Good morning,
Today is test day for my Grade 6 classes, which is all 3 of them in which I teach. The test itself is going well and it is allowing me so much needed catch up time.
ISU has really placed a lot of my plate at the moment. I'm teaching 3 Grade 6 classes, one Grade 7 class, personal assisting a Grade 6 boy for 3 lessons a week, and I have to do a presentation about student motivation and transitions. Whew. That seems like a whole lot.
One of my collaborating teachers has been out sick since Wed so I have been planning all of Grade 7 lessons. I'm teaching a unit on magnetism and where I world normally love to have hands-on activities my Grade 7 has proven to me that they cannot be trusted. I attempted to let them look at iron filings, bar and horseshoe magnets but they nearly destroyed the materials cause they were playing the whole time. Each time that I tried to get their attention they would not listen or follow directions. Needless to say, I'm a bit annoyed, can you tell?
As their punishment for today, they will not be able to have an interactive lesson. They will be reading from their textbook, listening to me lecture at them (so boring!), and taking notes. This is the sort of dreaded lesson that I never wanted to have to plan. However, I cannot let these students disrespect me and the materials. So, I must put my foot down.
Other than that, my time in Uganda has been going well. Recently, I planned a trip to go rafting on the Nile in Jinja. Also, going to Murchison Falls for a safari. I think I'm going to try to find a walking tour to go on soon. One of the housemates went on a walking tour and really enjoyed it. Seeing as I am a social studies major as well, I think that I should see more of Kampala.
Hopefully more pictures soon to come!
When my students have had a few off-task days in a row, I become a time dictator. I tell them they will have *exactly* x minutes to do something (and it's only enough time to realistically do that one thing, no time for off-task behavior, or to be confused) and I still to it methodically. I even give warnings about how little time they have left and sort of stress that their grades may be at risk if they don't finish. I've had enormous success with it, and it puts them back in line. Maybe it'll help you! Good luck :D
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