Week of 03/27 - 03/31

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 week I handed back math to my CE. I was super happy that I cold hand math back over first, because that was the first thing I took over, and it has by far been the most challenging. Eureka has been a wonderful experience, but it is so different from the math that I have been taught in school. This was a great experience for me, but I was more than happy to hand that over first. This was the only thing that I handed over this week, because I want to take my time handing over the over subjects. I also had my LAST observation today, and that went really well! I am so excited to see the light at the end of the tunnel shining so brightly now! Also, our baby chickens hatched when I walked in Monday morning!!

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

I have learned throughout this week, that students really enjoy hands-on lessons. Our baby chicken lesson that tied in with the life cycle was so amaizng to watch my students eyes light up whenever they got to hold an actual baby chicken. Students were able to watch the entire chicken life cycle happen before their eyes, and I believe that is a experience that they will never forget. 

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?

This week I have been running around like crazy! I decided to compete in the Miss GWU pageant so that I can have a chance to represent the school that I love. However, this has taken a big chunk of my time, and I need to be getting back on track and start trying to finish strong again!

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 breathe. I am going to start putting everything together in my portfolio, and hopefully have a bug chunk of that taken care of before the end of next week. 

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

I have noticed a huge change in my behavior student! The data that I have collected from his chart, shows a huge change in his behavior. He actually got every single check on his chart for the first time ever this past Wednesday, and I could not be more proud! This data has showed me that his behavior plan has had a positive impact on his behavior in the classroom. 

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!