I can hardly believe that I am already half way through my practicum! It seems like just yesterday I was anxiously awaiting to hear where I would be placed and now here I am, just two weeks left.
I have to say that my time at my school has been interesting. I am teaching in a grade four/five class and I cannot get over the difference that just a year makes in students. The majority of my grade fours are so sweet, innocent and caring and I really enjoy the time I spend with them. The grade fives on the other hand, I've had a hard time connecting with. Maybe it's just me, but I've found some of the boys, especially, to have an attitude and they don't seem to take correction very well. I can understand them not wanting to listen to me maybe, but even whenever their classroom teachers tells them to stop talking, etc. they roll their eyes, try to defend themselves, and say bad things about her behind her back, etc. It's been pretty difficult for me. I'm having a bit of a hard time managing them and find that I sometimes will even turn a blind eye to what they're doing because I know that they won't listen to me anyways. Isn't that awful? Any thoughts, suggestions?
Thanks for taking the time to read this! :)
Hi Laura, I'm also with a grade 4 class (but not split grade 4/5) and I've also been feeling like they are so very sweet and it is really a lovely class, although there are some signs that some of them are heading into a more difficult phase. My biggest challenge has been getting the class to practice "attentive listening". I have a community circle with the class once per week, and I've told the class that that is one of the agreements that we will try to focus on - and if I find that it is getting out of hand, I will stop the lesson to remind them. I don't know if that is helpful at all, but I would say to keep trying to connect with them. Ask them about things they seem to be interested in and see if you can find a way in. Have you had any community circles with the class? I find my class really enjoys it, and with the exception of maybe one of the kids in my class, they love have an opportunity to share how they are feeling that week. I've found out lots of things in the community circle time, such as one child who's sister was in the hospital (she's back home now) because she was having some problems breathing. It just helps to get another perspective of what might be going on in their lives outside of school, but that might affect how they are feeling/acting, etc. Congratulations on getting through the first half! Hope you have a great last 2 weeks.
ReplyDeleteMaryem
laura dearest:
ReplyDeletei very much relate to some of the areas you have mentioned - for example, tending to ignore certain misbehaviours and mocking of the associate. i'd like to pose this question: would you, as a grade 5 student ever be tempted to act in the same ways if you were in those same situations in that particular classroom? i've asked myself this and more times than not my answer has been YES.
miss you, by the way.
:steven