2.10.17

Week of Reflection: February 10th, 2017

  

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 4
• Seven questions to end your week:
• Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?
• This week, I piloted a completely new approach to classroom management. I designed it myself so that it correlated with the feedback I had received from my university supervisor in my first observation. I am really glad to have received that feedback because I've been able to catch mannerisms and things about my teaching practices that I can make even better! I dubbed this classroom management tool "Class Madness". Using a bracket similar to a sports championship bracket, I set it up to where each of my 6 tables in the classroom have to collaborate to earn team tallies. When I catch a table doing what they need to be doing (as a whole), I am able to positively praise them without having to stop my instruction for anything other than to congratulate them and ask their table leader to put a tally under their team. They have gotten so into it, and we even created table team names and mascots. I am currently working on a permanent bracket for the classroom, so I was really surprised and happy that something I created has been working so well, and that it addressed feedback from my observation so directly.
• Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
• I taught text features and was able to integrate science and social studies into the lesson series we went through. We completed a "Moon Book", which is a packet type book that we use to go page by page and create text features. The book had passages and photographs of the Moon, since that was our subject of the book. I want to try to deeply integrate more science and social studies more next week.

  
  
• Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?
  Short term, I am wanting to find more engaging ways to hook my students for lessons that are not necessarily compatible with hooks, such as lessons that do not have a teacher input or anything like that. Being able to effectively hook my students goes along with my long term goal of successfully completing 10 weeks of effective teaching.
  
  
• Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
  I could have definitely spent more time working on my reflections but I am working on getting into a routine of reflecting before I go home. That way, everything that happened during the lesson is still fresh on my mind. However, with some of my objectives, I won't know if they were met or not until later because I am relying on assessment data (quizzes, tests, etc.).
  
  
• Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
  I was nervous to begin this week just because last week was not the greatest week in terms of behavior, but I'm so glad to say that this week has been great. We did not have any major behavior issues and I really feel like I was able to built a lot of relationships with my students. That allowed us to be a a more productive classroom.
  
  
• Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
  Next week, I am coming in with some fresh hooks and different ways to keep students engaged. I've also spent more time studying my division, which is good because I am teaching it way differently than how I was taught, even in college.
  
  

Adapted from: Cernoff, M. (2013, August 7). 7 Questions to End Your Week With. . Retrieved July 21, 2014, from http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/08/08/7-questions-to-end-your-week-with/

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?
  This week, I took a look at our DIBELS data from last quarter because we began the process of reassessing the small group needs of our students. Some students ended up leaving their groups, while others stayed or were relocated to accommodate a new need.
  
  
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

Don't be afraid to rely on your CE, or your whole grade level for that matter. Something I have to remind myself of every day is that every single teacher and principal got their start doing what I am doing now. Granted, most of them did not have to do 1/5 of what I am doing as part of my student teaching experience, but they've been in my shoes regardless. Sometimes I'm hesitant to ask my grade level for help, but they reminded me this week that we work together as a unit for a greater good. So don't be afraid to lean on them when you're out of ideas or need motivation to get through something.

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • Pick an element from standard one of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    I've been working with my CE to ensure that the students understand that I am the standing teacher in the room. It is a transition that is going, maybe not as fast as I would like but progress is progress nonetheless.
    
    
  • Pick an element from standard two of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    This week I have put a heavy emphasis on having compassion and empathy for our peers. I talked a lot with my students throughout the week about the fact of if they want respect, they must give respect. So on and so forth. I am excited to touch more on that this coming week.
    
    
  • Pick an element from standard three of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    I was pleasantly surprised by how quickly students were picking up division since they had not learned any division prior to me teaching it. I have had to pick up some of the different methods we teach to the students to solve it, but I definitely have a handle on things at the moment.
    
    
  • 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.
    I tried to use different activities to keep students engaged and on task during my lessons this week. In particular, I used Go Noodle during second special to allow my students to finish the day strong. I found that it gave them a needed boost of energy, or in some cases, an effective way to get the jitters out and focus better. I also found that one of the best ways to help students learn is to make it relevant to them. With division, I used examples to help them see the need to learn division. In ELA, I've been referencing fake books, and using student's names as the author of the book to make them want to learn about text features.
    
    
  • 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 was observed by my principal this week during ELA, and even though it was the first time, I was not nervous. I think that is because I felt that I was confident in what I was teaching (Moon Book) and students were actively engaged and wanting to learn about the moon. I used her feedback slip to tweak my instruction, but more than anything I appreciate being observed by a principal who has many other things she could have been doing. I definitely used her feedback to drive instruction and take a look at what I'm doing.
    
    
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
    Finalizing edTPA plans, assessing my focus students, recording lessons
    
    
  • 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