I was reading a blog recently [redbirdword.wordpress] and there was a post that I would like to incorporate here. It was simple: "What are you doing in class right now? What is working? What is not? Why?"
As a first year teacher in this discrict, I am excited! I love the overall feeling of growth, both professionally and personally. Professionally speaking, I was reluctant, at first, to move from another district where things were strongly collaborative to a district that describes itself as balkanized. I LOVED the idea that I could rely on other teachers to plan crosscurricular lessons, discuss students we had in common, and just "hang out" together. Knowing that this district was not quite there was a little . . . . disappointing.
HOWEVER, in this first quarter I am realizing that there is a HUGE amount of "buy in" from the teachers to move in this direction of collaboration. This has been evident in our district institutes and the fact that several teachers are coming to Mrs. Hopkins and/or me asking about certain technology usages in the classroom. There is a thirst for improvement and it is refreshing.
Personally, I love the idea of reorganizing and restructuring HOW certain things are taught or presented -- even though it can take a TON of time. It can reap very good return for my students if I can do things right.
So, back to the original questions: "What are you doing in class right now? What is working? What is not? Why?"
I am attempting to open my students' minds to new approaches to academia through the uses of technology, graphic organizers, and general instructional methods. I am fortunate to have a SMART board in my classroom that I can use every day. I have developed a PRP worksheet to help with reading material that is difficult. I have used the Word Snapshots, QAR's, and an Expository Brochure. [If you are unfamiliar with those graphic organizers, please check out my site on www.classhomework.com]. I have used online resources like the afore mentioned class site, this blog, and sites connected with the reading material, and a site where I print short nonfiction articles for class discussion or writing prompts. As far as classroom procedure, at times my students have a nervous anticipation [sometimes frustrating] because my room arrangement often changes from the typical row format to a small group format to a U-shaped format for large group instruction. I have given lectures, have allowed my students to interact with each other, and I have allowed them to access the Smart board and the computer lab to complete various assignments. I am attempting to develop healthy relationships with my students. Some students allow me to be goofy, some need me to be formal - to a point, and others stay engaged because of my sense of humor or wit. Other students still remain either shy or distant by choice. I realize I can only develop relationships with those that want it and I will not force that on everyone. That could be damaging. I think overall, my students enjoy coming to my class because they are not only learning, they are having fun. Maybe I am wrong . . . . .
As far as answering the questions of "What's working? What's not? and Why?" -- that is the open door for you, my students, to reply to this post.
English this year with you is TOTALLY different from my english class last year, which is good. I personally like how you have "technology" to help get students more interacted with what your teaching.
ReplyDeleteSome things that personally I don't like, is how the class sometimes doesnt stay focused and we dont get done with what we are doing. And the reading paper things that we are doing, doesnt work out for me. I think that maybe we should just talk about summarys, and not the vocab and stuff.
Mister Kimble, I think that most the things you offer in your classroom are working. But I really think that the SQ3R worksheets are over used, we have done like 20 of them in the first quarter. I think that most the kids understand it but they are just tired of doing the same thing over and over again so they wont try as hard. I think that maybe there sould be more worksheets other than the SQ3R I mean its okay to review it some times but if you gave out different worksheets then we would start to pay more attintion to the SQ3R when we do another one. I thought that the "Super Sluth" was pretty fun, and it gave us a break from them. All Im trying to say is that there needs to be more things than the SQ3R.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous from 10/23,
ReplyDeleteI will absolutely agree that I am using this technique in abundance. [By the way, it is not the SQ3R, but the Pre-read, Read, Post-read {PRP} worksheet to which you are referring.] I will also remind you, and the other readers of this post, that I am somewhat of a "responsive" teacher -- meaning, I adjust my teaching based on the student productivity. In this case, I am not so sure that everyone fully gets it. If students DO get it and are simply not putting forth the effort, how am I to know the difference? OH, believe me, there are obvious ways. Maybe, just maybe, it is accountability time. You are informing me that the class gets it -- which means I have done my part of the job well. Now let's hold the students accountable. OK, I can do that.
