Joslyn Perez
Period 6
Feb. 18, 2009
Reflection # 4

What an improvement in today’s SAS session! In the office this morning I wrote an outline to what I was going to say to my students today, before beginning to work. I wanted the point to get across so they can understand how serious I am. I even had a talk with one of my students that had given me a hard time before. We had a quick discussion, he expressed himself and I also had a few words to say. Overall, we let things out, and resolved the issue, and I’m glad that we worked it out. I explained to them that from now on we would have 15 minutes of silent writing, which they have to complete a paragraph of writing silently. This will pick up the pace of getting more work done, and control the noise level. As a class, we did brainstorming and topics on the board, and then they all completed a paragraph. As they worked, I walked around, did some reading, and helped them edit. It was silent, and I was so proud of myself for accomplishing that. I’m learning that you can’t be very generous and nice all the time to the students. Like I can’t please them all the time and just let them take control of what to say and do in class, that up to my team teacher and I only. Sometimes you have no choice but to set rules so everything can balance the right way. If I would’ve never created the silent writing time with the students, they noise level would’ve never decreased. Since I took control and set the rules of the class now, that’s when they listen and know what they are expected to do. This is a strategy that I will use from now until they end of the School after School program. Because of the silent writing, most of the students finished their writing and on time. I even read most of the writings, and they were really good. Each student seemed really focused, and they concentrated really well on what they were writing about. When someone had a question they raised their hand like they’re supposed to as well. I was impressed with them and myself, I hope that it was just a one day thing; I hope that this works for ever class session now. Because it’s really helpful to have the classroom in more peace, calm, and having everyone well behaved. It works out perfectly if they give me that silent writing time, and I give them the free time at the end of the class.