Blog Five

Week of Reflection: (list the date of the Friday for week just completed)

  

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week- My experience this week was a 4. I had a great time continuing to teach my students full time and seeing them grow more everyday. I am still very overwhelmed with lesson planning and edTPA but I know this hard work will all pay off in the end.
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? An accomplishment of mine this week was being able to prepare materials for the following weeks lessons and activities. This made me feel ahead of the game and ready to take on next week.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? Next week, I will be more explicit when giving directions to students so they each understand what is expected. Also, I began giving my students more frequent brain breaks to cut down on our behavioral issues that interrupt lessons and it went very well. I am excited to see what I learn next week doing this.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short-term efforts are to take my lesson planning one day at a time and coming home each night throughout the week to complete a portion of my lessons. My long term goals are being successful in student teaching and if I stay on task and complete my work, I will accomplish this goal.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time working on edTPA during the week but I was caught up in writing weekly plans. I could have spent less time focusing on materials and let my TA handle those things.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? This week, I was unsure if my students would be able to take frequent brain breaks without getting off task. They ended up having a great day on Friday and I believe it was because of these brain breaks.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will be working hard to submit edTPA as well as the following weeks lesson plans.

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 during my lessons, I took notes on students throughout the week to see where they are at on certain things. Last week, I adjusted to these students needs and provided more support by sitting with the students who struggle during workshop times.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Try writing a detailed schedule of how many lesson plans you need to write, and cross them out as you go to see the progress you make all week.

• 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.
  • 1A- By having my students stop throughout the day and take small brain breaks, I am demonstrating leadership in my classroom because the students listen whenever I have them sit back down and they know I will let them know when we have another.
  • 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. 2D- Differentiation in my lessons as well as my math small groups are focused on what my students individual needs are and how I can meet them while teaching content.
  • 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. 3A- By aligning each of my lessons with the NC standard course of study, I am showing evidence of knowing the content I am teaching.
  • 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. 4C- Teachers use a variety of instructional methods in their classroom. In my classroom, I have students use the SMARTboard during lessons, other math manipulatives, and working with groups and partners.
  • 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. 5A- By reflecting on my lesson plans each week, I am meeting this NCTCS.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? I have began working on my classroom website as well as my resume, PDP, and logs.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None What support do you need from your university supervisor? None

Blog four

• Week of Reflection: 9/21/18
• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week- 3 This week was full of learning experiences for me as well as some challenges with behavior in the classroom.
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? This week, one of the students finally wrote his name for the first time by himself and the look on his face was priceless and brought a little light to the classroom.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? I need to be more animated for the children to be engaged, it has been difficult but I need to do this for their best interest.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term efforts are to come home from school, work on lesson plans and edTPA to support my long term goals of completing student teaching and receiving a good score on my edTPA.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time working on my PDP and I should have spent less time working on things for the classroom.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? I was unsure of some of the materials I had in my classroom.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will begin writing lesson plans for the following week and ensure I am spending my time writing lesson plans each night.

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? After a few lessons, I recognized that the students need more support as a whole on certain things so I did a few re-engagement lessons.
  

  • What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Don't put off edTPA to finish weekly lesson plans, intermingle this time to do both edTPA and weekly plans. 

• 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. - 1B- This week, the students who were doing the right thing without being asked were given a golden ticket to show other students I mean business.
  • 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. -2D- This week I have learned a lot about differentiation and how to differentiate for each of my students needs. I have the students who need greater support in lessons by giving them resources to use to support their learning such as tracing words and sentences.
  • 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. - 3B- Since I have been working with other Kindergarten teachers, I am learning some things about kindergarten I didn't know before which helps me teach the content.
  • 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. - 4C- In my lessons, I am using group work, partnerships, SMART board games, math manipulatives and other materials to help my students learn best.
  • 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. - 5C- I have learned to adapt to a complex environment such as the kindergarten classroom. All of my students are on different levels of behavior as well as learning.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? Resume, classroom website, PDP
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor? None

