Week of March 29

Week of Reflection March 29

 

This was a really good week of which  I would rate as a 5. Not only in the classroom but on my outlook as well. This week and some of last week I have really found myself getting back into the thrill and joy of teaching. For so long I have been worried about things for my own grades that I have found myself holding my class at arms reach without even realizing it. I asked my mom a few weeks ago why it seemed so hard to feel for these kids in my own mind when I have always connected so easily and so strongly with kids under my care. She informed me that even though I might not realize it I was subconsciously looking at them as a grade and it was keeping me from falling for them. I realized how true that was but I could see this week how much that was changing. With a little less on my plate with my own school I started noticing more with my students and getting back into my swing. It has made for a really good week but also made me wish for a longer time because it is so close to the end of the year and I do not have much more time with them.

Observe/reflect: Monday half of my class wound up being out because of being sick and battle of the books. My math lesson was very simple this day as well and I would up doing both Monday’s and Tuesday’s lessons together because the kids were ready to move on. Well after discussing it with the kids we decided together that the next day they would get to teach the lesson the next day to those who had missed it. They were so excited and it worked so well Tuesday. Since then they have been begging me to let them do it again. I changed up my lessons for the rest of the week trying out some different things and did a lot of experimenting.

Focus: I have been doing a lot of printing, collecting, and organizing, of things for both my NCTCS artifact book and my portfolio.

Productive: I have been focusing a lot on my artifacts and portfolio and I needed to put a little more time into my lesson plans so they were not all piled up at the end of the week.

Have Courage:  My CE has been out of the classroom a lot this week training for a new job which has left me a lot of time alone with the students. I have just noticed how I change so much when she is not in here. I am more confident with the students and am not worried about doing something wrong. It has made me realize more how hesitant I am when she is in here.

Begin Anew: I need to catch up on some grading. But I am also planning to work this weekend on a plan for two of my students to help them get more organized.

Data: I had two tests last week that I really pulled a part and looked at the patterns for each question to see where the students needed extra support.

Advice: Don’t forget why you are doing this and we are almost there.

Week of March 15

Week of Reflection March 15

  

This was a rough week in the classroom. Personally, my week was about the same as usual. But in the actual classroom, it was a struggle. I think that daylight savings took a toll on teachers and students alike. It just seemed that everyone was at their worst, all grouchy and at everyone’s throats. All of the behavior quirks that the students have at times were all at a tenfold this week, all at once. Let’s just say I am ready for the weekend for a recharge and hopefully a reset for next week. Even so, there were a good bit of bright points this week. I think I will rate this week as a 3.

Observe: 

Tuesday night we had a literacy and science family night. This was a night that I planned with the Title 1 teacher as a part of my PDP and one of my contributions to the school’s SIP. It went wonderfully, everyone was really happy with it, and I had a lot of fun. The only thing that I was disappointed about was because I had to run one of the stations and we were so busy I did not get to go around and see the other stations in action. Still, it was a great experience.

Reflect: I actually had a lot of learning moments this week. Lessons that went really well and some that just did not work out, mainly because of behavior. But I learned from each one. In social studies this week the student chose an issue in America(they chose homelessness and hunger) to research and then create a bill on to pass through the legislative and executive branch into a law. From the law they created and their little “arguments” over it I could really see how limited their perspective is of money and what the government can do to support these people. These were some enlightening lessons for both the students and me. I found that this is a great thread for the rest of our lessons on government, economics, and citizens’ rights and responsibilities. I’m really excited to get into it if we can just get everything done in the short time we have for social studies. 

Focus:

It is so close to the end of my 10 weeks I am just trying to get everything for my portfolio done between now and then. 

Be Productive: 

As usual, I am spending all day every day on school work. Every minute I get. I try not to work after 8 at night so that I have a little time spend with family before going to bed. And I take time on Sunday evening to go to my grandparents but other than that I spend every moment I have doing work. The problem is I still have so much to do but I don’t know what else I can do to get it done.

Have courage: I’m not sure I cannot really remember something that stood out to me.

Begin anew: This weekend I will be grading papers and trying to get some things done on my portfolio before next week.

Week of February 22

Week of Reflection February 22

  

I am going to rate my week as a 3. There were some good days and some bad. The highlight of my week was my social studies lesson Wednesday it was really awesome and I was so proud of the kids. The bad part of the week has just been the added stress of the edTPA deadline approaching and continuing to get my weekly things done. Then on top of all of that trying to balance my personal life with this. I have been spending all of my time at the school and all of the weekends in my room working on things that I have barely spent any time with my own family and it is taking its toll. 

