At our December meeting we started discussing what we would need to continue to work on to prepare for our new classrooms. I have started to clean out my storage room. I promised myself I would do something every day even if it is as small as cleaning out a simple box! I know how much time it is going to take to get ready so I'm starting now. I learn so much valuable information from the professional development we have been going to for the Classroom for the Future. The video we watched at our December meeting described how students move subconsciously and how the right furniture will make movement easier and more comfortable. It's amazing to me how much more I watch my students and my own kids in a new light when they are doing their homework! I'm always thinking, "how can I make them more comfortable?" This is a question I never really asked myself before. My goals for the next two months will be to continue cleaning out my classroom, minimizing the "stuff" and continuing to observe my students in their current settings. I know this will help me get ready for our new classroom! We can't wait!
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Today, I am really starting to notice how supplies are a headache for me. Unless I remember to remind my students to clean them up, they are left all over the place! If I forget to tell a group of students to return calculators they will not return them on their own. I need to do a better job of organizing each group's supplies. I also need to do a better job remembering to stop the class five minutes before the end of class to clean up. I feel like I would lose less materials if they were organized in a better way.
In class Friday, my students spent some time creating floor plans of our future classroom. My students had some great ideas! I loved to see their enthusiasm about showing me and each other their new ideas. I am still having trouble making decisions because I really want to make sure the furniture we choose is the best decision for our needs. I have learned from my students that being able to see is their biggest concern. They want to be able to see without turning around or having to "look through" someone in front of them. My students also would like to have some soft seating options and a meeting room in our office area. We still have many decisions to make but I think we are headed in the right direction!
My students told me a lot of good information during their Empathy Activities. I asked the students to generate a list at their groups about what bugs them in schools and classrooms. My seventh and eighth graders had no trouble coming up with numerous ideas! The trends I noticed were not being able to see, bullying and cheating. A few groups lamented the no cell phone rule in some of their classes. There were many "bugs" we don't have much control over but with some reflection we do have control over a lot of them. In our discussions, I tried to ask students why they chose their "bugs" and this sparked deeper conversations than I had anticipated. It got us thinking a lot about the Classroom 4 the Future.
My name is Jamie Smith. I teach 7th and 8th grade math at Algonac Jr./Sr. HIgh School. I have been teaching for 17 years. I graduated from Eastern Michigan University and Saginaw Valley University. I really love teaching and learning. I am excited to be a part of this amazing project. I cannot believe all of the new things I am learning and how important a classroom environment can be to a student's education.
I have a lot of hobbies! I love to run and will be running the Detroit Half-Marathon next weekend. I love to read, scrapbook and do craft projects. I love to spend time with my family trying out new things and going on vacation. I have a great family! My husband, Bill and our two daughters, Camryn and Maliyah love to go on new adventures. We enjoy hiking, sports and doing outdoor activities. We are Michigan, Tigers and Lions fans! My husband works for American Axle Motors in their Human Resources department. He loves to hunt and play golf. Our daughter Camryn is in 5th grade. She enjoys volleyball and dance. Our daughter Maliyah is in first grade. She enjoys soccer and playing with Shopkins. |