This first week of observation went fine.  I watched for teaching techniques that my new master teacher uses when teaching his classes, and I observed his classes as well.  All five periods are well-behaved, which tells me that he has excellent classroom management skills.  I think this will also make things easier for me once I begin teaching: students tend to behave a certain way in a certain room, based on what they are used to, or so my past substitute experience tells me.

I haven’t had many opportunities to interact with the students yet, but I have walked around the classroom and helped students with group work as needed.  I’ve also talked to the students in each class period who sit near me.  Many of the students know me already because I was a guest speaker for them back in November (career day).  I now have to get to know them, and there are 160 different stories!

Next week, I begin teaching either fourth or fifth period (my choice, and it can change daily if I wish).  For this first week, I won’t be straying too far from the curriculum and pace that my master teacher has set.  He’s very organized and intentional in all he does… and I really like what he’s doing both in style and in content.  The students seem to like it as well.