Student Teaching Week 13- March 31, 2017

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 4
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?
    
    
    This was a good week! I am officially done with my 10 full weeks and I completed my last observation. I feel accomplished and proud of myself for getting all of this done. These past ten weeks have been hard, long and exhausting. There was never a break and I was very stressful to get everything done in time and it be my best work. Looking past all of that, I am proud of myself and everything that I have accomplished.
    
    
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
    
    
    Since I will still be working with GR groups and WIN groups next week,I am going to continue to work with my guided reading groups and gradually move them up book levels. I have noticed each of my groups have done very well when reading one level up from what they scored on the TRC mid-year assessment. Students are able to read the book will little to zero misread words and answer TRC questions about the book. I will continue to work with students on reading one book level up from their score and answer questions orally and written.
    
    
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?
    
    
    My long term goal is for students to be on benchmark or one level below for the TRC and DIBELS test. My short term goal is to still guide students with reading their level of book and gradually move up. This will allow students to move closer to benchmark and meet the level that they are suppose to be on at the end of the year. I am so proud of the lowest student in my class. She has moved up four book levels and continues to be improving.
    
    
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
    
    
    Now that I am done with my 10 weeks, I need to start working more on my portfolio and everything that goes with it.
    
    
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
    
    
    Well this week has been good. I am just wanting to get this portfolio taken care of and not have to stress when it is time to turn it all in.
    
    
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    
    
    I'm done with my 10 weeks and I am so excited I can check that off my to-do list. Now I need to start getting ready for my portfolio.
     

• 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 students understanding each day of each lesson. For example, I really focused on Math and if the students really understood the information being taught. I was able to take it day by day and review/reteach what students were not understanding. This allowed the students to get more practice with what they were going to be tested on, on Friday.
  
  
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

Keep working hard on your last little  bit that needs to get done for this experience to finish strong.

• 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 and the technology source lady. We sat down and talked about guided reading groups and how to improve students reading skills.
  • 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?
    Little pieces of everything.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
    None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor?
  None

Student Teaching Week 12- March 24, 2017

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 4
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?
    
    
    This week has been better than most. I can see the light at the end of the tunnel and I'm beginning to be able to catch my breath. This week was hard for me to get caught up on sleep and work at the same time. However, it excites me to know that next week is my last week with the full load of teaching and I can slowly start handing back over instruction. This week it hit me pretty hard to think that I will soon be done with student teaching, being a collage student and becoming an adult. This is a scary, exciting and the BIGGEST transition that I have made in my life so far.
    
    
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
    
    
    From this week, I plan to really focus on finishing strong. The biggest thing that my lessons taught me this week is that I have to be flexible. This week was kinda crazy and a lot of things had to be moved around. I am going to take this advice for next week because it is the end of the 9 weeks and there is no school on Friday. So it is going to be a crazy week.
    I am going to continue to work with my guided reading groups and gradually move them up book levels. I have noticed each of my groups have done very well when reading one level up from what they scored on the TRC mid-year assessment. Students are able to read the book will little to zero misread words and answer TRC questions about the book. I will continue to work with students on reading one book level up from their score and answer questions orally and written.
    
    
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?
    
    
    My long term goal is for students to be on benchmark or one level below for the TRC and DIBELS test. My short term goal is to still guide students with reading their level of book and gradually move up. This will allow students to move closer to benchmark and meet the level that they are suppose to be on at the end of the year.
    
    
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
    
    
    Working on my portfolio and everything that goes with it. Now that I am going into my last week, it's time to start baring down and to finish strong.
    
    
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
    
    
    Well this week has been good. I am just wanting to get this portfolio taken care of and not have to stress when it is time to turn it all in.
    
    
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    
    
     I can check week 9 off of student teaching. I am almost finished and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.
     

• 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 students understanding each day of each lesson. For example, I really focused on Math and if the students really understood the information being taught. I was able to take it day by day and review/reteach what students were not understanding. This allowed the students to get more practice with what they were going to be tested on, on Friday.
  
  
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

WE ARE ALMOST DONE!!! Keep breathing and staying healthy/alive. I know you can do it!

• 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 and the technology source lady. We sat down and talked about guided reading groups and how to improve students reading skills.
  • 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?
    Getting all my checks for observations and all of my evidence
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
    None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor?
  None

Student Teaching Week 11- March 17

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 3
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?
    