Observe: 

Wednesday we finally got to do the civil war debate that the students were working on last week. At first I was worried about how it would work out especially as they were doing their research. But it all came together so well in the final activity. The kids learned so much. 

Reflect:

The lesson above made me really see how much my students are capable of

Focus: 

I’m still trying to find was to involve more global awareness. I am in little ways but I’m having a hard time finding things for my final portfolio

Be productive:

I honestly need to be spending less time on school work and more time on myself but I can barely get what I need to done.

Have courage:

I had a cool moment in computer lab as well on Wednesday. The AIG students came back from their class and were telling me about what they had been doing. They were explaining how their teacher couldn’t figure out how to model dividing fractions. I showed them how and they ran back to their class and brought her in so I could explain to her. I was proud that I could help. 

Begin anew: 

Finish all of edTPA this week. 

Data: 

We got our check-ins back and a lot of our students got 100s on the ELA part. I haven’t looked at the math yet. 

Advice: We’re about halfway there!

Week of February 15th

Week of Reflection February 15th

This week was a week of some crazy kids. I am assuming that most of this was due to Valentines being this week and that they will be back to normal next week. This week was also a huge catch-up week. Last week was mostly a wash with so much testing going on a field trip and we got behind in a lot of our lessons. This week we were catching up on what we did not get to last week. And most of the lessons I had planned to teach this week has been pushed to next week. Even with all of this, it was still a very good week. I would probably rate it as a high 4 due to behavioral issues, but for the most part, it was good. I did get a surprise from the students which made my week. My birthday was Tuesday and the students had planned a surprise party for me. I had no clue and after lunch, my CE tricked me into the extra empty classroom that we have and they surprised me. They had all of my favorite things and as I reflected on the past two weeks I realized all of the little things that they had done and questions they had asked me that I thought nothing of at the time were all building up to this. It was all really sweet.

Observe:

I feel like I picked up a lot of little things and skills from my lessons this week that I am not going to list out but it made me feel good and proud of myself.

Reflect: 

We have been focused on the Civil War in my social studies class last week and was supposed to finish it up at the beginning of this week. Well Wednesday, which was supposed to be our last day with it, the students were all arguing about the two sides of the Civil War and who was right or wrong. Right then and there I threw out my whole lesson plan and I divided the class in half with one side devoted to the Confederate side and the other to the Union. I made sure as I split them up to put those who had been arguing for one side on the opposite side. What I then had them do is research their side and all of their reasons behind the conflict. I explained how each side had their own reasons just like any argument and there was not really a right or wrong side to it. The students are then going to have a debate between the two sides. This really helped me see how flexible a teacher has to be. It also gave me a lot of confidence to see how fast I could completely flip a lesson and come up with what the students need in that instance.

Focus:

Still working on weekly lesson plans and trying to get this edTPA done.

Be Productive:

I spent a lot of time focused on my science and social studies for next week until ELA and math were just pushed to the side. I also need to spend more time on my edTPA

Have Courage:

At the moment I am thinking about how I want to finish up our next social studies unit and I am kind of apprehensive about my idea and what my CE will think about it. But I really want to try it.

Begin Anew:

Get my math reengagement lesson taught.

Data:

It was quick formative data that I just saw in my students’ discussion/argument but it made me decide to completely change my social studies lesson from what I saw from the students.

Advice: 

Don’t worry so much about all of the nitpicky things and focus on what the kids need. 

NC Teacher Candidate Standards

1c. Teachers lead the teaching profession. 

I am getting more chances to talk with the other teachers at this school and building relationships with them. I have also been a lot more active in some of the Facebook groups that I have joined. Asking them questions and even answering some of theirs. 

2a. Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. 

My relationship with these students just keeps improving. 

3c. Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines. 

I used Venn diagrams in my math lessons this week when working with GCF to help students see how these work. 

4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods. 

Every week I am looking for new methods and materials that I can use in lessons to meet all of the students’ needs. 

5c. Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment. 

I used a bunch of graphic organizers to go with text structures to help students with these as we went through different texts. 

Other:

Got a good bit of videos for my portfolio video this week. 

Week of February 8th

Week of Reflection February 8th

This week was kind of a boring week, not really that I was bored just that it was a basic week and there wasn’t much exciting happening class wise. Monday and Friday were our only two full normal days. Tuesday and Thursday the students had their check-in tests and Wednesday we had an on-school-grounds field trip, on top of this one of my CE’s was out and about half of the students were absent. It was hard trying to get any kind of lessons going and it wound up being more of a catch-up week for students to work on things they had missing or incomplete. It was a pretty relaxing week but not a lot of fun. Even so, there was not really anything negative this week so I would rate it as a 5.

