Just another ordinary day. One more day of testing and then it’s over. I think I felt the most tired the past two weeks and it’s because of this testing crap. I think that there is a better way of implementing this testing. It’s all standardized so why can’t they break it up a little bit? Have a testing session all week and then not have the next week of testing until a month later. I think it is just too much for the students to have almost two full weeks of testing. It makes students do crazy things and teachers to be just frustrated and wishing it was all over.
My first class today was a riot. I love how the kids this age (6th grade) think that they know everything. They are very egocentric. We continued with our personal fitness unit. We went over computing our nutrition and how to figure out how many calories are required for their daily living. I also briefly went over some basic nutritional facts about energy sources and then finished with energy boosters and zappers. We then went over to the weight room and they got to do circuit training.
The second class today was the honors class. I absolutely love teaching this class. This class gives me confidence in teaching. It builds every class and it’s especially important during this time because I am teaching an activity in which I am not too comfortable with yet. Today I taught the students how to two step (country dancing). It was funny because whenever I mentioned we were two stepping, the students thought that I was talking about the hip hop two step. I had them start with the basic side to side two stepping and then we moved into going backward and forward. After completing these tasks, I had them partner up and practice doing that with a partner. The next task was to learn how to lead and how to follow. Overall, this lesson turned out to be a really good one! I was so excited after the class was finished. The girls were pretty happy and I think that I really did teach them something.
The third class did the same kicking lesson as the other class yesterday. We focused on kicking for accuracy and kicking for distance. We didn’t get to do the Keep Away game because we were strapped for time, but like the other class, these students really liked the activities I had planned. I even noticed today that I am using more and more Spanish as the days and class periods pass by. My only fear is that I will gain that confidence but not in enough time since I only have a week and a half left.
It’s so funny to sit in the portable after the students are done testing and just listen to their conversations. The two main things they talk about are relationships and their parents. They talk about how their parents make life hard for them and they don’t let their kids do anything or how teachers are mean. I used to think that way too. I know where they are coming from. If only they could see themselves in 10 or 11 years when they become parents or authority figures, then they might reconsider. Everyone should be able to understand where their students come from and not be so mean all the time. They were once in that position. They were once the loud and obnoxious student in the halls or the ones who used to think that their parents and teachers didn’t let them do anything.
The relationships between the teachers here is incredible. Two of the teachers gang up on the other one. The only sad part about it is that they don’t confront the other teacher about the problems that they are continually talking about, they would rather say it to each other behind this teacher’s back. Why keep talking smack about the other teacher. Just confront them or do something about it instead of always bad mouthing.
Oh well. It’s not my battle. I don’t want to cause any conflict and then just up and leave. Until tomorrow!
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