Semester Reflection and Future Plans

Now that we're starting a new year here at ISC, Tolley felt - and so did I - that it would be a good time to write a reflection about last semester's internship. Since I'm going to be doing a few things differently this semester as well, I think I should explain that a little as well.


I wanted to start with a review of the things I did last semester at ISC:

• Co-directed Alice in Wonderland
• IB Exam Prep (Seniors)
• Algerian Independence (Juniors)
• Vietnam War Choices Program (Juniors)
• Belgian Congo Choices Program (Sophomores)
• Thesis Paragraphs Coaching (Freshmen and Sophomores)
• Unit sites (Juniors and Seniors)

Last year, I also did a lot of in class observation - especially in the 9th and 10th grades - to look at classroom management, mostly. Many of last year's blog posts reflect that, actually. I really enjoyed those observation periods, but this semester I'm going to be more involved with coaching (because of the flipped class model) and leading activities. Some of the activities we're already looking into are:

Agit Prop Performance	Totalitarianism Unit - Juniors
One Hundred Years of Solitude - based analysis	USFP II: 1810-1945 - Seniors
Spanish Civil War - Guernica	WotW I: WWI and the Spanish Civil War - Juniors

I will also continue with the blog posts this semester, but I will post - probably - only one or two a week depending on the classes during that time. I will  be assisting Ms. Terrell with the Drama elective as well, which will be a lot of fun and a great experience because it is directly linked to what I was studying at Central.

When I was rereading last school year's posts, I noticed a lot of growth in the perspective I had regarding teaching in general. Early on, I was really hesitant and nervous when I was entrusted with a task or unit, but now I feel like I embrace the opportunity rather than run away from it. Of course I'm still a little scared (like when I was asked to elaborate the Mexico Revolution unit); however, now I'm a lot more comfortable with the situation because I know I'm going to make mistakes, but I'm better prepared to correct and learn from them.

There are still many "problems" I had last year that I could still use work on - such as time management. Many of the lessons I had were too ambitious in relation to time, because I was trying to get too much done in a period. I feel like I could still use a lot of work in that area (which I thought I would get over soon). But there are also new challenges this year that I know I'm going to have to face:

• Elaborating a whole unit by myself (assigning reading, quizzes, activities, etc...).
• Working with new technology (iPad, apps, unit websites, etc...).
• Helping create a drama syllabus.

I'm really looking forward to this coming semester and continuing my work as a student-teacher at ISC.