Hope everyone's internship is going great! I love reading about everyone's experience!
I have had a chance to practice my teaching more since my last post. I have returned with two community centers to be a co-facilitator in a program about plants and flowers. Last week, we sought influence from Grant Wood and his artwork of fruits and vegetables. I led a segment about the works of art which transitioned into the students using color pencils to draw their own baskets and then fill it with some of their favorite fruits and vegetables.
Overall, it was much better than my first experience. I felt more relaxed and was not stuttering as badly. But, I came into the issue of students throwing pencils and some minor bullying. So, I faced the issue of, do I correct this behavior? I am not their classroom teacher, so, is it my place? For safety reasons I did tell them to make a better choice rather than throw the color pencils. Their response was to tell me I am not fun. I struggled with this.The program is during the summer, it is a period when the students are to be more relaxed than in the classroom, but I believe these to still be issues that need tackling. What are some thoughts about this?
Besides teaching at the community centers, I have been preparing to teach a stop for a school program that visits over the summer. Today, I present for the first time over Marion Crossing the Peedee. I have been preparing for the presentation for a couple of weeks now, so, I am hoping it goes well! I am starting the tour with some slow looking techniques and then using VTS. I have also equipped myself with fun facts, so if all else fails, I will have that to fall back on!
I am extremely excited as I start working on my final projects for the summer. I am working with the Manager of Distance Learning on writing a new program for Hispanic Heritage. The museum is starting slowly become more bilingual, so it is an honor to be a part of that process.
I am also working on another final project, this one revolving around community outreach. I am using Marit Dewhurt's strategies for a program for next summer. I am too excited.
Finally, this week marks the beginning of the new Girl Scouts program. We will be working with artist, Mark Dion, and two botanists from BRIT (Botanical Research Institute of Texas) to help 30 cadets and scouts work towards earning a Girl Scouts badge!
Exciting things are happening!
Hi Asami....behavior and summer "fun" programs is always challenging. You want them to have fun and you want to be fun! I do feel its adults responsible to address these behaviors even when you are not the teacher. It doesn't have to be in a mean, controlling way but can really be a time to have students reflect on their actions and how its impacting others. When I trained teachers I always told them that silence speaks loudly.
ReplyDeleteI find all your experiences inspiring. I am working on becoming bilingual and you having the chance to help build a program to be more inclusive is amazing! As for your presentations I'm sure they will be awesome...I've seen you present in class and you capture the attention of people...it'll be the same with kids:) Throw in a fun fact just for the fun of it!
You have so many amazing programs and initiatives that you are a part of at the Amon Carter! What GREAT experiences! Exciting things are happening, indeed! I will be interested in hearing which one was your favorite at the end of it all.
ReplyDeleteDisciplining kids during a museum program is hard and no one wants to have to do it. Is there a classroom teacher that is also in the room while you are teaching? I would have a chat with him/her about techniques that they use for keeping classroom control... some teachers have elaborate hand claps that they do as a call and response with students to get their attention, others flick the lights, or, like Leslie wrote, sometimes just quieting down and speaking in a really soft voice gets kids to stop what they are doing so they can better hear you. So, I would check with that teacher what they do to with their students. They may already have a plan in place. And, then, I would try what fits best for you.
I would also talk to the museum educator who you've been working with on this and ask what they would do in that situation... maybe the Amon Carter folks already have a plan in place for discipline issues.
Short answer longer... don't be afraid to ask others around you what they do in those situations (just like you did here on the blog!).