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