Ok folks so I just had first day activities and I am wiped out! Day started at 5:30 AM, on the bus by 7then in instructional session and group work until 4:30. After that I had a big city adventure finding my bank and depositing my check. Finally made it to opening ceremonies around 7 pm and got done at 9. My life is crazy but so far exciting, I am really pumped up after the welcome here. I feel so humbled by the awesome goals they have set for us here in Chicago, these school need teachers and we need to be successful at learning how to be the teachers they need. I feel a lot of pressure but the staff is doing a great job supporting us and not letting us sink into despair. It's hard not to when you look at the huge challenges. HJowever, I remain upbeat. I CAN DO THIS (i think)
For institute I am teaching at Graham Elem. fifth grade writing reading math and computers. By Thursday, I have to have my classroom management philosophy ironed out and ready to go. Now there's a challenege, I do not know how to manage fifth graders and I feel like if I set up my policies poorly, the other TFA teachers working with me will not be able to teach as well. Note: the way institute works we teach in rotating shifts of four, so I teach four lesson plans a week, one per day (switiching between the four subjects metnioned above) Because I start the rotation as the writing teacher I have the first day lesson dedicated to classroom management. I think I might use a time system, a stop watch and a class time goal to keep them focused, divide each lesson into timed sections, have rotating stations and a timed morning policy, that sort of thing. Maybe a beat the clock type thing? race through summer school and get ready for sixth grade? I don't know. Apparently tomorrow they help us with all that stuff but it seems like a lot to learn in a few hours.
What we worked on today focused mostly on how to set big goals for our students that are measurable, feasible, ambitious and meaningful to students and teachers. We studied the Teaching As Learning rubric which will measure where we come in at as teachers (I'm a novice...yikes!) and will help us decide how to challenge ourselves and become better teachers. We also worked on how to plan backwards and how to close the acjievement gap ( a theme we will be harping on over and over I bet). Wetalked about effective lesson plans and met our staff memebers and group members. Over all a lot of info today.
Well, I think with that I am hitting the hay, I'm tired and I need a rest most definatelyb/c tomorrow starts at 5:30 again! Gnight all you friends and family whereever you are, I miss you and am sending my love
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