Observe:

Something that really got to me this week was at the beginning of the week when I gave the students their test on the unit they have been studying in Social Studies. The test was given to me by my CE for that class since she was the one that taught the majority of the unit and I only taught the last two lessons out of it. She was the one that was out this week. The problem was the test was out of a different textbook instead of the one they were using. The kids were freaking out and a few breaking down in tears because they could not find these questions in the book. I had calm them down and then figure out why they were having such trouble. It was definitely a learning moment.

Reflect:

I was really focused on observing my kids work in groups this week. I have them work in groups a lot and so did my CE before I took over. But this week, especially today I just saw them doing so well in their groups. They are working in more long term groups at the moment to build K’nex cars instead of the normal random groups we do pretty often. I just enjoyed watching them work so hard at making sure everyone was involved and everyone’s ideas were taken into account. They are doing such a great job.

Focus:

I am still working on my weekly plans and working my way through my 10 weeks.

Be Productive:

I had a lot going on outside of school this week and even though I still kept up with the normal workload of lesson plans, and grading and such, and even worked on edTPA some, I really need to be working more on my portfolio. Especially the global awareness piece. 

Have Courage:

Something that was pointed out to me during my observation was my classroom management. I do find myself being apprehensive on discipline or getting on to the students when my CE is present. I know I shouldn’t and I feel like I do fine when she is not there or there is a sub, but I subconsciously still see myself as the guest in her classroom and hesitate on disciplining the kids.

Begin Anew:

I need to finish my commentary for Task 2 next week before the seminar.

Data:

Today I had planned on giving my students a quiz on what they were doing in math. Well before we started I did a few review problems with them and in doing so figured out they were definitely not ready for that quiz. So we spent the whole lesson instead working on the skill some more. 

Advice:

“Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” James 1:12

Remain steadfast.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards

1b. Teachers demonstrate leadership in the school. 

The Title 1 teacher and I met with the staff members to talk out and get feedback on the Parent Night we are planning for the whole school.

2a. Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. 

I continue to see my relationship with these students improving. It is very awesome for me to be able to see this grow.

3b. Teachers know the content appropriate to their teaching specialty. 

I know the topic is not directly related to the standards but since we have started designing cars with K’nex kits to go with our force and motion unit, we have been looking at designs of cars and why they are designed that way. I come from a family of car enthusiasts and the students have been able to ask questions and make more connections between the why of the designs and different forces like friction because I can help lead them through and bounce things back to them.

4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods. 

I continue to use different forms of instruction like hands-on models and materials that really allow students to explore and understand the concepts in both math and science. I am working on trying to do a little bit more of this in ELA and social studies too.

5b. Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals. 

I have been looking into some professional development opportunities. 

Other:

Been working on Task 2

Week of February 1st

Week of Reflection February 1st

  

This week was a much better week than last. I still have tons to do, and I am still having a hard time when it comes to the lesson plans, but I felt more accomplished. This week was my first full week and I loved it, being able to teach the kids all day for the whole week. It is crazy trying to switch classrooms, and I am still trying to figure that part out, but it worked out. Some of the teachers have been messing with me asking if I sleep there at school as I have been there so long every day. I was given a key to my classroom, so now I have been getting there before any of them and staying there until after 6, which is way after everyone else has left. This has helped me feel much more accomplished though, because I can just focus on everything I need to do with no distractions. Overall I think I would rate this week as a busy 4.

Observe:

I have been noticing this week how much my relationship with the students has improved in just the last few weeks. I was worried at Christmas time because I felt like I was not getting anywhere with them. But in just the last couple of weeks, that has changed tremendously. 

Reflect:

So I had a lesson in social studies yesterday where the students were going to use their chrome books for some research. Well before we got to that part we were watching a video clip and discussing the topic. While we were doing so, one of my students was already on his Chromebook, but since he was still participating in the discussion and was actually sitting still I let him go. When we got through he came and showed me what he was doing while I was teaching and he was taking notes! He is one of my students that cannot stay seated and it is a battle to get him to write anything. I am now trying to figure out a way to use this without him getting bored with it or it causing the other students to whine because "why does he get to be on the computer".

Focus:

I finished teaching my edTPA lessons this week! I feel like they went very well. Now I need to get going on those commentaries.

Be Productive:

I did a  lot this week with day to day stuff. Wrapping up the day, grading papers, making my reflections, revamping lessons for the next day, and so on. I feel like I need to be doing more on my portfolio but since edTPA is also a part of the portfolio I feel like at least I am still doing something for it.

