Marching on

Tomorrow I finish up my clinical observations at a local high school, the culmination of 35 hours spent primarily with one English / reading teacher. It has been very interesting.

First, a bit about the school and classes. The school is a large one that has failed the No Child Left Behind standards for the last 6 years. There are a large number of students where they are more comfortable with Spanish than English. Additionally, there are a large number of students from poor households, where their parents immigrated from Mexico or Central America with around a 4th grade education. The specific classes I've been with are 3 reading classes, which are essentially remedial classes with many students that likely have undiagnosed learning disabilities or ADHD. There have also been 2 other classes that are English classes, with a slightly higher level of aptitude, although some of the same behavioral issues.

The teacher I have been with has taught for 33 years and reminds me of a grandmother. She's fairly small and while the students don't exactly run over her, she doesn't exactly have them eating out of the palm of her hand. This is the first year in several where she has not had all remedial reading students, so the English classes are a delight for her. My first several sessions were observing standardized testing, which wasn't very compelling. More recently, I've seen some lessons and learned a few things about various teaching strategies and tools. Overall, the teacher has been sort of unprepared, seemingly winging it since she has so much experience. But it hasn't made the greatest impression on me.

The issues with the kids have been really eye-opening. So much energy gets spent on playing cop that it is difficult to spend much time on instruction. This has been the most disappointing aspect for me. I'm definitely interested to see how my middle school experience, which I'll start in about 2 weeks, will compare to what I've seen at the high school. I also plan to talk to many of my friends who teach to get their insights as well. That said, I have turned in my student teaching application for next fall with a request to be placed in a middle school. I may change my mind ultimately as to what level I'd like to teach but that's where I'm leaning right now.

Otherwise, classes are moving ahead. Hard to believe I'm already 1/3 of the way through the term. One of my courses is really good, I think I'm going to enjoy the Shakespeare course also. Then I have my observation classes, which seem pretty useless besides the actual observations. We spend a couple hours in small groups or listening to presentations that I have not gotten much value out of so far. Hopefully this will improve. I also have a state test this weekend on my knowledge of the things English teachers should know. In seeing the practice test, I predict a spectacular failure on this. We'll see, but I'm not at all optimistic.

A bit of a downer post, to reflect my mood over the past week or so. But I keep fighting through it. Eventually we'll get back on the upswing.

Until next time.

Ace