    
    This week has been kinda stressful. I have been trying to get all of my things prepared so I can get all of my checks for my last observation. Also, I have been SO stressed about getting everything finished for edTPA, Lessons for next week, ALL of the different pieces that are required for my portfolio and just trying to stay alive. I feel accomplished about the fact that I am one more week to being done with students teaching. That is the craziest thing for me to say or even think about. However, I'm so excited to begin a new journey and get all of this over with.
    
    
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
    
    
    I am going to continue to work with my guided reading groups and gradually move them up book levels. I have noticed each of my groups have done very well when reading one level up from what they scored on the TRC mid-year assessment. Students are able to read the book will little to zero misread words and answer TRC questions about the book. I will continue to work with students on reading one book level up from their score and answer questions orally and written.
    
    
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?
    
    
    My long term goal is for students to be on benchmark or one level below for the TRC and DIBELS test. My short term goal is to still guide students with reading their level of book and gradually move up. This will allow students to move closer to benchmark and meet the level that they are suppose to be on at the end of the year.
    
    
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
    
    
    Since edTPA is due next week, this week has been stressful to try and get everything done in time. I have be BEYOND stressed and I have lost sleep just to try and get everything done for this week and next. So, for this week I will say that I could have spent more time getting some rest and less time stressing. However, that's not the case.
    
    
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
    
    
    Well... the word edTPA has haunted me this week and I have had trouble trying to get EVERYTHING done. My main goal this week was try to get all of my evidence together for edTPA that way I can get it all situated this weekend. In doing this, I have not yet completed all of my lessons for next week.
    
    
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    
    
     I can check week 8 off of student teaching. I am almost finished and I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The steps for next week are to first get edTPA finished and turned in and focus on getting all of my boxes checked for my last observation.
     

• 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 students understanding each day of each lesson. For example, I really focused on Math and if the students really understood the information being taught. I was able to take it day by day and review/reteach what students were not understanding. This allowed the students to get more practice with what they were going to be tested on, on Friday.
  
  
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?

WE ARE ALMOST DONE!!! Keep breathing and staying healthy/alive. I know you can do it!

• 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 and the technology source lady. We sat down and talked about guided reading groups and how to improve students reading skills.
  • 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?
    This week was strictly edTPA.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
    None
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor?
  None
  

Student Teaching Week 11- March 10

Rate your overall experience of the week: 4

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

• •  I have survived my 4th OBSERVATION! Whoohoo!! I am super surprised and feel so accomplished that I only have one more observation and three more weeks to go. Oh my goodness I can't believe that I have made it this far and still breathing... literally! There has been so much sickness this week in my classroom. A LOT of students have been out sick with 100+ fevers. Overall, it was a great week and I am starting to get a lot more accomplished and taken care of for requirements.
     
    Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
  

• •  This week I observed guided reading groups and how well students are reading the books that are one book level up from their current book level. Each group did a great job working with a nonfictional book book that was one level higher than they are currently scored on. After working with these groups since January, I have noticed that their reading skills are improving and their comprehension of retelling has improved as well. Each group was successful and challenged enough to allow their reading skills to improve.
     
    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. Also during WIN time I have been working with the lower students on nonsense words and sight word fluency.
     
  Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
  

• • This week I wish I would have spent more time on edTPA and everything to go along with it. I have struggled to find time to work on everything to stay ahead. Also, I am putting so much stress on myself about this edTPA that I am struggling to get it finished. It worries me that I have to pass edTPA to move back to GA and I haven't had a lot of practice with it.
     
  Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
  
  •  I think this week was a better week than last week. I have been stressed out and overwhelmed with all the things that are included in the portfolio. So, this week I have really been looking at all of the different things that need to be done and making sure that I include them in my lessons. I also have been focusing on getting all of my boxes checked for my last observation.
   

• 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. The first step I want to take for next week is to start getting edTPA finished up and things rolling with that.
  

• 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.
  • I also kept track of students work for edTPA this week.

• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers
   
  Not too much longer!! Keep on keeping on and don't look back!! I think this is a very appropriate piece of advice to give each week since we are taking each week as it's own. 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 and the technology source lady. We sat down and talked about guided reading groups and how to improve students reading skills.
  • 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? 
  
  
  Management student, video clips, edTPA
  
  
  What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
  
  
  None
  
  
  What support do you need from your university supervisor
  
  
  None