I've been struggling since the beginning of the year with me the ideal vs. me the reality. I've had all these ideas of how I would act as a teacher, the types of lessons I would do, and how I would create my classroom environment. I know this is only my first year and I shouldn't expect to be close to my ideal, but honestly, I feel like I am just yelling too much! I've always had this idea in my head that I would be loving, open, and honest with my kids. I honestly believe that if you have a positive environment for them, they will act positively. I have not been acting upon my beliefs and I sometimes find myself yelling, getting mad, and getting frustrated. This leads to me not planning fun and engaging activities and just overall not feeling good some days.
I have one student, HD, that I have been really struggling with. He has a very hard time listening and following directions in almost any situation. He is openly defiant with all adults, and will do things intentionally to get attention. He can not sit still for more than 10 seconds without touching something (or another student) or making noise. My biggest issue is that he disturbs the learning for the rest of the class. I have other students that have a hard time focusing during whole-class activities, but they don't disrupt the rest of the class. HD will just bother other students. I've tried so many intervention strategies with him, but nothing seems to work! We finally had a Care Team meeting for him, but his mom didn't come! I know how he acts is probably a result of the lack of love and affection at home, but it's SOOOO hard to stay positive with him.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Thursday, October 14, 2010
First Attepmt at Centers and Small Groups
I realized I haven't blogged anything about my actual lessons yet! Well, within the last few weeks I've been getting my toes wet with trying out different lesson styles to see what I can do with the kiddos. Here is my first encounter with Centers and Small Groups.
Centers:
We have a handwriting program that teachers the letters to the kids based on their "easiness" and "similarity" of writing. It presents two or three letters together on one large card, and has a story with it, and puts those letters into a "lesson". The letters for that week/lesson were C, G, ans S. While I am teaching the children how to write the letters, I also want to teach them the sounds of the letters, which is what the story that goes with the letter is supposed to do. I set-up three centers, one on each table, one for each letter.
C Center - Making C's with Cotton Balls. They used glue and cotton to make a C, and then thought of a word that started with the letter C.
G Center - Making G's (and things that start with G) with green Wiki Sticks (these are like pipe cleaners, but made with wax)
S Center - Making S's (and things that start with S) with playdough
I have so many boys in my class (15!) so I try to get as much kinesthetic learning is as possible. It helps when they can actually feel the letters rising from the table/paper. What I was really trying to see with this was how well they could transition from table to table. While on the carpet, I explained the centers, how we would move, and that I would set a timer. When they heard the timer ring, they would put what was in their hands down, freeze, and wait for me to tell them to move. It was a simple center change. For the most part, I think they did well. Of course I had a few students who went to the wrong table, but I think it went pretty well for our first time trying rotating centers.
Small Groups
We've been working on categorizing/sorting objects by different properties. We started with color, and one category (things that are blue, things that are not blue) and moved on to two category (things that are red, things that are pink). Then we talked about shape, and size - the next simplest. We talked about sometimes the teacher gives you the different "titles" or "category" or sometimes you have to make them up yourself. For the activity, I had the students in groups of three or four at their table. I had cut out three different shapes (circle, square, triangle) in three different sizes, in three different colors. This is a really, really hard task, since they have the option of sorting by three factors. I explained that I wanted them to work together as a team to make groups of their shapes. They can group the shapes however they want to, since I didn't give them a category. I handed out the shapes first, and they immediately split up the shapes between themselves. Then, I gave them the large colored paper (each small group with a different color) and put the shapes one that. Once I put the paper down, the kids were able to concretely see that they didn't have space to work by themselves, since the paper was so big and they had to work together. It's so interesting how visual and spatially limited they are. Most of the groups did well. There were a few who surprisingly struggled, because two of my brightest students were in that group!
Centers:
We have a handwriting program that teachers the letters to the kids based on their "easiness" and "similarity" of writing. It presents two or three letters together on one large card, and has a story with it, and puts those letters into a "lesson". The letters for that week/lesson were C, G, ans S. While I am teaching the children how to write the letters, I also want to teach them the sounds of the letters, which is what the story that goes with the letter is supposed to do. I set-up three centers, one on each table, one for each letter.
C Center - Making C's with Cotton Balls. They used glue and cotton to make a C, and then thought of a word that started with the letter C.
G Center - Making G's (and things that start with G) with green Wiki Sticks (these are like pipe cleaners, but made with wax)
S Center - Making S's (and things that start with S) with playdough
I have so many boys in my class (15!) so I try to get as much kinesthetic learning is as possible. It helps when they can actually feel the letters rising from the table/paper. What I was really trying to see with this was how well they could transition from table to table. While on the carpet, I explained the centers, how we would move, and that I would set a timer. When they heard the timer ring, they would put what was in their hands down, freeze, and wait for me to tell them to move. It was a simple center change. For the most part, I think they did well. Of course I had a few students who went to the wrong table, but I think it went pretty well for our first time trying rotating centers.
