So it is now the end of week four and it feels like everything is finally falling into place. The first three weeks have been really messy with assessment tasks being finished off and units being finished, not to mention compliance and an audit starting next week. Now that things have settled down things have been running very smoothly. Year 7 have started their poetry unit and to start it off we watched a really engaging incursion on poetry. This was a very useful tool as it got students excited about learning poetry. Year 8 have just finished Shakespeare and are starting a film study unit. They are such a mature class and very advanced. They are very excited to start editing using the macs and filming as well. Year 10 are not so enthusiastic. We are doing Shakespearean tragedy and while I wanted to do Macbeth, we are now doing Julius Caesar. It has kind of grown on me in some ways, but I am still trying to win over most of my class.
In terms of classroom management there is very little to report. My classes are all very quiet as my colleague teacher demands silence in her classroom. We have very different styles which can sometimes mean the class is louder than she is used to, but she is very supportive of all my ideas. I have a very good relationship with all my students (I think I won them over with stickers) and there is a level of mutual respect.
I have given my year 10 class a lot of responsibility and power in the classroom. We have started blogging using livejournal and it is a space for them to discuss the unit, what they do and don't understand and what kind of activities they would like to do. This is my only class that work in groups of 4 and I am still waiting to see how effective this is. At the start of the unit we did a jigsaw lesson where groups became an expert on a specific topic to do with Julius Caesar. In their home groups (which they will be seated in throughout the unit) we spend a lesson on each topic which allows students to teach each other and get through the unit more quickly. So far this is getting mixed results but I am determined to see it through.
I have two year 7 classes. One is the top class and the other is the bottom. While this is really great so that I can experience different learning abilities and adapt the curriculum, I am only now getting used to the vast gap between student abilities. Last week, I did a similar lesson with both of my classes, just changing the content slightly. An outspoken student piped up with "don't you think we are a bit old for this?" I felt embarrassed but it was definitely what I needed to hear. Since then, I have planned very different lessons for both classes and it has paid off.
A week ago, I would have said that year 8 were my most successful class. This was before I marked their most recent test. The concepts that I thought were understood, were not reflected in their exams. I now see that what this class needs is quite different to year 10. Year 10 require visuals and discussions, year 8 need notes and concretely written concepts.
I am still quite suprised at how mature and well mannered all my students are, even when my teacher is not in the room. I think a good relationship has been established and now my struggle will be to keep this going, without students getting too comfortable or taking advantage.
Lyndal.
