For me, the major issue I had is that a lot of what they've written is hard to think about conceptually -- it really makes the most sense when you're in your own classroom and using it on a day to day basis.
I observed a teacher last term that didn't have any teacher training - she had a degree in math - and she was hired on as the math teacher and she said literally anything and everything she knew and implemented in her class was from The First Days of School.
I didn't really see anything that I didn't think would be very useful. Using good plans, Classroom Management, Mentors and Good Instructions are all really important to having a well-run classroom. I guess Mentors could be a problematic issue for me, just because there may not be more than one business teacher in some small schools. Having a mentor in general, not necessarily subject specific, is still a good idea though. Just so you have someone to help you out a little now and again.
I don't know if it is the least useful but it is certainly the most difficult for me and that is to make my instruction more important than the outside world of their lives. These Plainview students I deal with have so much drama and so many issue in their lives. I can't blame them for not being able to focus when they just found out they are pregnant or their dad is going back to jail. It's difficult for my lesson to across as important compared to those things.
Yep. Quite often the most skillful teachers represent a "safe harbor" for these kinds of students (frequently through club sponsorship, which gives the student a reason to stay at school even beyond the final bell).
Ha! Is that a burn, Dr. Coulter?
ReplyDeleteFor me, the major issue I had is that a lot of what they've written is hard to think about conceptually -- it really makes the most sense when you're in your own classroom and using it on a day to day basis.
No burn. Just trying to get your minds to THINK about the content.
DeleteWong seems to generate that "really love him" or "really don't love him" kind of contradiction among folks.
For some, he is salvation. For others, his ideas are "just common sense."
I observed a teacher last term that didn't have any teacher training - she had a degree in math - and she was hired on as the math teacher and she said literally anything and everything she knew and implemented in her class was from The First Days of School.
DeleteThis is a hard one---I think that the first day is very important but I also it is more about the first few weeks and being consistent all year long.
ReplyDeleteI also "think" is more about the first few weeks......
DeleteI didn't really see anything that I didn't think would be very useful. Using good plans, Classroom Management, Mentors and Good Instructions are all really important to having a well-run classroom. I guess Mentors could be a problematic issue for me, just because there may not be more than one business teacher in some small schools. Having a mentor in general, not necessarily subject specific, is still a good idea though. Just so you have someone to help you out a little now and again.
ReplyDeleteA quality mentor can mean the preservation of your sanity.
DeleteFind a good one!
I don't know if it is the least useful but it is certainly the most difficult for me and that is to make my instruction more important than the outside world of their lives. These Plainview students I deal with have so much drama and so many issue in their lives. I can't blame them for not being able to focus when they just found out they are pregnant or their dad is going back to jail. It's difficult for my lesson to across as important compared to those things.
ReplyDelete*issues
DeleteYep. Quite often the most skillful teachers represent a "safe harbor" for these kinds of students (frequently through club sponsorship, which gives the student a reason to stay at school even beyond the final bell).
Delete