As I was walking out to my car today, a mother of a student rolled down her car window and said "my child just told me "she is soooo nice!" It was such a wonderful thing to hear, and it makes me actually feel like I am making a difference. Even if it does just mean that the students (or just one student) like me.
As a part of my practicum experience, I am being introduced to the AVID program. I am helping out as a tutor during the tutorial days and as a co-instructor on the other days. What we started to realize just recently (especially today), is that every AVID kid is struggling (badly!) in their math class. So, here's the thing about the math class:
1. The students take notes in a math notebook. BUT they can not take the math notebook out of class, which means that they have NO notes to look at when they are trying to do their homework later.
2. They do not have math textbooks.
3. The teacher teaches really fast and does not really slow down or go back to help struggling students.
4. There is a student teacher in the class
5. The cooperating teacher has been sick all this week, and they have had the WORST substitute ever. So, the student teacher is teaching all on their own with little to no help from the substitute.
6. The student teacher apparently plans well, but is SO FOCUSED on teaching everything in their plan that the students do not understand, and he does not slow down or go back to something they need help with.
7. GOOD students are acting out and getting kicked out of class because of the not-understanding.
Can I just say PROBLEM??!
I've never understood why they can't take their math notes out of class. Is math a secret? Are we afraid the Russians will break our pre-algebra codes and take over the world? It's a hostile set-up to failure. Thank you for staying after to help these kids - teaching requires so much sacrifice on the part of the teacher. I know these kids appreciate it.
ReplyDelete