My first semester in Directed STudies 2014 has been mere survival. \u00a0Many changes have occurred in our district and this has been the year in which directed studies has taken a huge hit in regards to priority. \u00a0When I first started teaching DS, I had mentors in my classroom. \u00a0Four to be exact. \u00a0The goal was to build relationship with the mentors who would then keep track of a certain group of students and help them to maintain on tast. \u00a0At this point people realized that many of these students were doing poorly in all classes (not just math). \u00a0The idea was for them to be connected with an adult who would provide care and concern. \u00a0We focused on basic skills so that test scores would improve. \u00a0Class size was kept to around 24 at the most.<\/p>\n
When the contract was negotiated we lost our mentors. \u00a0This was doable the first year in that the class size was reasonable. \u00a0This year however, we have no mentors and I am working with 34 students who are all needing one on one help. \u00a0To make matters worse I have cliques, and groups of enemies all in the same class. \u00a0I am have racial issues where the class if left to do group work will move into “their own”. \u00a0Daily I dreaded teaching DS.<\/p>\n
I have come back this semester with some new goals. \u00a0The admins have redesigned the purpose for the class to help with the students current math class.<\/p>\n
My goals include:<\/p>\n
1.) \u00a0Divide the class into their groups by their math teacher. \u00a0I have 8 groups of GEo by their math teacher, 1 group of Alg II, and 1 group of Alg I.<\/p>\n
2.) \u00a0In their groups I promote teacm building activities. \u00a0They are with students that they normally might not hang with. \u00a0This will hopefully help with all of the put downs and language issues. \u00a0We need to promote each other up not put down like last semester.<\/p>\n
3.) \u00a0Students are going to see application and relevance to what is being taught in their regular math class. \u00a0This is going to be a big challenge especially with the diversity in my class.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
So far, I have started off with team building activities such as their team flag and have purchases team binders. \u00a0This is a work in progress.<\/p>\n
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My first semester in Directed STudies 2014 has been mere survival. \u00a0Many changes have occurred in our district and this has been the year in which directed studies has taken a huge hit in regards to priority. \u00a0When I first started teaching DS, I had mentors in my classroom. \u00a0Four to be exact. \u00a0The goal … Continue reading Directed Studies Reflection<\/span>