Formal Observations...better known as: This Is Not How I Thought It Was Going To Go!

It never fails. The perfectly planned and rehearsed lesson never works out JUST as you thought. For weeks you obsess about what to do. The lesson  needs to have the perfect mix of teacher directed activity and group work with a bit of reflection on top! YES! I've got it! The perfect lesson that does just that! So  you draft a lesson plan. Clear objectives, steps, potential obstacles, assessment, and reflection. How am I going to differentiate? How will I assist/support students as they work? How will I maintain peace and harmony with a somewhat difficult bunch? Obsess, obsess, obsess...

It's time. The children sit and wait to be directed. A calm washes over me. I'm ready and confident. An interruptive complaint, a whine, a grunt, a "She pushed me!," a "She pushed me first...." Then all HELL breaks loose. Those who are usually well-behaved have transformed into monsters. Why? How? I try to pull out all of my "teacher tricks" for management; positive reinforcement, modeling, peer-mentoring.....NOTHING IS WORKING! The goals that were set so idealistically, the reflective discussion you planned, down the proverbial toilet!

Teaching is like no other profession. We have to be master Ad Lib"bers." In most professions, how YOU feel, and how well planned YOU are drives your success. In our profession, our success is driven by the mood, behavior, and feelings of 20+ little peanuts!!!! Try that on for a day and walk in my shoes!

Good teaching is one-fourth preparation and three-fourths theatre.Gail Goldwin

A Teacher's Job

Everything we do as teachers is for our students. We spend August learning about them and preparing exciting lessons and events to stimulate learning and growth. We spend September watching them as they evolve; as they adjust; as they adapt to new surroundings; as they grow as learners. From then on  we teach, reinforce, support, model good behavior, and grow into a little family of our own. We eat together, we celebrate successes and work through rough times. We solidify our relationships and provide a safe and welcoming environment for our students. We praise them when they demonstrate goodness and we strategize with them when they need to make changes for the better. We watch what they eat for snack, making sure they eat healthily. We observe them at lunch and see that they eat their meal first and dessert last. For all intense and purposes we know our children COMPLETELY. We can predict reactions and nip problems in the bud. Every day we spend together, counting to 100, completing the daily calendar, learning to read, to write, to problem solve. We nurture those who don't feel well and make sure hands are washed and mouths are covered. We talk privately with our students about their feelings. We work together on peaceful communication and empathy. We apply band aids when boo-boos come our way,  and we check bathrooms when our students are away too long. We teach responsibility by making sure backpacks are emptied each day and refilled with important homework. We check and assess and assess and check, making sure our students are finding success and are meeting grade level expectations. And even when they aren't, we plan and differentiate to make sure our students' needs are met.  And while we are busy doing ALL of these things, we are teaching them. Some may say that teachers have it easy. Thoughts???