How Small is TOO Small?

Once this post is published I will already have moved on to a different section of Language Arts at my school site. I have been with this wonderfully small class of all girls. At first, I thought that this was going to be a breeze. There were only six girls. Too easy, right? How could there be any problems with a class that small? Well, let me tell you, there were problems!

First off, I want to say that the problems were not really what most would consider a problem. The girls had no behavior issues. The class was classified as an “honors” level language arts class. So, they were all well ahead in their reading skills. Delightful and sweet, every one of them.

So, these “problems” I speak of are not behavior issues but more issues with how the class actually runs. The girls have a knack of getting the teacher off subject. All the other classes run great, according to the teacher but this one. She can never get through a lesson without the girls talking about all sorts of things. Their weekend, something funny that happened in the lunchroom or just generally giggling for no reason. And it is amazing how something so small as that can disrupt the whole schedule. The teacher ends up rushing at the end to make sure she gets through the lesson.

Another issue is group work. How can you have small group instruction when there are only six girls? You can’t. It’s always just one big group discussion. At that is ok but there is no diversity. They are all girls. Five of the six are Hispanic and they are all friends. So, they all really feel about the same about things. You get one to answer a question and no one else will volunteer. So, you ask, “Does anyone have a different opinion?” And they all shake their heads no.

This presented a problem for me as I began to plan my unit to teach them. I wanted to conduct small group workshops on their Senses Poem I was going to have them write. It would end up being just one big group and they cannot offer a different perspective because they are all female. And I love cooperative learning. I want my future class to have tables for groups of four. I think this creates a friendlier classroom environment. But we can’t have groups of four, because there are only SIX of them!!

So, how small is too small? Or how big is too big for that matter? It is an interesting problem because one would think the smaller the better. I think there needs to be a happy medium. A big enough class so that we can have small group interactions but small enough so that every student gets the attention that they need. I imagine that will be different for every class.

Unfortunately, I will not get to teach my unit to this wonderful group of young ladies. I am moving to a larger class to get a better grasp on what it is like to teach a normal class. I will miss them. But I will let you know if group work is easier with my new group of students.

Explorations in the World of Poetry (Genre Reflection #1)

Teaching a Lesson for the First Time

By Amy Haight

I see

the anticipation in the students’ eyes

and the eagerness in their posture.

I smell

my own fear in the form of

and my own failing deodorant.

I taste

the leftover burrito I had for lunch

as it lingers on my breath.

I hear

the pounding of my own heart

and the slight quiver in my voice as I give instructions.

I feel

anxious waiting to begin teaching my lesson

but hopeful that I just might teach them something new today!

Go to the FRONT of the Class Ms. H!

I swear there is something wrong with me. I must suffer from some sort of Paraprofessional disorder!!!! Through my college’s Cooperative Education Program I have been a Para for the past two years at a local high school. I have been used to standing in the back of the classroom or milling around the periphery while the teacher lectures. Only venturing in the mid-sections once he/she is done and it is time to assist the students. It has been a difficult transition to standing in the front of the classroom. My Language Arts CT is great about sharing the front with me, always asking if I have anything to add or having me pass out papers. I have to tell you that the view is quite different up in the front.

In fact, I have to force myself to do it. I end up in the back repeatedly throughout the class. It is like this fight I keep having with myself. “Hey you, get back up there.” “You are back in the back again, good grief.” I really hope I am not the only one suffering from this. And I wrongfully called it a Para disorder. Maybe it is something else like an Observer Syndrome. Or maybe it is some weird new problem that only I suffer from. But it is really tough to stay at the front. And my girls, there are only six, are all so beautiful and attentive. You would think I would want to see their lovely faces and not just the backs of their heads. But no…..not me! I will continue to work on this!

And on a higher note, did you know that the students do actually listen to teachers! Really, I’m serious. I was leading a book talk on Monday. I knew they were learning how to “Interview” books and would be going to the library the next day. So, I just thought it was the perfect time. I picked out 7 books I thought would interest them. I knew one young lady liked soccer and all of them liked mysteries. I made sure there was something for everyone. I modeled how I wanted them to consider each book and then we began. They filled out their sheets and when we were done I had then put them in their binders for library day the next day.

Tuesday arrived and at the end of the hour we were at the library. After the librarian had given his spiel (I looked up how to spell this) on how to “Interview” a book, not near as thorough a job as I did the day before, they were ready to look for themselves.

Two of the six came up to me, yes me, and asked if they could have the books from our list. I told them I had gotten them from the library and to look at their forms. Two girls wanted the same book. Luckily, they did not fight over it. Like I said they are good girls. But three of the six got books that I had chosen for our book talk just the day before.

The one little girl, I will call her Suzie, though that is not her real name, made sure that when the teacher asked how she picked her book she said that Mrs. H had it in the book talk. I felt really good. I guess, I always knew that the students do listen to the teachers but I had never experienced it personally before Tuesday. It made me very aware of the responsibility we teachers have to our students; to be kind with our words, to make good suggestions and be an example to follow, among a whole long list of other responsibilities.

Those are just a couple of the good things that happened this past week!