My First Unit

I started teaching my first unit today on the Middle East, and surprise surprise, we only got through 1 of the 3 things I intended. My CT insisted that was normal and I should expect no less. Now, I have a pretty ambitious unit plan, and I am expecting those kids to learn a lot, but at this pace, my 13 day unit plan will take 2 months! I have to strategize.

Here is my plan:

Set time limits on activities
Give explicit directions to avoid unnecessary questions
Ask students to hold questions unless they are for the good of the group
Improve my classroom management skills to eliminate time wasted on classroom discipline

Here is not my plan:

Give in
Let the students waste my time
Allow the foolish questions to continue

Piece of advice. I have often heard it said that there is no such thing as a stupid question. I have discovered from personal experience that this is simply not true. I heard many of them today uttered from the sly mouths of my seventh graders as a ploy to waste my time.

No longer!

We may not get through everything every time, but I will subject them to the majority of my unit plan because I planned in specifically with them in mind, and they will learn! I insist upon it.

I have said it and I will say it again; I will not give up on them. Together, we can get through this!