Mr. Kimble (10/13) thank you for correcting me about the PRP worksheet, I wasn't too sure what it was so I just guessed and thought it was the SQ3R. And thank you for doing the super sluth today in class, I heard alot of people having fun I think, or they were laughing a lot. I also talked to a few of the kids in your 2nd hour class and they agree with me that they understand it but that they are just bored with it. So I think that we should take a test, quiz, or use a random PRP for testing to see if we really are ready to move on. Like you said its on us.
ReplyDeleteThank you Mr. Kimble, for letting us try to prove that we can move on. But I guess you were right, most of the kids arn't ready to move on. Sorry. I tried my hardest to get people to try
ReplyDeleteMr. Kimble,
ReplyDeleteAlot of things are working in the classroom this year. Alot more than last year thats for sure. I love your teaching styles but I really really like that you let us choose to be in three seperate groups. It helps me alot; having the foucs put o one certain thing for two weeks instead of skipping around. Especially with the Illiad. By the time we got back to the book, I forgot what we'd already read.
Something that isn't working in my opinion is the actual focusing for some of the students. All that happens in my group most of the time is 10% work and 90% talk and gossip. I'd really like to improve my writing but its hard when two groups are fighting all the time and screaming across the room to each other.
Thanks for giving us the chance to let you know how we feel. Its awesome to have a teacher that listens. :)
seeya tomorrow.
Personally, I found the blog and the classhomework sites hard to ajust to(mostly because I rarely get on the computer). I'm not saying that I dislike the idea, I honestly like them. It's just like with the essays, alot of people ajusted fine to not having to use the "5 paragraph" essays, but then there were a few (A.K.A-- Me) that had a some trouble ajusting, because I was so use to doing them I really didn't know what else TO do.
ReplyDeleteEventually I found it getting easier and easier to adjust to the difference from your class to the rest of my life's english class, and I found the way you set things up to be interesting... "not your average cup of tea." I don't normally LIKE change, but with this I made an exception.. =P
I really love the way that you set up the "3 Groups," because it lets you stay on one type of assiment and that really helpls with my consintration. The one thing that I would have to complain about would be the talking, because I'm in the SSR group and with all the loud talking around is quite a distraction. I'll put it this way; I usually read about 20 pages in aobut 20 minutes, but with all the talking I am being lower to reading 15 pages in the grand total of 30 minutes. I was actually thinking of asking to be moved out into the hallway during time that I read, which would be helpful in my reading.
ReplyDeleteI really can't wait to be put in the writing group (100 memories or 100 things to do before you die). I am quite intrgued by those type of things.
P.S I really like the way your getting everyone into the blogs and classhomework idea. (when I got on www.classhomework.com I realised that you weren't the ONLY teacher on there). I also like the Blogs, because it allows your students to hear opinons of other students about controversial topics.
I think the first quarter was extremely different from any other classroom I have ever been a part of. The diversity of teaching methods is a very positive thing. Everyone is so used to the old methodical ways of teaching and learning that your methods seemed to come on fast and confusing. I know I felt that way. As the quarter progressed I began to feel more and more comfortable with your methods and begin to associate them mroe with the real world than I did with the old methods of previous teachers. the varieties of worksheets and other things you used in the classroom was great and the technology like the SMART board really helps keep the class' attention and helps us learn in new and more fascinating ways. The first quarter went pretty well and I hope the 2nd quarter continues to get better.
ReplyDeleteKSH6
ReplyDeleteI think overall that the 1st quarter was good. You do seem to be a different kind of teacher. Most teachers in the school just hand us material and say, "here read all this and know it by this time." With you, you do tell us to read it, but then afterwards we actually have class discussions about it before we get tested on it. Some things that I don't like about the class is the distractions, like the music, squeeky horns, and the wigs. Yeah, its funny, but it throws many students off and gets everyone talking about that instead of focusing on the english topic.
