When we tread outside of our sphere of influence, we sometimes meet challenge, contempt, and lack of success. Although, on the other hand, we sometimes meet with success and new paths. It's good to stretch the boundaries and see where support and growth is available, but it's also important to heed areas that are unwelcoming or not a good match for who you are or where you are going.
As I think about my sphere of influence and impact, I am once again thinking deeply about the classroom. What can I do to help students achieve more and better?
Seating
I typically let students choose their own seats, yet I'm finding that numbers and other complications make it important to choose seats for students this year. So in the next few days, I'll make sure that every child has a seat where they can work well without too much temptation or distraction to get off track.
Class Flow
This group seems to like a consistent routine. Hence I'll review the math routine with greater focus and stick to a similar routine each day--a routine of collecting your supplies, a short introduction, practice/problem solving, discussion/share, and closing. I'll introduce this routine to students and stick to it.
Home Study
I'll stick to similar home study. While I like to vary home study more, the consistency of using a similar format of easy-to-access home study works better.
Extra Help
The extra help sessions in the morning have been terrific. I've been able to teach a lot of students a lot of skills in positive ways. I'll continue those sessions as much as possible, and hopefully add some afternoon sessions too.
Assessment
I'll give assessments in two parts since the one-hour is not long enough for most students to complete the systemwide assessments. This will ensure that children have the time they need to finish.
Slower Pace
The children complain that I go too fast, so I'll slow down and take things a bit more step-by-step when it comes to the introductions of each section of the unit.
While I like to teach in a bit more creative and holistic ways, for the next few months we'll take on a more traditional approach in order to meet the expectations set. Then hopefully in the last couple months of the year we can move to a more creative, project-based approach, one that's lots of fun.
