January 25, 2019

I have survived my first kind of official first week of full-time instruction. This was a crazy but good week. I would rate it a 4 out of 5. It was a short week, and even shorter with a delay Wednesday. But, this also tampered with my planning of lessons. I had to experience my first shifting of lessons and squeezing things in to make it all fit.

OBSERVE

            Even with a short week I still was able to accomplish filming almost all of my edTPA lessons. This has been helpful getting this done some-what early so I really have time to focus on selecting the perfect video combination.

REFLECT

            I have my first observation this week and I was able to reflect on my overall teaching environment and get some helpful suggestions to improve my classroom management as a whole. This is an area I strive to grow the most in and put myself in a constant situation of reflection to analyze what works and what doesn’t in the classroom to provide a smoother setting.

FOCUS

            I am beginning to find some tools to start using for some management tools especially with transitions in the classroom. This will help me towards my long-term goal of having more control of my classroom.

BE PRODUCTIVE

            I feel like I spent a lot more time this week planning lessons simply because I am in the process of trying to branch out and try newer things with my students so there was a lot of changing lessons and re-writing and editing taking place trying to find the best and logical progressions.

HAVE COURAGE

            This week after my observation I had the courage to step out and plan/change our classroom system for next week. Some of these adjustments included changing our classroom layout at the board some, re-vamping our whole literacy center system that we go through, and some changes in the class schedule as a whole. This was big step simply because I do not want to step on any toes with the other kindergarten teachers. But after talking with my CE I think these will be great new changes and addition to our classroom to help make lessons flow better.

BEGIN ANEW

            Next week I am beginning all these new changes to the classroom so students can find adapt to a new routine especially with a full week back on a somewhat normal schedule without any testing.

DATA

            Some data that I observed this week was on myself seeing areas that I need to improve on based upon the checks I received from my observation. We are constantly looking at data from our students, but we need to always reflect on ourselves as well.

           

ADVICE

            I think the advice that I can give my fellow student teacher friends is to always ask for help and suggestions to make your teaching and methods of teaching more relevant and appropriate for students.

NCTCS

1a. Teachers lead in their classroom

            This week I was the main leader now that I have officially taken over full instruction of the classroom.

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

            This was my highest score on my observation evaluation and considered one of my strengths. I want all students to be exiting about learning and also welcomed in the classroom.

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the NCSCOS.

            There were some lessons this week that I had to re-evaluate the standards I chose to make sure I really was aligned and that this was the best pick for this particular subject.

4b. Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students.

            This week we dove into some global awareness and student got to see what the Ukraine looks like in terms of the weather, what clothes children wear, and what their ABC’s look like. These are all things that students can relate back to their own lives and how we live in the U.S.

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

            This week after my observation I was able to set some short, and long-term goals and see where I need to grow professionally in the weeks to come.

The only big stride that I have taken towards my portfolio this week is in teaching and videoing of my edTPA lessons. As far as support my CE and myself do not need any as of right now.

January 18, 2019

 This week I would rate my week as a 4. This week I took over phonics and our inclusion (WIN) time so I was teaching basically half of the school day. Next week I will start taking everything else over, adding math, and our science/social studies time. 

OBSERVE

I was pleasantly surprised in my students during phonics time. They are growing to become great readers and were able to identify and write all the slides I had chosen and then being able to add letters to create words. I was so proud of how hard my students worked this week in phonics. 

REFLECT

This week I reflect on my lessons specifically something that I need to be more attentive to is my time. I have not balanced the planning and teaching timing to be exact. I know that this will come with time, but it is just something that I want to be more attentive to in the classroom. 

FOCUS

This week I began teaching my edTPA segment and will finish next week. This was a short-term goal that helps complete my long-term goal of finishing this segment early so I can take the proper amount of time to work on polishing up my commentaries. 

BE PRODUCTIVE

This week I could have spent more time working on lesson plans at the beginning of the week. I was starting to feel the pressure with finishing my edTPA planning commentary, writing the narrative of my plans for completing task 2 and 3 and this blog. This whole learning experience is a lot of time management practice. 

HAVE COURAGE

During phonics this week I noticed that students were taking longer to sound out and write the slides I had chosen to eliminate a few of the last slides so we could just focus on a few. This seemed to work better and was more manageable for the students. 

BEGIN ANEW

Next week I plan to work hard on Tuesday during our teacher workday and begin working on lessons for the following week, and leveled the book in our classroom for my teacher led center. 

NCTCS

1b. Teachers demonstrate leadership in the school 

This week I participated in some professional development. I tried to contribute to the conversations we had to help represent the kindergarten grade level.  

