4.28.17

Week of Reflection: 4.28.17

  

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 5!
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe
    This week, I was really proud of how much work I was able to accomplish, mainly on my portfolio. Looking back, though, I had done most of the work this semester and last. It was just compiling it all into a neat and orderly fashion. I am very pleased with what my portfolio looks like and I'm excited to share it next week!
    
    
  • Reflect
    I certainly learned a lot during some of my observations this week. It benefited me to go see other schools and how they operated.
    
    
  • Focus
    Finally, everything has come together and I see the light at the end of the tunnel! Yesterday, I saw all of these short term efforts come together as I had some really good conversations with several principals as well as an interview with Jennifer Wampler.
    
    
  • Be Productive
    I definitely think I could have spent less time worrying about getting everything in place, because in the end it will all come together.
    
    
  • Have Courage
    Again, I spent a lot of time worrying that I would forget a component or piece of my portfolio. But at this point in the semester, I think that everything will come together. 
    
    
  • Begin Anew
    Next week, I am making it my goal to squeeze in as much time with my students before I have to say goodbye on Wednesday. I have some fun activities planned for them during specials time, so that will be a good stress reliever for them as well, as they are now working very hard on EOG review.

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?
  As I was putting my portfolio together, I couldn't help but notice the progress my behavior focus student had made. He started his plan off very rough, and with one change of plans, he steadily showed improvement.
  
  
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

Just in case you weren't aware, we only have 14 days left until graduation. And only 3 of those are left with our students! Cherish the time you have left!!

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • Standard 1
    There were several instances where I came in after an observation this week and my students were really excited to see me. One day, I came in as the students were finishing a guidance lesson and the classroom was in a bit of chaos. I had to use that leadership and authority to calm the class back down after the guidance lesson, as my CE was busy with a meeting.
    
    
  • Standard 2
    I've been getting to know the background of one of my students fairly well, and have seen the ups and downs of his classroom behavior and participation. This past week, I was able to work with him on a few behavior skills and strategies.
    
    
  • Standard 3
    I'm awaiting my General Curriculum and Reading Foundations scores, which will hopefully surface soon!
    
    
  • Standard 4
    I taught a really fun social studies lesson earlier this week that involved the topic of resources. I combined the standard and weekly reader with a short activity to get students thinking, and I actually saw scores go up just because we did an activity rather than just strictly do the weekly reader.
    
    
  • Standard 5
    I have been reflecting on this whole process of student teaching heavily the past few days, and it is a bittersweet feeling to know that I am almost done. I will most certainly be glad to have a complete portfolio, and I am enjoying the pockets of extra sleep I am getting! However, I already immensely miss my students and their smiling faces that motivated me more than they know.
    
    
• Other:
• • Portfolio
    Just putting the finishing touches on my video!
    
    
  • Support
    None at this time

4.14.17

Week of Reflection: 4.14.17

  

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 4
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe
    This week, I was really pleased to sit back and watch my CE take back over subjects I had been teaching. It has really been a cool experience to observe the differences in our teaching styles. 
    
    
  • Reflect
    As I have been observing my CE, I know now some things that I can improve on moving forward as a new teacher. I've seen the ways that our students react when I teach something, and then when my CE teaches it.
    
    
  • Focus
    I am so close to achieving my long term goal of a successful student teaching experience, and I have each day with my students and CE, along with wisdom and support from my university supervisor, to thank for that!
    
    
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
    I know this sounds silly, but spending less time being a "part of the classroom" during my observational time would have been a wise decision. I now see what my CE had experienced while she took a step back to let me teach. When you're in the classroom, you just have that desire to keep one foot in the door/lesson.
    
    
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
    The other day, I had a little panic session about all that I needed to get done and the little amount of time I had left to complete it. However, I'm really thankful for an amazing support system of fellow student teachers who got me through that.
    
    
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    Next week, I want to get my observations done so I will not have to think about them as I spend my last full week in my classroom. As portfolio presentations near, I don't want to become overwhelmed with that and let it steal my joy of accomplishment. Rather, I want it to accompany the ending of this experience.
    
    
• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?

This past week, I looked at EOG data in order to help me drive my last little bit of instruction. Also, I wanted to understand why we were starting so "early" to review for the EOG. However, as I looked at several trends in the data, I soon understood why EOG review is so integral for success of students and teachers.

• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

We are so close! Even as we continue to press on and finish strong, don't forget that this is our senior year. We don't have very much time with our students. Some of us have already said goodbye even. Cherish the time you have left in your classroom before it is time to say goodbye.

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • Standard 1
    There was an instance where one student appeared to be bullying another student in my class; particularly, in the middle of a lesson I was teaching. I hated to take instructional time on task away, but I felt that it was the best decision to make to not stop my lesson, but integrate morals of right versus wrong in a lesson about inferencing. It got my point across, because I could notice a change in demeanor of the student I suspected was bullying.
    
