Where is the Line? and is it okay for me to cross it?

Follow up:
For those of you who asked me to do a follow up on my experience and involvement within the classroom I am happy to report that these last two weeks have certainly progressed from where I was in my last blog post. Although there are still times when the class is independently working and does not need any help, my cooperating teacher has been very inviting and enthusiastic about including me into classroom discussions, activities, and the "behind the scenes" managing power points and grading tests. I look forward to the relationship between the students and I progressing and that they become comfortable enough to ask me questions about school related content or telling me how their weekend/day was.

As I began to think about what I wanted to teach my class for the upcoming unit-plan I realized that I had become more consumed worrying how the students would behave while I taught my lesson and less consumed with thoughts of how they would benefit from said unit-plan. Immediately, I became a little anxious about teaching the class. Not only am I still getting to know the students but now I am at a standstill wondering how or if it is my place to discipline/redirect students during my time in front of the class. Because this is a Senior class they possess many of the stereotypical traits for this age range. They are talkative, more socially advanced (referring to content), and some seemed to have already "checked out" for the year/day. As I have said once before my cooperating teacher seems to get along great with the students, is very fun and converses with them in a manner that is familiar to them. However, as a person on the outside looking in, I see this student-teacher relationship backfiring at times. There are times when the class in constantly talking while she is lecturing or explaining instructions, and other times when students are using their cell-phones. The most recent incident that surprised me was when she was giving instructions on the essays they would be correcting. One of the students then stated "are you dead A miss?" My cooperating teacher then said that she did not understand his question and then proceeded to give notes on the essays when the same student said "I said are you dead a**. I don't want to," Some of the students laughed and my cooperating teacher ignored it and went on to the next slide. As our Wong and Wong textbook from Core 1 explained how establishing good classroom management practices from the very beginning resulted in fewer behavioral issues you will deal with later on, I am unsure on if it is my place to say something to students if they do happen to be disruptive during my scheduled teaching time. Once I teach my lesson this will be the first (beginning) experience I will have as the teacher, and since it is not my classroom I am not sure what to do?

         What do you guys recommend I do? I am already plan to talk to my CT about my concerns, but I am curious to know what you guys would do in this situation? Would you feel comfortable semi-disciplining students?

Happy Blogging! <3

Getting to know my students -- Online Reflection #1

        Hello my fellow teacher-ee's! 

        Now while trying to brainstorm on what issues or concerns I was going to blog about I initially had a hard time coming up with something because I felt like it was still a little too early to really voice any major concerns. See, I am at a school that has blocked scheduling, and for some of you, you may have already been with your students for 2 going on three weeks, while I have only been with 2 classes, each of them for one week.

Then it hit me! The timing/start of a new placement is crucial for how the rest of the semester may play out.

          Throughout my time in the Education Program (going through Cores 1 & 2, and now 3) I always make a note, whether it is mentally or literally about techniques, rules, or lessons that I plan to incorporate in my future classroom. Now as you are reading this you are probably thinking "yea! me too!" or "doesn't everyone do that?" because I also have these thoughts, but surprisingly I am finding it a bit challenging to do this at my placement school. When we are teachers I assume that it will be easier to dictate the course of the class because we will "be in charge" and we will have been with the students from the very first day and everyday afterwards; which I believe is an essential part of building personal relationships with students. This initial meeting is the point in which the teacher explains their expectations for students and class as a whole, tells students a little bit about herself and allows the same opportunity for students asking questions like "what do you want to get out of this class?", providing opportunities to get to know the teacher and their peers. Bomer further agrees with my feelings by suggesting in his text Building Adolescent Literacy in Today's English Classrooms, "that the best possible beginning to a school year just might involve finding out about students as literate people, while also building a relationship with a listening attitude" (p. 21). I have missed out on that first initial meeting point (where they met their teacher and started the class) and I'm a little unsure on how to "make up for it."

        While in my placement it is hard for me to try and build those meaningful relationships with the students because there is really not a lot of down time. Of course, when the opportunity presents itself I engage with students (for example: One of my students was reading a recreational book and I quickly just asked her to explain what it was about), but like I have mentioned before we mostly talk about the assignments. I often hear the stories you guys tell about how you have conversed with students about the music they are currently listening to, the latest dances, and so on. I guess one of my main concerns is not being able to further connect with students, so then my question becomes: What do you guys suggest I do in this situation without digressing from classroom content? What steps have you taken to build that relationship with your students? and Who else is having this same issue? (I sure hope I'm not the only one). 

Thank you so much in advance!!

Always Happy Blogging, Destinee Manns <3

Word Count: 556

My Promising Semester Goals

At the start of each semester I always mentally prepare myself for what is to come. I tell myself that this year I will do THIS, and I will do THAT, and if I do THIS and THAT allllll semester I will not only be productive, but the amount of stress I will endure will be so little that it does not completely take over me and cause me to shut down...

 I buy brand-new pens and pencils, notebooks, highlighters, folders, and a planner so that I can efficiently write down events and assignments in a way that will keep me organized (and stress-free) all year. Unfortunately, this did not happen last semester. I bought all of my necessities and yet, last semester was absolutely THE MOST TRYING SEMESTER I have ever endured. So because of my experiences last semester I decided that it was obviously because my planner was not big enough (crazy, I know), so because of that I have bought a notebook sized Calendar and Planner. 

My goals for this year include the following:

1. Be organized, Stay organized-

I always start off very organized and I am diligent in writing notes for class, doing assignments, or in my planner, but I often go astray and become sloppy and un-organized (hopefully my HUGE planner will help with this). 

2. Be more active in my CT's classroom-

I always find it hard to be "active" in the classroom, because I like to mirror my CT. Sometimes she will explain an assignment and then sit down at the desk, so I too, sit down at the desk. 

3. Create more meaningful relationships at my assigned school- 

I see my CT everyday, but I think it would be nice to have more positive/professional relationships with other faculty members. 

4. Pass my PRAXIS exam!

I am so nervous about this. 

5. GRADUATE!!!!

I'm not sure there is much else to say about this one! ; )