Day 9

Looks like in the teaching profession you will have your short days and your long days. Today was definitely filled with a variety of obstacles. The day started out when the announcements went over the P.A. Today's slogan was about safety: It is easy as an ABC 'Always Be Careful.' I also heard over the announcements that the fifth grade has a library club that meets at 11:45 in the library weekly. These students meet once a week and discuss a book they all read on their own. In Mrs. Stern's classroom, the Do Now was to give an example of literal language and figurative language. Some students came up with draw the drapes,  break a leg, and kill two birds with one stone. 

During first period with Mrs. Stern the students went over classification and the six kingdoms. 

Second period, the students started their social studies unit test. Since all of the students are obligated by their IEP to have the tests read to them, we split the room into three groups and did just that. 

Third period the students went to Physical Education. For many of the student in this class, Physical Education is their favorite period. Ms. Barber and I spent this time preparing for the next lesson, and we even took some time to celebrate our CTA, Mrs. Bilton's Birthday with a beautiful little cake and our favorite Happy Birthday ditty! 


Fourth period the students took their math quiz. All week Ms. Barber has given each student certain worksheets on percentages and fractions for homework. Those same questions from the worksheets were actually the questions given to them on their quiz. Many of the students memorized the answers but only some of the students could explain why they got that answer. After seeing those results we knew we would have to back track a little bit and teach the material in a different way in order for all of the students to understand. 

Fifth/sixth period was lunch and recess. During this time, Ms. Barber had to address some pressing matters, and concerns a parent had with the curriculum. She met with both the principal and the school psychologist in order to handle the situation in the most professional way. 



Seventh period was the first time I had the opportunity to take over a lesson! When the students came back from recess I asked them all to grab a dictionary from the shelf, find their seat, and think about what they are grateful for. I had them think about what they are grateful for because we has a lot of material to get through that afternoon. After sharing a few things they were grateful for we started our lesson. I put the students into groups they were in previously while they were making a hard copy of article one of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. During this time I asked the students to use their dictionary skills to look up the words: brotherhood, conscious, dignity, and empowered. I had the students read the definition and then we created our own together and they wrote it down on their large copy to remember. Then I asked all of the students to go back to their seats to further the lesson. I used the SMARTboard to pull up the website, youthforhumanrights.org. On the home page there is an inspirational 9 minute video that will play automatically and it is great to watch, but I did not use it in my lesson. Instead, I handed the students a worksheet with articles 1, 2, 16, 17, 23, 25, and 28. The language is tough to understand, therefore I used the videos on the website, 30 videos-30 rights in order to give new meaning to the articles and to reinforce the learning process. After we watched the videos which are only about 1 minute long, I had the students discuss the video and together we wrote down a summary for them to remember because at the end of this lesson they will have to write an essay on them. We were able to get through articles 1, 2, and 16 successfully, but then we had to go to 8th period for a guest speaker.

Eighth period was dedicated to our guest speak Mr. Rick Cerrone. The students have been learning about three forms of government for the past five weeks, and one of those governments was the Communist Dictatorship, specifically in Cuba. You're probably thinking, what does this have to do with a man who writes about baseball. Excellent question, Mr. Cerrone not to be confused with the catcher, worked with the Yankees for many years. Enough years to collect six World Series rings! Anyway, he worked closely with El Duque (Orlando Hernandez). El Duque used to live under the laws of a Comminust Dictatorship when he was younger, but when he became a shining star in baseball he looked into leaving his country. Now when you leave Cuba there are some serious repercussions, not only is the person who leaves dubbed a traitor, but they are never allowed to go back to Cuba again. But that is not all, if El Duque was to ever speak out against Castro or the Communist party his family would be beaten or killed. Mr. Cerrone had the opportunity to tell the students about what El Duque was like when he first came to America. He even shared a story with the students that made all of their jaws drop [did you like my figurative language :)]. He told the students about a time when they took the players shopping and El Duque had never been in a super market before, so when he saw an aisle dedicated to hi favorite soft drink he fell to his knees and started crying tears of joy because he had never seen anything like that before. The students could not believe this story because they see these things daily. 

What a day it was and how exciting too. Happy Friday!


Teacher tips:
1) If a student is an excellent artist and you find them always doodling, have them draw a picture during their major subjects in order to remember the material.

2) If the students are having a difficult time remembering the word as a class, play a friendly game of hang man and then have them look it up in their notes. Example: Taxonomy 


Monday
(Starts our first day of school in February)
February 3, 2014
Apparently snow is in our forecast so we will see what Monday brings. As for planning we have social studies tests to finish, math tests to be taken, and DIBELS/DAZE to be finished. 

Quote of the day:

BE S.M.A.R.T.!

S ay please and thank you

M ake friends and be thoughtful

A rrive on time, prepared, and ready to learn

R espect yourself and others

T ry your best!