Have Courage:

My second CE is going to be out this next week and she gave me things to do with the students during ELA  since it’s a short week and she would have a sub. I kind of had some ideas on what I wanted to do with them post edTPA with poetry but I didn’t want to step on her toes and wound up just going along with what she wanted me to do because she was so insistent, but I would like to find a way to integrate my own things more this semester.

Begin Anew:

The first thing I need to do is get some folders to keep everything for each class/subject separate so that I can easily grab things for each class and keep it organized because right now it is a mess.

Data:

We have been working on operations with decimals and as I graded some work from the students I realized they needed extra practice with a certain lesson and I had to push my other lessons over a day.

Advice:

“For this light monetary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

NC Teacher Candidate Standards

1e. Teachers demonstrate high ethical standards. 

I continue to behave professionally and ethically and follow all the rules and policies.

2d. Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs. 

I am trying to find ideas for my ADHD student who I mentioned earlier that was taking notes on his computer.

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. 

Students had a small research assignment in both social studies and science which allowed them to practice these literacy skills.

4b. Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students. 

I was talking with my CEs this week about their grading styles and such to help me. I did not know how much to actually put a grade on and when to just give them credit for doing the work.

5a. Teachers analyze student learning. 

Looked at data from the students on our math lessons and redid my lessons according to this.

Other:

I finished teaching my literacy segment for edTPA.

Week of January 25th

Week of Reflection Jan 25th

  

I have been highly stressed out this week. My days at school have not been bad. The kids were good and I have enjoyed my time with them but the rest of my requirements has been killing me. It hasn’t even been this week that is stressing me out but the fact that it is so hard for me to keep up with everything now and I still have not taken over full time as the teacher yet. I keep panicking about future weeks and trying to get everything done when I can barely hold on as it is. I broke down yesterday telling my mom that I felt like I was failing the kids because I am so consumed with GWU stuff that I feel like I can’t focus on them. Still, my biggest problem is not this week and my struggles but knowing that it is just going to get harder and worrying how I am going to make it then when I am barely hanging on now. For this reason, I would rate my week as about a 2.

Observe: 

We had a data meeting this Wednesday and that was very interesting. One of the things that the superintendent gave us was a list of things that affected student achievement either negatively or positively and that was a huge eye-opener for me. (I will attach it here this weekend so if anyone wants to look at it but I have to get time to upload it)

Reflect: 

I have been teaching math this week and something I have realized is that I have a huge habit of running over myself in the subject. I keep having to slow down and pace myself during instruction because I want to explain everything all at once and it is too much for the kids. I have started to really focus on using the textbook heavily in my lessons because it breaks it down better. I hate spending so much time in it but if I don’t use it as a script I just confuse the kids.

Focus: 

I am still working toward that end goal. Trying to do little things on my portfolio to keep it moving forward.  I have also started teaching my edTPA this week.

Be Productive: 

I need to be spending more time on other areas in my portfolio before they start to back up. My problem is every bit of my spare time is taken up with trying to fill out the lesson plans every week. I know I am taking to long to do them but I still cannot figure out how to speed up the process. 

Have Courage: 

I am slowly getting better at asking my CE things and getting more comfortable in her classroom. My problem now is is doing the same in the other classroom since I switch. I do not feel as comfortable in her classroom and doing things in it. She is also a huge talker, which helps to keep awkward silences between us low since I am not, but it also makes it hard for me to ask her questions because she starts chasing rabbits. I need to get more confidence up to keep her on subject and ask all of my questions but I’m still timid about it.

Begin Anew: 

There are so many important things that I need to do that it has been hard for me to sort out which priorities to focus on first. I need them in an order so that I can focus on one thing at a time but I cannot ever decide which one to put first. My focus this morning was to just get this blog done. My focus by this evening is to get my lesson plans turned in.  This weekend I will take a look at my edTPA videos so far and make sure everything is ready for next week.

Data:

As I mentioned earlier, the school had a meeting with the central office Wednesday to go over data. There was so much in this meeting that I could not list it all but there are a lot of things that are now in the back of my head as I think about my plans and what I need to do that was not there before.

Advice:

Here is a verse that I needed this week, maybe it will help some of you too.

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, - Romans 5:3-4

We are building up endurance through all of this so that we can endure what comes in the future, and build character and have hope that we can share with our students.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards

1b. Teachers demonstrate leadership in the school. 

During the data meeting, I was able to work with the other teachers to analyze and talk about things we could do to help increase our growth.

2c. Teachers treat students as individuals 

I finally got to sit down and talk with my two students that I have chosen for my management plan. We worked together and built a contract for them. Having this time really helped me to build a positive relationship with these two students. There are now specific expectations in place that they know are there for them. 

