1 post from August 2009

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This year

Aug 31, 2009
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First week: Required.

Significantly smoother then last year. Still large classes overall, but I have had the privilege to move to main building and teach US history. Teaching 11th grade and a state tested subject creates an atmosphere of focus and serenity and I am unaccustomed to. At this point last year I was struggling to keep the chaos in my room from extending to the hallway. This year my classroom is more organized and my lesson are more structured then last year. I still feel I work harder then I need to throughout the day, picking up papers, collecting papers and giving instructions. I have created a better system for notes, daily homework and daily quizzes. I believe these changes have made students take my classroom more seriously and focused on school work.

Unfortunately, one major difference I notice between this year and last year is the huge amount of kids (especially boys) who have dropped out. My classes are now predominantly female, and I have the feeling that a majority of the kids who I failed last year may not make it to 11th grade US History.

As troubling as this is I am incredibly content with the state of my classroom this year and I plan on filling my kids brains with as much knowledge as possible.