Today was day #1 of my midtier experience!
I was very excited to get dressed up, because my mom and I went shopping for "professional" attire for this experience. I will post a picture when I can of some of my choices :)
I have been placed in Mrs. Rode's 8th grade English classroom at West Intermediate Middle School. I will be attending and assisting in two of her classes for the next few months. The classroom is adorable, and offers a feeling of comfort and home. She is very focused on her students reading, and makes a point to encourage her students to read by offering a fully stocked library of YA books. Today I introduced my writing prompt:
English 8/ Mrs. Roed’s 7th and 8th Hour Classes
In-Class Writing Activity
Here is an excerpt from Oh The Places You’ll Go, my favorite book by Dr. Seuss.
"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."
— Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
— Dr. Seuss (Oh, the Places You'll Go!)
Based upon this quote, it is fair to say that Dr. Seuss understood that the future is up to YOU. You have the power to control your own future, and you have been given all the tools to succeed.
In response to the previous passage, here are three questions to consider:
1) What are you looking forward to in the near future (within 1 year)?
2) What is something you are nervous about that will happen in the near future (within 1 year)? (Examples: getting braces, starting high school)
3) What is your favorite Dr. Seuss book? Why do you like it so much? If you haven’t read a Dr. Seuss book, please tell me about a book you enjoy(ed) as a child or young adult.
The Assignment:
Now that we have read the Dr. Seuss quote and looked at the questions I have a simple request. Please select only ONE of the three questions and answer it during class in the next fifteen or twenty minutes. The make the writing flow more easily, you make create your response in a letter written to me or to Dr. Seuss. In writing, please divide your response into paragraphs, write in complete sentences, limit your response to approximately one page- and let your creative juices flow! I look forward to reading your responses and getting to know all of you!
The students generally liked the prompt and I felt I presented it well. I have a few mental notes I made, like being more focused on the students while I'm talking; rather than reading off the board. I am excited to read their responses and to get to know all of them! I learned from Mrs. Roed that it is important to always be walking around and observing the students while they write. This encourages them to get on task, but also makes you more available for questions. Overall my first day was exciting and full of new information and experiences :)
