Day 4 January 6th 2011

Today the class was going over the Vocabulary for "Rip Van Winkle". She made a copy of the deffinitions and terms on the overhead. The teacher spoke the words and the students repeated the terms afterwards. She asked the students to begin the worksheet with anologies and the sentences using vocabulary words. While students were working on the study guide the teacher was walking round the room helping and answering questions. They have an essay tomorrow in class about Romantism, Gothic, and American hero and comparing them to points in the story. Today students were still curious about my presences so even though 4 days late I introduced myself to the class and explained why I was there. The next class the Freshman are going to begin reading "Anthem" and I also introduced myself to the class also. Some students said not so appropriate words and the teacher calmed them and addressed it on the spot which is the right hting to do. Just tell them put ur filter on and use approporiate words or get a write up. The teacher wrote notes on her website for students to copy as homework for the book. I think that's a bad idea..Read a few pages first and let them ask some questions before you give them notes, because the great part of the story is that when you begin to read it you are so lost and you make crazy assumptions. I think the notes will lose that effect for the students. Today the 10th grade reading "Lord of the Flies" acutally used the smart board to discuss the significance of piggys glasses in the novel. The students are having a hard time ont he novel. It's funny how honest they are they are suposed to read Chapter 7 for tomorrow, and she aksed who is finished and they all said they didn't even start reading it yet. This is why just assgining a reading is never a good idea. Sometimes the more difficutl chapters should be read together so that students who are behind can catch up a little bit. It was a pretty productive day. It goes by so fast lately.