Friday, May 1

Today was a bit rowdy at school. It was hat day the kids had a lot of fun with it. The students are really seeing the "light at the end of the tunnel" . They are ready for the weekend, but aren't we all.

My multicultural experiences at North Marshall Middle School has been limited. The entire district is almost 100% caucasian with very limited ethnic backgrounds. There is one African American student in the school. He is in the 6th grade, and the way the school is designed, each grade level very seldom ever interacts with each other, so I haven't had the opportunity to talk to him or haven't had him in class to get to know him.

There are some differences in religious backgrounds. I have been in the class while some students were working on some group projects, and as kids do they start chatting about different things and this one student was talking about how this one girl had gotten saved at church and another student didn't know what she was talking about. The girl went on to explain what she meant. It shocked me a little to find out that some children do not go to church and don't understand about Jesus and Christianity.

Another difference I have noticed is in the socioeconomic backgrounds. The students made more of an isssue about it in the 7th grade than they did in the 8th grade. I am not sure why that was the case, but the 8th graders seemed to have been more accepting of other students of different backgrounds. It might have been the maturity level of the two grades, or it might have been just the difference in the individual students who were involved.

As for any FMD students, They are not integrated in the classroom, but I often see them during my planning period. They are in the hallway where the office is. As part of an enrichment class, some of the 8th grade students go and read with some of these students. I have heard them say that they just fall in love with these kids and the FMD students really like it as well.

There is one student I have in class who is in a wheelchair. He can walk but he has such a hard time in the hallways that he uses the wheelchair for safety reasons. He is a good student and he really does well in class. He is allowed to get to class and leave class before the bell rings. Sometimes when he leaves class, the other students start thinking it is time to go and that causes some interuption but it just a matter of getting them back on track until the bell rings.

As far as with students with learning disabilities, I have collaberated with the Special Ed. teacher with two students.When they get their assignments, they go to her and get assistance. Also when we give a test, they go to her. They have the test read for them.

I know that some schools have a vast amount of multicultural differences to deal with, but this school system it is very limited. I would have liked to have had more experiences but they just weren't there to be experienced.

Thursday, April 30

It was quite a change today, I have backed off of teaching every class. The students are doing a project for CATS review, and today some of the kids were still in the computer lab, while some were in the classroom working on poster boards for their presentations. I stayed in the classroom with the ones in there while my ST went with the ones to the computer lab. In regards to the legal issues and diversity. I realize that it is important to maintain your professional skills and to be aware of your vulnerability to law suits and liability. I have been told also that you should document all occurances in the classroom and to never discuss things other than with your supervisors. I have learned by observing during my Student Teaching experience, that to make your classroom or lab room rules obvious and accessable to everyone. That is especially true in Science with the lab. There are so many potential hazards just waiting to happen in there.

Wednesday, April 29

Today went well. At the first of each class, I went over the test and let them ask questions on what they missed. My ST thought that they did well on the test. I taught this chapter from start to finish in my solo weeks so I was proud of the fact that they did well on the test. The kids started their research on the projects today. We were in the computer lab and they were researching with their partners. It was a bit loud, but they were really working hard. After school we had a baby shower for one of the teachers and his wife. They are expecting a little girl. It is due in about two weeks. It was fun talking with all the teachers, I really appreciate how they include me in all of the activities. They really make me feel at home here.

Tuesday, April 28

Today was test day. Not too much excitement today. I am supposed to back off to teaching only two classes this week, but my ST and I decided for me to teach until I gave the test today. We are starting a year end review project after the test is over. The students will pick a topic and make a presentation to the class. It is a project for them to review for the CATS testing. I am not going to be teaching solo any more, I am going to miss it.

Monday, April 27

Today is Monday,some of the students were a bit more lively today for some reason. It was a really nice weekend, and they probably weren't ready to come back to school. I know that I would have rather been doing something else than in school on such a nice day. Today we reviewed for the chapter test that they are taking tomorrow. I graded the homework assignment that I assigned on Thursday, they did well on the homework, I gave them another review to complete in class. They looked up the answers, then we went over it before they took it home so they would have a good review for the test.
As for a legal issue, I can't recall anything that has happened personally,but I have not read all the reading, yet. So there could be something that I was not aware of.

Friday, April 24


Today is CATS Test review day again. I went through some review questions and a practice Open Response question. It was also Pajama day for the kids. Some of the teachers dressed in PJs as well. Some of the kids really got into the theme. This one girl dressed in PJs a robe, had her hair up in curlers and had a blind fold on her head. She put in a lot of time on her outfit. They give a prize for the best dressed, I think she won the prize. Next Friday is hat day, and there is something else for the next friday I forget what it is. The kids really like these theme days. It gives them something to look forward to in these last few weeks of school.

Thursday, April 24

Well today was back to normal as far as no class interuptions. All the classes were in all day long. We got back to a normal schedule. I did some reviewing on Newton's laws, I also gave a vocabulary quiz. The kids really did well I was afraid that they would have forgotten everything since it had been so long since we had went through the material with all the field trips and Earth Day. I am planning to give the test next Tuesday if nothing comes up to delay it any further. I have learned with my limited teaching experience to really watch for wandering eyes during test and quizes. It is hard to see everyone all the time but you can keep moving around the room and always watching never turning your back on anyone in the classroom. I am sure that it gets easier to spot the wandering eyes the longer you teach.