Rate
I would rate this week a 4 out of 5. I got a lot accomplished during the work days and began my student teaching this week. Wednesday went really well, but Thursday I felt unorganized and we had a fire drill which threw a loop in my plans. Overall it was not a bad week!
Observe
This week I also had another global awareness piece. My students went on a Real World Math Scavenger Hunt to find fractions relating to the world. These fractions included: the fraction of the worlds population made up by the USA, fraction of the world that does not have access to clean drinking water, electricity, internet, etc. The students loved it and were excited for math each day!
Reflect
My experiences this week taught me that being flexible is a huge aspect of teaching and that not having time for everything is not the end of the world. My social studies plan for Wednesday was a little longer than the time block. I was really worried about this, but my CE shared that "that happens a lot in teaching" and showed me how to shift a few things on Thursday to make time to finish up the social studies lesson.
Focus
This week I focused on working on my classroom website. I had anticipated finishing it last weekend, but building a website from scratch is hard work. Hopefully, I will find some time (after the edTPA training and a nap) to continue working and knock that off my list. I also want to begin working on my edTPA lessons so I can get those checked off the list as well and not have to stress over them towards the end of my ten weeks.
Be Productive
This week I could have spent more time sleeping. I need to find a healthy balance between work and sleep. It seems like I have too much to do to go to sleep early and end up working until 10:30 or 11. However, I am exhausted by Thursday night and feel very sluggish on Fridays.
Have Courage
This week I do not think I really faced any apprehension or indecision. I feel comfortable talking with my CE and the 4th grade team about anything and know that they would all do what they can to help me. My students were great this week and did not do much to test me.
Begin Anew
I need to clear the mental clutter of Thursday, when I felt unorganized and in disarray all day. I will begin anew, by learning all I can at the edTPA meeting and use that learning to shape my edTPA lessons.
Data
This week I really did not analyze any data. It was a short week and we did not have any tests. We will be doing a data dive next Thursday to reassign students to WIN groups.
Advice
I would advise student teachers to get as much sleep as possible while still getting assignments done. Sleep can make or break this experience. If you are too tired you are not on your A game for your kids and you can't focus on getting other assignments done. I need to follow this advise in the coming weeks as well.
NCTCS
This week I would say that I "used a variety of instructional methods" (NCTCS 4c). I took the standards, global awareness, and my students into consideration when planning the scavenger hunt. My students had never done something like this before, especially not in math. They were engaged and constantly looking forward to math time and the opportunity to find more fractions. I want to find ways like this to keep students interested in their learning.
At this time, my CE and I do not have any questions.
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Friday, January 20, 2017
1.20.17
Rate
I would rate this week a 3 out of 5. Some of my lessons did not go as planned and the students seemed to push my buttons this week, trying to see what they could get away with. This was frustrating, but I made it through.
Observe
I accomplished a global awareness piece this week. My students are reading The Trumpet of the Swan. This novel is set in Montana and Canada. I used a Virtual Reality viewer to take my students on a "field trip" to these places. The students were so excited about learning and it made these places real to the students.
Reflect
I learned that things don't always go as planned, especially when school gets out early. Today we were going to take our tests in their normal blocked order, but had to rearrange things to benefit the students and get everything complete before the students left for the day.
Focus
My short term efforts and long term goals are still aligned thanks to my long term plan I created last week. I plan to work on my website this weekend and to get a lot of planning done during the planning days on Monday and Tuesday.
Be Productive
I could have spent less time overthinking my plans and remembering the KISS rule "Keep It Simple Student." Sometimes I make things harder on myself than they have to be.
Have Courage
I attended a staff professional development meeting after school today and I was nervous to share ideas with the staff, but I ended up gaining the courage and sharing my idea. Others liked the idea and complimented me after the meeting on having the courage to share.
Begin Anew
My first logical step for next week is to get to work on my website. I have been compiling tech tools and am ready to hit the ground running on this portion. I also need to sit down this weekend an don the planning days and discuss beginning my behavior program with a student in my class with my CE.
