Franklin Teaching Journal

September 2, 2009

Early leadership meeting of all department heads. Teacher/parent party planning. IA collaboration day. LEAP days. Transition day where former teachers talk about the kids.. WASL test results should be out next week. Culture of the classroom at this early start to the year, is well behaved, students self direct themselves to their books with free time. Not much goes on in the class that the MT does not detect. My observation skills need to tune into the sometimes subtle lack of attention during instruction. Assessment takes the form of reviewing and calling on students to demonstrate understanding or at least hearing the instruction being made. Math work sheets are checked for accuracy as our the handwriting exercises for form.

9:05 Pledge, calendar, announcements. Return of papers from home.

9:15 Assembly in cafeteria. Introduction of staff. Pep rally atmosphere with appropriate music accompanying the walk-in.

10:00 How to take care of books instruction.

10:30 Snack

10:41 Recess

10:56 Handwriting instruction, practice, and assessment.

11:20 Wash hands.

11:30 Lunch/Recess

12:20 Math instruction, practice, assessment.

1:20 Daily agenda, pack up, read aloud accomplished by me today.

2:00 Dismissal

• In-class library was explained and color coding of skill level appropriate books. Red dot, low, followed by yellow, green, and blue. How to keep books organized. Made bookmarks.
• How to choose a book. Read the back, look at cover, read title and author, flip through pages.
• Just Right book is one where 1 or 2 words on page you do not understand. If more than the book is too difficult. Classroom books stay in school.
• Book Walk , students selected two books, chapter books, but no picture books.
• Popsicles sticks used for random call on which acts as method to keep their attention, least they be called on.
• Walking around with snakes and eating is prohibited
• After recess students were queried as to who they played with and if someone did not have someone else to play with.
• Q&A filler time about classroom rules while staging for room transition.
• Reminded that after recess they should come in ready to learn. Bathroom break discouraged at this time as it should have been done during recess or before.
• Math taught in two groups. MT did getting to 100 exercise with 1st graders while 2nd graders worked with me in the back in double digit addition.
• One student have a number of numbers walking backwards. MT advise not to worry about it and if practice continues toward end the year than worry. Explanation is student typically outgrow it and get it right, so don’t fret.
• In general, most students completed work sheet with few errors. Two methods were observed. Carry method and 10’s method.
• Brief after school Quest team meeting to do some art.
• Prep for curriculum night.