Mar. 28th

The Monday after Spring Break! Something I wasn't really all that excited for. I was really hoping to sleep in some more but back to the "job." I was excited to be back and teaching, but I could tell the students really wanted a longer break.

Pre-Algebra Classes
Something I was expecting was either an excessive amount of talking or complete zombies because students went to bed too late from being used to the late bed times from break. It was pleasantly in the middle. In my 1st period class, almost everyone was responsive and pleasant, and some were even cracking sarcastic jokes. What I did was review what we had talked about on the Wednesday and Thursday before break, which was solving multi-step equations. I gave them a worksheet to work on, and it seemed like most of the class was more focused on telling all their friends about where they went on break. I was a little reluctant to completely stop it because they haven't seen some of these people in over a week. I kept most of them on task and on topic. It is really frustrating to have the same students not getting it simply because they aren't paying attention. 5th period was more of the same. I had to give a small lecture about how when I call on someone I don't want everyone to answer. Hopefully they will get the hint that I want the person I ask to answer...to answer. 5th hour got further with the worksheet than 1st hour, just as I had suspected.


Algebra Classes

Today I was reviewing a bit and beginning the discussion on solving quadratic equations by completing the square. 4th hour didn't go all that well. They were having a lot of trouble with what I called the Speedy Review (with Speedy Gonzales). This review was on solving quadratic equations by factoring, which is what we had been working with the week before break. I thought they would have no trouble with this. Some students had completely forgotten how to factor a polynomial, let alone what factoring was. I also had a problem on solving by graphing a quadratic equation. They looked at that one like they had never seen it before. My plan was to spend 10 minutes, or so, on this and move on to solving by completing the square. Instead I had to try and rush in what I wanted to say in a shortened period of time. I mentioned a few good points but didn't give them a simple step-by-step approach to solving by completing the square. I could tell they left completely puzzled as how to or what completing the square was.
We (my cooperating teacher and I) corrected the mishap in 7th period and that class seemed to go smoothly. The only thing I didn't like was the fact that I lectured almost the entire class. I really don't like and don't think I can hold the attention span of the students for 50 minutes, especially when one class goes to lunch afterward, and the other class goes home for the day. Either way, I thought 7th period was much more prepared to show me what they could do tomorrow.

Thoughts on the day. Nothing out of the ordinary happened, except that two students in my 7th period class were talking just about the entire time I was trying to explain to them step-by-step on how to complete this never before seen progress to solve quadratic equations. Before I could really keep them after and tell them what I had on my mind, my cooperating teacher said exactly what I was thinking. They understood and are hopefully behaved tomorrow.
My 5th period class tends to get out of control sometimes, and it's not because they don't have work to do, it's simply because of who they are. I also need to put down the hammer and give out some more referrals if I feel they are necessary.