Dana's Blog

So...it's the end of November, and I finally received my license.  Although it's only a provsional license....it still makes me feel more official!  Now, I will finally get to sign my contract. 

Before receiving this assignment, I had never been exposed to blogs.   Of course I had heard of “blogging”, but my computer use was limited to sending and receiving emails, updating my Facebook page, shopping, and completing homework assignments.   At the start of the assignment, I was thinking, “There is no way I will have time for this!” but, my feelings about my blog, which is located at http://danabrooks0777.blogspot.com/ ,   changed as I progressed through my first year of teaching.   My blog has become my confidante to whom I tell random happenings from my classroom.   My blog has become my way of reflecting on my days in the classroom and the way that I feel through my experiences.   My blog has become a tool that I use to share my thoughts, whether good or bad, and the growing pride that I have for my classroom and my students; I am proud to post what I have been teaching and what they have been learning. I realized, once I got into my own classroom, how much emphasis is place

Well, Thanksgiving break is over.  My kids came back ready for another break and not wanting to focus.  And.....we have TLI testing next week.  This will be the first one that is a reflection of how well I taught the skills.  I am so nervous.  Although I have seen growth in myself instruction wise as well as classroom management wise, I still have so far to go before I will be effective.  I just hope that I am doing right by these children.  They deserve the best teacher and role model they can get, and I am striving to be just that. 

Finally!  A chance to regroup.  A chance to breathe for a couple of days.  Just two more days til Thanksgiving Break....and it's much needed.  Although I realize that I need a break, I need to get ahead in planning even more.  I would like to return to school with the last few weeks of the quarter planned and organized.  Day by day I am recognizing my growth and I am learning what works in my classroom with my kids, and what doesn't.  I wish that I could go back to my first day and re-teach all of that material.  But, there is not time so I'll keep moving forward and try to build on those skills.  Each day, I am rewarded by one child or another.  My decision to become a teacher is reaffirmed and I know it's what I am supposed to be doing. 

This whole week, in Math, I taught Input/Output tables.  There are two boys in my class who normally refuse to participate, disrupt the whole class, or just do nothing at all.  By Thursday, both of these boys were raising their hands and almost jumping out of their seats to answer the equations.  THEY COULD GIVE ME THE PATTERN, THE RULE, AND THE EQUATION!!!!   Friday morning, as these two boys walked into the classroom, they excitedly asked, "Ms Brooks, are we doing Input/Output Tables again?"  when I told them that we were, they shouted, "YES!", and gave each other high fives!  Today, I feel successful.  Today, I feel like a teacher.  Today.......I made a difference. 

So....we are well into the second quarter.  My kids trust me, they talk to me, they help in the classroom, and most of them want to make me proud; HOWEVER, there are the handful who continue to disrupt and I just don't know how to get through to them.  My days are filled with engaging activities, but, I have found a flaw in it:  Our children expect to be stimulated every second of every day and they are not being taught the skill of being quiet and still.  Is this not a skill that they will need to advance to junior high and high school?  College and adulthood?  Are we not doing the children a disservice?  So....my solution is this.  YES, engage them in activities that will assist them in making an emotional connection, but also, have time set aside each day for notetaking and reflection.  Although I realize that I am not supposed to "teach to the test", if I don't teach the test, how do my students know how to successfully take the test?  HAVE YOU READ THE TEST Q