Almost to the End!

I would rate this week a 5 out of 5. It was very nice to be able to focus on my portfolio and have a break from lesson planning. I taught Daily 5 and Math on Monday and Tuesday then I was able to complete 2 observations this week Thursday and Friday as well. I went to a second grade classroom at Graham Elementary School, and a second grade classroom at BSE. An accomplishment I made this week was completing my portfolio. I will not be teaching next week, but will continue to assist my CE and help whenever needed. My long-term goals of classroom management are aligned with my short-term efforts of observing other teachers and learning their management plans to get ideas and see what works. I spent the week working on my portfolio so there is nothing I would spend more or less time doing. The first logical steps for next week is to continue working on my student teaching video, and get my stuff turned into task stream.

The advice I would give to other student teachers is to buckle down and get everything done! Only 1 more week!

NCPTS

I increased in standard 1 by striving to promote professional growth by observing different teachers and their methods to get ideas from them in order to be the best possible teacher I can be. I increased in standard 2 by continuing to provide an environment where each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults by loving my students daily. I increased in standard 3 by aligning my Monday and Tuesday lesson plans to the NC standard course of study. I increased in standard 4 by planning appropriate instruction for my students. I know my students are very hands on and if they are not doing something for more than a couple minutes they will lose focus. Because of this, for my math lessons I printed and cut out 14 different shapes and put them in a bag for each student so they could take the shapes out, look at them, and describe them. I increased in standard 5, Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment. I was actively investigating and considering new ideas to use in my future classroom after each observation.

I finished everything in my portfolio besides my video. My CE and I are both all set right now.

Last Full Time Week!!!!

I would rate this week a 4.5 out of 5. It was a good week except that it was raining all week so the students did not get to go outside for recess, which caused them to be extra talkative all week, and of course, once again I was sick. I was pleasantly surprised at how I managed to have all of the centers run well, and tasks done without my TA there. I definitely missed the extra hands, and all of the help he provides, but I feel accomplished in managing both of our tasks. I will only be teaching daily 5 which is reviewing sight words next week on Monday and math we will continue with the “1 more” “1 less” concept. My short-term goals of implementing different strategies to help make transitions faster and more effective are aligned with my long-term goals of classroom management. I could have spent more time working on my portfolio this week, but I had a lot going on, so I will spend time this weekend working on it. The first logical steps for next week are to work on my portfolio.

I analyzed my students’ math sheets and realized more than half of my students were writing some of their numbers backwards. In centers I had them trace numbers 1-20 on a paper with a dry erase sheet over it before they practiced their numbers on a whiteboard so they could get the feeling of writing the numbers the correct way. The advice I would share with the other student teachers is to spend these next couple weeks focusing on the portfolio.

I increased in standard 1e by relating and planning all my lessons around the NCPTS. I increased in 2b by including culture in my lesson plans for Friday when the students learned about France. I increased in standard 3d by making instruction relevant to students by having them use the ipods to scan QR codes and then write the sight word that came up when they scanned the QR code on their paper. I increased in 4d by including a variety of technology in the classroom (smartboard, computers, ipods.) I increased in standard 5a by analyzing my students’ data each day and adjusting plans as needed.

This week for my portfolio, my CE finished my observations, I completed my LEA, updated my parent communication log, classroom management plan, and PDP evidence. My CE and I are both all set for now.

One week to go!

  Overall this week was a 5. It was a crazy week to say the least, but an awesome experience. Both my CE and TA had deaths in the family, so plans were changed, we had 50^th day of school rotations, I had my last observation, and I got a job!!! My lessons taught me that students still need work writing their numbers because a lot of them write their numbers backwards, even my higher students. I also learned that students learn their sight words the best when using games/sentences and a lot of practice. My short term efforts of adding classroom management tools, is aligned with my long-term goal of classroom management. This week I could have spent more time preparing my materials for the day the night before. I had indecision about making the students stay inside for recess if they did not finish their writing, but when they were goofing around and only wrote 1 word in 15 minutes, I decided to make them stay in to teach them a lesson that just because our TA was out, did not mean they could goof around and not get their work done. This first logical steps for next week are to work on my portfolio for next week, since I will not have to be writing many lessons for the following week.