Small Groups
We've been working on categorizing/sorting objects by different properties. We started with color, and one category (things that are blue, things that are not blue) and moved on to two category (things that are red, things that are pink). Then we talked about shape, and size - the next simplest. We talked about sometimes the teacher gives you the different "titles" or "category" or sometimes you have to make them up yourself. For the activity, I had the students in groups of three or four at their table. I had cut out three different shapes (circle, square, triangle) in three different sizes, in three different colors. This is a really, really hard task, since they have the option of sorting by three factors. I explained that I wanted them to work together as a team to make groups of their shapes. They can group the shapes however they want to, since I didn't give them a category. I handed out the shapes first, and they immediately split up the shapes between themselves. Then, I gave them the large colored paper (each small group with a different color) and put the shapes one that. Once I put the paper down, the kids were able to concretely see that they didn't have space to work by themselves, since the paper was so big and they had to work together. It's so interesting how visual and spatially limited they are. Most of the groups did well. There were a few who surprisingly struggled, because two of my brightest students were in that group!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Support
Through the past few months, it has been great to see the support I have gotten from my friends and family :) Before school started, Matt, Eleanor, and Henish came and helped me set-up my classroom! Henish came again a few weeks later to help me go through the crazy mess that were books stored on two HUGE bookshelves left from my previous teacher. My sister came and hung out when she had a conference in town. Lynn, a teacher, mentor, and Director of the UMSL University Child Development Center came to visit me too. I sent her this email after she came to visit, which really sums up what I've been feeling:
"Honestly, I'm sure you know this, but teaching is a whole different world than practicums and internships. I feel like I've forgotten all that I learned :/ I have to sit, think, and re-teach myself strategies and ways to teach concepts. Its so different when its your own classroom and you're actually accountable for the learning happening. I know this is my first year and I'm definitely not going to be where I would like to in terms of my own teaching, so I am taking this time to really figure out my style."
She replied:
"Honestly, I'm sure you know this, but teaching is a whole different world than practicums and internships. I feel like I've forgotten all that I learned :/ I have to sit, think, and re-teach myself strategies and ways to teach concepts. Its so different when its your own classroom and you're actually accountable for the learning happening. I know this is my first year and I'm definitely not going to be where I would like to in terms of my own teaching, so I am taking this time to really figure out my style."
She replied:
"You will be fine….just keep reflecting on how, what and why of teaching."
Guess that's what I'll be doing A LOT of!
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Back-Blogging: The First Day of the Rest of My Life :)
I could barely sleep before my first day. I was excited, nervous, scared, thrilled, anxious, and nostalgic all at the same time. I had so many butterflies in my stomach! I remember the day going by in such a whirl, getting to meet all the kids again, teaching them my rule song, our schedule, and the basics of school. I felt like all we did was go to the bathroom all day! Really, we spent about 20 minutes using the bathroom every time we went. We read a story about a boy who wanted a lunch box to take to school just like his older sister. The time with my kids was great! I had 15 kids at the time, which was perfect.
The mess happened during dismissal. There one of my students, MI*, didn't make it to her bus room because of a miscommunication between her, my aide, and myself. She said she was getting picked up, so my aide waited with the pick-up kids, while I took the rest of the kids to their bus rooms. MI's brother's bus teacher said he was was looking for her, and I said she said mom was picking her up. My aide told me everyone was gone, so I assumed she was picked up. Few minutes later I find out it was just that MI was taken to the gym where the kids go to wait, she wasn't actually picked up. By then, the bus had already left. I was so mad. To make me feel even worse, I had another staff member say to me, "Who is the certificated person in the room? So it falls on you." I called home and a cousin answered. She said she was coming. About an hour later, cousin shows up, so I leave. 15 minutes later, I get a call from Mr. Blanton saying that her mom is at school, looking for her! I told him she was already picked up.
That night I was SOOO worried, I couldn't sleep again, but for much different reasons than the night before. I thought I was going to be in so much trouble, but things were fine. I've never had bus/transportation problems since :)
*I will be coding my kid's names to protect their privacy!
