Week of 03/20-02/24

Rate your overall experience of the week: 5

Seven questions to end your week: 

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

I am giving this week a 5! This is my last week of full-time teaching, and I am trying to finish as string as possible! Getting EdTPA out of the way has really been such a relief, and helped me to start focusing back on my teaching and lesson plans again, which I have really enjoyed. My students have been so loving and well-behaved this week, and that makes teaching that much more fun. We have been having hands-on science experiments all week, and the students are having so much fun learning all about sound and how sound works. Also, our chicken eggs are going to hatch this weekend or next week! We have been exploring a lot with the chicken life cycle, and how a chickens life cycle is a lot like other animals life cycle. My class is not used to doing science and social studies, but they love it so much when we finally get to have a chance to explore different things we do not usually get to do. 

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

This week, my CE has wanted me to change things in the middle of the week. Therefore, I have to go through my lesson plans each morning and change different things that we are doing. This was difficult for me to remember at the beginning, but now this process has actually helped me to be a better teacher. This forces me to look deeper into my lesson plans the morning before I teach them, and I think that is what I really needed. Also, knowing how to “wing it”, and chomp with new ideas on the fly is what this week has taught me. We were suppose to do a novel test this week, however, the format is completely different than the tests they are use to taking. So we decided to let them work in groups to get use to the new testing format for chapter 1. This was a great idea, but entirely bumped my lesson plans a day, and I had to learn how to plan for things such as that. This was a great learning experience though!

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

My long-term goal is to graduate, and right now, having EdTPA finished, I feel as if I am one step closer! My short-term goal is to accomplish this, is to work on my portfolio with everything that I have in me until time to present. I ant everything in my portfolio to be perfect, and reflect what wonderful student teaching semester I have had. 

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

I took a nap after I turned in EdTPA, which I rewarded myself with that. However, I could have spent my time doing other things such as my portfolio or looking over my lesson plans for the next week to check that I have everything in line. 

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

I used to be very apprehensive about doing different since and social studies lessons, because, my CE would only do weekly readers. There is nothing wrong with just doing weekly readers as long as they tie to a standard, but a lot of the time they really do not. At first, I did not want to do my own science and social studies lessons, but now I do them every single week, and my students love them so much! I am a very hands-on person, so I try to make all of my science and social studies lessons hands-on and fun. I have really enjoyed making up my own lesson plans and gathering my own materials for these lessons. 

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

I am going double check and make sure I am ready to have all my checks marked off on my last observations, and really focus on my upcoming lessons to differentiate more. 

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

I have noticed that students do not understand the new way that Eureka is teaching us to look at repeated addition. Therefore, I have had to use my skill review time to try to get them to understand this concept for the Eureka Module test that is upcoming. 

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

Just breathe. I promise we can make it through student teaching, and we are going to be great teachers! We will impact so many little lives, and this is the most rewarding job in the entire world! 

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?

Finished resume and have sent that and an application to the Mitchell County School system. I am now staring on putting all of my EdTPA components into my portfolio. 

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

N/A

What support do you need from your university supervisor?

Prayers to finish strong!