     The data I analyzed this week was phonics, and math. I did not have time to assess them on sight words Friday, so I will do that Monday. Some students struggled to write the letter z, and about half of my students were still writing their 5,7, and 9s backwards. I know I need to work on their number writing skills and letter writing skills for next week. The advice I would give to the other student teachers is to finish this last week strong and get started on putting your portfolio together.

    This week I improved in standard 1e by relating all of my lessons to NCPTS. I increased in standard 2b by adding cultures to my lesson plans. I increased in standard 3d by making instruction relevant to students using 21^st century skills. I included technology, group work and partner work in my instruction. These are all skills that students will need in the 21^st century. I increased in 4c by using a variety of instructional methods. I used small group instruction, whole group instruction, computers, smart board, manipulatives, and students as examples throughout the week. Lastly, I increased in standard 5a by analyzing my students’ data each day. I was able to check off all of my standards this week, which was an accomplishment.

    I have completed all of my observations, videoed lessons, added to my parent communication log, PDP, and my focus student behavior log.  Both myself and my CE are all set right now.

A Week Full of Adventures

I would rate this week a 5 once again. I had a planning day Monday, which was nice to be able to write some lesson plans and get my classroom ready for the week. I had my 4^th observation Tuesday,  and the students had a fun-filled day with Halloween activities and party on Wednesday. Thursday and Friday I got to experience "real life teaching." Thursday one of the kindergarten teachers was sick so her TA was subbing. The TA had to take care of a student who had an accident so I did morning meeting and phonics with 44 students. On Friday both my CE and my TA were out so it was just myself in the class all day. The other staff was awesome and supportive, and asked multiple times throughout the day if I needed anything.  I was pleasantly surprised at how much our parents are involved in the classroom. 20/23 students brought in different snacks, drinks, goodie bags, or utensils for our Halloween party. We also had four parents come in to help and be with their children for the party. This week when students struggled with their letters, we would review them the next day in daily 5. This has been helpful to the students, so I will continue this pattern in the following weeks. My long-term goal of classroom management is coming together with my short-term efforts of adding different ways for faster transitions. I could have spent more time working on parts of my portfolio, but I did lesson plans and job applications instead. The first logical steps for next week, is to complete my lesson plans and work on my portfolio.

The data I analyzed are my students’ phonics, math, and sight words, which helped me plan for my next week’s lesson. I know the students who are struggling with their letters, the ones who still need help with their sight words, and the students who are struggling with writing their letters backwards. We also had the least amount of students pass their sights words that we have had in the past three weeks. I believe it is because we only had Daily 5 centers twice this week because of Halloween and the planning day, which goes to show that the students are learning in their centers. The piece of advice I would share with the other student teachers is to finish these last two weeks strong!

NCPTS

This week I increased in standard 1a by being more specific and consistent with proximity praise, which is demonstrating teacher leadership. I increased in standard 2b by integrating culture into my lesson plans. I increased in standard 3a by effectively integrating literacy into lesson plans daily. I increased in standard 4d by meeting with my CTE to discuss different ways to include technology in my lessons. I also had a lesson in the computer lab on Thursday where students were all working on computers practicing their letter recognition on a keyboard since they have been struggling with that. I increased in 5a by analyzing students’ data each day and adjusting my plans according to students needs.

This week I added to my parent communication for my portfolio, my PDP data, and continued videoing in class. Both my CE and myself are all set right now.

Week 7 Full-time Completed!

    I would say my experience in my class this week would be another 5. I love my babies and they make each day interesting and fun. I had a couple pleasant surprises this week! Two surprises came on Thursday. The first surprise was at our pumpkin carving event, when all of our students had a parent or grandparent come besides 1 student whose parents had to work.  It was a great time of parent involvement and to better get to know my students parents. The second came Thursday night, when all of the student teachers passed edTPA with an A!! The third surprise came on Friday, when I had an Indian culture center and all my students loved the Indian desert I made. There were some students who had 3-5 servings. My students have been doing awesome academically. After reflecting on lessons and students work, students need more practice writing their numbers the correct way. They know how to count and recognize the number, but 2,5,6,9 are confusing for them. The students will spend time in centers next week practicing writing their numbers. My short-term goals of implementing classroom management skills, is helping to prepare me to have a well ran and managed classroom. I think I had another productive week and would not have spent more or less time doing anything.  The first logical steps for next week is to continue working on my portfolio, and get a good chunk of lessons done on Monday during teacher work day.

