Friday, teaching social studies. Dances with wolves. Great day...no major issues. Students had a lot of fun at pe.
I find it hard to break the surface when you don't get a chance to really get interact with the students. At times subbing can be an easy day. Other times it can be the real thing.
I'm excited for a great weekend.
--Mr. Belzberg
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Griffin Creek Elementary 2/23/2012
I apoligize up front for the fact that the last two posts have been very short. Limited time...
Today I taught at griffin creek and the students began to get to know me a little more. I was very pleased with the students desire to get to know me and learn from me. Although I found the more they learned the more comfortable they began to get with me. This tends to lead to more disrespectful behavior which I do not ever want. A teacher must be a jerk in order to raise test scores...bull shi....I think there is a way to love them and teach them at the same time. Does fire and brimstone work...perhaps... do optimism and concentration on tasks make for higher test scores...perhaps.
What is at the key of learning...fun, knowledge construction...what is it? And why is it so hard to figure a panacea for it?
Today was the first day I have ever eaten lunch with the students. They were in there reading and I was very pleased with there ability to communicate and hang out. I was able to meet a few of them and they were great. Its to bad I wasn't able to eat lunch with them everyday and really get to know them and build lasting positive impacts on them.
School can be fun if the teacher, staff, and peers are nice and encourage learning. Meanwhile school can be the worst place a 4th grader knows in the whole world if the people around them don't love and encourage the best learning and behavior.
Another day another step in what will hopefully become a long long career...
--Mr. Belzberg
Today I taught at griffin creek and the students began to get to know me a little more. I was very pleased with the students desire to get to know me and learn from me. Although I found the more they learned the more comfortable they began to get with me. This tends to lead to more disrespectful behavior which I do not ever want. A teacher must be a jerk in order to raise test scores...bull shi....I think there is a way to love them and teach them at the same time. Does fire and brimstone work...perhaps... do optimism and concentration on tasks make for higher test scores...perhaps.
What is at the key of learning...fun, knowledge construction...what is it? And why is it so hard to figure a panacea for it?
Today was the first day I have ever eaten lunch with the students. They were in there reading and I was very pleased with there ability to communicate and hang out. I was able to meet a few of them and they were great. Its to bad I wasn't able to eat lunch with them everyday and really get to know them and build lasting positive impacts on them.
School can be fun if the teacher, staff, and peers are nice and encourage learning. Meanwhile school can be the worst place a 4th grader knows in the whole world if the people around them don't love and encourage the best learning and behavior.
Another day another step in what will hopefully become a long long career...
--Mr. Belzberg
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Griffin Creek Elementary 2/22/2012
Today I taught the 4th graders. Very well behaved grade that really was simply awesome. I really liked how they responded to directions and their initiative to stay on track and focus. They were diligent and very respectful.
We did mostly math today. Focused on multiplication and geometry. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to tomorrow teaching. I really like the staff, students, and school more and more each day I'm there.
I hope to stop bullying any chance I get. The steps are simple, tell the student to ask the other student to stop. Have them walk away. If that doesn't work than the student should tell a teacher. This added tool in my bag will help me stay out of trouble and quell any wrong doings in my class. Be assertive and positive is the key.
Until the next day...
--Mr. Belzberg
We did mostly math today. Focused on multiplication and geometry. I enjoyed it and I'm looking forward to tomorrow teaching. I really like the staff, students, and school more and more each day I'm there.
I hope to stop bullying any chance I get. The steps are simple, tell the student to ask the other student to stop. Have them walk away. If that doesn't work than the student should tell a teacher. This added tool in my bag will help me stay out of trouble and quell any wrong doings in my class. Be assertive and positive is the key.
Until the next day...
--Mr. Belzberg
JDH 2/21/2012
Today I was at the lock down facility where the students are basically in jail. This type of teaching is drastically different than teaching at a local high school. The students remembered me from the last time I was there before Christmas. I was glad to see many of them and I assume that they were happy to see me considering they don't get to see new faces very often.
We did some grammar and watched Invictus. I started a new strategy where I have a hang man game and trivia on the board when they enter so that they can get going on something that requires a group cognitive activity.