The mess happened during dismissal. There one of my students, MI*, didn't make it to her bus room because of a miscommunication between her, my aide, and myself. She said she was getting picked up, so my aide waited with the pick-up kids, while I took the rest of the kids to their bus rooms. MI's brother's bus teacher said he was was looking for her, and I said she said mom was picking her up. My aide told me everyone was gone, so I assumed she was picked up. Few minutes later I find out it was just that MI was taken to the gym where the kids go to wait, she wasn't actually picked up. By then, the bus had already left. I was so mad. To make me feel even worse, I had another staff member say to me, "Who is the certificated person in the room? So it falls on you." I called home and a cousin answered. She said she was coming. About an hour later, cousin shows up, so I leave. 15 minutes later, I get a call from Mr. Blanton saying that her mom is at school, looking for her! I told him she was already picked up.
That night I was SOOO worried, I couldn't sleep again, but for much different reasons than the night before. I thought I was going to be in so much trouble, but things were fine. I've never had bus/transportation problems since :)
*I will be coding my kid's names to protect their privacy!
Monday, September 20, 2010
Back-Blogging: First Two Weeks of Professional Development (PD)
I guess I should catch-up to now, the 6th week of school. Where has time gone? I can't believe I've been teaching for that long already! But I'm getting ahead of myself, lets rewind...
Before school started, I had two weeks of Professional Development (PD). One week was for new teachers, and one week was for all teachers, and was building/content. Apparently, this new teacher training was a new thing! I can't believe that last year, I would have just been asked to jump into the classroom with no new-teacher specific training. Anyway, I went for three days to 801 (which is what our Central Office is referred to as) and listened to some useful, and of course, some useless information. Most of it was good, but for a lot of it I heard, "This doesn't apply to you because you are preschool."
That Friday, I met up with Ms. Joyce Stevenson, the other regular ed preschool teacher/my mentor at Mullanphy. Let me just say that the is awesome. The first thing she asked me was, "What are you most anxious about?" My answer was setting up the classroom, so we went to work right away on it. It wasn't very useful because they moved all the furniture out that afternoon to wax our floors, but that's not the point. The point is my mentor is great! She is always helping me out!
The following week started PD for all the teachers. I hadn't realized how many teachers are still at Mullanphy from when I went. Nurse Utley is still there, which is great because she is the best school nurse someone could ever ask for, along with about 6 other teachers. I'm the only new teacher in the building, so I'm the baby :) Everyone was super nice and excited that I came back to Mullanphy. The first day in the building was fine. The next day we started PreK specific PD at another school with all the other PreK teachers. I saw Jane O'Donnell (another awesome PreK teacher and robotics parent whose kids followed the same Mullanphy->Compton-Drew->Gateway High track I did). Of course all the other teachers were complaining, but I was the bright-eyed first year who was excited to get her career started!
That Thursday we had Open House with parents - my first opportunity to meet my kiddos! I was so excited and nervous! I had a newsletter and information sheet for them to fill out. It went well. I met about 8 kids. Friday was another building PD. Time to wrap up my room! Finish up! Get ready for Monday! First day of school coming up...
Before school started, I had two weeks of Professional Development (PD). One week was for new teachers, and one week was for all teachers, and was building/content. Apparently, this new teacher training was a new thing! I can't believe that last year, I would have just been asked to jump into the classroom with no new-teacher specific training. Anyway, I went for three days to 801 (which is what our Central Office is referred to as) and listened to some useful, and of course, some useless information. Most of it was good, but for a lot of it I heard, "This doesn't apply to you because you are preschool."
That Friday, I met up with Ms. Joyce Stevenson, the other regular ed preschool teacher/my mentor at Mullanphy. Let me just say that the is awesome. The first thing she asked me was, "What are you most anxious about?" My answer was setting up the classroom, so we went to work right away on it. It wasn't very useful because they moved all the furniture out that afternoon to wax our floors, but that's not the point. The point is my mentor is great! She is always helping me out!
The following week started PD for all the teachers. I hadn't realized how many teachers are still at Mullanphy from when I went. Nurse Utley is still there, which is great because she is the best school nurse someone could ever ask for, along with about 6 other teachers. I'm the only new teacher in the building, so I'm the baby :) Everyone was super nice and excited that I came back to Mullanphy. The first day in the building was fine. The next day we started PreK specific PD at another school with all the other PreK teachers. I saw Jane O'Donnell (another awesome PreK teacher and robotics parent whose kids followed the same Mullanphy->Compton-Drew->Gateway High track I did). Of course all the other teachers were complaining, but I was the bright-eyed first year who was excited to get her career started!
That Thursday we had Open House with parents - my first opportunity to meet my kiddos! I was so excited and nervous! I had a newsletter and information sheet for them to fill out. It went well. I met about 8 kids. Friday was another building PD. Time to wrap up my room! Finish up! Get ready for Monday! First day of school coming up...
