Week 4- Kallie Jones

Since arriving back at Ray after the strike the students have been more than eager to learn which is wonderful. My Mentor Teacher has high expectations for our students and I do as well. A lot of parents are wanting to see their students doing more which is understanable but if the students cannot master simple behavioral tasks, it will be impossible or us to move foward with anything. If we constantly have to talk over students and continue to tell the same studens the same thing ove and over again, it takes away from valuable learning time. This is where the excuses come in. Everytime I or my Mentor Teacher tell one of the students to be quiet thee are quick to say "that wasn't just me" or "why do you always call my name". The students do not want to be in the hot seat when it comes to my MT and I so they try to pin the blame on someone else. I understand not wanting to be singled out in front of the whole class but at the same time students need to take responsibility for their actions. I am in a 3/4 and we are expecing the 4th gadeers to be role models for the 3rd graders but it seems as if the tables have turned. The third graders are so well behaved for the most part and the fourth graders are so boisterous. After speaking with another one of the other adults in my classroom, it seems tuhat these particular group of 4th graders have had behavioral issues since first grade. Although it is a hassel to deal with, this is a wonderful opportunity to work on classroom management and how not to focus my energy on disobedience from students, but on my students who want to learn.