A Great Day!

I had a fantastic day today. Things are really coming together, and I continue to be amazed by the effect Power Teaching has had on my class.

I started teaching math from the front of the room today. I was noticing that my language arts lessons were much more effective than my math lessons, and that the Power Teaching strategies were working more smoothly during that time. The biggest difference in my teaching style between the two times was that I taught math from the back of the room on the document camera. While this was very comfortable, I found that it was much less engaging for the students, which was really killing me since math takes place during the food-coma-fest that is after lunch for me.

Anyway, today I toned down the number of examples, and taught from the front (I'm losing my fear of turning my back on a class :-)). This allowed for a faster pace and kept the students more engaged, even during a three-step mother of a word problem that took like ten minutes to work through.

One more reflection before I sign off. I am NOT an energetic person by nature, and I never thought I would be a very energetic teacher. I definitely prefer a classroom on the more quiet side. I'm finding that Power Teaching gives me a structure that helps me be more energetic during teaching times while still being very in control, and that this leads to MUCH more calm and peaceful independent work times. The students get some energy out with gestures and partner sharing, and SSR (Sit Down, Shut Up, and Read) isn't such an alien concept to them anymore. Ahhhh... Teacher Heaven.

Oh, and if you're reading this, comment so I know I'm not talking to a wall!