Week 4

1. What aspect of my week did I find most valuable?

After teaching the lessons and having the students complete the exercises on spreadsheets in computer concepts, the students have been able to expand on their knowledge through specific projects. Seeing these students put what I have been teaching them into creating their own spreadsheets correctly has given me a feeling of accomplishment. The students are enjoying the projects which can be seen in what they have been turning in and telling me at the end of the class.

Picking up my second class this week which has 30 students in it has given me an experience of learning classroom management in a new way. I am using more of the peer assistance strategy for when the students need help which keeps things under better control. This is a class of upper level learners so keeping them busy after they have completed their exercises is a must. They are a good group of students, but learn at a different speed then the other class that I have been teaching, so I have learned to approach the lesson in a different way.

Also, I have had a week of having quite a few interruptions. On one of the days, I had just started the lesson when the principal came to the door with two administrators from the Vo-Tech school to speak to the students. On another day, I would just start to introduce the lesson when there would be an announcement, not just once, but this happened three times in a row. On starting the fourth time, I started the lesson again, waited, the students laughed and I was able to continue on. I know that this happens and we all have to just go with the flow.

2. As I reflect on the past week, what I would change if I had the chance to start again.

My co-op was out sick one day this week and I had a substitute who I have worked with before. This substitute was trying to help me out, but was telling the students one thing while I was telling other students something else. I know that the next time that I have this substitute (who by the way is not a business teacher) I will have to explain exactly what I want the students to do and how before the class starts. This has been a learning experience for me.

In addition, I would change the handouts with the project outlined that I have made up. The one hand out was plain, just the instructions on it. On Friday, I had a hand out that was more interesting for the students, with a boarder and clip art on it. The students seem to enjoy it. Something I have learned and will use from now on.