Wednesday, February 23- Subbing- What is inappropriate behavior in class? And what changes between Junior/ Middle school and High school?
Today I was subbing at a middle school for the first time. Up until now I have spent most of my time at the junior highs, grades 8-9. Today I am working with 6th graders and I am in an English class all day; it’s been so long. I have enjoyed teaching other subjects, but its nice to be back to information I am more familiar with.
This classroom was the most welcoming classroom, and it didn’t even have windows for natural light! There was a reading nook with big comfy chairs, a couple of lamps, and some pillows. There was a wall of bookshelves filled with books organized by genre. There was carpet and I think a rug. The room was a little cluttered, but it made it feel lived in instead of messy. It was nice. I think I like 6th graders. They can be very witty, but they aren’t completely full of themselves yet. I was surprised at the levels some of these students were reading at, they were carrying around huge books and they willingly read when ever there was free time (something I have noticed at the middle schools and junior highs). One thing I don’t love about the 6th graders is that they can be mean to each other. Some of them are becoming aware of hygiene and the bullies can use this against other students. One student in particular was very vocal about a student’s zits and another student’s possible nose picking habit. I told him that it was inappropriate, but he continued doing it. I should have sent him to a safe seat, another classroom, or even the office, but I wasn’t sure what was appropriate. Later I was working in the office, and two of the students that were just in my classroom were there writing up the incident. I was so proud that they were willing to stand up for themselves, but I felt really bad that I didn’t do more to prevent or stop what was going on. I need to work on what I am going to do when something like this happens again. I don’t think I have experienced this with the other grades I have taught.
On a happier note I was introduced to a class I have sadly never heard of before, recreational reading. I don’t know if every student takes this or if it is an option, but it is a class were students read what they are interested in and submit journal entries and projects related to what they are reading. Even though they may not be reading the best material they are reading, and they still have their normal Language arts class that includes the more academic readings. I think most of the students were really enjoying what they were reading and the school is obviously a community of readers; every student had a free reading book, or had just finished it and needed to go to the library to get a new one. My question is, what changes when these students get to High School. Very few students at the high school carry free reading books, what can we do to encourage recreational reading in the upper levels?
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