GREAT!!!! I think. I had four children and 80 minutes to fill. I was suppose to have five children and two classes (3 girls in one, 2 in the other), but the compuiter teacher didn't arrive and one girl was absent. So child had me for 40 minutes; she reads well, but I think some of the words at leasat were memorized and not read. We will need to work on basic phonics, and I'm trying to right a high interest, low -level reding story for her. After 40 minutes of reading, and phonics practice I let her return to her regular class and worked with the other htree (rather impatinet to learn) girls.
The other three girls are on about a fourth or fifth grade level reading and spelling, though there are individual needs.-- handwriting practice, letter reversals---I had two of the girls clamoring for more "private time" when I would work with them and them alone. One girl wanted me to work with her during recess! I think she is rather a shy child and wants the one on one rather than a mob scene of recess.
Ugh part; room. As in room to actually sit and learn. We had to move FOUR TIMES during that 80 minute period---from the hall, to a small learning center room, to the science room, to the counselors area and then back into the science room (where we huddled in a corner of the room where no one could find us and kick us out! The girls got a kick out of that.) We will spend about 10 minutes each on individual lessons and 10 minutes on phonics-grammar.
Anyway, I"m spening most of my time thinking about the class, tring to figure out what to teach when and how. Should I teach all the girls grammar? Or will it be too confusing and more of a hinderance to the just learning to read girls? How do I entertain the child(ren) who are not learning with me at the moment, so the child I am learning with gets uninterrupted time? Seat work is possible for the three higher level girls (all recently come from the USA) but harder for the Sabras.
I never knew teachers had it so hard!
Sorry I'm being such a pathetic reader and writer these days; my energy really is going elsewhere.
Have a good Shabbat and wonderful weekend everyone.
Posted by Rachel Ann at November 19, 2004 06:54 AMLearning script is good to prevent reversals. Everyone can benefit from grammar, give structure to language.
Teaching is tough; at least your students are enthusiastic.
Great to hear that it went so well! Way to go!
Posted by: Andrea at November 20, 2004 07:42 AMGreat, Rachel Ann!! That sounds like fun and like a lot of work but it's all worth it.
Are you teaching them English or Hebrew? English, right? I haven't been paying attention lately,sorry.
Keep up the good work.
Shabbat Shalom!