Mr. Kimble, I must say that I like the idea of the small groups that you have divided us into, it seems like a good way to get deeper into some of the material your teaching. I know that lately you've been hearing a lot about the lack of focus we have in the small groups though. I, however, don't think it's only the fact that we are a noisy bunch of unfocused kids, I think that a lot of the problem is simply that we aren't used to this type of classroom setting. While in some classes we are split into small groups simply for a day or two, we aren't really used to being put into small groups for a long period of time. And since some groups (like the Iliad) requires more time than the others (which is completely understandable) the others are a tad bit overwhelmed with the fact that they receive their instructions, and then are left with the little supervision (and by that I mean they don't have a teacher constantly hanging over them telling them to get their work done like they are used to). I think in time the group thing will become adjusted to, and hopefully the focus issue will be resolved in time.
ReplyDeleteKimble,
ReplyDeleteI like the way you teach. You seem to know what you are doing. This year's English class is way different from last years. This English class doesn't just teach you how to type and write. It also teaches you how to deal with your innerself and how to take control of your life. I know this cause of what you have done with my cousins. Your a good teacher... never dobt that.
6th Hour JAB
I think your doing a great job. keep on doing what you have been doing. I know our hour isn't the greatest at paying attention but i try to stay focused. I also feel you try to make it easier on us but we just don't understand all the time like you said some get frustrated at you allowing us to do our own thing in stead of something set in stone.
ReplyDeleteapf 6th hour
using the technology of this generation is a easier way to learn and focus on the material needed to be taught. the smart board is a great examble. instead of using an over-head projector you can use a computer that shows up all right there in front of you. TS-7
ReplyDeleteI love the way you teach its like we can all be our selfs and not worrie about what others think about us. Our class is fun and still we are learning:) I also Like the materals you use to teach us the (Better TECHNOLOGY)I feel that helps us learn better than learning on paper or books. *KAL*
ReplyDeletei LOVED that you did not assign home reading for the Illiad. i didnt understand it at all and i needed to be able to stop every couple of paragraphs and make sure i was understanding it properly. i love that you didnt rush us into it, and we might ot have covered a lot of material, but i actually understood what i read. i like many of your teaching methods because you are different than most teachers and variety in a school is good. we are learning, and most of the time we all are having fun as well. :)
ReplyDeleteals1
everything is working i think! I really like the u shape formation our desks were is because everyone is included in the class! the homework we have where we really have to think and evaluate our lives are amazing and really have changed my life for the better! and i really enjoy seven habits A lot!
ReplyDeleteKEM 1
HEY... Mr. kimble! My favorite part of the first quarter was the fact that you actually treated us like we have a brain. And I like that you are really pushing us to use more technology, and when you are gone and you would make a powerpoint it really helps not only me but I bet other students really actually know what we will be doing that day. Please continue with pushing forward on the technology and pushing us to do our BEST...THANK YOU!!
ReplyDeleteSS 1st hour honors english
Hello Mr. Kimble. I thought the first quarter went well. We were introduced to your new methods of teaching. I like the way you teach the class. It makes it easier to understand the Iliad, and write papers better because of your "Methods of Support".
ReplyDeleteJL-1st Hour
Mr Kimble.
ReplyDeleteThis year in english has been different, but i really like it. I like how we are doing PRP's because it makes me think a little before i read. I think it also keeps me focused on the book and want to keep going. the different things you are doing are really helping visual learners which i like. I also like the technology you have in the classroom and are trying get the students more involved.
JT 1st
This year is incredibly different than last year. This years english IS fun. Technology is fun and helpful. Somethings such as the PRP can be slightly repetitive, but still 100% better than last years english.
ReplyDeletetjc 1
I really like using the smart board during class. It is easier for you to show us things, for example the format of the final today. that really helped me study and prepare myself for the test. I totally agree with tjc, this year is COMPLETELY different than last year. I think you make english easier to understand and you make it fun. I also really like the 7 habits book.
ReplyDeleteAEB1