First day of school!
Sheesh... where to start?
So, I started at Watts Middle School (Centerville) today with 6th and 7th grade science. No, not my own classroom *grin* but it's still really awesome and stuff. I was so nervous last night I barely slept, so I'm REALLY dragging right now. :)
I was afraid at first that this might change my mind about what I'm doing,
but if anything, it reinforced it! My cooperating teacher is just...well, FABULOUS. The kids love her (and respect her!), and she's a lot of fun and uses just the right mixture of serious and funny.
First two periods are 7th grade (after 10 minute advisory). They were really well behaved during a "lecture" on fungus and seemed so interested in fungi and the way it grows/spreads, and how some foods are made using it. You should have heard them when they found out how sharp cheddar cheese is aged... LOL LOL LOL! And yes, the "Why was the mushroom invited to the party?" joke most definitely came out. :)
Last two periods are 6th grade. They started today on group projects. 6 groups: 3 are making solar ovens that they can heat a marshmallow in, and 3 are making wind-powered "vehicles" (I say that loosely to not restrict it to cars... some are doing boats etc). Let me tell you... When turned loose after knowing a few facts about this stuff, such as using mirrors or magnifying glasses for the solar oven, or that weight should be equally distributed for the vehicles, these kids are SO FREAKING creative! I loved some of the stuff I saw.
I really want to take a camera tomorrow to take pictures of them working on their projects. Hopefully I can make that a reality. (I didn't actually think of that until just now, because telling you about their projects makes me want to show them).
Overall, I'm happy. Centerville is an excellent district, and this school has a very warm, familial feel to it. It almost reminds me of Madison, except they integrate inner-grade in more activities than we did, and the teachers there practice "team teaching," or keeping the same groups of students between a small group of teachers every day.
I had a blast. :)
Question of the Day: Has anyone ever heard the term "open-school" or "open-classrooms?" Or seen it? I hadn't before today!
So, I started at Watts Middle School (Centerville) today with 6th and 7th grade science. No, not my own classroom *grin* but it's still really awesome and stuff. I was so nervous last night I barely slept, so I'm REALLY dragging right now. :)
I was afraid at first that this might change my mind about what I'm doing,
but if anything, it reinforced it! My cooperating teacher is just...well, FABULOUS. The kids love her (and respect her!), and she's a lot of fun and uses just the right mixture of serious and funny.
First two periods are 7th grade (after 10 minute advisory). They were really well behaved during a "lecture" on fungus and seemed so interested in fungi and the way it grows/spreads, and how some foods are made using it. You should have heard them when they found out how sharp cheddar cheese is aged... LOL LOL LOL! And yes, the "Why was the mushroom invited to the party?" joke most definitely came out. :)
Last two periods are 6th grade. They started today on group projects. 6 groups: 3 are making solar ovens that they can heat a marshmallow in, and 3 are making wind-powered "vehicles" (I say that loosely to not restrict it to cars... some are doing boats etc). Let me tell you... When turned loose after knowing a few facts about this stuff, such as using mirrors or magnifying glasses for the solar oven, or that weight should be equally distributed for the vehicles, these kids are SO FREAKING creative! I loved some of the stuff I saw.
I really want to take a camera tomorrow to take pictures of them working on their projects. Hopefully I can make that a reality. (I didn't actually think of that until just now, because telling you about their projects makes me want to show them).
Overall, I'm happy. Centerville is an excellent district, and this school has a very warm, familial feel to it. It almost reminds me of Madison, except they integrate inner-grade in more activities than we did, and the teachers there practice "team teaching," or keeping the same groups of students between a small group of teachers every day.
I had a blast. :)
Question of the Day: Has anyone ever heard the term "open-school" or "open-classrooms?" Or seen it? I hadn't before today!