Nothing but pure Frustration

I don't think that anyone understand student teaching is like until you have been through it. In all actually, all the stuff that you have to do as far as the student part in student teaching, almost made me not go into teaching. As if teaching a class and preparing my lesson, grading 120 students * 3 assignments= 360 a week is not enough for teaching. I must create a portfolio (which is not the bad part), but writing 11 pages total over each standard(11), another 5 pages total over 5 observations I still have to do, write a journal everyday, and create lesson plans each day with 3 different objectives.

Now, I understand writing lesson plans. That is just for preparation for teaching. But what I do not understand is the journal, and the 16 pages of writing. I just am pure frustrated. What am I really going to get out of this but just a feeling of relief that it is done? I just do not see the purpose of it beside for the fact that the college educators say that we did something. These are tacts that you use to use up time. I DON'T have any time! I don't even remember the last time I had a day to relax. Weekends are full of work. Even the day of the Lord, cannot be a day to to rest like He did.

Now, I don't know if any other student teacher has a problem like I do. But for me, I was held back for a reason, and it was not just for the heck of it. It was because I can do the work that is not a problem, but it takes me longer to get tasks done, and when you overwhelm me with this much work, it seems impossible. I have never used this reason for anything to hold me back. But just like a teacher in school, you need to observe your students and the areas of struggles. You confront those student and find out what the deal is, and sometimes you need to make accommodations so that those students can get the most out of their learning. Otherwise you get the learned helplessness, and get people like me that become so overwhelmed and just give up. That is to where I am I just want to give up on my portfolio, because it just seems like there is too... much to do.

The Delaration of Independence effects Famous People too

We watch a movie of famous actors reading the Declaration of Independence. This was really cool to see because the students could see that the D.O.I. affects movies stars. I think that the Students to thought it was really cool to, even though the words difficult to understand. I felt that this was a really good movie to watch.

Another Play

Today the students preformed another play. I think it was little more fun for the students today because everyone participated. They got to chant and bang on their tables Those who had speaking parts did not stand out as much and by this play everyone volunteer to act in it. I love it when people volunteer it was such a hard decision on who got to have speaking parts. I just kind of choose people at random.

1 Class can Ruin your day

Today was a great day up until the last hour. We had another play today. The actors have been switched everyday. The students up until last our were listen paying attention and were able to answer the review questions. The last hour the same people were answering the questions, and every time I chose someone that did not have their hand raised they did not know the answer. I gave them all a script and then tomorrow we are having a quiz. If they can not pay attention during it, they might as well have homework over it.

People that you work with

I had frustration with the copy women. She did not get my copies done even though I turned in my copies to be made in longer than 48 hours that are required. I was in a state of Panic because I did not know what to. I had had them do a mock election first just to see who the kids would vote for if they could. Then we talked about some of what are some of the issues people look at when they vote. I just was not prepared but it went alright.

To be Proud of your Students

I was so proud of some of the students. One of the hardest things to do is to get infront of your peers a do a speech, especially if you did not write yourself. But throughout the day about 7 students in each class period got up in front of their peers and acted out a speech given by Patrick Henry. Some of the students did a remarkable job, and I was so proud to see them go out of their comfort zone to perform and speech.

Lesson Plan- Spirit of '76

TEACHING MATERIALS:
Lesson from the Patriots: Teacher’s Guide
THE CRUCIAL YEAR, 1776- class set
THE SPIRIT OF ‘ 76- class set

INSTURCTIONAL MATERIALS
15. Decide how to present background information on the colonies
16. THE SPIRIT OF ‘ 76 provides a brief sketch of life and culture in the colonies.
a. Distribute the essay and read aloud as a class, in Tavern Groups or as individuals.
b. Conduct a class discussion of information in the essay:
i. What was life like for the colonists
ii. How colonists reacted to events
iii. How colonists reacted to the Spirit of ‘76
iv. How students feel about life during such turbulent times
17. THE CRUCIAL YEAR, 1776 is the form of a letter, a refreshing change of format for the presentation of factual material. This fictional letter summarizes the political and military events immediately preceding the convening of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia
a. Select four or five students to read the letter aloud, taking turns with each paragraph.
b. Conduct a class discussion of information in the letter. Include to following points, plus any others that you or your students believe are important:
i. How Abel felt being an eyewitness to such momentous events
ii. How the Grant family reacted when the returned to the tremendous changes in attitudes among other colonists
iii. Do students think the events described in the letter are more exciting or more frightening?

EVALUATION:
Can the students recall the events and the lifestyle of the year 1776.
Are the students able to examine the political and military events immediately preceding the convening of the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia.

Teacher: Are the directions clear? How much time is this taking? Are the student just sitting there and not getting? How could this be taught differently? Is there anything I need to change?

You don't alway have to like your lesson

Today’s lesson, I did not like. I would not do this lesson again. I did not like it I was not very knowledgeable about the this area. I tried to make it work were the class got to work in partners for half the class and the other half we discussed as a class. I had too much to do, it read and so I think that is what made it hard was I was trying to rush through everything. Sometimes less is more..

Lesson Plan- Web/ Graphic Organizer

TEACHER: Miss Gaskill
CLASS & GRADE LEVEL: 8th Grade American History
UNIT: The Revolutionary War
LESSON TOPICS: Web

TYPE OF LEARNING: New
TIME ALLOTMENT: 1 Day

DAY: I day

STANDARD/BENCHMARKS:.
*Explain conditions, actions and motivations that contribute to conflict and cooperation within and among nations
* Give examples and explain how governments attempt to achieve their stated ideals at home and abroad

OBJECTIVES:
Students Separate the aspects of the American Revolution in a web.
Students will draw out a web.
Students will display knowledge by listing categories and breaking the categories into sbu-categories

TEACHING MATERIALS:
Constructed web
Whiteboard/Markers
White paper
INSTURCTIONAL MATERIALS
9. Hand each student a white sheet of paper.
10. As a class the class will review these areas
11. On this sheet start with a circle in the middle and four boxes coming out of the circle. List the boxes: Causes, Prominent People, Documents, Major Battles.
12. Have the students go around listing these sub-categories. (See Constructed Web)
13. On the Constructed web the each should be listed and students can add more if they would like.
14. Parts to look at in the book: The major battles: See constructed web for page to look on in book.
Assignment:
Students are to list What the prominent people did.


EVALUATION:
Are the Students able to separate the aspects of the American Revolution in a web.
Can the students will draw out a web?
Did the students will display knowledge by listing categories and breaking the categories into sub-categories
paragraphs in one sentence? Are they able to follow the directions? Does this worksheet make sense? Are there a lot of questions?

Teacher: Are the directions clear? How much time is this taking? Are the student just sitting there and not getting?

Graphic Oraganizer

Today, I went over the graphic organizer, and had asked the students if they had ever done one of these before. About 95% of the students had never done of one of them before. I could not believe it. I gave them a blank sheet of white paper and should the one that I created and they were so confused. I told them not to worry it will all make sense when we get done. I walked them through each step and we did it as a class. I was very clear to them when we got done who the web worked.