Last Day with ELL

Today was my last day with my ELL. I received an email from Jose with the information from Mr. I  for our Ell.  As I approached the the young ladies I stated the objective and the goal of today’s lesson.  I gave them power point over South Asia and let them know the type of strategy that will be used today.

I restated the objective to the ladies again letting them know we will be using graphic organizers today to break down the power point slides that you have in front of you.  I first  gave them an assessment by asking them several questions about organizers.  I asked if they knew what a graphic organizer was and they responded yes.  I then ask who taught you how to do a graphic organizer and they said Mr. I.  I asked them to draw a graphic organizer to make sure they knew what I was talking about.  Once I found out they knew what I was talking about this made my lesson a little easier to teach since they already had an idea how to do so.  I gave them the power points and I told them to read the first view slides and create a small graphic organizer.  As they created the graphic organizer I created one to.  Once we all finished we compared the graphic organizers to see if any information was the same or different.  It turned out that each graphic organizers had the same concept.  As we moved on to the next set of slides I had to remind them not to write out the whole sentence about different ideas and concepts just the key points. Overall the idea of creating graphic organizer worked they were able to understand the use of the strategy.

As I look back on the experience I can say that I have grown.  I am not that intern that was unsure how to teach someone who did not speak the same language.  I am an individual that has succeeded in teaching another individual who could not speak English very well. I gained confidence in teaching someone of a different language.  I will be up for the challenge any time. 

 

My first day with my cooperating Teacher!

My first day was great.  Yes, I was a little nervous but once I started talking to some of the students and the teacher  the nervous dissipated.  Our class was  hour in a half, the first part of our class was spent in the classroom where we looked over the book they were using and the topics one can use for the unit plan. The second part of class was spent in the weight-room where I was able to assist both males and females  proper technique to lift weights.  As I moved to the gym I started talking to one particular individual and we got on the subject about popping the question.  As I continued to talk to him I asked him what question are you talking about and he said the question.  I said you want to get married is that what you are applying and he said yes.  I was surprised, I told him you have your whole life to get married and he replied “you only have one life to live and you might as well get married early. 

Emotions

Today was my last day an emotional day full of different emotions.  Today I observed my personal fitness class where we played basketball for the whole period.  Today was like any other day a free day and no structure.

I have learned through the weeks at Akins how important structure is and without the structure in place the students run the class and that is what I observe everyday that I visited the class.  I remember telling the professors and fellow interns about the class and how bad the class was structure wise.  When I was speaking to the class I felt the class as a whole did not believe me until I had a different intern join me in the class and face exactly what I was talking.  She could not understand why we just walked laps and played basketball and did no book work to improve learning.  The same question I asked myself everyday that I observed the class.  The only thing I could get from this experience is not to coach or teach my class in fashion he did.  Even though there were times I saw a positive learning environment the negatives on how the class was ran out weighed the positives.  Some of the positives were taking several students to the library to help them with their study guide which was by far the most learning that was provided.  But once again that only happened once because there were so many negatives.

As the day concluded I noticed the students want to learn and today was one of those days I did not want to leave knowing I can not make a difference any more because I’m going to leave.  I had several students ask me about college, which meant a lot to me knowing I had something to do with that.  As I left and wish the students luck in their feature endeavors I sensed a since of sadness.  The students knew that I cared about them even though it was developed in a short period of time.  The time spent with the students is a moment I will never forget. 

 

When 4 went to Africa

Today I went over the geography in Africa.  I gave the students two maps of Africa one blank and one with the names of each country.  I had the students look at the map to prepare themselves to fill in the blank map.  I modeled for the students exactly what I want them to do.  As I gave the students the maps I went over the maps with them answering any question they might have had about the spelling or the exact location of the countries.

