Week of 04/10 - 04/14

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 have nothing to complain about this week. I have gotten a lot finished up on my portfolio, and now I am just in the process of putting it all into my live binder. I do not like not teaching my class though…I get very bored and I miss teaching my students very badly already. I do like that I have a lot of free time to work on the portfolio now, and I really feel like this presentation is going to be great! I am not looking forward to leaving my kids in a few short weeks. I have so many that believe I am going to be their third grade teacher, and I feel like I am crushing their hopes whenever I tell them that it doesn't work like that. However, this has been a great week and we have had a lot of fun with the Easter Egg Hunt and a fun Oreo graph party. I am also looking forward to having my first break since January 1st! I do not even know what I am going to do with myself, not having to be at school for a whole week. 1 month till we graduate! 

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

I have only taught phonics, fluency, WIN this week, and I am only teaching phonics the following week. My CE hates phonics, so I am going to teach it up until the day I leave, which I do not mind, because that is longer that I have getting to teach my babies! What I am building upon next week is creating this philosophy video, because I cannot seem to get any of my videos off of Teachscape. I am having to screencast my videos on Teachacape and then move them into Photo Booth that way. I wish Teachacape would have worked at least one year that I have been here. 

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

My long-term goal is to have a job by the end of the school year, and my short-term goal is to talk to the principals of schools that I am interested in. So far, I have talked with two principals backing my hometown about jobs in my area, and handed in my resume. Both of these meetings went very well, and there are going to be quite a few positions opening up as I am entering in. I am so excited! However, they also talked tome about working in the middle schools, and how I felt about that. Honestly, middle schools scare me, but a job is a job and I would do just a bout anything to be able to teach as soon as the next school year starts. 

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

I could have spent more time trying to get my videos for the philosophy video downloaded, and figured out how to retrieve those now. I honestly should not have put them on Teachscape, because it would have been a lot easier to get them into Photo Booth than it will be now. I have spent the majority of my week emailing back and forth to Teachscape trying to get it figured out, but they seem to have no idea what is happening, so I am having a figure out a way around that. 

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

I really am not apprehensive about anything anymore. I feel very confident in all my teacher decisions, but if I ever have a questions I go straight to my CE, which is something I was scared to do in the beginning of this experience. However, that is what my CE is there for and she only wants me to be the best teacher I can be, and that really is something special.  My CE and I have got really close this past semester, and I believe that is because of all the personal experiences that we have been through. Also, she is going through the National Boards Renewal process, and we have bonded over that, because it is a lot like EdTPA. 

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

I am going make sure everything is in my live binder, and that my video is made and meets the expectations. 

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

Since I am only teaching a few subjects, I let some data drive how I did WIN groups this week, but we changed the groups up again, because my CE wants to get use to not having me with her all the time. 

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

You blink and this experience is over. Take in all the moment s that you have, and always give 110%, because I promise you do not want to waste any of these precious moments in the classroom. 

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?

I have completed everything except the video for the portfolio, and the technology video. 

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!