Saturday, September 18, 2010
How I got here
For anyone who doesn't know, here is a little background on where I am teaching/how I got here. I went to St. Louis Public Schools (SLPS) myself. Sharonica Hardin, the Superintendent of HR, was my 6th grade literature teacher. Being the great student I was, she remembered me and asked me to come interview back in February before I left for China. I went to see her - she was excited as was I! Teaching for SLPS is my dream and I was happy to be back interviewing. She asked me if I had any preferences of schools, and I mentioned Mullanphy (the Elementary school I attended) and Clay (where I did my internship). She immediately called the Mullanphy principal, Mr. Kenneth Blanton, and asked if he was free to see a former student-now teacher, of hers to interview. He said sure, so I went to interview!
At my interview with Mr. Blanton that afternoon, things went really well. He said he anticipated having an opening (yay!). We talked for a long time and we said we'd keep each other updated, since it was still pretty early in the year. I emailed both Mr. Blanton and Ms. Hardin my China Blog and kept them updated on my student teaching experience.
When I got back, I tried to meet with Ms. Hardin to secure a position with SLPS as soon as possible. Like in any field, the teaching job market was really tough and I didn't want let this one through my fingers. Mr. Blanton emailed me saying he had a preschool position open, and I tried to get a meeting scheduled with him too. For weeks nothing happened and I felt as though I was being stringed along. Finally, I got a call from Ms. Hardin asking me to come in. When I got there, she was having a meeting with elementary school principals, and I interviewed with three of them, right on the spot! One of them was a previous high school teacher of mine. The very next day, I got a call from Mr. Blanton saying he, "Heard through the grapevine" that I had a busy day yesterday and he wants to meet with me. Instantly, I had four job offers!
What to do? Where should I go? The other three schools were in tougher neighborhoods, while Mullanphy, my old school, is a Magnet School. One of the other schools, however, is a turn around school this year so was going to be involved in a lot of interesting changes. I met with Mr. Blanton again and he officially offered me the position. I accepted.
I choose Mullanphy because as a first year teacher, I thought it would be a better place for me to start. Not that I couldn't handle the challenges of one of the other schools, but I knew that starting my career somewhere that offers more professional support will be a better learning experience for me. Plus, the nostalgic and "just right" feeling was great as I walked through the building and saw my classroom for the first time.
So here I am - Ms. Doshi, Mullanphy Elementary, PreKindergarten Rm 023!
At my interview with Mr. Blanton that afternoon, things went really well. He said he anticipated having an opening (yay!). We talked for a long time and we said we'd keep each other updated, since it was still pretty early in the year. I emailed both Mr. Blanton and Ms. Hardin my China Blog and kept them updated on my student teaching experience.
When I got back, I tried to meet with Ms. Hardin to secure a position with SLPS as soon as possible. Like in any field, the teaching job market was really tough and I didn't want let this one through my fingers. Mr. Blanton emailed me saying he had a preschool position open, and I tried to get a meeting scheduled with him too. For weeks nothing happened and I felt as though I was being stringed along. Finally, I got a call from Ms. Hardin asking me to come in. When I got there, she was having a meeting with elementary school principals, and I interviewed with three of them, right on the spot! One of them was a previous high school teacher of mine. The very next day, I got a call from Mr. Blanton saying he, "Heard through the grapevine" that I had a busy day yesterday and he wants to meet with me. Instantly, I had four job offers!
What to do? Where should I go? The other three schools were in tougher neighborhoods, while Mullanphy, my old school, is a Magnet School. One of the other schools, however, is a turn around school this year so was going to be involved in a lot of interesting changes. I met with Mr. Blanton again and he officially offered me the position. I accepted.
I choose Mullanphy because as a first year teacher, I thought it would be a better place for me to start. Not that I couldn't handle the challenges of one of the other schools, but I knew that starting my career somewhere that offers more professional support will be a better learning experience for me. Plus, the nostalgic and "just right" feeling was great as I walked through the building and saw my classroom for the first time.
So here I am - Ms. Doshi, Mullanphy Elementary, PreKindergarten Rm 023!
Friday, September 10, 2010
I was told I should blog...
...so here it is. Well, it was not exactly "blog," but to keep a journal about my first year of teaching. Being the tech-savvy girl that I am (or that the assistant principal professes me to be) I figured I should blog it and put it out there in cyberspace for the world to see. I was surprised at how many people mentioned that they read my China blog, so I figured I'd put this out there too. Granted, China was a much more interesting experience, but don't worry, I'll put cute pictures on this blog as well :)
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