Field Experience Week 3

This past week in field my partner and I taught our five social studies lessons. We spent many hours putting the lessons together using all the things we have learned so far this year in all of our classes. One day we used direct instruction and showed the students how to make a Navajo rug. We also used the cooperative learning insert using the jigsaw method. Finally we used the effect the pioneers had on the Utah Native Americans. We used technology a couple times. We got to use a cool tool called the Elmo. It is a high tech version of the overhead projector. We also used a video from youtube which showed the students how important the land is to Native Americans.

We were ready and excited to teach. We weren't sure how it was going to go because the teacher in the class gives the students seat work and worksheet packets. We wondered if the kids would be receptive to group work. The first day we taught a song. We put the students in groups of five. THe instructions were to make up actions to their part of the song. Just as we thought the students had a hard time working together. Some of them wouldn't participate because they were just too far out of their comfort zone. We had a hard time with class management because the students aren't used to group work. The next day the students made navajo rugs in their seats. The lesson went very well. The next day we were really expecting another crazy lesson because we were playing a trading game in groups. This time we were pleasantly surprised. We were expecting the worst but the kids really got into the game and it went a lot better than expected.

From this experience I learned that when kids aren't used to doing things a certain way it can make them unsettled. I think this is where I can use what I have learned from classroom management. In my future class at the beginning of the year I will go over the expectations with my students and remind them throughout the year. The first time we do group work we will do it over and over and over if we have to until the students can do it without all the noise. I think it is worth the effort to work in groups. Many students have expressed their sadness that we aren't teaching any more lessons. This reaction leads us to believe that the students enjoyed our activities. I am even more excited to have my own classroom!