Reflection

11/28/16
We didnt get as far through the SQUID activity as Id hoped, but the students received
the input on the material and were able to being one of two statement prompts. We can finish the
worksheet tomorrow before continuing to read the Anne Frank play.
Period 2 was very talkative and misbehaved today. They talked over me nonstop during
the lesson. After they talked over me during the review of the vocab context clues, I told them
that since they couldnt stop talking, I wasnt going to give them the handout with the definitions
like I normally do. Instead they would have to listen to my review as I gave them the answers
verbally and if they didnt listen and write the definitions down, theyd have to look it up at
home to complete their ten sentences for homework. I went over this with Mrs. Frechette after
class and she said it was a good strategy. This quieted things down a bit, but it was still a struggle
to get through the vocab activity.
Later, when the class continued to talk loudly instead of writing their SQUID paragraphs,
I tol them they owed me a silent minute after class, and I increased it to 2 minutes when the
talking persisted. I told the class that I was sorry for the few students who were working hard,
but their classmates were wasting my time and theirs. Soon, students began holding each other
accountable. The last few minutes of class were silent, and I was able to get through my closure
with a minute to spare, so I allowed the last minute of class to count toward their two minutes of
silence that they owed me.
The same handful of students who are usually loud and disruptive were the worst
perpetrators today. Students were walking around the classroom, talking to their peers across the
room, and exclaiming things all of second period. Im beginning to feel that a certain amount of
chaos is inevitable in this class, and I constantly struggle to manage behavior. I tried hand
clapping, waiting, turning the lights on and off to get their attention, etc. but only punitive
measures seemed to have any effect. On a more positive note, I at least managed to make time
for my closure in both classes today.