Day 4

I had made up my mind that today was going to be the best day ever and that I was going to rock the classroom. Infact that is how it ended up. I was assigned to teach today. I was able to teach two foods I classes and demo chocolate chip muffins in the quick bread section. I was excited to actually demo to a real class. The first class demo went well, not super great but okay. I had forgotten to tell the class that we were working in the quick bread section and I also used the dry measuring cup for measuring the oil and milk. But, no fear the second time I fixed all my mistakes and had a wonderful presentation. The class was very vocal and wanted to participate. I had made giant chocolate chips with facts about chocolate printed on them. The class absolutly loved to actually participate in the demo by reading the facts as I was doing the demo. Once the class had all gathereed their materials and my demo things were put away I was able to walk around and talk to the students. I asked them if they liked the muffins, what they would change, those sorts of questions. All in all it was a great day. I also had a prep period and then just observed a financial literacy classroom. After the demo experience I think I can handle the real life. If it gets any more uncomfortable than a student asking me if I get horny and eat chocolate I think i'm good!! Crazy people!!! What an interesting but good experience!

Teaching techniques:
When I observed the financial literacy class, the only other class I observed that day they were doing book work. Personally, i'm not a fan of book work. from what I saw the students were just playing on their phones and listening to music not even working on the assignment. The teacher however was working on her computer and getting things done. I understand that there is down time that the students must do some book work but it seemed pointless. If they were like me, if it was meaningless and I knew the teacher wouldn't read it I would just skim the text. The class was not working, the teacher was in and out of the classroom and no one was on task. I hope that when my class does have to work on book work somehow I will have a better technique f teaching it. Maybe she could have had the class take turns reading and fill out the assignment that way. Instead of everyone just messing around.

Classroom Management:
I was really impressed how the foods lab was set up and the class knew the ropes. It was neat how being the teacher than day the students knew how to act, yes some were a bit crazy. But all in all the classroom was set up to where if I were a substitute and had never been in there before they students could still work on the lab. There were not students complaining that they didn't know where things were. They all knew what they had to get done, a slight stare from the teacher and they were right back ontask. I think that is really impressive, they were not goign to step all over her and she had in all under control.

Discipline:
On the other hand, I was not so impressed with the discipline in being late to class. In the foods lab there is a sheet of paper that the students would sign if they were late. Well, watching and observing the class students were still trickling in after I hadfinished my demo. Most of the students would not even sign the sheet. I really didn't think it was an effective way to take roll. Only the students that had a conscience actually signed and they were the ones who got introuble? It was just weird and I was not to impressed with that form of discipline.