2e. Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students.

            This week we had some behavior issues that resulted in office referrals and a parent phone call which I got to partake in. These parents were flexible and willing to come up with a plan for this particular student for their future behavior which was encouraging. 

3d. Teachers make instruction relevant to students.

            This week in phonics, when we were coming up with sentences with the words that students would be able to relate to like: jet- the jet flies in the air. 

4g. Teachers communicate effectively.

            This week I tried to keep note of how I really explain my directions and instruction so that it would be simple and to the point. I have learned that the more I talk the more confused these 5-year-olds are. 

5a. Teachers analyze student learning

            This week I analyzed students work from literacy centers, phonics, and our inclusion time. I based the assignments for inclusion based upon student’s DIBELS and TRC data from this past week.

This week in regards to my portfolio I have solely been working on my edTPA commentary. As of right now I don’t need supports from my university supervisor.  

January 11, 2019

          This week is a 3 rating simply because students had a more difficult time following rules and procedures and beginning to really recognize me as the lead teacher. This is definitely something my CE and I have talked about and are working through. This will mostly take time and firmness on my part, but I also am eager to see how students are once I begin implementing my behavior management chart for my two severely defiant students in the room. They seem to be the ones that bring the rest of the class down with them when they begin to act up. But overall it was a good full week. 

OBSERVE

            As I observed students this week, I was surprised to see was students voluntarily looking through books during center time. I interact with students during this time each day and it is always a joy to see students at play. They have the option to go play with puzzles, blocks, home living, art, tablets, Legos and other connectors. The most popular is usually the tablets, but this week I had several students want me to sit and read with them. I love to see students so happy and eager to read. I love for them to switch roles as well and let them pretend to be the teacher and have them “read” the book to me. 

REFLECT

            My lessons this week went well. There were some activities that went better than others. I saw that student did very well on the morning work review sheets that I chose this week focusing mostly on literacy and letter to sound correspondence. The sheets that they seemed to wiz through were filling in the missing letters A-Z and seemed to struggle some with the beginning sounds sheet having to look at the picture given and figure out the first sound that is missing. Literacy centers are always fun these students love any chance they get to move around. The struggle that I am facing is focusing on my teacher led center as well as monitoring other students throughout the classroom. But it is a work in progress. 

FOCUS 

            This week in planning my CE and I planned out when I am going to teach for my edTPA segment and trying to stay on top of everything so I can get it out of the way. This helps my long-term goal of not becoming too overwhelmed in the process. 

BE PRODUCTIVE

            I could have spent less time planning for our inclusion time this week because we found out that because of testing we are not actually going to be doing it school wide like we usually do for a few weeks. All Title 1 people are helping with each grade level benchmark and TRC testing. But we are still going to try and implement the same schedule during that time, so it was definitely not planning wasted.  

HAVE COURAGE

            This week I had to up my discipline particularly with our two defiant behaved students. As a result, they ended up losing a paw and my CE had a talk with them and the whole class as a reminder that I am a teacher just like her and our assistant, so when I give directions or commands they are to be followed. This was difficult for myself, but it had to be done. This is an area I would like to improve on as this experience continues.  

BEGIN ANEW

            Next week I am starting my behavior plan with my students to see if my ideas and plans are something that might help these two students. I am eager to see how they respond, and I am hopeful for some better behavior. 

This week we began our DIBELS testing. I was able to see some great data results as I got to participate in getting these students tested. There was a tremendous amount of growth which is so exciting. These students have come such a long way and will continue to grow, and I am so happy I have been able to be a part of this process from start to finish. My advice to my fellow student teacher friends is to soak it all in. Yes, there will be bad days where we question every move we make but, I know for myself I will never get tired of seeing that smile on a student’s face or “light bulb” moment!

NCTCS 

1a: Teachers lead in the classroom

            I implemented this, this week by leading students through their literacy centers this week. I led my own group each day as well as assigned students to a center each day to work through. 

2d: Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students and in the world 

            This week as I was planning, I tried to be intentional in differentiating for those students in my classroom that have special accommodations and modifications. For example, I have a student who is developmentally delayed, a hearing-impaired student, and several with speech deficits. 

3d: Teachers make instruction relevant to students

            This week also in my planning of literacy centers and morning work I tried to plan activities that I felt were fun and engaging that also taught the objectives that I had planned. By doing this I had to think in the mind of a 5-year-old to see what they would be interested in doing. 

4e: Teachers help students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. 

