Blog 9

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- 5 great week
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? My CE received an email from Gaston county schools asking if I would be a good candidate for an early contract. Also, I passed edTPA which is a huge accomplishment for me.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? This week, I learned that the more prepared I am, the better the whole day will go. Next week, I will continue to be as prepared as possible when teaching.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term goals are to complete each week and note my growth throughout each week. This is aligned to my long term goal of graduating and becoming a teacher.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time planning next weeks lessons and less time preparing materials that my TA could prepare for me.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? Up until this point, I have mostly been calling on students who have their hand in the air. This week I noticed that when I randomly select the students, they are engaged in the lesson and listening to ensure they don't miss something.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will try to finish my lesson plans early in the week so I can dedicate the end of the week to working on my portfolio.

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? The students were tested again on their sight words and I was able to see which ones my students know in a snap and the ones they need more support on. I gave the students snap word cards in their binders so at down times, they can take these out and practice.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Ladies, most of the hard work is behind us so lets finish strong!

• 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. Another way I have been demonstrating leadership in my classroom is through the use of black tickets. If a student receives one of these during my teaching, they have to go cool down at their desks before rejoining the group.
• 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 are focused on what my students individual needs are and how I can meet them while teaching content. I have found multiple strategies to support and challenge students during lessons.
• 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. I created a SMARTboard game where students had to sort upper and lowercase letters.
• 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 and changing my lesson plans accordingly to reflect my students needs, I am meeting this standard.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? Classroom website, video cutting, and final touches to philosophy.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor? None

Blog 8

Week of Reflection: (list the date of the Friday for week just completed) 10/19/18

  

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week- 4- This week was a pretty good week. I was able to see more growth in my students this week and am excited for the weeks to come.
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? This week, I made a connection with my focus student for the first time in my full time teaching, he has been coming up to me at recess hugging me, and standing there attached to my hip.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? Next week, I will be more consistent with my management by giving out "cool down" tickets when in the meeting area and praising the students who are sitting criss-cross applesauce and have listening ears and looking eyes.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term efforts include adding to my portfolio every week as well as completing lesson plans so I can achieve my long term goal of graduating.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time preparing materials for the day to ensure I am ready for every day.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? I wasn't sure about changing the partners in my class and I conferred with my CE and we will be re-working our partner teams next week. 
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will continue to stay on top of lesson plans as well as adding more to my portfolio.

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 noticed through student work that some students who struggle in language arts, are in need of a greater challenge in math. I have adjusted my lesson plans accordingly.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Keep your head up everyone! Stay focused on the main goal: Graduating on DECEMBER 15th!

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • • 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 implemented black tickets that say "cool down" on it in my classroom and these tickets are given to the students only on the meeting area and they know this means to go back to their seat and cool down and then come to rejoin the group.
        • 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- I have noticed that some students are more advanced in one subject and they struggle in another. I have adjusted my plans accordingly and this helps me know who I need to provide more guidance to during lessons.
        • 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- I have an excellent CE who assists me in understanding the content I am teaching when I need help. The other kindergarten teachers as well as other teachers in the school have helped when we have discussions about lessons in our PLC.
        • 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. - 5B- I attended a PBIS meeting at my school on Wednesday and learned more about positive behavior management.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? Website, some videos, adding links of things I have already completed.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor? None

Blog 7

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 5- This week was short because of the weather so I only got to teach for 3 days this week. However, It was a pleasant week because I am beginning to see growth among my students in reading, writing, and math.
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? This week, I was better with my time management when writing lesson plans so I wasn't as stressed by the end of the week and that was a pleasant accomplishment.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? Next week, I want to build upon using a signal to show students it is time to stop, clean up, and listen for directions.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term efforts are to write lesson plans and add pieces to my portfolio each week. My long term goals are to complete the portfolio and student teaching on a high note.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time preparing the anchor charts for lessons and I could have spent less time cutting out things for the next week.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? I was unsure if I should create a vocabulary chart for the words we use for math since we have so many words to remember already but I made a chart using the describing words and an illustration of what that word is.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will continue to plan lessons each day after school to lighten the work load. I will also remain consistent with my management as well as planning materials for the week.

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions? Using our writers workshop conference board and readers workshop conference boards, I assessed the students progress in each to determine what I need to provide support and challenge on.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? My advice to the other student teachers is to break up each afternoon by times and say you will write lessons for a certain time and then work on the portfolio for a certain amount of time.

• 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 demonstrated leadership by becoming more consistent with my classroom management.
    • 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? All of the communication logs, my classroom website, PDP, and research for technology resources and tools.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? none
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor? none

Blog six

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week - 5. Despite being sick one day this week and edTPA being due, I had a great week in my classroom.
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? I have began to notice changes in what my students can do by themselves that they weren't able to do at the beginning of the year and this was a nice reminder of why I want to become a teacher.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? I need to be more consistent planning my lessons and preparing materials the day before the lesson. Next week, I plan to have every material for the week set aside in bins labeled m-f
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? My short term efforts are completing lesson plans, edtpa, and beginning portfolio work align to my long term goal of graduation.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I could have spent more time planning materials for the week.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? Our PBIS team came in last week and we discussed how the program has been working for us. We discussed some strategies to implement in the classroom like individual clip charts and brain breaks at least every 30 minutes. I was nervous about these changes because I was unsure how my students would be able to move and dance, then sit back down quietly ready to learn. Having brain breaks in my classroom has helped the behavior disruptions throughout the day.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Next week, I will prepare all of my materials for the week on Monday.

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? I looked over my reading conference sheets and writing conference sheets so I can see exactly what each student can do.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Keep a separate list of materials for each lesson for everyday of the week. It can be used as a quick glance to locate materials.

• 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? Behavior Management plan for focus students, PDP, resume, and Global awareness.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor? None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor? None