Data
This week, I graded math tests and saw that my students did not have a clear understanding of the material we learned and covered over the past two weeks, despite several reviews. This was disappointing because the students had performed well on review questions and assignments and seemed to really "get it." However, after talking with the other 4th grade teachers, very few students did well on this test. I have planned for a review day next week to review the material and to complete test corrections.
Advice
If I could advise other student teachers, I would tell them not to be afraid to use their voice. It can be scary or overwhelming in a large group of other teachers to share what you know or think, but thy can learn from us just as much as we can learn from them. Be proud of what you know and don't be afraid to share!
NCTCS
This week I feel like I began to "demonstrate leadership in the school" (NCTCS 1d). I attended the Guided Reading Professional Development meeting after school today and was able to work collaboratively with school personnel in a professional learning community. I shared rubrics as a way for students working independently during the GR time to be held accountable and to know explicit expectations for their independent work. I also found myself in conversations about teaching with a couple of the 5th grade teachers this week. This was exciting because I felt like I was and am beginning to be a part of the whole school atmosphere rather than just a part of the 4th grade team.
At this time my CE and I do not have any questions. We will be in touch if we do. Thanks!
I would rate this week a 3 out of 5. Some of my lessons did not go as planned and the students seemed to push my buttons this week, trying to see what they could get away with. This was frustrating, but I made it through.
Observe
I accomplished a global awareness piece this week. My students are reading The Trumpet of the Swan. This novel is set in Montana and Canada. I used a Virtual Reality viewer to take my students on a "field trip" to these places. The students were so excited about learning and it made these places real to the students.
Reflect
I learned that things don't always go as planned, especially when school gets out early. Today we were going to take our tests in their normal blocked order, but had to rearrange things to benefit the students and get everything complete before the students left for the day.
Focus
My short term efforts and long term goals are still aligned thanks to my long term plan I created last week. I plan to work on my website this weekend and to get a lot of planning done during the planning days on Monday and Tuesday.
Be Productive
I could have spent less time overthinking my plans and remembering the KISS rule "Keep It Simple Student." Sometimes I make things harder on myself than they have to be.
Have Courage
I attended a staff professional development meeting after school today and I was nervous to share ideas with the staff, but I ended up gaining the courage and sharing my idea. Others liked the idea and complimented me after the meeting on having the courage to share.
Begin Anew
My first logical step for next week is to get to work on my website. I have been compiling tech tools and am ready to hit the ground running on this portion. I also need to sit down this weekend an don the planning days and discuss beginning my behavior program with a student in my class with my CE.
Data
This week, I graded math tests and saw that my students did not have a clear understanding of the material we learned and covered over the past two weeks, despite several reviews. This was disappointing because the students had performed well on review questions and assignments and seemed to really "get it." However, after talking with the other 4th grade teachers, very few students did well on this test. I have planned for a review day next week to review the material and to complete test corrections.
Advice
If I could advise other student teachers, I would tell them not to be afraid to use their voice. It can be scary or overwhelming in a large group of other teachers to share what you know or think, but thy can learn from us just as much as we can learn from them. Be proud of what you know and don't be afraid to share!
NCTCS
This week I feel like I began to "demonstrate leadership in the school" (NCTCS 1d). I attended the Guided Reading Professional Development meeting after school today and was able to work collaboratively with school personnel in a professional learning community. I shared rubrics as a way for students working independently during the GR time to be held accountable and to know explicit expectations for their independent work. I also found myself in conversations about teaching with a couple of the 5th grade teachers this week. This was exciting because I felt like I was and am beginning to be a part of the whole school atmosphere rather than just a part of the 4th grade team.
At this time my CE and I do not have any questions. We will be in touch if we do. Thanks!
Friday, January 13, 2017
1.13.16
Week of January 13th
Rate
I would rate this week a 3 out of 5 because of the snow days and my students were hyped up when they returned to school. The really long weekend, snow, 2 hour delay, full moon, and Friday the 13th all contributed to the craziness. Though my students were extremely chatty that was the worst of the behavior.
Observe
This week I took over math instruction I was surprised by how attentive the students were. My students are usually inattentive because math is at the end of the day after lunch, recess, and specials but this week they were all on task and wanted to share their answers. I'm sure this was because I was a new face. I will have to continually look for ways to make math fun, engaging, and relatable.