The lesson went well, was not sure exactly what and how I was going to teach just a map but I accomplished what was necessary.  As I progressed through the lesson I started to figure out ways to engage the students a little more by applying some of my competitive spirit in the mix of going to Africa.  As they looked at the map I had them look over and over to place the countries on the blank map by memory.   Now that I have a second to think about it, I should have used another strategy with the one I was using to help them commit the countries to memory.  As I was teaching the lesson the, we got off task a little and I had redirect their focus on the map.  As we continued the lesson and refocused the lesson came to an end.  For this lesson thier was only so much one could talk about a map.  The previous material that was given for the ELL students was to complex to teach without having the right materials.  Therefore I did my best to teach them the map and the benefits of that map.  As I previously stated about getting of task, they asked me about the word nigga and nigger in relation to one of the countries that was labeled.  It through me off task so I redirected there attention and told them we can talk about that after we finish our lesson.  That is exaclty what we did.  Talked how the word should never be used no matter the situation.  Overall the lesson was not bad.

I had a good time with this lesson learning how to approach different situations with the correct frame of mind.  The four individuals that I worked with appreciated the lesson that was taught.  I had a great time and learned how to deal with certain situaiton that unexpected.

Should of been a Substitute

Today in persoal fitness class we had a subsitute, another day I should of teached.  At the begining of class I walked in the classroom and coach said he will be leaving today and here is our sub.  I explained the objectives to me and left.  The objective was to go to the track and walk five laps for a grade.  Once the laps were completed we were to go to the gym and finish the fintess test that is required.

As I approached the class and stated the objectives the students had an idea what we will being doing today. Very similar to the way the professors present their objectives. The students knew what was going to happpen therefore allowing the class to run smoothly.  I would have to agree wtih one of the teachers here at Akins that rapport is one of the best things ever develpoed.  As the students walked thier laps and finished their laps there were several students that only wanted to complete four laps for a 80 when all they had to do is walk one more get an 100.  I think being the person that I am in creating rapport is why I get along with the students. I would ask the students to do another lap to get an 100 and they did.  There was very little resistence in the begining but overall they did what I asked.

We also went to the gym were I had someone model what we were going to do for the raminder of the fitness test.  I expalined to them again restating the objectives what exaclty we will be doing today.  At first they were not listening therefore I had to be a little stern with my voice and my face to get my point across.  As the period progressed the sturctue of the class ran smoother.

The day was great, as I continue to learn everythings seems to fall in place.  Every time I teach my confidence grows and the nervous dispate.

Obervation

Another day of observation a day where I felt that I did not benefit as much as I anticipated.  My teacher was absent today and I was trying to find a class that would benefit me the best.  Therefore I went to athletics to see what his methods of teaching were. 

When I first arrived to class, the first thing I noticed was the good rapport he had with his student athletes.   I observed how he conducted his workout and there was no class structure at all that I noticed.  He told the athletes to warm up and they did but he did not model or demonstrate exactly what he wanted.  Because he did not do that the students asked questions and were hesitant to continue.  As they continued the warm up, full effort was not displayed to me.  I expected more effort and they were not giving the effort that was needed.  As a young coach watching an experience coach I expected to learn from the teacher.  I didn’t expecetd to learn the game of basketball in that short amount of time, my expectaions were to learn a different approach to coaching to model for my athletes and future athletes.

I approach coaching very seriously and my expectations are very high for what I expect from myself and others.  The structure was the biggest thing that I had a problem with.  I say that because I’m trying to become a strength and conditioning coach and the individual that I’m learning from is very structured and maitculus about the little things.  I had hoped to lean new ideas and concepts to strengthen my abilities as a future coach instead I learned what not to do.   

ELL Tutoring Day

Today with my Ell I had work on the subject I have no clue about, geography.  I did my homework and everything went very smoothly.  I started the day off by creating rapport again asking how her spring break was, then I told her about mine.  I stated the objective letting her know what exactly we will be working on.  Our assignment was over Southwest Asia the political and physical aspects of the world.  I started out with a learning staragety called list-group-label.  I had several index cards that I made, that I had labeled cities, countries, rivers and seas.  The object of the assignment was for her to group the the seas, rivers, countries and place them under the correct label.  After she completed that assignment, we started to work on a study guide where I had her read and answer the question.  I had her do this to work on her English language and develop different types of learning skills.

