Scenario 1: The class is shortened because of a pep rally.
When class periods are shortened, teachers are always warned beforehand. As soon as I knew that my class period was going to be shortened, I would accommodate my lesson plan to fit the schedule. In my experience at East Cobb Middle School, class periods have been shortened many times due to testing, conferences, and advisements. Today, our class period was shortened AND they had to go to the Book Fair. My Collaborating Teacher and I have both had to make or alter lesson plans to fit these alternate schedules. When this happens, I look at my lesson plan and decide what parts can be shortened, what parts can be taken out, and what parts we could fit in another day. After deciding on these factors, and taking into consideration what students must know that day, I would appropriately revise my lesson plan.
Scenario 2: Nancy is reading a book. You asked her earlier to put it away and she did, but now it’s out again.
The second time Nancy takes her book our and starts reading it, I will give the students a short task and privately ask Nancy to come out to the hallway with her book. I will discuss with Nancy why she continued to read after I asked her to stop. I will tell Nancy that I am genuinely enthused that she is so passionate about reading, but reading in class is inappropriate because that means she is not paying attention to the lesson. Since Nancy can’t seem to take her hands off of the book in class, I will ask her to take it to her locker and not bring it to my class again unless she can refrain from reading it until she is finished with all of her work and we are not doing something that she should be participating in. I will warn Nancy that if she continues to read while she should be doing other class work, a letter will be sent home to her parents, informing them that she constantly chooses to stay off task during class, and that this may negatively affect her grade if it continues.
Christina Smith
Whatcha Gonna Do?
Scenario 1: The class is shortened because of a pep rally.
When class periods are shortened, teachers are always warned beforehand. As soon as I knew that my class period was going to be shortened, I would accommodate my lesson plan to fit the schedule. In my experience at East Cobb Middle School, class periods have been shortened many times due to testing, conferences, and advisements. Today, our class period was shortened AND they had to go to the Book Fair. My Collaborating Teacher and I have both had to make or alter lesson plans to fit these alternate schedules. When this happens, I look at my lesson plan and decide what parts can be shortened, what parts can be taken out, and what parts we could fit in another day. After deciding on these factors, and taking into consideration what students must know that day, I would appropriately revise my lesson plan.
Scenario 2: Nancy is reading a book. You asked her earlier to put it away and she did, but now it’s out again.
The second time Nancy takes her book our and starts reading it, I will give the students a short task and privately ask Nancy to come out to the hallway with her book. I will discuss with Nancy why she continued to read after I asked her to stop. I will tell Nancy that I am genuinely enthused that she is so passionate about reading, but reading in class is inappropriate because that means she is not paying attention to the lesson. Since Nancy can’t seem to take her hands off of the book in class, I will ask her to take it to her locker and not bring it to my class again unless she can refrain from reading it until she is finished with all of her work and we are not doing something that she should be participating in. I will warn Nancy that if she continues to read while she should be doing other class work, a letter will be sent home to her parents, informing them that she constantly chooses to stay off task during class, and that this may negatively affect her grade if it continues.