Oh..the middle school

My first day to the middle school was a little nerve racking because all of my other practicums had been at an elementary school and now I am in an 8th grade classroom. When I walked in the teacher did not pay much attention and just went on with the lesson, which was full of young boys sitting on desks and girls chewing on their bubble gum which is definitely not what I am accustomed to. She seemed to be a great teacher, though. She is a language arts teacher, and Nationally Board Certified, so I knew I was watching a pro. I was very impressed with the lesson she was teaching on grammar; because I feel that is a lacking area in our public schools. Right off I observed that she used a Promethean Board and knew what she was doing with it. Right after I got there she pulled up a flip chart that she had downloaded comparing the parts of speech. Her classroom was a little cluttered, but she did have student artifacts all over the wall; I especially liked the puzzle pieces on the wall. Her students had an assignment to create a puzzle piece that represents themselves. Although the middle school was a different experience, I felt that it was a great one.