Week 3, how did you arrive so quickly!? Time is flying… Might be because I’m having fun being challenged or due to the fact that I’m working so hard and long!
I’ve been in at school at least one day every weekend since school has started, I’m often in at 6am and don’t leave until 3-5pm most nights. Planning unit plans and weekly plans, modifying work and planning activities for varying ability levels, creating and preparing tactile/hands-on/engaging activities, designing classroom displays, checking student work, planning approaches for specific students…
Monday and Tuesday were pretty hectic. I was feeling a little unsupported by the team leader as lots of issues arose those days due to uncontrollable outside events. Wednesday was a calm and pleasant day full of learning and a lovely way to end the week. Even after the tough start to the week, it was so rewarding to see my students achieving on the Wednesday.
This week was a short teaching week though with two days pupil free and one weekend trade-off day for Kagan Cooperative Strategies PD. The PD was fast paced, interactive and interesting. I was hoping for a bit of down time to sneak in some unit planning or two play with ideas for next week, but the trainers had us working the whole time! The days went quickly with lots of smiles. It was great to get to know my colleagues from all over the school more deeply.
In regards to the PD itself, it was all about cooperative learning. I have experience with cooperative learning including using Johnson’s 5 Elements activities in my classes. The Kagan strategies are the whole package though. They make the whole cooperative learning approach easier to plan and implement. I can’t wait to work with it next week!
Social life wise, I have been trying to be a ‘yes’ person! Friends who have taught remote for years all reinforced that it is important to make time for yourself and to establish relationships with the colleagues who will be there to support you. So, despite feeling like there are never enough hours in the day, I have managed to attend a community soccer comp, trivia night, pizza night, sunset at the lookout and dinner out. Unfortunately, I had to miss out on a Sunday trip to a billabong as I spent from 9.30-4.30 at school completing unit plans, weekly plans, planning how I will implement Kagan cooperative learning strategies and setting up the classroom for the week.
Overall, another interesting week! I’ve learnt so much in the last few weeks; some days feeling like a graduate again!! Another quick, simple update but promise more detail and exploration when I get some time!!!!!