Yes, It Can Be Fun! (Sept. Blog)

Well, next week is Nine Weeks Tests Week at OBHS. It is hard to believe that this year is already 25% over. It seems like we just started yesterday. I believe that during these past 9 weeks, I have learned more than I have in my entire life. I have learned so much information from the staff at OBHS. They are great! I have a great administration, and the teachers are excellent. They are always so helpful. Must more importantly, we have fun! I love talking with all the other teachers. We have such a good time together. I think that it is important for us to enjoy each other's company. I look forward to seeing the other teachers, especially during lunch in the teacher's lounge.

Much more importantly, I greatly enjoy my kids. Overall, I have great kids. I have a great time with them. Teaching is FUN! I greatly enjoy my kids. Each day, I look forward to seeing them. Much more importantly, I have a good time with my kids. I greatly enjoy teaching. I have always heard that you are suppose to enjoy your job. I never knew that I could enjoy a profession this much. My kids make my job fun and interesting. I always look forward to a new day. I look forward to their stories, and much more importantly, I look forward to them being themselves.

Inductive vs. Deductive

There are several ways to instruct students. Two teaching strategies are deductive and inductive. Both of these strategies can be very beneficial inside the classroom. For example, deductive instruction often works best with students who have a difficult time learning a concept. In addition, deductive strategy often works well with students who have difficulty learning at a high level. Most of these students tend to want to know exactly what they are learning early on in a lesson. Deductive strategies often do not allow students to think at a very high level. It does not allow students to know what discovery is like.

Inductive Teaching Strategy, on the other hand, allows students to discover certain concepts. It allows students to think at higher levels. It allows students to look into the unknown and to try to see things that are not visible from the surface. With inductive strategies, students begin to think and look deeper into their thoughts and knowledge. Overall, inductive strategies are an excellent tool in teaching. Sometimes, inductive teaching strategies take up a lot of time. It takes time for students to explore and learn from their findings. In addition, students must have the ability to think at high levels.

Overall, my students seem to work best with deductive strategies. They seem to work best with "straight-forward" teaching strategies. Some of my students have trouble discovering their thoughs or developing a hypothesis. As the year goes on, I hope to expand their minds and begin to use more inductive reasoning.

Classroom Management Plan

As I look back upon this past month of teaching, I also begin to look at my classroom management plan. Overall, I believe that I have a good classroom management plan. In my classroom management plan, I said that every child is capable of learning. I still believe this to be true. I am teaching an inclusion class this year. To say the least, it is a challenge. Most of them failed Pre-Algebra last year. In fact, some of them are taking Pre-Algebra for the third time. With this class, I find myself slowing down a great deal and having to find different ways to teach them. However, they are still learning but at a different level. Hence, my classroom management plan still holds true. Each of my students is learning something about mathematics.

Overall, my consequence system has worked. My consequence system is first a verbal warning, second a written explanation, third a phone call home, and lastly an office referral. I HAD a problem with one of my classes. They would constantly talk, normally the entire class. I found myself having to put the entire class on warning. It seems to be the only way to control them. However overall, this has worked. Thus, instead of giving out individual warning, I have to give out class warnings. So, I had to make minor changes to my consequence system for one period.

My rewards system seems to work extremely well, expecially when I withhold rewards. Every Friday, I draw student numbers for rewards. I got this idea, of course, from Ms. Monroe. It really works! Most of the students want to know on Friday if we are going to draw for prizes. I have to explain to them that the drawings are not "automatic" on Fridays. They have to earn them. Hence, it encourages them to behave throughout the week.

Overall, I would say that my classroom management plan has been a success. I have had to make a few minor changes; however, I believe that it is a good plan. I know that my classroom management plan will continue to benefit me.