Looking back at previous lesson observations can be enlightening, especially when from the very beginning of ones practice, in this case residential environmental education. Yet this is what I did, and happily enough what I saw was not overly embarrassing. Unsurprisingly, I spoke softly which is a trait of mine, yet despite my low volume…
Sprezzatura, what a wonderful word! It signifies a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make what one does or says appear without effort or thought. Embodying this word is easier said than done, yet with practice can be developed. In teaching environmental education, I attempt to exude sprezzatura when introducing students to…
How does one rapidly build trust with a group of elementary students within a four day residential outdoor education program? By fostering a strong sense of community through team building activities. An instrumental piece of this puzzle is the Community Agreement, this is a living document created by the students and it declares their expectations…
What were some moments where you considered student motivation before choosing an intervention? What is your interpretation of the results? The most frequent moments where I intervened with student behavior was during instructions, here we would all be gathered together forming a circle. This was when I was providing specific information necessary for our…
As I embark upon my first week of teaching I am comforted by a few facts. First, that I will have a buddy as a co-teacher. Together we are stronger and can traverse even the murkiest of waters. Second, that time management is a reoccurring obstacle, and one which most teachers wrestle with continuously. And…