Put to the Test

I’ve wanted to be a teacher all my life but I did not realize the role of teachers. Finally, I was put to the test. Earlier this semester I had the opportunity to teach a 1^st grade and 4^th grade Social Studies class. These were two completely different atmospheres.

Teaching the 1^st grade class on the map of Georgia was a good experience. I was able to show the class a video on maps and together we talked about and drew the different places in Georgia. This lesson was simple but allowed the students to learn. Being that the students interacted with me and met the objective goal of 85% accuracy, I think the lesson went great. The students enjoyed it as well. If I could change anything, I would have allowed the students to come up to the smart board to point out the things on the map.

Teaching the 4^th grade class didn’t go as well as I wanted it to. I was doing a review lesson with them on 6 explorers, the 7 continents, and timelines. The lesson didn’t go well because of the activity I had for them. The students were supposed to walk around the classroom and answer the “who am I?” and “what am I?” questions that were placed on the students backs. It was too advanced for them. The entire class ran around like they were outside and only a handful of students followed the instructions.  Therefore, I had to reevaluate that lesson and change it up for the next period. For 2^nd period, I decided to allow the students to play “All Around the World.” This gave the class more organization. At the end of both lessons I realized that the students didn’t know the information like they needed to. Therefore, as a class we read over the notes after the activities.

Strategies for Teaching

While making observations in a First Grade classroom at a Middle Georgia Elementary school, I focus on the teacher’s strategies for teaching. The one that stood out to me most was the teacher strategy for test-taking.

Typically when a teacher prepares his or her students for a test they stress how important it is for them to pass it. Next, they give them a few encouraging words-“Do your best!” They also tell their students how to answer the questions, whether they have to bubble the letter or circle the answer. Lastly, the teacher will give the students the directions- keep your eyes on your own paper, read the questions first, and take your time but be mindful of the time. Then the students take the test.

This teacher did things differently. In order to prepare the students for their first test while in first grade, the teacher decides to play the students a video. The video is called Heaths Test Taking Song. The song was a fun way to tell the students what test are and how to approach them. Showing this gave the students the chance to get rid of their test jitters or anxieties. It allow them to have a since of relaxation before the test. After the video was over, the teacher went over the procedures for taking the test. Then the students were able to take the test.

The author of Beating the Kid Trickers: Getting Students Ready for Test Week made a great point  when teachers approach testing as a scary thing the students can tell and will also approach it in a scary manner. Whereas if the students are relaxed and are in a somewhat relaxed environment , the students would not look at testing as scary thing but as something that is natural.