I had my first classes this week. A few things I’ve learned:
Never trust your schedule, because they could change it or cancel classes anytime. I was informed on Tuesday that one of the classes they had assigned me to teach didn’t exist. Hm.
Last class of the day is impossible to teach, because everyone is either asleep or itching to get out of school. See eraser tricks, below.
Always have a game or something prepared for if (when) the second grade teacher has nothing planned (like today). Games are great. Posters are okay, but interactive stuff is better.
Finally, when you have a student that simply won’t pay attention and is turned around in his seat talking to the friend behind him, it’s a LOT of fun to grab the eraser off his desk as you’re walking around the room. Ask questions to other students; if they answer them correctly, have them try to guess which hand the stolen goods are in. Every once in awhile go back around and give the mischief maker a chance to get his item back. The longer you can keep it going the better: today, my students guessed incorrectly 6 times in a row! And for the kids that still don’t get it, grab their pencil case off the desk and start rummaging through it in class. “Ahh, you don’t need this. Hmm, this looks interesting, I think I’ll put it in my shirt pocket.” Et cetera. It never gets old!
Jeff, this is a side of you I never expected! Where did you learn tricks like this? Are you saying these things in English? Did you give your “intro speech” yet? I also can’t believe the kids misbehave! I thought in Japan they all sat like robots and absorbed information.
Ahhh… Jeff. Absolutely hysterical. Wonder where you learned that from? BTW, my favorite “tool” is my spray bottle. If they get out of hand, just squirt them once or twice and things get cracking! (works especially well if the water is ice cold, lol) Sounds like you are learning strategies for classroom management hehe.. Have fun!
Jenny & Jeff, I love your suggestions. Too bad I’m not teaching anymore so I could use them.