Natalie+Christiani

Genre Reflection # 5

Dear Students, I began my experience with you all wondering how I was going to survive until the end. I was terrified about teaching to a bunch of kids that barely respected me, much less want to hear me teach. I started off thinking first I will put my foot down and show you whose boss, however you guys have played this game before and immediately pushed back with even more force. So, I went back to my thinking chair and thought of another strategy. I realized I didn’t know anything about any of you, but here I was demanding that you sit down, be quiet, and allow me to teach. It took some time but I began to learn a few of your names and a little more about the things you all were into. It didn’t surprise me that you liked and disliked same things as my own daughter. I immediately tapped her brain for information.

I guess what I am trying to say is that you all don’t really have a grasp on who you are, yet you want someone to understand you. And I guess I get that…I think. Once I allowed you to know me a little better you all also opened up to me. I was now able to teach you because we had somewhat of an understanding. I can’t say everyday was perfect, but let’s face it you all are middle schoolers.

Thanks for giving me an experience I will never forget. Thanks for teaching me about myself. Thanks for allowing me to get to know you. Student Intern, Mrs. Christiani

Natalie- You and I had similar experiences. It was hard to gain the respect of my students, especially when my CT was in and out of the classroom. I think it is great that you were able to tap your daughter's brain for likes and dislikes. TOSS has definitely been a great learning experience and I think you and I are both very prepared for student teaching! - Ashley

Natalie- I admire you for going into a classroom and taking charge. You and I had very different TOSS experiences. I don't know how I would've reacted. I respect how you handled yourself with your students. You are going to make a great teacher-LaShelle

Genre Reflection #4

Dear Grammar, I am writing this letter to inform you that over the pass couple of weeks you have stressed me out. To say that I am over you is an understatement. Don’t get me wrong as a future teacher I understand why you are so important. I understand that without you I probably wouldn't know how to communicate or maybe I would, but who would understand me? Teaching my 7th graders about you not only makes nervous, but also confuses me as well. I create my lesson feeling confident. The minute students begin to ask questions I find myself questioning your rules. Grammar why are you doing this to me? I have had some bad relationships, but ours has topped the list. Do you need me to spend more time with you? I can definitely do that. I am able and willing to do whatever it takes to make our relationship work. In the meantime I need you to do me a favor. Talk to your boys comma, period, and semi-colon. They have been harassing my students and making it difficult for them to write. I am pretty sure they too want this relationship to work. I am glad we were able to talk and I apologize if I have insulted you in any way during this letter. To be honest I really do love you. Stressed out!

Dear Stressed Out: We will get better and better at grammar the more we practice. We should start with the basic components that kids will use and have a grammar lesson each week and incorporate it in everything. There are so many layers to grammar. All depending on the grade we teach we want to make sure that it is applicable to the student's real world. I do not know about you, but some teachers are not teaching "real" peer editing. Before kids can spot a grammar error, they have learn what it is and what it does. I saw this great idea where a math teacher had his students take their phones and cameras and take pictures of numbers in their everyday life. For example: the numbers on a mailbox, scale, license plate, etc. He had them decorate a bulletin board and made this huge collage of numbers from everywhere. We could do that with punctuation and grammar. See you soon. Jody Thomas 3/27/11

Natalie, I'm feeling you on this. Grammar has never particularly been a strong suit of mine, but it is what I've been teaching for the past week and a half. And I feel like it has really been a test of all of the 'grammar practice teaching' I've done over the past three years. As nervous as I've been about personally engaging with grammar, I'm more nervous about not presenting it a way that helps the students. On some days, they get it right away, and they know that they've rocked it. All smiles. But on other days, they really struggle to grasp the concepts, and I know how challenging it can be because I was that student in seventh grade. A lot of stuff to juggle! But I thought your reflection was hilarious. I would have never thought to write a letter to 'Grammar'. I hope he writes back quickly. It's certainly the least he can do for being so obnoxious. ;) -Adriana

Genre Reflection #3 ** Shhh... ** I said Shhh, listen to what I have to say. Shhh. I repeat myself almost every day. Shhh, how can you learn if you won’t pay attention? Shhh,if you won’t be quiet I will have to send you to detention! Shhh.Shhh.Shhh… What else can I say to let you know that I am serious? SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH, now you’re making me furious! I am pretty sure there are so many other ways to get you all to be quiet. But for some reason I won’t try it. Shhh.Shhh.Shhh. Now I will just stop and wait until you are done. I will not teach over the talking, so don’t think you have won. Because I have my secret weapon, simply waiting as soon as the talking begins and I will use now until the day ends. SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!

Too funny. I find it interesting that so many of these students form very quick opinions of TOSS students/student teachers, and they almost write us off immediately. There are a couple of TOSS students at my middle school, and while I haven't necessarily had this problem yet, they were talking about how some of the students they're working with have blatantly said 'You're not my teacher, so why do I have to listen?' And it surprises me because I was always taught an adult is an adult, and you respect adults. I didn't think it was going to be //so// hard to get them to listen or settle down. Fortunately, the class that I'll be teaching is extremely well behaved, and so there aren't too many issues with talking, but I have had to pull a few shhhhhh out of my back pocket! :) -Adriana Vanderheyden

I must tell you, I found myself doing that the first couple of days. It seems so funny when you think about it. Why do we do it? Who was the first Shusher? I catch myself doing it and I made myself stop. For me, this poem sums up what is going through the mind of every teacher. I stopped the shushing and now I just stand there until they settle down. It was literally the longest and most uncomfortable 10 seconds the first couple times I did it. My kids finally caught on, and now the know...but I'm always tempted. Great job, thanks for sharing!!! Tony :)

Natalie: You have got the "poetry gene." This poem was exactly what I experienced this week: Finding my teacher voice. One day, I felt great about my management. The next day, I was in tears once I got into my car. It is an everyday thing. My CT told me the other day to be prepared for a behavioral upheaval after the field trip coming up. All these variables that affect the energy of the classroom. My energy too, gosh, one day I just did not want to be there, and I know the kids picked up on it. There is no way you can "fake 'em out." Thank you for validating that I am normal. By the way, I miss you. //Jody Thomas//


 * I really related to this. My first day teaching was pretty interesting. I believe the word "SHHHH" will haunt me for the rest of my life. I just stopped talking and started at the kids who kept running their 7th grade mouths. They caught on but sometimes it didn't last for long. Hopefully our experience will be full of less "SHHHs". I am glad to know I am not the only one experiencing this. Just remember.... YOU ARE JOE CLARK! (Gah, I miss our class) - Ashley :) **