    
  • Standard 2
    This past week has been really busy for administrators and support staff as 504's need to be finalized in order to receive EOG accommodations. Working in an EOG testing classroom has really been an eye-opener for me, because I think 3rd grade and up has some particular challenges that have the potential to personally affect teachers (EOG performance). I got to sit in on a 504 meeting where the parent was present and just to hear the specifications and detail that go into a 504 really surprised me.
    
    
  • Standard 3
    I had been teaching inferencing, and I found that I think I really have a passion for ELA. At the beginning of student teaching, I thought it was mathematics, but the more I teach, the more I can relate to and display a passion for ELA.
    
    
  • Standard 4
    During my downtime, with my CE's permission, I have been pulling small groups, not necessarily to target academic skills and objectives, but to integrate behavior skills into what we do. When I pulled a group, we would be working on fractions, but I would integrate teamwork and mutual respect by making sure that each student in the 5 person group had a specific job. That way, they couldn't get the task done without relying on each other.
    
    
  • Standard 5
    As I have been putting this portfolio together, I have been reflecting on each piece. For example, I have done a lot of reflecting on my behavior management plan. The student I chose has come a long way, but I'm still thinking of ways that I could improve the plan for the next student I see fit to benefit from it.
    
    
• Other:
• What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
  At this point, it has been a little bit of everything!! I'm mainly just trying to tie pieces together by integrating my website, choosing musical pieces to go in my video, and most importantly my educational philosophy!
  
  
• What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
  None at this time
  
  
• What support do you need from your university supervisor?
• None at this time

4.7.17

Week of Reflection: 4.7.17

  

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 5
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe:
    This week, I was really happy to complete my 5th observation and receive my final standard checks!
    
    
  • Reflect:
    I completely lost my voice on Wednesday! I had to get very creative in how to get through the lessons while still being the "instructor". So, since I was unable to talk for most of the week, I was not able to record as much as I would like. Therefore, I would like to get in some more recorded lessons.
    
    
  • Focus
    All of my short term efforts are coming to fruition as I'm seeing the light of the tunnel. I'm beginning to see all of the little things I've been doing become something greater, and I'm very excited to see what will be the product all of these short term efforts. Obviously, graduation is in my future, but I wonder what will come of that as well!
    
    
  • Be Productive
    Honestly, I could have spent less time worrying. I think we're all realizing that it is down to crunch time and we want things to fall into place perfectly. However, I think sometimes it is best to let things fall naturally, as long as we are not completely hands off. For example, the portfolio is something I want to spend more time working on.
    
    
  • Have Courage:
    I'm preparing to take the General Curriculum and Foundations of Reading exams, and I am super nervous for that. It is an expensive test, so I don't want to waste money having to retake it. I spent a lot of time studying for that when I maybe could have spent more time preparing for lessons.
    
    
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    
    
    I know it might seem irrelevant, but my first step for next week is going to be to walk into my classroom with an open, grateful heart. I'm beginning to realize that I do not have much longer with my sweet 4th grade babies and I want to teach them with the biggest heart I can. Though they can be a mess, they are all wonderful in their own ways.
    
    

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?
  This week, I was analyzing 3rd nine week data to see if there were any instructional gaps I could fill before I let go of things and gave instruction back to my CE.
  
  
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

Take lots of pictures! As I'm letting subjects go, I'm trying to find time to take pictures and small clips of "funny" video to use in my portfolio. These clips show the personality of the students who are otherwise often portrayed as just a student.

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • Standard 1
    With my CE being absent several days the past week, I have had to show leadership in the classroom. Though we still had a sub, I was actually grateful because otherwise, I would have had no one to cover me to conference after my observation on Tuesday.
    
    
  • Standard 2
    In my ELA lesson from Tuesday, I believe that I allowed each student to have an individual voice in determining inferences about the video we were viewing. Many different perspectives can come into play when inferencing, and I was really pleased at what my students had to say.
    
    
  • Standard 3
    Though we have done this before, we started a packet today that is specifically tied to 4.NF.3 and 4.NF.4. Doing this all year has really inspired me to keep close to the standards and, in my own classroom, find and use resources that are tied to standards.
    
    
  • Pick an element from standard four of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    This week, I taught a really fun social studies lesson on supply and demand, as well as other economic concepts. I was able to integrate literacy and math into a social studies lesson, which is an achievement for me.
    
    
  • Pick an element from standard five of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    I've done a lot of reflecting over the past week as I begin to look at the beginning of the end. Though this is the end of student teaching, it is only the beginning of an exciting career!
    
    
• Other:
• What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
  -I've begun clipping videos during the majority of my portfolio work time, as well as beginning to look at a live binder in order to store all of my components.
  
  
• What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
  -None at this time
  
  
• What support do you need from your university supervisor?
• None at this time