I've spent the last week, and I'll spend the next two, planning out more for the upcoming year. I've been reading heavily into classroom procedures and management, as I struggled last year. To be fair to myself, a lot of the new teachers (and some of the old) struggled with their students last year. Kuwaiti kids are raised in a very different environment than we are used to in Canada.
That being said, they are still kids and I know that there are ways to manage their behaviour in my classroom. Amanda and I arrived in Kuwait the night before the first day of school last year, because of visa issues and a torn rotator cuff. Amanda had her visa stamped and she was ready to go, but after a heated session of golf I tore the rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I'm sure some of you are shaking your head right now and wondering how that is even possible. Trust me when I tell you that if you swing hard and wild enough it is a very real possibility. At any rate, we arrived quite late in the evening and had to get up and teach the next day. It was a whirlwind. As such, we have both spent considerable time looking back to last year and searching for ways to improve our classroom management out of the gate.
I've recently read a few books and articles that touch on the subject, and already feel like I have a better grasp on my non-existent classroom. Hammering home and practicing procedures is going to be a huge focus during the first two weeks. Similarly, we will work a lot on expected behaviour in the class, lunch room, and during transition . We had a lot of transition issues with our middle and high school kids last year, so I want this to be a focus. Add to that the gamification of certain elements of the classroom, and I will have a very hectic first month. This is the life of a teacher, though.
This week will be spent packing, visiting with family and friends, and doing what planning I can get done. Next week, Amanda and I get into our classrooms to set up and I am oddly excited.
Jeff
That being said, they are still kids and I know that there are ways to manage their behaviour in my classroom. Amanda and I arrived in Kuwait the night before the first day of school last year, because of visa issues and a torn rotator cuff. Amanda had her visa stamped and she was ready to go, but after a heated session of golf I tore the rotator cuff in my left shoulder. I'm sure some of you are shaking your head right now and wondering how that is even possible. Trust me when I tell you that if you swing hard and wild enough it is a very real possibility. At any rate, we arrived quite late in the evening and had to get up and teach the next day. It was a whirlwind. As such, we have both spent considerable time looking back to last year and searching for ways to improve our classroom management out of the gate.I've recently read a few books and articles that touch on the subject, and already feel like I have a better grasp on my non-existent classroom. Hammering home and practicing procedures is going to be a huge focus during the first two weeks. Similarly, we will work a lot on expected behaviour in the class, lunch room, and during transition . We had a lot of transition issues with our middle and high school kids last year, so I want this to be a focus. Add to that the gamification of certain elements of the classroom, and I will have a very hectic first month. This is the life of a teacher, though.
This week will be spent packing, visiting with family and friends, and doing what planning I can get done. Next week, Amanda and I get into our classrooms to set up and I am oddly excited.
Jeff
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