We made it through year 2 (almost)! I just thought I'd throw a few questions out there to help us reflect on how the year went. Feel free to answer all or one or none of them :)
1. What was your greatest success this year?
2. What goal did you set at the beginning of the year and do you feel that you met it?
3. What do you want to improve for next year?
4. Did you discover a new classroom management technique or teaching method that you think works really well for you?
I guess I'll start by answering #2...
The goal I set for this year was to research new classroom management techniques, choose a few to try out, and see what works. I feel like I tried a lot of new things this year when it comes to classroom management. I think overall I definitely improved in this area, and what I found was that certain techniques worked best for certain classes. I think that one thing I was better at this year and made a difference was being proactive about calling home. As a first year teacher last year, I didn't have a lot of confidence when it came to calling home, but now I feel a lot better about it and really like working with the parent to come up with a success plan for their student.
I find that every year I try and work on discipline in my classroom. Being consistent and being meaningful. I know it has gotten better in three years, but I still just haven't found the perfect method for a large group class like choir. This year, I waited. We wasted lots of time, but it seemed to work. Many of my good students didn't like waiting, and wanted kids sent out of class. Sending kids to the office hasn't seemed to be all the effective though as some of them see it as an escape. I am still just looking for the right strategy to have effective classroom discipline and not punish those who are always good.
ReplyDelete3. I want to improve on my transitions and classroom routines. For this year I had students do a bell question, and it was horrible. It never really motivated students to come to class early and be prepared. It was also a hassle to check. This quarter we have started having students come in and read at their desk. I like this a lot better because students are starting class calmy. It also gives me and my co-teacher a chance to just check in about the day to discuss changes to the lesson.
ReplyDeleteI also plan to change how students exit my classroom. This year I do not excuse the students till they are calm and standing behind their pushed in chairs. Even if the bell rings, if they are talking they do not leave. Unfortunately when they do leave the dash out of the classroom. While I do like that my students are by their seats and are quiet and not lining up at the door or spillling out into the hall, I don't know how to communicate with them about how to exit a classroom properly. Any time I model it, they just find it useless. I will have to think of a way to make classroom procedures more meaningful for students.
Great questions for this time of year, Megan!
ReplyDelete3. For next year, I want to work on establishing expectations for students to be more independent. It seems to me that a lot of students don't put in the effort to have a "productive struggle" or try assignments without immediately asking many questions and/or saying "I don't get it." I think if trying it on their own first and asking a neighbor are clear parts of the classroom procedure from day one, this would be helpful. It's not that I don't want to help students, but I want them to really put in the effort.