3d. Teachers make instruction relevant to students. 

I have worked hard to make all of my instruction relevant to my students by integrating skills and connecting the instruction to their prior knowledge. This week and next week this especially evident in my edTPA lessons.

4f. Teachers help students work in teams and develop leadership qualities. 

Most of my lessons have some opportunity for students to work in groups and work their collaboration skills and improving their social ties and relationship skills.

5c. Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment. 

With me being a brand new teacher I am always watching and trying to soak up and learn as much as I can. This means that I am constantly adapting what I am doing to go with the new stuff I am learning.

Other:

After doing research and observing my two students I have chosen for my management plan I finally got to sit down with them this week and build their contracts and put the plan into action.

Week of Jan 18th

Week of Reflection Jan 18th

This was a crazy week. My CE was out for most of the week and even though there was a sub since I know how the class works and the schedule I wound up taking over all of the responsibilities and teaching all of the lessons before I expected to. With this also being the week before our second seminar and having so much that was due, and my first observation occurring on Thursday, it was very busy and stressful. Monday was the craziest as there are two 5th grade classes in my school that are team-taught and both teachers were out. On top of that, the schedule was flip-flopped because of a guest coming into the classes to do science with the kids. I had to run back and forth between classes making sure everything was covered and that students transitioned when they were supposed to along with teaching the lessons I was supposed to and those that my CE left me. Even with all of this going on the kids were great and all of my lessons went well. Because of this, I am still going to rate the week as a 4. Yes it was stressful and there was a lot going on but I really enjoyed it and learned a lot. 

Observe:

The biggest accomplishment that stood out to me that I was proud of was being able to take over all of the little responsibilities like transporting students to where they need to go and just taking role and lunch choices and making sure students are where they need to be in the morning. There is so much going on in the morning that I did not realize my CE had to do or that I did not realize was so involved. It was very hard for me trying to get everything done in the morning and preparing for my lessons. I wound up staying most days until about 5 just to catch up on everything.

Reflect:

After my observation this week I was told that I need to work on showing more enthusiasm during my lessons. This is hard for me as I am not one to show much excitement or emotion and it really drains me when I try. 

Focus

I have been working a lot on my Task 1 for edTPA this week which is aligned with my long term goal of passing that.

Be Productive:

I was so busy this week and had so much to do. I honestly do not think there was anything I could have done more of or less of that would have helped any.

Have Courage:

I have been kind of hesitant with disciplining the kids in class. I did a lot better when I had the sub because I was head of the class but when my CE is there I am more worried about doing that.

Begin Anew: 

I am so happy that Monday is a teacher work day which will allow me to get caught up on a lot of work I need to get done. Like grading, making other lesson plans, and getting final things done before teaching my edTPA. This will also give me a good time to talk with my CE and get plans made without interruptions from students.

Data:

Last week I gave the students a test on the respiratory and circulatory system which is what we learned about last week. I graded these test and noticed that two students really struggled with it and so I went back with these two students and did a small group lesson with them. A good bit of the other students mixed up a couple of the other organs so before starting the digestion system we went back over the differences between these two organs.

Advice:

I found this quote from a devotional the other day and thought it would be good to share. "You must not give up when you face temptation and trials. You must not throw in the towel when you become weary from the storm. Even if you’re barely keeping your head above the water, keep paddling till relief comes. Just don’t give up. The reward you will receive will be incredible!" -Brittany Rust

Even though we are all struggling through student teaching we have to remember to not give up because we know what we are working towards and our students and our future students are counting on us.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards

1a. Teachers lead in their classrooms.

Part of this standard is maintaining an orderly classroom and effectively transitioning students through the school environment. This week was my first week doing this without my CE being there. I was solely responsible for taking the students to and from other areas of the school and mainly in charge of their behavior in the classroom as I knew the rules better than the sub.

2d. Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs.

Throughout my lessons this week I have been very intentional in using instruction and supports that help meet the needs of all of my students. Having hands-on activities, exploration activities, and read aloud for the test are just a few.

3c. Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.

This week during science, I took many opportunities to integrate math into what they were doing.

4b. Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students.

After looking at the students’ formal assessments from last week I started to see some gaps with certain students that I failed to fill. I have been doing a lot of thinking and talking to my CE about ways to better reach these students this week and beyond.

5a. Teachers analyze student learning.

As I said above, I looked through the students’ assessments from last week and realized a few of them needed some extra work. So I planned what to do to help these students this week.

Other:

I have been mostly focused on finishing my Task 1 for edTPA this week.