A great day!
--Mr. Belzberg
We did some grammar and watched Invictus. I started a new strategy where I have a hang man game and trivia on the board when they enter so that they can get going on something that requires a group cognitive activity.
A great day!
--Mr. Belzberg
Monday, February 20, 2012
Central Medford High School 2/17/12
Today I taught Social studies...the greatest subject of all time. The students were making posters about population. From what I gathered the assignment was to make a poster about a picture or graph that displayed some sort of connection to population. Some students used political cartoons while others used food supply vs population. Many of the posters were great and the students seemed to really like the assignment.
The other assignment was for the students to create their own power points about a u.s. national park. Again, the students liked this and since there were enough computers for each student the plan was excellent. I enjoyed this assignment because it allowed for me to really help students one on one.
Teaching at an alt school is very different than at the "regular" schools. Students behave different, teachers have different expectations, and the "feel" of the school is very different. With that said the students and staff are very similar with other schools. The students want to learn do their work and move on to the next grade or graduate. The teachers want to help and inspire and whatever way they can they will achieve this.
I enjoy this type of atmosphere because the student to teacher ratio isn't to overwhelming and the students need more help than the other students at the local high schools. I'd be happy tow work with whatever group of kids I'm assigned too..
--Mr. Belzberg
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Hedrick Middle School 2/16/2012
The unexpected day of teaching social studies. A surprise call at 6:30, the gig of subbing is always being prepared to teach any school day. I have found it challenging, but good days and bad days come randomly. Today was a half day which seems the school day is cut short.
Today the lesson was about learning about a Chinese invention. All sorts of topics like gun powder, paper, porcelean, and the abucus. Many other inventions I knew nothing about were studied. I helped one student make a lot of progress. Any time I can help a student achieve I'm following the path of success that was laid before me. I couldn't be more pleased with teaching. At other times I couldn't dislike it anymore. A challenge that needs a clear mind and an enthusiasm that must be brought or else the impact that could be made is diminished.
Farewell until tomorrow,
--Mr. Belzberg
Today the lesson was about learning about a Chinese invention. All sorts of topics like gun powder, paper, porcelean, and the abucus. Many other inventions I knew nothing about were studied. I helped one student make a lot of progress. Any time I can help a student achieve I'm following the path of success that was laid before me. I couldn't be more pleased with teaching. At other times I couldn't dislike it anymore. A challenge that needs a clear mind and an enthusiasm that must be brought or else the impact that could be made is diminished.
Farewell until tomorrow,
--Mr. Belzberg
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Hedrick Middle School 2/14/12 and 2/15/2012
A great couple of days teaching. I realized that I had forgotten so much about singing and chorus. I loved singing in the chorus when I was there age and I see how much thwe students have in the periods I taught. The focal point while I was there was valen tunes and bonse aba. The two combined for a wonderful teaching experience. I was very pleased with how much respect I demanded towards the end with the elementary school students. The middle school was lead by a student teacher who didn't know much about classroom management. Not to sell him short. When I was doing my student teaching I was fairly bad as well.
The mini concert went ok, they didn't listen as well I wanted them too but truth be told if I was there age and I had the choice of listening to a sub sing and play guitar in which he was good at best I would have chosen the other choice which was talk to my neighbor. Its all good and in the end maybe forcing them to listen would have ended worse than a talking audience.
I liked teaching chorus but the truth is I would like to teach social studies. However, if they offered me a teaching job doing something I was unfamiliar with I would take the job. Still crossing my fingers for a full time position soon.
~~Mr. Belzberg
The mini concert went ok, they didn't listen as well I wanted them too but truth be told if I was there age and I had the choice of listening to a sub sing and play guitar in which he was good at best I would have chosen the other choice which was talk to my neighbor. Its all good and in the end maybe forcing them to listen would have ended worse than a talking audience.
I liked teaching chorus but the truth is I would like to teach social studies. However, if they offered me a teaching job doing something I was unfamiliar with I would take the job. Still crossing my fingers for a full time position soon.
~~Mr. Belzberg
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