Practicum Report #2

From: Adam

To: Randi and Kelly

Subject: Practicum Report #2

A. Time Spent this Week
9/23/07- 3 hrs. (SS=1 hr; AM Worship= 2 hrs)

B. My Class this Week
This Sunday Steve gave me the opportunity to share a short devotional at the beginning of class. He gave me an outline to follow, and every week I will be doing a short devotional on a symbol of the Holy Spirit before we sing and have the lesson. This week’s symbol for the Holy Spirit was the dove. I shared the story of Jesus’ baptism when the Holy Spirit descended on Him like a dove. My class is large and there are new faces so I am having a hard time learning everyone’s names.
1. Krista
Krista is very friendly. She just recently got married, and she teaches geography. She graduated from IWU last year, but she is still faithful to the church and our class. She paid close attention the whole time, and she is always ready to participate when called on.
2. Kay Ellen
Kay Ellen is another senior from IWU. She is a very genuine and humble person. She is not outspoken, but she is willing to participate.
3. Colt
Colt leads the worship songs on the guitar for our class every week. He is a sophomore also at Taylor likes to make jokes (some better than others…) throughout the lesson, which always helps to lighten the mood.
4. Rebecca
Rebecca always critiques and challenges what she is taught. She does this in a good way. It is not like she questions everything just to be annoying. She came up with a good question today. We were talking about how we should give our time and attention students who want to learn instead of wasting our emotional energy on people who have a critical spirit. She made the point that we should not dismiss people very quickly and write them off. Jesus knew the hearts of the people that had critical hearts toward Him.
6. John
John pays close attention the entire time. He is a good note taker, which is always encouraging for Steve.
7. Steve’s daughter, Stephanie.
Stephanie is probably the most vocal person in the class, and she always has something insightful to say. Who would’ve guessed this would be true with Steve for a father. She had several good things to share today on the topic of anger. Specifically, she commented on Rebecca’s comment that we should give people a fair chance, but not to keep on wasting valuable energy on them if they keep on draining us.
8. Guy on the end of the row.
I have seen him there a few times before, but he did not pay attention at all. Every time I looked at him, he was staring off into space or sleeping. He is really the only one that does not pay attention.


C. My Questions this Week
1. What should be done if there is one person in the class who does not pay attention or participate? Should the teacher try to get him/her involved? If so, how should you do that without taking away the focus and learning of the other students?
2. Is it better to have a series of lessons about one topic, or is it better to give more variety in lessons?

Practicum Report #1

Practicum Report #1

From: Adam

To: Randi and Kelly

Subject: Practicum Report #1

A. Time Spent this Week
9/9/07- 3 hrs. (SS=1 hr; AM Worship= 2 hrs)
9/16/07- 3 hrs. (SS=1 hr; AM Worship= 2 hrs)

B. My Class this Week
I will be observing the college Sunday School class at Twin City Bible Baptist taught by Steve Snyder this semester. This class averages about 15-20 students a week.
I attended this class last year, so I am pretty familiar with the students and teacher. I love Steve and his teaching; he is definitely a master teacher. We were talking after class, and he all ready to get me started next Sunday doing a mini-lesson at the beginning of class. I will teach on a different symbol of the Holy Spirit each Sunday before the main lesson. He also told me he would bring some teacher evaluation papers to help me observe him.
1. Steve Snyder
a. Steve is a psychology professor at Taylor University. He has all his lesson topics planned out for the next four years, which makes me laugh. He is a very good teacher, and I know I can learn much from him.
2. Kay Ellen
a. Kay Ellen is one of the leaders in our class. She is a senior at IWU, and she as a heart for God. She is very approachable. She puts in her two sense every once in a while.
3. John
a. Steve asked John to pray to begin class. John is a very friendly guy; he always says hello.
4. The girl in red.
a. She was called on to answer a question. She was shy, and I had not met her before.
5. Emily
a. I met her and Rebecca last year, and I guess you could say we are church buddies. We drive together every Sunday. Emily was called on to read a passage of Scripture from Matthew. She was excited because she doesn’t feel like she gets called on very much.
6. Rebecca
a. Rebecca was called on to read another Scripture in John. She is comfortable is front of people and leads worship a few times a semester.
C. My Questions this Week
1. What is a good way to get everyone involved besides calling on people to read or pray? How do you get the quiet people in the class to feel comfortable to ask or answer questions?
2. There is no one person that dominates the class in discussion. Could this ever be a bad thing?