Student Teaching Week 6- February 10, 2017

Rate your overall experience of the week: 3

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

• •  This week I have a very pleasant surprise from Dr. Suttle. I had my second observation on Tuesday during Phonics/Grammar. This visit was very surprising to me and I was completely caught off guard. However, I was able to to successfully complete my second observation of students teaching. That it such an accomplishment so far. 
      Also, I feel better now that I have edTPA dates set in place to start. This makes me feel better now that I can start planning for this process.
   
  Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?

• •  From my observation this week, my experience has taught me to continue giving proximity praise to students. I can see how well it works for students to have good behavior and work hard. Also, I started using the popsicle sticks this week to call on students which has help so much. The students love when I use them because they want to know who I am going to pick.
   
  Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?

• •  My long-term goal is to get every student on the required book level for first grade or higher. There are several students who are below grade level or barely on grade level. My short term goal is to improve students reading skills on their current level during GR groups. I will give students the one on one time needed to help improve their book level/reading skills.
     
  Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?

• •  This week, I wish I would have spent more time lesson planning. However, I have spent so much time lesson planning this week, but things kept coming up that I haven't had time to completely finish the lesson plans. Each week this is something that I know I could have spent more time doing. I just get so overwhelmed and can never just sit down and complete them all at once.
     
  Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
  
  •  I think this week was an overall goo week. Nothing that happened this week made me have any concern or fear. I think the observation threw me for a loop but once I realized that it was my second observation complete, I was super happy.
   

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

• The mental clutter that I can clear for next week it that  have another week under my belt. I don't have to look back, I can just keep moving forward and making improvements to be a better student teacher.

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?
  •  The data that I analyzed this week was collected from a clipboard that I carry around with my to write down notes on each student. I check a box that tells me if they understood it or not. Also, I can write down specifics which will let me know what I need to review the next day or just completely reteach.

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

• 
  Keep on keeping on and don't look back!! I think this is a very appropriate piece of advice to give each week! It's important to stay positive each week and don't beat yourself about the small things. Tomorrow is a new day and you can only try to do better.

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards
• • 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 regrouped GR groups and WIN groups based off of test scores from the midyear assessment. This was stressful but also very interesting to be a part of.
  • 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. Also, reflecting on my lessons once I have printed them out. It's a great thing to go back through and see what didn't work and what did.
• Other: 

  
  

  What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? 
  Website, Philosophy and Management student 
  What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
  None
  What support do you need from your university supervisor
  None