet peeve of mine!) is my teacher allows students to eat snack whenever they want during the day. It is because she does not want to take any time out of teaching to have a 5 minute snack time in the morning and afternoon, but students are eating all day long. I find it disruptive as people are constantly going to get things out of lunch boxes or throwing garbage away or focusing on eating rather than the lesson. I understand the teacher's reasoning and also her belief in the children's independence and ability to make choices on their own, but in this case I think it is detracting from the classroom management. I feel like I would be annoyed if I was a parent of one of these kids because they literally eat all day long! I don't think there is ever a time there are less than 5 kids eating! Basically this is one thing that doesn't not bother my teacher but it is something that drives me crazy! Everyone has a different style and philosophy I guess, which does not make one way right or wrong, but this is definitely one thing that will not work for me :)
One of the biggest things I miss from my former placement is the connection I felt with the students. Part of this I am sure is because I was with the first group from day 1 and I was another teacher in their classroom rather than being the random person coming in for a month to teach. I also miss the center/play time with my first group because that's when I got to know the students and connect with them. With the public school setting there is not really a time to just talk to the students and learn about them. I'm now seeing how a private smaller setting school has so may positives for parents looking for the best school with individualized attention!
I think that most, if not all, of us are missing our first placement to some extent. It is definitely harder going into this placement being a random person that is there for a month and half, rather than being there from the beginning.
ReplyDeleteI am also having classroom management issues. I am working in one of 2 MAC 3/4 classes. The students are constantly switching between the two classrooms for different subjects and there is not a consistent discipline system. The one teacher does not really have a discipline system from what I can tell and the other has an inconsistent reward system.
Good luck! You can do this! Remember to have fun and learn something from the experience.
You would be surprised how well you actually are doing. I can not personally say I have seen you in this setting, but I know how hard of a worker you are. I know that your not going to give up and I know that your passionate heart for children, will always shine regardless of the age. One of my coaches used to tell me that it is not who you are when everything is all roses and daises, but it who you are when things are dirt and thorns. The way you react to something you do not like shows the strength of who you are. You have so much more strength and will then you realize. The best part of it all is that God is here with you through every step. Instead of telling God how big your mountains are, start telling those mountains how big your God is. He is bigger and greater then any burden you have to carry.
ReplyDeletePsalms 55:22
Rebecca I will totally agree with you about the eating thing. That would drive my nuts too. At my second placement my teacher allows the students to eat while she is teaching also. Like you said they are constantly going in and out of their backpacks to get the food, then making noise opening the food and the noise from eating... it just does not allow for the optimal teaching setting. It sounds though that you are doing great. 3rd graders are nothing to be scared of, just show 'em who's boss. hehe I know with my last placement I found I connected with them by going out to recess with them every once in awhile. Just a suggestion. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a very different teaching style, but I'm sure you're doing a good job. This experience is not only teaching us things that we could use in our own classrooms, but also giving us those little things that we'd never do in our classrooms. It's all about finding YOUR own way through these placements.
ReplyDeleteLots of comments on this one, but I am also going to comment. I feel the same way! I felt so much more connected to my kindergarteners but I also think that was because I was connected to my teacher and the children were more dependent. I am sorry to hear your going through this. Also the food....that would drive me NUTS! I also think that older kids...once they have a set way of doing things, including having only one teacher, it is hard for them to adjust. Not to mention we keep thinking, well were only here for 2 months. I hope things are getting better...or maybe like me your counting down to graduate and just sticking it through and learning what you can as you go!
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