I used a couple of the strategies that I learned in the block.  One strategy that I used and it worked very well was the list-group-label.  This was method used to help her place a name or an item to a group where she listed then labeled the subject.  Another strategy I used was reading.  Having her read the question and answer that question to help her work on her vocabulary skills.

The day went better then I expected.  I was not sure how my method of teaching was going to go.  I was very pleased with myself on how I conducted the tutoring.  I learned a lot about myself and how someone appreciates the work and effort I  put forth to help them out.  GREAT TIME

4 Great Girls

Today in my pesronal fitness class I had the opportunity to work with four great girls.  As I walked to the library I strated to create rapport with the students.  Asking them how their spring break was and when thier next test is.  As we continued to walk to the library I discussed what exaclty we will be working on and the goals we are trying to meet.  We worked on a chapter review which inclueded true/false question and mulitple choice.   We worked on the true and false as group and as individauls.

As I continued to work with the students on thier true and false I relaized how much help they actually needed.  They need help pronoucing words as I helped them I provide encouraging words.  As I asked the children to read

My first and second day with ELL

My first day again with my ELL which was suppose to be my second.  As the time approached to meet with my new ELL I was not sure what to expect knowing that I previously created a great rapport with the previous ELL student.  I know how important it is to create that rapport with your student showing them that I do care.  I started the day by asking her name, if she had brother sister and what she wants to be in life etc..  It was hard not having the “Me Poster”  not allowing me to relate what I said to pictures so she would have a better understanding of what I’m talking about.

I read her a passage about a family and after I finished the reading I asked her several questions to assess her comprehension.  As I asked these questions she did not understand what I was asking therefore she asked me to read the passage again.

I then asked her to read a passage to herself and after she finished the passage I asked her to retell the story in her own words and she did a great job. Then I asked her several question after the reading and she for the most part was able to explain the question with very little trouble here and there. Whenever she did have the trouble I would explain the question in a different fashion and she had no problem understanding. Her ability to comprehend the information quickly was good.  When asked to ask if she any problems understanding any words she answered,  ”there are a couple of words I do not understand” simple words one would take for granted which lead me to believe she could only comprehend a certain amount of the enlish language and her vocablulary was at a novice/intermediate level.

When creating the diagram the family tree she had no problems after we created the one before the assignment started.  She asked one question which referred to Panchinto who is Francisco other then that she did great.

This experience will help a lot in my future teaching allowing me to have a better understanding what to look for and what to pin point as a future problem. I also learned  that it is better for me to speak the language aloud when i would read the passage so she could articulate the words better.  By me reading aloud this  gave her an opportunity to process the information in her head.  I think for the most part she was at a intermediate level even though she has only been here for seven months.  For the future, this taught me to never let her give up ,even though she might shake her head in furstration I can not let her give in.  I have to let her know, I’m here to help and that I care. I know she appreciates that becasue she said “thank you for helping me when I had problems” GREAT FIRST AND SECOND DAY.

Do they know what they are talking about

Today what can I say I had fun doing what I do best.  Teaching athletes the proper way to lift and perform to the best of their ability.  I was assisting with volleyball and basketball while they were doing squats and telling them how important it is to go parallel.  Even though I’m training athletes who have exercised before, their level of training novice.  It very hard telling them what to do when the coaches either have no idea what they are talking about or what to look when they are lifting.  They let them do whatever they want to do. Personally I do not think they care about their athletes the way I care about mine and the importance of striding to be perfect at what they do.  You have do all the little things to become the best you can be and I do not think they push that in the weight room.  At times I find myself not wanting to step on anybodies shoes because it’s there athletes.  But I find it very hard not to do so because the knowledge that I have required about strength and conditioning.