Getting+Started


 * "Getting Started"**

The chapter by Tchudi and Mitchell discuss how to start your class lessons off as a teacher. The authors mention that not all teachers have that classroom that is well structured and where all the students want to work together. I completely agree with this statement. All students are different, including teachers. By having students that have different learning abilities and personalities, it is hard to maintain a strong structure for them to follow. Another statement that stood out to me is that students do come to class with skills, though teachers feel as though they don’t. It is important to make sure, as a teacher, that we learn our about our students and what skills they have acquired. The idea of using the introduction letter really fascinates me. When I become a teacher, I would love to do this activity. I will be able to know all of my students personally and I can ask further questions about them after the letter is returned to them. The authors said that students like this type of letter and it will interest them. Some of the questions that are asked are very helpful and I would have never thought of using such questions. My favorite question is the one about their best skill that they possess. This can give the teacher of sense of what to expect out of that student based upon their skills. Next the authors discuss relationships in the classroom. It is important that teachers and students have a great relationship, but it is more important for the students to get along and feel comfortable. Allowing students to work in groups at the beginning of the year can help them learn each other’s names and to not feel embarrassed if someone forgets their name or if they forget another student’s name. The activity that I like the best that is suggested in the chapter is the survey. I feel like this will be fun for students and they can compare their likes and differences with other classmates. By doing this, students can also share their writings. If they share their writings with other students, they will feel more confident in their writing and will be more willing to write. I also like the idea of the controversial article idea. Having students discuss a controversial article will allow for them to know each even better. But it will also allow for them to have mature conversations about important things throughout the world. Though relationships are important, it is also important to know the students individually. An activity that was suggested was to have students write their signatures and compare them with others students. I find this to be interesting because it never occurred to me that you could learn a difference in someone by their signature. Another idea that I like to get students involved at the beginning of the school year is to teach your students how to get involved in the library. I think all students should know how to look up information and know what books to find for the information. Another idea that struck me as interesting is to allow students to write down how they feel about reading and writing. If you find this out in the beginning of the year, then you will know where your students stand individually. I felt that the overall message of this chapter was to let teachers know that they can get to know their students on a personal level by creating activities that they will enjoy. I have taken a lot from this chapter and there are many activities that I will use. I would start my school year with these activities because I find them to be effect and they sound fun to me. For the first 45 minutes of my class, I would want to introduce myself so that my students know who I am. Since I will be getting to know them it is important that they get to know me as well. They can ask me questions if they have any as well. I would then like for my students to bring in ten items that best describe them. One of my teachers suggested this and I did it when I was in school as well. This would take up most of the 45 minutes, but it would give me a chance to understand them and as well for their fellow students. I would do these activities for the next couple of days and then start on my lessons.