      I analyzed my students’ phonics each day, and adjusted the plans for the next day for my lower groups each day in order for them to get extra practice with letter sounds. Students did well with their spelling words again. We practiced them each day in daily 5, which paid off because 13/23 students passed all of them, 8/23 got of them and only 2/23 could not say any. This weeks words were more challenging for them. The words were “no, go, up, can” I will continue to analyze data and practice sight words each day so students can master their sight words and start reading.  One piece of advice I would share with other student teachers is to finish these last 3 week of full time teaching strong by giving all that you have to your students.

NCPTS

     This week I increased in standard 1a but using my students’ data to plan and change instruction. I increased in standard 2b by planning a culture day on Friday of this week and next week. This week, I read a book to students on getepic.com on India. In centers, students got to “take a trip to India.” I made them an Indian desert to try, they got to look through a camera and see 14 different pictures from Indian culture, and completed a graphic organizer comparing and contrasting Indian culture and American culture. This kids LOVED it. I increased in standard 3a by integrating literacy in many lessons. I including graphic organizers for the culture center, science center, for comparing seasons, and literacy in math by showing students bean bags that had the number, dots, and word ex) number 7, 7 dots, and the word seven. I increased in 4f, and 4g by including multiple times throughout my lessons where students were able to talk to and collaborate with a partner to come up with answers, and checking each others boards and cubes in both phonics and math so they had someone “giving them approval” without all yelling my name at the same time to check their board. Lastly, I increased in standard 5c by modifying my lessons each day based on students needs, and what they struggled with.

    This week I continued to work on and add to my parent log, my PDP info, my resume, and personal philosophy. My CE and myself are both all set for right now!

More Than Half Way!

Overall I would rate this week a 5. I had a great week in the classroom and saw a lot of growth from my students. I was surprised that 16/23 students said all of their sight words this week! 6/23 only missed 1 or 2, and we only had 1 student who did not know any. For the first week having sight words, they did awesome! This week I believe my management has gotten a lot better. I have added different tools to make transitions smoother and to get the students quiet faster. Next week, I know I need to briefly review the letters and letter sounds with my higher groups just for practice, and spend more time with my lower groups on letters and sounds. They were able to get their sight words because I practiced with them so much, but still struggle with identifying their letters and letter sounds. My short-term efforts of adding classroom management materials, is helping my long-term goal of classroom management. Again, I feel like I used my time very well this week and there isn’t anything I would change. I had indecision about letting the students walk around the room to get themselves in groups for a math lesson. However, I decided to try it, and it worked really well and they enjoyed the activity. The first logical steps for next week is to start lesson planning, and working on my portfolio.

I analyzed my students data from phonics, daily 5, and math all this week, which helped me plan my instruction for next week. I know my higher groups are doing well with letter recognition and sounds, and my lower groups need more practice. I also know that most of my students know how to write their numbers 1-7, the main issue is writing them backwards, so I will focus on having them write their numbers correctly.  The advice  would share with my other student teachers is to make sure you are working on your portfolio as you go!

NCPTS:

This week I increased in standard 1a, by using a variety of data from the information we got during our data dives to plan our groups. I increased in standard 2d because I met with the speech teacher at our school and learned some new ways to help my student who has a speech impediment. I increased in standard 3a by integrating science into my literacy in two different lessons this week. I increased in standard 4e by including critical thinking. Students got to pick two colors of paint they wanted to mix. They then had to predict what color they would turn, and recorded the actual color it turned to. I increased in standard 5c my modifying my lessons each day based on what the students struggled with.

I worked on my parent log, PDP, and videoed this week as part of my portfolio. My CE and I are all set right now.