On the Spot

On Friday, I had my first real test as a developing teacher. I was left in the classroom for about forty-five minutes, alone with twenty-some fourth graders, with no lesson plan and no idea when the teacher would be back. My first thought was to find the lesson plan, which is normally on the teacher's desk, and continue on to the next part of the day. Too bad for me, the lesson plan was nowhere in sight. It wasn't on either of her desks, my desk, or the assistant teacher's desk. The only thing I had to go by was what was written on the white board "Interactive Science Notes." I've been in this class for only about two months, and that's only a few times a week. I have no idea what that means. Next step, ask the students. They don't have that great of an idea either. Alright, time for Plan C or D, or whatever I'm down to now. For the next thirty minutes or so I led a class discussion about the different types of energy. This is what the students had been learning that week, so it was a nice review. It was also an eye-opening experience for what we are always told will happen....things will go wrong, and you'll have to think on your feet. I think I made it through the first test OK, but in the future I hope to be more prepared to have a creative idea in my head beforehand, just in case....