Week 3 Reflection

My experience is growing with each day at Morgantown High School and I am grateful for the events of each day that aide me in learning something new about my classroom and my teaching. Friday helped to show the importance of flexibility within the classroom when our classroom’s IntelliBoard quit working. I saw how one can become increasingly dependent upon technology, which can be very unreliable. I have learned to always have an alternative way to present notes to students, such as having ample space on a chalkboard or white board. I was able to adapt to the situation by having a previous class’s notes presented on the IntelliBoard while my host teacher helped use the computer to progress through the notes. This allowed Mrs. Tucker and me to interact during the lesson, in a co-teaching manner. As much as I appreciate the lesson of flexibility and alternative note taking strategies, I am hoping that the technology issues are resolved as soon as possible so I can continue to present information on the IntelliBoard.

I have begun to consistently teach Geometry and will be beginning my Action Research in this course in about one week. I have begun to prepare for Action Research by creating my pre-survey and attitude surveys on computer software that will allow me to compile students' responses by using personal response systems, or clickers. I am grateful for the willingness of faculty to allow me to borrow the software and to install the software on the class’s computer so I am able to compile data with clickers.

I’m looking forward to another week of teaching Geometry and for finishing our first unit and seeing how students perform on their first chapter test. I am anxious to see this assessment to get a better understanding of how students are retaining the information and areas that they are struggling. I’m sure there will be many more lessons learned in the upcoming week.

Until then,
Elaine