Reflect
Though my CE and I used the work day to work on plans and clean the classroom, other teachers on our hall chose to socialize and not do much of anything. Then at planning they complained about feeling rushed to get everything together. This taught me that being proactive and using planning/work days to my advantage is always a good thing.
Focus
Currently my short term efforts and long term goals are still aligned. This weekend I really need to sit down and set time lines for big portfolio assignments so they do fall through the cracks and they can be completed in a timely manner.
Be Productive
This weekend, I could have spent more time working on plans and my portfolio. Instead, I spent most of my time napping, playing in the snow, and enjoying time with family. While that was important, I definitely had too much couch and TV time.
Have Courage
Begin Anew
As I start with a fresh slate going into next week, I want to complete a time line or check list of portfolio items. I also want to get a head start on lesson planning this weekend.
Data
This week I did not look at a lot of data. I helped administer the math CBM (Curriculum Based Measurement) test to my students this week. My CE and I will be grading this assessment on Tuesday during planning and our team will do a data dive to look over scores and data based on our school improvement plan.
Advice
I would advise upcoming student teachers to plan ahead. Tackling assignments in advance is always a plus. Waiting until the last minute may work in college, but it doesn't cut it in the real world.
NCTCS
This week I really feel like I began increasing my rating in NCTCS 2d- "Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs." I have an EC student in my class who struggles to focus. He usually understands the material, but getting him to focus long enough to demonstrate his understanding is really hard as well as keeping him on task. I have another student who just joined our class. She struggles with reading and does not know how to do many of the math skills we have already covered this school year. Finding ways to help these students has been huge this week. I have talked with my CE and the EC teachers and trying to implement their suggestions into my planning so that all of my students can be successful.
Currently my CE and I do not need any assistance from my University Supervisor.
Rate
I would rate this week a 3 out of 5 because of the snow days and my students were hyped up when they returned to school. The really long weekend, snow, 2 hour delay, full moon, and Friday the 13th all contributed to the craziness. Though my students were extremely chatty that was the worst of the behavior.
Observe
This week I took over math instruction I was surprised by how attentive the students were. My students are usually inattentive because math is at the end of the day after lunch, recess, and specials but this week they were all on task and wanted to share their answers. I'm sure this was because I was a new face. I will have to continually look for ways to make math fun, engaging, and relatable.
Reflect
Though my CE and I used the work day to work on plans and clean the classroom, other teachers on our hall chose to socialize and not do much of anything. Then at planning they complained about feeling rushed to get everything together. This taught me that being proactive and using planning/work days to my advantage is always a good thing.
Focus
Currently my short term efforts and long term goals are still aligned. This weekend I really need to sit down and set time lines for big portfolio assignments so they do fall through the cracks and they can be completed in a timely manner.
Be Productive
This weekend, I could have spent more time working on plans and my portfolio. Instead, I spent most of my time napping, playing in the snow, and enjoying time with family. While that was important, I definitely had too much couch and TV time.
Have Courage
Begin Anew
As I start with a fresh slate going into next week, I want to complete a time line or check list of portfolio items. I also want to get a head start on lesson planning this weekend.
Data
This week I did not look at a lot of data. I helped administer the math CBM (Curriculum Based Measurement) test to my students this week. My CE and I will be grading this assessment on Tuesday during planning and our team will do a data dive to look over scores and data based on our school improvement plan.
Advice
I would advise upcoming student teachers to plan ahead. Tackling assignments in advance is always a plus. Waiting until the last minute may work in college, but it doesn't cut it in the real world.
NCTCS
This week I really feel like I began increasing my rating in NCTCS 2d- "Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs." I have an EC student in my class who struggles to focus. He usually understands the material, but getting him to focus long enough to demonstrate his understanding is really hard as well as keeping him on task. I have another student who just joined our class. She struggles with reading and does not know how to do many of the math skills we have already covered this school year. Finding ways to help these students has been huge this week. I have talked with my CE and the EC teachers and trying to implement their suggestions into my planning so that all of my students can be successful.
Currently my CE and I do not need any assistance from my University Supervisor.
