Because Mondays are so difficult for me, even as a teacher, I do have empathy for my students. I'm not quite as strict as other days because I know it must be challenging for some of my students. Today, we talked about deadly diseases, and read about the impact of European diseases on the Native Americans. I really enjoying studying this because science is very interesting to me, even though I am a history teacher.
1. I started reading a new book-- Smartest Kids in the World. I'm only on chapter 1 right now, but it's really really good. I am very excited to learn more about WHY students in the U.S. test scores are so mediocre. I also have enjoyed reading about the international test given to students around the world, and how it was developed. If you're looking for a fun book to read that is also "educationally" stimulating, I highly recommend this book.
2. My 5th Hour students have actually sort of started to police each others' behaviors. This hour is by far my most challenging-- not because the students are "bad," but because they are ALWAYS TALKING. First semester was frustrating for me because I never felt like I could get a full thought out. However, some students have also become frustrated, and they have begun to kindly remind the class to "STOP TALKING." It may not be the best way to handle these situations, but it is nice to know that not all students want to be disruptive and they care about learning.
3. We looked at the Columbian Exchange today, which is always a fun topic for me. We talked about our perfect meals, and students analyzed whether their meal was mostly "new" or "old" world foods. I didn't get through a lot of content, but I got to know my students a little better, and it was fun. I'm hoping that the fun we had today, and the connections we made will help me in the long run.
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