Farewell

You enter a building with the smell of old socks. There are children running, singing, playing and doing all typical things teenagers do. They are like monkeys in a zoo, always entertaining, however, chaotic. As these teenagers enter the class the mood changes, the students are claim yet excited, full of information yet wanting more, and loving yet challenging.

I love my students and how their mood changes upon entering my classroom. I think the description explains my classroom management and is the thing both my CT’s brag about the most.

So this leads into the survey I had my students do on me. I found that the classroom environment I create is a fun and peaceful one. The students write, “I explain why things are important to learn and why they relate to their lives." I have reflected upon what I did at the beginning of the semester to win them over and I have concluded it really is as simple as forming trusting relationships. I found it easy to learn, the buttons I should not push with them and some ways to grab their attention. I did struggle sometimes with focus but I found rewarding them every now in again helps solve that. I am having a hard time dealing with not seeing my seniors anymore after Thursday. I have grown to love every personality, even the ones that test my patience. I cried once today. They made fun of me and said, "We will miss you too. There is always Facebook." I'm excited that, even if all the students are passing high school just yet, all my students in every class passed English. It may not be high but they made it through. Farewell Seniors!!!! 

On the survey I had the students take there was a negative that I feel I need to work on. The question asked, "Does the teacher give out homework?" All students said Seldom or never. I feel that giving out homework will lower grades and most students won't do it. I gave out very little homework and if a student didn't finish their assignment in class that became their homework. Also if a student missed class, their homework was the assignment from the class before. I would like ideas on how to encourage more homework that students will benefit from and actually do? I found two things to consider when assigning homework. One suggestion from an article I read called, “Four Ways to Encourage Students to Complete Homework” by J.C. Sprenger said, “Create a reward activity on a weekly or monthly basis that recognizes the students for completing a unit of assignments.” I think if I make the reward worthwhile most students will attempt to do their homework. Another suggestion from the article was to, “Students like to pursue their interests, which is a primary reason they tend to ignore homework assignments. Try designing a homework assignment that integrates the lesson material with their hobbies and interests outside of the classroom. I have done this with classroom activities but doing with homework DUH! Let me try that. I open to suggestions from my peers if you have any ideas on homework.

 

J.C. Sprenger, “Four Ways to Encourage Students to Complete Homework” esl teacher board. accessed on 05/01/14. Web