Student Teaching Week 1- January 6, 2017

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1-Very difficult | 5 – Great week

My overall experience for this first week was a 4. I love my school, CE, TA, students, everything about it. My CE is so helpful and encouraging. It has been a very exhausting week but I have enjoyed every minute of it.

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

 I am very surprised at myself and feel like I have accomplished getting up in the mornings and making it to school on time. This is a HUGE accomplishment for me! On a serious note, I have been helping out much more around the classroom. I fill in when I am needed and I am trusted with more responsibility.

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

This week I learned that I need to engage the students more. I need to show more excitement and use my voice/face to draw the students in more. Also, involve the students in more hands on and engaging activities.

 

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

For me, my short-term efforts and long-term goals are still aligned because overall, I want to create a better learning environment and engage the students throughout the entire day, week, month and school year. I want what is best for my students and allow them to believe they can succeed in anything thing they do.
 

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

This week, I could have defiantly spent more time on planning. I have finally found a rhythm of waking up, going to school, coming back to GW, eating dinner, lesson planning and going to bed. Since being in this rhythm, I have noticed that there is NO free time. I do need cut a lot of down time that I allow myself. I need to give myself about a 30 min break ever so often and then get back to school work. This will help with completing things sooner rather than later.

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

 My biggest fear is messing up or the students not understanding what I am trying to teach. This week I wanted to focus on the information that I will be teaching for next week. I want it to be perfect so I can get up in front of 21 first graders and know what I am talking about so I can help them the best that I can. I am also concerned that when I get in front of the students and I am teaching something that they are not understanding, I wont think of something to say or a way to explain it fast enough.

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

I think the first mental piece of clutter that I can clear is that the first week of student teaching is done. I seemed like the week went so slow... but I know that once I start getting in the hang of things it will fly by. A logical step that I can take for next week is breathe and get ahead/stay on top of things. I need to force myself to stay ahead and work hard. There is not time to slack off.
 

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

One main thing that I analyzed this week was how my CE handled student behavior while teaching. I think this is the thing that I am going to need to work on. My instructional decisions are now based on the reactions and behavior of students when teaching new information. It's all a part of keeping students engaged and focused on learning.

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

    •  Leadership in the schools: This week I attended a grade level meeting with the teachers, principal, assistant principal and technology/data coordinator. We analyzed student data from TRC test score on each student, determined if they were considered red, blue, yellow or green. According to their scores, they were placed in the color area of needs improvement or exceeding grade level. This was a great way to show teacher leadership.
  • 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.
    

    •  I feel like I focused on treating students as individuals this week. I think that it is very important to maintain high expectations for every student and keep a positive attitude.
  • 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.
    

    •  Aligning the NC Common Core Standards to instruction is the number one thing that I have done every single day. It's super important to include the standard to each lesson plan so I know what to teach and students are learning the information that the state requires.
  • 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.
    

    •  Asking questions and allowing students to work in groups to develop critical thinking and collaboration with one another. It's great for students to be able to the critically and work with others.
  • 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.
    

    •  Blogging is a great way for me to reflect on my practice. Reading through these questions allows me to look back through the week and remember what all I did this week and how I can improve to make my teaching better next week.
  
  
  Other:
  
  
  What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
  • Website
  What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
  • My CE is very new to this experience. She is very open to the requirements of this whole process  and feels like she can contact my university supervisor whenever she has a question or concern.

  What support do you need from your university supervisor?
  

  •  Right now I think all is well.