Field Testing-7th Grade Texas History

Oh the joys of being in the classroom! How quickly I had forgotten the joys of dealing with 7th grade behavior, and the challenges that can bring. How quickly I remembered that I just LOVE the challenge of dealing with it anyway. Maybe I am crazy...kids have been saying if for years.

Being in a strange classroom really does bring its own challenges. I have just a few minutes to determine the best way to deal with challenging students--humor, consequences, etc.-- and may never get a tomorrow to try again.

My timing is also WAY off. It's been a while since I've taught 45 min. classes, and having to stop for discipline takes away from completing activities. It's definitely reminded that teaching is a well-honed skill. Just as you can improve with time, you can lose skills with time! A goal for next year: Teach a class once a month!

As far as field-testing goes, I was pleasantly surprised. Though they were rather talkative, most students did their work and did it well. As opposed to the first round of testing, I think this lesson went MUCH better. I am excited to return to the 7th grade ELA class and re-teach the strategy. I think I will see better results than the first time I went in.

Some key concepts that I need to remember for the next time I field test:

• Don't forget to pre-test.
• Set clear expectations with consequences before class begins.
• timing for 45 min. classes needs to be worked out. This sub-lesson, may need to be broken up over a week or so in order to allow for teachers to address content.
• Model thinking for putting definitions into own words!!!

We'll see what comes of it!