What to do with this class?

Question

I was taken out of student teaching early to start teaching at the school I am at now. My degree is in chemistry, and that was the class I was student teaching in.

I am now in the first semester of teaching, and I am experiencing some difficulties. I do not have a mentor teacher/any help.

I was assigned two different classes: A general chemistry class and an integrated chemistry class (for lower level students that do not have a desire to pursue careers in science and/or plan on going to college).

The chemistry class is very open and happy with the way I teach, and regularly give me feedback. The integrated chemistry classes I teach are a different story....

I went into this not knowing very much about how to teach the integrated classes (as I haven't been trained on how to construct the classes to differentiate for their needs). I spend a lot of time making lessons filled with activities and other educational methods (I try different things to see what works best). The kids are generally nice and most put at least some effort into their learning. However, one of the integrated classes I have has 14 students in it (very small class in comparison to the others). This particular class makes it known everyday how much they do not like me. One girl transferred out of my class into a different integrated class taught at the same time. When this happened, I was very upset because she was doing well in my class and never expressed any concern, but was freely moved from my class. Many of these students in this particular class have had the same integrated teacher for the physics section, and try to get moved into his class instead of mine. When the girl was moved out of my class, she went into the other and coincidentally all of her friends are in that class.

To this class, I am constantly hearing complaints, and at first I varied my approach to teaching to accommodate. However, it is not working and I feel the class gangs up on me quite a bit.

Note: Most students are getting decent grades

The other integrated teacher I am being compared to teaches by having students read aloud from their textbooks and lectures in between readings. He has students write their vocabulary definitions 5 x's each, and then quizzes them over the words.

Reading aloud from the textbook is not my style, I prefer powerpoint presentations when lecturing.

My question is, how do I deal with this class? The constant complaining and going behind my back is really starting to ware on me. I really would appreciate any suggestions.

Also, if you teach any lower level classes, how do you structure them? I have been told to keep lecturing to a minimum with them since they don't respond to it well, but then they complain that they don't know the material. I kind of feel like ever since the one girl was allowed to transfer out of my class, I have had many problems with this class and being a new teacher with very little help, I am not sure what to do!

Answer 1

Start with this thought. You don't teach the textbook; you teach the curriculum.



Since general chemistry class and an integrated chemistry class are two different classes, there should be a curriculum document for each. Study the two documents so that you clearly see what you need to leave out from the integrated lessons. You can't use the same lesson plans but just "dumb down" the integrated lesson. If there is not a separate curriculum for the integrated class, then you should be given specifics about what to leave out. It's not your call. Maybe there is an original description that states what should be covered.



Approach it as a completely separate class. Realize that these students are not college bound but are taking chemistry at this lower level to fulfill the graduation level. They are probably not particularly motivated to learn any chemistry since it isn't their choice to take the class.



Forget reading from the textbook in class, unless you are using charts and tables and need to have the info directly in front of them. This is not a crowd that will respond well to power points that are cut and dried, even if they work well for the other class.



Focus on the objectives to be taught in the lesson. Then consider how to present the information and to explore it. Don't do activities just for the sake of activities. As best as you can, make it all relevant to the real world.



The 14 student class probably are rebelling about having to take the class at all. You are new and therefore and easy target to express their frustration. If you are too open and easy, you lose control of the class, which apparently has already happened. Go back and re-establish class rules for behavior and class routine. Everyday write the lesson objectives on the blackboard. At the start of the lesson, go over the lesson objectives so that they know that you mean business and that this is what we are doing today. Start the moment that the bell rings and teach right until the bells rings at the end. No down time; keep it moving.



I am still puzzling over how you can be teaching without having completed student teaching? Did you graduate? Do you have a teaching license? Why hasn't the principal assigned anyone to be your mentor? It sounds like the principal is just throwing you into the deep end of the pool without a life preserver and that is just wrong for so many reasons.



Good luck!

Answer 2

Hi Laney,



it's never easy to deal with annoying students, but you don't seem to have much of a problem here. The only important thing is that thy get good grades - this means you're a good teacher, you're doing your job and they're actually studying. The rest is not important.



About them transfering out of your class - I don't understand too well because I haven't taught in the US, but it looks like there could be several reasons they're leaving the class (for instance, to stay with their friends). Also, you're allowed to ask why they're moving - I find it very disrespectful on the student's part, but also on the headmaster's, that they move without telling you first. If this bothers you, as it should, talk to the headmaster and tell him that if any of your students want to leave, they should talk to you first.



Liking/Not liking you - Again, I can understand why this is important to you, especially since it's the first year you're teaching, but being liked by a class is really difficult, and being liked by all your students is impossible. Also, most of the time kids like you for the wrong reasons - because you give them help during tests, for instance. Just be a good teacher and a decent human being, and leave it at that.



Activities - Sometimes students like to feel like they're doing something. If you know they respond well to structured teaching, give them structured teaching. Make monthly programs with goals and stuff, and tell them what you're going to do in every lesson. Force them to take notes; make them study stuff by heart if this is how they learn best. Powerpoint is ok, but it can be very distracting with teens. Teens find it difficult to focus on several things at once, so if they're looking at your slides, chances are they're not listening to you. If you're young, you probably grew up with Powerpoint and feel 'safe' using it, but I'm with the students on this one - talk to them, force them to look at you and focus on you, and let them take notes on their own.



I hope this was useful - it's very hard to give advice without knowing the class. Why don't you ask your colleagues? Even if you have no 'proper' mentor, I'm sure someone older, more experienced, and who knows your kids would be happy to help you out :).



But from what you say, it doesn't look like the situation is bad, so smile and carry on! :)

Answer 3

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