Team Teaching Baby!

• Kwagssd3's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Gulu

Trip Start Jun 22, 2008 Previous
Entry Trip End Jul 31, 2008 Next
Entry

  Gulu, Uganda
Tuesday, July 8, 2008

I have found that shitty days are nearly always followed by better ones. Today was no exception to that rule. I woke up fresh and optimistic regarding the day's possibilities. Perhaps it was because I had a full schedule. Idle hands are the devil's work right?
 
My engaged hands began with an early lesson. Given yesterday's frustrations I decided to approach this lesson differently. Rather than jump right into the day's learning, we would warm up by learning participatory and group work strategies. That way students would feel comfortable with each other, making it more likely for them to share. My time was pushed back slightly since the first teacher was administering a lengthy test. At around 9:40 am I entered the classroom to find the students happy to see me. I had something exciting to offer them, especially since they had just spent over an hour on a grueling exam

Name that continent!

.
 
I started by explaining to them the awkwardness I felt the previous day. I identified the source as a lack of class participation and willingness. This could be easily remedied I insisted with some fun games. They were most curious as to why I had a giant serving platter containing 7 candles (you will learn of the reason later). The first strategy I delivered was in regards to gaining their attention. I insisted that they were rhythmically and musically talented. Therefore, when gaining their attention I would clap a specific beat which they would echo. This worked beautifully. My initial clapping gave way to more complex beats and patterns.
 
Next we talked about the importance of uplifting classmates. They would generally laugh when someone made a mistake- I insisted that this was "unacceptable." We are all here to make mistakes! Instead of laughing we would echo the phrase "ooga oops." At which point another student would assist giving the correct answer. Once the correct answer was given, the student would be recognized with "two snaps." I let the students come up with additional recognitions which included snaps, claps and body beats.
Following our recognition activities we played "stand up if this applies to you." Statements included "Stand up if your favorite team is Manchester United;" "Stand up if you have more than two brothers." This activity soon transitioned into small group activities

Team Teaching!

. Students were to find out their oldest group member plus something they shared in common. I urged them to discover a non- physical quality they had in common. For example, "we all like to rap." The purpose of this activity was to allow them to feel comfortable with their table mates.
 
Next, we tried the game you have all been waiting for. Coin flip! I'm sure this is not the real name, but I am lacking creative juices as I belabor over this journal entry. This is a game I learned from Azul during a Staff meeting. You play the game by arranging students in lines. Everyone in the line would face the back wall except for the student in the front. They would watch for the result of your "coin flip." Seeing that a coin was too small for every line to see, I used the giant serving tray. One side represented heads and the other tails. If heads appeared, the front person would squeeze the hand of the person behind him/ her, the message would then be passed to the next person, until it reached the last person. When the last person in line received the message they would hold up their candle. The first group to raise their candle was the winner for that round. If "tails" appeared, no message was communicated.
 
The game did not run like clockwork. Some students cheated and others were confused with how to play. I used this as a learning opportunity. Just as students misunderstood instructions and purpose in this game, they oftentimes misinterpret the same principals in other group work. We then transitioned into listing the "keys to successful group work." The students were at first reluctant to share, but they soon loosened up. After generating this list we had one task left to complete. We had to come up with a group name!!!
 
After a close vote and several suggestions, we came up with one fitting class name: Manchester United! Most students were ecstatic with this label as Man U was their favorite team!
 
I left the class feeling great! Finally some participation! In the lounge I worked with Opira to plan our next lessons. I will tell you all about these in future days. Trust me, they are exciting!
 
My next task was to lead the "roundtable discussion" during lunch. We started by setting up an area outside. The discussion started with us creating a circle and practicing rhythms. One person would step in the circle and create a beat at which point the others would join. When that person stepped back, another would step in creating a new beat-- everyone would soon join minus the first person to step into the circle. The end result was a cacophony of sounds all blending into one rhythm. It was magical!
 
I then led them in creating a "frozen image" with their teaching partners of what good team teaching looked like. Once freezing in position I would snap a photo and ask follow up questions. Each group seemed to thoroughly enjoy this technique.
 
To conclude the discussion I led them in rotating interviews. During these interviews they would discuss effective teaching strategies with each of the other teachers. Ultimately we had a great discussion! Even with Adam's partner teacher Jimmy's sexist remarks - "Women must cook for me a chicken while I read the paper.....they are also not allowed to partake in the meal." Brianna responded by exclaiming "I'm glad I live in America!"
 
After lunch we taught our second class of the day- Senior 2 Green. I ran the same lesson plan initially but soon transitioned into comparing and contrasting the Ranching Schemes. This class went even better than the last!! This particular class has tons of energy! This led to a rich activity in which I divided the class into three sections. One section was responsible for "reasons they agree with the ranching scheme;" one for "why they are netural;" and one for "why they disagree with the scheme." They would work in small groups and eventually pass this information to a "secretary" who would create one "master list." This list was then transferred to the large venn diagram on the board. Each secretary would then read their list to the whole class who busily wrote each piece of information down. This worked great- with Mr. James or I verifying each item they read. Students could then do "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" to ascertain how affective the idea was.
 
There was only one point in the lesson requiring a firm hand. The secretary from the third group was shy and spoke broken English. You could tell he was nervous just standing up front. When he read the first item he stuttered and struggled over his words. At this point, the class erupted in laughter. James and I intervened immediately. We asked "Why are you laughing?"  "Is it funny when someone makes a mistake?" "Why are you here?" "A student took a risk being up here and you are disrespecting him." When one student continued to laugh we asked her to step outside at which point James informed her that she would be "scrubbing the toilets." In his absence I came down pretty hard on the kids. I told them that there was one thing "I would not tolerate." And that was disrespecting others and making people feel uncomfortable. I explained that I felt uncomfortable myself. James soon returned at which point the student continued reading from the list. Nobody uttered a word. The laughing ceased.
 
The class was very receptive of our feedback. Although there were 116 of them, they could be easily corralled as they ultimately aimed to please.
 
On a whole I LOVED this class! We connected to each other and felt successful. What more could I ask for!
 
Upon leaving, I had a group waiting for the futbol game I promised them. I told them I would go home, change and return for the game. When I returned, the game was yet to begin. So in the meantime I struck up some conversation with my students regarding their academic and personal lives.
 
The game began 10 minutes later. I joined the "skins" team. Every player was very skilled, however they lacked the fundamentals required for superior play. I held my own pretty easily. My fan base on the sides loved the performance, and constantly referred to me as "Beckham" - while at the same time poking fun at my "awkward style" of play. Stats for the game were as follows: Out of the 4 goals our team scored, I was responsible for 2; I boasted an above average successful pass percentage; and I had one assist. I earned some "Street Cred." Yes! Perhaps I will be invited back!
 
Following soccer, I returned to the IC house for a shower and dinner. Dinner was much of the same. Fortunately we had crackers and Nutella for dessert. Without this delicacy I would be severely dissatisfied.
 
Currently I find myself sitting behind this computer while others indulge in cards, reading and music videos on their ipods.
 
Love and miss you all!
 

Slideshow Print this entry Share Gulu hotels

Previous Entry Next Entry