Morning Meetings.

I will probably have quite a few posts about morning meetings for a couple reasons. One, because I am so intrigued and so interested in them and how they can influence my students and classroom as a whole. As I learn more and become and become more educated on them, I will post ideas and inspiration to help me in my future teaching. 

Last semester during field work, my field teacher was all about morning meetings, and found it very successful in her classroom. After three weeks of observing it, there were many things I liked about it, and a lot of things I didn't like about the way that it was carried out in her classroom. I loved that the students were very involved, and they seemed to enjoy it and the content, but morning meeting usually lasted about 45 minutes in her classroom, with no involvement from the teacher. It was all student based, and there was one student leader that lead the class on the smart board for their activities. There were a lot of great ideas this teacher had for morning meeting. For example, she would do a greeting, which we've learned about in class, and she would also do a 'show and tell' type of thing at the end. The students would go over different things like what the weather was yesterday, is today, and a prediction for tomorrow. There would be a greeting with lots of mistakes that the students would have to read, and then correct. Like I said before, there was some of it that I liked, and some that I didn't like so much.

Learning from this, I know for sure that as a teacher, I want and NEED to be apart of this important part of the day! I want to enhance student interactive and encourage class participation. It seems like that is the point of morning meetings. I've realized that I love the parts of her morning meeting that were very interactive and helped the students (not just the one leader) to feel included and familiar with each other, classroom procedures and other content. I'm really excited to learn more about it throughout this semester so that I can successfully implement it into my future classroom. I will be posting more about it as I learn about different ideas and become more clear on the subject!

First Glance at Differentiation

Differentiation in the classroom isn't a term that I've heard very much throughout my educational experience. I didn't hear it while I was in grade school, and until this point I haven't been exposed to the meaning, or the ways that it can personally effect me, as a teacher, with my very own classroom and students. After our first assigned reading, it was clear to me how important differentiation is, and why it can make or break a classroom. It helped me to see what I, as a future teacher, need to do to ensure a differentiated classroom, where all of my students can progress and connect to the curriculum. 

One of the first statements that stuck out to me was, 'Teachers who differentiate instruction are also aware that the students in their classroom begin the school year on a wide range of understanding and skill.' I don't remember too much about elementary school, but I do remember that the other students in each one of my classes were very different. None of us were the same. We were all on very different levels of learning, in all different subjects, and it only made me realize that it does take work on the teachers part to make sure that students don't plateau, but move forward from the level they originally stand. As a new teacher, it is intimidating and scary.... trying to prepare to be a hard working, selfless, and a put together teacher. I'm learning that it takes flexibility, and a lot of time spent getting to know your students individually so that you can find out exactly what their needs are. It's about mixing the curriculum with student interests, and becoming familiar with a balance between the needs of my students and the requirements of the curriculum.

I am looking forward to learning about more strategies and ways that I can implement differentiation in my classroom. Although it may take more time and creativity in teaching, it seems like an effective and positive influence in the classroom that can help contribute to the success of my students.... and that is my ultimate goal!