Oak Canyon

Today I went with Rachel and observed at Oak Canyon Jr. High School. I actually thought it was a better-than-usual expereince because we got to see a student teach teach the kids. The kids were pretty rowdy - what's new with 12-13 yr olds? - but I thought she did an okay job handling them. There were a few things I would have done differently. She had the kids do this big activity where they listed how many times they had been on different forms of transportation - it took like 12 minutes - all to just introduce cars . . . I think that there is probably a better way of introducing that - a more time effective way. I also was really taken back as they were talking about cars and a kid (one of the more rowdy boys) rose his hand and said: "I know a ton about carburettors." Rather than taking that chance to involve the kid and let him tell what he knew the student teacher responded with: "Do you want to write a report on it?" Well that took the kid by surprise and he said: "I don't write reports I usually let others do it and then write my name on it." Instead of trying to right the situation the student teacher apparently felt the need to 'show her power/authority' and she said: "Well I'll keep that in mind on the next paper you write." Come on lady - the kid is 13 and you're having a totally pointless argument with him - I was not very impressed with the whole things needless to say. I think that a much better approach would have been to help the kid feel involved, to let him share what he knew - sure it doesn't follow your lesson plan exactly, but it saves all that embarrassment - and isn't this all about teaching kids anyway? Who cares if you make it through all your material?