Week 13 Check- In Reflection

 1.  What did you notice about the kids today?  How will this change your tomorrow?

2.  What went well today? What would you improve upon next time?

3.  Did students learn today’s objective? How do you know?

4.  Which students “got it” today? Who are you still worried about?

5.  Why was today’s lesson important? How will students use this in their lives outside the classroom?

Today was the third day of me teaching my 3-5 day lesson plan to my students. The first day was a little nerve-wracking on my end because I was worried the students would not enjoy the lesson. By day three (today) I realized that the lessons had been going okay. I would not say bad, but I would not say perfect either because there is so much room for improvement still. Today, for example, I noticed in my third-period class that students were very high-strung and full of energy, wanting to be very vocal with one another. Students came in and were wandering the classroom, not listening to directions, so it took a few minutes to get them in their seats working on the bell ringer assignment. Students during the lesson, a few in particular were being rude to one another, and making distracting and inappropriate comments about the content being learned or about other students. I think for Monday, I will have students to a stretching exercise, or allow them to chat for 2 minutes with one another to get out anything they feel needs to be said that they don't think can wait until after class, that way there may be less interruption during the lesson. 

What went well today, was that I had a decent amount of 2nd period engaged in the classroom, making their own connections in their life to the content being taught which I was really impressed to see. I also had a student who usually doesn't take notes, and who decided to participate and engage when being asked questions. Next time, I know I need to still cut down on the information I put on the slides. It definitely helped underline what they need to write down, but they still felt like they needed to write down the rest of the information. I also need to be a bit stricter if a student continuously misbehaves. I also forgot to add the objective of the day today, so I will do that for Monday. 

My objective today was for them to learn what an Oligarchy is, and what Tyranny is. Students learned this because they were able to answer my questions when being asked what each is, how many rulers, or what society we learned about still has either of these. Students also put the information into their notes in writing or pictures. A student made a comparison to the Oligarchy using information and what they were seeing. 

I would say about 60% combined between 2nd and 3rd periods "got it" today, or have been getting it during these past few days of the lesson. There are students who love to ask questions and talk constantly without raising their hands, about what they are seeing or what they think, which is great. Yet, allowing others who are getting it to talk is also important. I don't always like the idea of just calling on students but it seems to work in this class. I equate the students not getting it because of constant class size fluctuating and students being out of class/ school or in ISS. Another reason why they are not getting it is that students refuse to take notes. Students are engaged in listening, but maybe drawing at the same time, which for some I have told can be how they take notes. They can draw it and make meaning out of it. But once I ask them to do something, then they decided even more not to. Some students also are having a rough time at school, and I can tell several have been having off days where getting them to answer a single question is a goal I have set for them because working slowly with them is what makes them realize they can open up and still participate. 

Today's lesson was about Oligarchies and Tyrants/Tyranny in Ancient Greece. It was also about showing students different parts of Ancient Greece such as Sparta, and what it looked like then, and what the main city looks like today. Students can see how geographical landscapes where infrastructures are built have changed and left the ruins there at the same time. The concept of change over time, as well as comparing modern-day Oligarchs and Tyrants, shows the continuation of governments, even if they have changed some. It is important for students to know the different forms of government, and on Monday they will learn about Democracy. This is vital since we live in a Democratic society, students need to know where, why, and how it was created, and how it has changed and lasted to today.