            One of the literacy centers students went to this week was a write the room activity where each student had a clip board and had to search the room for snowmen taped up everywhere with words on them. Students then had to practice writing the words on the given lines. This was one of the more difficult activities because students had to use trial and error sometimes to make sure they found every word. 

5a: Teachers analyze student learning

            This week I got participate in the DIBLES testing and analyze all the student data looking at their scores from BOY and now at their MOY scores. 

            

            This week I created a lot of outlines towards my portfolio like: Live Binder, global awareness project, added more to my classroom website, recorded all the data from my interest survey for my classroom management, and began working on the behavior management plan for my two students. At this point I do not need any support from my university supervisor. 

January 4, 2019

I completed my first week of student teaching and SURVIVED! I was very anxious to begin this learning experience simply because with kindergarten you never know what to expect day to day. Overall, I would rate this week as a 5 star great week back, especially since it was a short week. 

OBSERVE

I was pleasantly surprised my first day back how well my students did coming back into the classroom. We did take the time to go back over some of the basic rules and procedures, but these students came back with smiles on their faces ready to be back at school. As the week progressed you could since that these students were getting tired, and it was going to take some time and patience to get them back into their normal school routine. This week I was able to achieve a lot of paperwork type of tasks. I got the update on our students who are awaiting accommodations and IEPs, I got to have some great conversation with my CE about the upcoming week and plans, as well as getting things organized within the classroom. 

REFLECT

The biggest lesson that I learned that I also want to carry over into the weeks to come is communication. With this being a short week and the first official week back our time was limited so I began communicating with my CE early and we planned together early as well so my due dates were attainable. This also has started a good routine practice in how the rest of the semester will need to play out with writing lessons, reviewing lessons and then submitting lessons. I am so grateful for my CE and all she has taught me thus far. I feel that the entire grade level looks up to her, so what better person for me to be placed with than the best out of the entire grade level.

FOCUS

My biggest long-term goal is to succeed in my student teaching. One of my short-term goals is to plan smarter not harder, meaning using my time wisely and meeting all due dates. As mentioned earlier by maintaining good communication with my CE this is attainable both for short-term and long-term goals. 

BE PRODUCTIVE

This week I could have spent more time working on my edTPA commentaries. I have my lessons written; but need to go ahead and begin writing my planning commentary to help me continue planning ahead for this process. 

HAVE COURAGE

Based upon these students work coming back to school and seeing that they may need some time to review some of the basics like the alphabet, and some of the first learned sight words I made a judgement call to incorporate those type of skills my lessons for next week. This was also something that my CE helped guide me in the right direction of instead of starting on something brand new. I keep forgetting how repetitive kindergarten needs to be in order for these 5 year-olds to learn. 

BEGIN ANEW 

My next logical steps for next week are to begin writing lessons NOW I feel like the more I chunk these lesson plan writings the better I will get at pacing myself, and the less overwhelming they will be. Also, the sooner I can get them written and planned the more time I have to review and perfect them, so my students get the best version of them possible. 

Some data that I observed thus far in the classroom was just simply the level of information my students retained from before Christmas break. We worked a lot this week on reviewing what we had mastered before break. We have been drilling sight words and letter to sound correspondence. So just seeing which students didn’t miss a beat versus those that lost some of that knowledge was interesting to me and really helped guide me to writing my lessons based upon their needs.  

NCTCS

1a: Teachers lead in their classroom. 

            This week even though I had an O for observation on each subject area I also helped and assisted in many ways that I found would help my CE. This was an important week seeing how these students reacted to coming back to school and analyzing their work and data to see how much information they retained from Christmas break. 

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

            This week I made an effort to welcome each and every student with a warm hug or smile as they returned back to school. Coming back from break can often bring about separation anxiety and a variety of emotions. This was something simple but yet meaningful to these kindergarteners. 

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

            For the process of planning lessons, I have relied on the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. My CE has also helped me to plan age appropriate lessons that include the teaching content for kindergarten. 

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

            This week we started back our literacy centers and group work encouraging students to work well with their peers. This is a big part of the 21^stcentury skills that students must have in order to be successful in the world outside of the classroom. 

5a: Teachers analyze student learning.

            This week my CE and I analyzed student learning and student work to determine the next type of lessons and activities students need to do. A lot of these upcoming weeks is a time of review and re-teaching to fill those gaps that were lost over the break.  

            So far, I have written my edTPA lessons, began my classroom website, and done the classroom survey with my students for the behavioral management plan for my portfolio. As of right now my CE and I do not need any support from my university supervisor.