Student Teaching Week 4- January 27, 2017

Rate your overall experience of the week: I would rate this week at a 3. This was my first full week of teaching and things didn't really go as planned. As to be expected because lessons will not always go as planned. However, the week wasn't bad it was just a long three days.
 

• Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?
• This week was I was able to complete the first group project with my students. They did a penguin project in groups of three. So, there were a total of 7 groups. Each group got a different penguin and they had to "research" information about their penguin: height, weight, where their penguin lives, special features and two interesting facts. Then they had to present their information on Friday to the whole class. This was a huge success for me! I got to include global awareness(showing where all the different types of penguins live) and a technology piece(virtual goggle streets to see where their penguins lived) for this month.
• Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
•  There is always room for improvement! This week I had a lesson FAIL when I spend WAY too much time on phonics and grammar. I tried getting in all of the different pieces of my lesson plan into my actual lesson and it got us so behind for that day. This all happened on Wednesday(my first day) but I fixed my mistake for the next two days. I learned that I can plan SO much into one lesson. I have already started fixing my lessons for next week and I didn't include too much information this time...I hope.
• Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? 
• My short term efforts each week are for students to grow and improve. I want students to be engaged and want to learn. I also want students to have a safe and encouraging environment to work in so they can take every opportunity they have to learn. This relates to my long term goal of students success and support.
  I also want to keep my students engaged will new things each day. I don't want students to get bored with the lessons because a routine that they are use to.
• Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
• I can always spend more time lesson planning and finding new ways to hook the students. Making my lessons engaging and interactive is one of my weaker points when I have to follow a specific program.
• Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
• I have become SO much more comfortable in the classroom when it comes to teaching. I feel that I have grown SO much when it comes to being an actual teacher. I use to think that I could never get up in front of a group of kids and teach a lesson. Now, I feel so much better about getting up and teaching.
  Also, the whole mess up on Wednesday kinda got me down because I was beating myself up about spending too much time. I have learned my lesson and I have fixed my mistakes to move on.
• Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
• Focus for next week is to make sure that my lessons are not too much but just enough to satisfy the students and meet my requirements for students teaching. 
  
  NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
  
  
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    • 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. We sat down and planned some more of the 3rd 9 weeks which was great to be a part of since that is when I will be the teacher during my 10 weeks. 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.
   

What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?
-This week, the data that I analyzed helped me know what I needed to go back over and what I could move away from.
What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?
-This will be my advice each week! For myself and to others. Keep on keepin' on! We got this! My advice is to breathe, take it one day at a time and pray. I know everyone can do it.