Blog Three

• Week of Reflection: 9/14/18
• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week- 3 This week was somewhat difficult to get through because it was my first week taking over all lesson plans.
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? I survived my first week full time teaching and had a great time doing it.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? I learned that working all day at school and coming home to write more lesson plans is exhausting, but very rewarding. Next week, I will try to be more energetic with my kids.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term efforts are to complete each subject of lesson plans one day after school each day. My long term goals are to be able to do so throughout the entire 10 weeks of my student teaching.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time working with edTPA this week but I was trying to complete lesson plans for next week. Next week, I will have time slots where I must put down the lesson plans and write edTPA.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? It feels strange entering into this classroom and completely taking over. I was a little hesitant on how I did things because I want to ensure these kids are learning the way they need to.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will begin writing lesson plans for the following week as well as finishing up task one and teaching it in the classroom.

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? We looked at our BOY mClass data and changed our seating arrangement for the students to be placed with others who are on the same level.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Don't put off edTPA to finish weekly lesson plans, intermingle this time to do both edTPA and weekly plans.

• 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. - 1B- This week, I took over lesson plans in my classroom which demonstrated leadership to my students that now I am in control.
  • 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. -2D- This week I have learned a lot about differentiation and how to differentiate for each of my students needs. I have the students who need greater support in lessons by giving them resources to use to support their learning.
  • 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. - 3B- Since I have been working with other Kindergarten teachers, I am learning some things about kindergarten I didn't know before which helps me teach the content.
  • 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. - 4C- In my lessons, I am using group work, partnerships, SMART board games, math manipulatives and other materials to help my students learn best.
  • 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. - 5C- I have learned to adapt to a complex environment such as the kindergarten classroom. All of my students are on different levels of behavior as well as learning.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? Resume, classroom website
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor? None

Blog Two

Week of Reflection: 9/7/18



Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week- I give this week a 5 because I was able to form more relationships with students and parents and I learned so much in a very short week.

Seven questions to end your week:

Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? My CE had to finish her Mclass testing and she asked me to take over her lessons for Thursday and Friday this week. It was stressful being thrown in at first but I am very thankful because it helps me better prepare to begin teaching full time next week.

Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? Next week, I would like to be a little more ahead of the game which I think will be easier with me taking over full time. Planning lessons based off of what my CE is still in the process of planning is difficult.

Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term efforts are to sit down and write a different subjects lesson plans every day of the week instead of doing different plans everyday. This way I can see how the plans are building. My long term goals are to keep this schedule for planning going throughout the semester.

Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time after school with my CE for planning so we can get our thoughts together of what we want to implement in the classroom. I could have spent less time gathering my materials for some lessons. My teacher assistant said she would help me with any materials I may need to cut out or make. I will utilize this assistance in upcoming weeks.
Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? I was unsure of how much my CE would let me take over this week since I am doing full time next week. I was able to take over science and math this week as well as some phonics on Thursday and Friday.

Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? I will write the lesson plans for the following week by doing one subject each day.

What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions? I noticed some of my students have had some previous exposure to phonics, reading, and writing while others have not. Knowing that some of my students are not as prepared as others is an important part of my planning process.

What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Stay ahead with lesson planning.

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. 1A- This week I was leading in my classroom because my CE had to complete Mclass testing and she gave me her lesson plans and threw me into the class by myself. This shows the students that I am also in charge in this classroom.

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. 2A- This week I created a positive learning environment by ensuring every student has a chance to do things during lessons. For example, when we did the weekly reader I called each student to come to the board to participate in the game. I want the students to feel like they all have an equal opportunity to participate in classroom activities.

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. 3A- This week, my CE and I have discussed the NCSCOS and how these standards fit in to our reading, writing, phonics, and math instruction. My CE printed out a simple document with all of the standards for me to reference.

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. 4B- Planning instruction that is appropriate for my students is a huge deal especially in Kindergarten since they are not advanced in some of the things we are learning. I have had to remind myself that they are in Kindergarten and they are starting from the bottom.

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. 5A- This week, my CE has been working on Mclass testing and we have been using that data to inform our future instruction.

Other:

What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? I have been working to revise my philosophy.

What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None

What support do you need from your university supervisor? None