Friday, January 6, 2017
1.6.17
Week of Friday, January 6
I would rate this week a 5!
This week I was pleasantly surprised by how well my students behaved when they were left alone with me. I know this may change as I take over more, but this week they were very well behaved and acted as if my CE were present or with us. This week I learned the full routine of my class. This was my first time staying for a full day. Last semester, I had the opportunity to observe all instructional time but did not observe or participate in lunch, recess, or transitioning to specials. I will definitely build on this next week as I begin to take over. Currently my short and long-term goals are still aligned.
This week I could have spent more time working on assignments throughout the week. I'm not sure if it was because it was the first week or because my sleep schedule was whacked out because of Christmas break, but I was exhausted when I arrived back on campus from school each day and feel like I did not get as much accomplished as I would have liked.
There were a couple behavior issues this week when I was alone with the students. My CE rarely takes a paw (a disciplinary action) and I was apprehensive about taking paws so at first my students got away with a little more than they should have, but by Wednesday I felt confident in my position and authority to take paws and after taking one the students knew I meant business and that they are expected to act the same way they would for my CE.
My first logical step for next week is to begin working on lesson plans for the week of 1/17. I will be responsible for math and reading instruction that week and would like to get a head start on my lesson preparation. As of right now, I do not feel like I have any mental clutter to get rid of.
This week I interviewed the EC teachers that work directly with one of my students and got to sit in on this students IEP meeting. I was able to look at data related to his reading fluency and math calculations scores. These scores helped me to better understand my EC student and areas that he needs help with.
This week, as I wrote my first student teaching lessons, I really had to think about differentiation in regards to NCTCS 4a "Teachers know the ways in which learning takes place, and they know the appropriate levels of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of their students." Mrs. Suttle shared that differentiation is more than how will you serve the high kids, the average kids, and the lower kids it's how you will serve students with specific needs. I feel that I have a better understanding of differentiation now and see it as something more specific than high, medium, low.
This week I began talking with my CE about a specific student I would like to work with for the classroom management portion of the portfolio. I shared some thoughts I have about working with this student with my CE and other teachers who work with this student.
I would rate this week a 5!
This week I was pleasantly surprised by how well my students behaved when they were left alone with me. I know this may change as I take over more, but this week they were very well behaved and acted as if my CE were present or with us. This week I learned the full routine of my class. This was my first time staying for a full day. Last semester, I had the opportunity to observe all instructional time but did not observe or participate in lunch, recess, or transitioning to specials. I will definitely build on this next week as I begin to take over. Currently my short and long-term goals are still aligned.
This week I could have spent more time working on assignments throughout the week. I'm not sure if it was because it was the first week or because my sleep schedule was whacked out because of Christmas break, but I was exhausted when I arrived back on campus from school each day and feel like I did not get as much accomplished as I would have liked.
There were a couple behavior issues this week when I was alone with the students. My CE rarely takes a paw (a disciplinary action) and I was apprehensive about taking paws so at first my students got away with a little more than they should have, but by Wednesday I felt confident in my position and authority to take paws and after taking one the students knew I meant business and that they are expected to act the same way they would for my CE.
My first logical step for next week is to begin working on lesson plans for the week of 1/17. I will be responsible for math and reading instruction that week and would like to get a head start on my lesson preparation. As of right now, I do not feel like I have any mental clutter to get rid of.
This week I interviewed the EC teachers that work directly with one of my students and got to sit in on this students IEP meeting. I was able to look at data related to his reading fluency and math calculations scores. These scores helped me to better understand my EC student and areas that he needs help with.
This week, as I wrote my first student teaching lessons, I really had to think about differentiation in regards to NCTCS 4a "Teachers know the ways in which learning takes place, and they know the appropriate levels of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of their students." Mrs. Suttle shared that differentiation is more than how will you serve the high kids, the average kids, and the lower kids it's how you will serve students with specific needs. I feel that I have a better understanding of differentiation now and see it as something more specific than high, medium, low.
This week I began talking with my CE about a specific student I would like to work with for the classroom management portion of the portfolio. I shared some thoughts I have about working with this student with my CE and other teachers who work with this student.
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