Francis Said:

lesson plans?

We Answered:

What is your question?

Yolanda Said:

On having confrontations with a co-volunteer with Downs Syndrome?

We Answered:

She probably feels like you are trying to belittle her because of her DS. It isn't that she doesn't want to compromise with you but she wants you to see that she is capable of doing things despite the DS. She will never get over it so the best thing to do would be volunteer at a different church. Good Luck

Gregory Said:

Just started teaching, already despising it...feeling miserable, advice?

We Answered:

Hi:

I can sympathize. I just started student teaching this semester in a middle school (7th grade math). So I know how middle school kids are. They really are at that age where they are stuck in the middle and are realizing things about themselves that they haven't had to deal with yet. I am assuming that ESL is some type of English learning program (where I live it is called ELL). If that is the case, then you are also dealing with that, along with the middle school age. The truth is...that doesn't just put extra pressure on you, but on them as well. How ambitious would you be if you were working with a new teacher, your in middle school, and you are trying to learn English. It is difficult for them too.

I am not criticizing your feelings; they are natural. You spend all that time in college and then you get your first job and you freak out--you pray you didn't waste your time and money in college (I feel that way every day). Try to think about why you went into the profession in the first place. Besides, it is your first year. Things will get better. You need to just find your niche with the kids.

You sound like a nice guy; you dread being the tough teacher. Here is the truth, though, they are going to eat you alive if you don't be tough. The first day that I taught a lesson in one of my cooperating teacher's classes, the kids ran all over me. I had no control over them or the class. It was chaos. The next day, I decided (and I told them so) that if they were talking, I wouldn't be. This ran out the class time and they did not have time to work on homework (they look forward to that at the end of the lesson). On the following Monday, I told them that I would not tolerate disruptive behavior anymore. That they would award me the same respect that they give their other teachers, and so on. After that, they have been fabulous (it is not perfect, but much better). I did have to call a couple of parents to get the point across, but it sure made it easier after that. I also had to give out a couple of detentions for not completing homework and disruptive behavior. You have to take charge.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck. B:)

Julia Said:

Critique my lesson for a read aloud of Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters? (practicum student here!)?

We Answered:

You totally don't have to take my advice, but I had a thought for you:

How many days do you have on the lesson? Since you teach ESL, and some kids wont know who Cinderella is, have them go home the night before and ask their parents about folk tales from their respective cultures. Have the kids draw their story out or write the story down (whichever they are most comfortable with-- differentiating) and have them share with someone the next day. Then explain that you're reading another story from another culture.

I was born in Oakland, CA, but I'm Filipino, and I always grew up thinking that folk tales were stories passed on from generation to generation to teach a lesson about the culture. I never thought of Disney movies as folk tales. Just a thought. Good luck!

Manuel Said:

Any ideas for teaching a group of extremely high energy 6th grade boys English?

We Answered:

I would use their energy and keep them up and moving. Some brief ideas:
1. Use the room as a game of hide and seek. Give them a number, for example, and tell them they need to find the number after it, or the number they would have if they added 3.
2. Give each student a card with a word, like little. They need to find a student with another word that is related (synonym, antonym, homonym, etc).
3. Gallery walks and response. Hang pictures along the walls with paper underneath that they have to respond to.
4. When you get them writing, you could post their writing on the wall and have the kids respond to it with post-it notes.
5. Music. Can you teach them songs with body movements?
6. Make your own jigsaw puzzles...maybe even using text like a poem or song that they know. Make it a big floor puzzle and have them work together to solve.

I don't teach elementary kids...those are just some ideas off the top of my head. I don't really know any "calming" lesson plans...my kids call those boring. :)