Musings on The First Week

It is now Sunday afternoon. I have been thinking about the first week and the many weeks to come. I think that, on the whole, things went fairly well. Could be better, could be worse.

Good Things That Happened The First Week:

• The Werewolf Game seemed to go over pretty well. I heard from a couple of teachers that kids were talking about it in other classes. It also helped me learn some names, which is good.
• The "Rules of the Fishbowl" Lecture was effective, I think. I was pretty empassioned about my rules and I think that the kids got the message. I have already seen that some kids listened and paid attention, as hardly anyone even bothers to ask about using a pass in my classroom and kids have apologized for bringing backpacks into the room.
• The classroom management that I have done so far has been effective. I have already talked to one kid in the hallway and he has really settled down for me. I moved two different kids in two different classes and did not have any further problems with them the rest of the class period. When I move a kid, I am very quiet and pleasant, but VERY insistent. It seems to work.
• Having someone run the overhead projector for me worked like magic and I will continue to do so for the near future, until something changes.
• The Reading-Pointing exercise was also a major winner, in my book. I know that the kids hated it, but it really got them reading and involved in my syllabus.
• The music and the atmosphere in the room seems to work well. There is a sort of a calmness to the Lab, which is not easily disturbed.

Things That I Need to Work On:

• I continue to suck at names. Doing the seating charts at the end of the week really helped and I hope to get most names down within the next week or so.
• Lesson Plans. I need to formalize my lesson planning and get it so that I can put together my planning thoughts in an easily completed and easily accessible format. I think this would be helpful.
• Content. I am stuck with the inevitable feeling that I don't know enough about my subjects. This is clear in AutoCAD, where I will spend the first year or so only a week or two ahead of my students. However, it is also apparent in the Web Design Class, as I have to teach it for a Full Year. I am not sure I have all of the material and knowledge that I need to pull this off at this time. I guess other new teachers have the same problem, though.
• Passes. I need to get together a Hall Pass artifact of some sort. This needs to be something that is readily identifiable as Mr. B.'s Hall Pass, but not easily destroyed or lost. One kid suggested a Cinder Block. I thought that was an excellent idea, but I don't think that it would go over very well.
• This Saturday, we have a home football game. I was asked to be the Public Address announcer for these games long ago. Since that time, another fellow first year teacher, John Cochrane, has indicated some interest in the task. I need to clear up whether or not that is going to happen and figure out what I am doing there.
• Organization. I have gone through all of the IEPs and 504 Plans (Individualized Plans for kids that have learning or physical challenges) but I am not sure I can fully incorporate them into my teaching yet. I do have them all organized in a notebook, along with my class rosters and seating charts, so that is a start. I need to figure out a filing system for papers, announcements, etc. before they completely take over my desk.
• I need to figure out how I want kids to learn and record things like vocabulary and so forth. I might have them start an ongoing electronic notebook where they can keep track of definitions and shortcuts that we talk about. Maybe that will work, I don't know...
  

I have been thinking, though, how damn lucky I am to be where I am. I love the school. I really like the small size and the fact that you really can get to know everyone. I also like the fact that I am one of 17-18 teachers in the building. It makes me feel important, instead of like a first year nobody. I also love my Fishbowl Laboratory. It is nice and spacious and is well laid out, so that I can see all monitors at all times. I also like the two classes that I am teaching. Only have two class preps is a godsend, at this point, because I think that I will be able to stay on top of things without killing myself. Also, I like what I am teaching, which helps to keep up the interest level on the part of the kids, I think.

Anyway, enough end of the week reflecting for now. I need to go do some lesson planning...