Week of 01/23 - 01/27

Rate your overall experience of the week: 4

Seven questions to end your week:

Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?

I got a lot completed during our two planning days, and even made some new organization boards for WIN time and rearranged how I want to do WIN time that is more differentiated for the students. I was also very surprised that my students were so well behaved this week, and kept all of their stars.

Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?

Keeping track of the students grades and how they are improving really does drive my instruction for the following week. I have so many different methods are keeping track of student grades, but I have learned that by doing this, planning for the next week is not nearly as difficult. 

Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?

My long-term goal is improve my students TRC scores when they take it for one final time in may. My short term goal right now is to differentiate the WIN groups, so that I can have a chance to work independently with every group on their TRC skills. 

Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?

I really needed to spend more time putting in HOTS questions into my lesson plans, and revising them before I send them in to my supervisor. 

Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?

This week I was apprehensive about group work and who to put into hat group. I spent about an hour looking over test scores and grades in order to determine where I was going to put each student. Indecision with determining groups, lead to one of the groups not working out at all. I need to be more intention with picking groups, and not looking only at test scores, but also who works well together. 

Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?

I am going to work on portfolio and and hopefully finish my website this weekend. I will also be committing my resume this weekend, so I can have that looked over. I will start writing lesson plans for the following week, this Monday, and continue the trend of writing lessons like I have, because that has helped so much! I will look over my lesson plans this weekend also, and make sure that they have everything I need in them. I will focus on my hooks and HOTS questions this coming up week. 

What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?

I have started collecting even more grades and data this week, and that has really helped to drive my instruction for the next week. I finally got to see how my students performed on the TRC test, and that helped me to form my WIN groups for next week when I try something new with them. This will make WIN time more meaningful and differentiated. 

What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

Get materials from your teacher for the next week as soon you can. This helps so much in the planning process, and helps to not be as stressed. Also, make sure that you actually schedule yourself some “me” time, or else you will get so stressed that your hair falls out. Get those lesson plans done early, so that you do not have to worry about them during your “me” 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.

I am the full-time teacher now. I know that it is my job to lead in my classroom every single day. When something does not goes as planned or something happens with a student in my classroom, it is now my responsibility to lead and take care of whatever is happening. I am leading 21 little life in classroom, and that is on of the greatest responsibilities. 

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.

Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. I hope I always establish this kind of enviroment for my students, but I think this week I really understood what that meant. I want my students to feel safe and happy in my classroom, and the way portray myself and handle situations. I want to focus on being the best role model that I can possibly be for my students. 

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.

Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. This week while writing my lesson plans, I made sure that I aligned the content that I was teaching with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study. I also discussed with my CE about if I was on the right track with the standards or not.

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.

Teachers use a variety of instructional methods. I have facilitated learning in different ways than my CE normally does this week, and my students love it. I am implementing technology into almost every one of my lessons, and my students are becoming more and more engaged. 

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.

Teachers analyze student learning. Like I mentioned before, my teacher has a great way for me to easily look at class data, and figure out what I need to do to strengthen student learning. Also, I am reflecting on my teaching practice by using the #ObserveMe in my classroom for my colleagues to give me feedback on my teaching and how I can strengthen that. 

Other:

What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?

Working on website, portfolio and resume. 

What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?

N/A

What support do you need from your university supervisor?

Just prayers as I continue this journey.