Student Teaching Week 7 Reflection

Thursday, February 14, 2019

Week of Reflection: (list the date of the Friday for week just completed)

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

This week was a 4. It was a good week.

Seven questions to end your week:

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

I had my second visit from my supervisor, and it was a surprise visit! It went well. This time, Dr. Parker got a much better idea of how a normal day looks in my classroom. The kid’ behavior was not bad, but they didn’t try to be on their best and perfect behavior because we had a visitor in the room. They were how they always are, and he got to see how I handle the situations that arise in my classroom.

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

This week I felt like I got my “why” back. I had almost gotten bogged down in edTPA and lesson plans and hard work that I forgot for a second why I was even doing this. This week, I was able to get my “why” back and feel like I was actually making a difference in these kids’ lives. I am overwhelmed (in a good way) at the support I have at this school from my C.E., the other teachers, the school nurse, and my principal. I love these people!

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

This week I spoke with Title I again about my parent event, and they have decided that they are going to join their parent event with mine, I think so that we can combine the funding and it’ll go farther. Either way, I’m so excited!

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

I could have spent more time on Task 2. It’s been a week FULL of lesson plans, post observation reflection, Task 2, rethinking through Task 4, etc.

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

I finally got a grasp on how much apprehension I have in every day student teaching life, and I’ve learned to start letting go of this. It was simple things like, “should I send a kid to the nurse for this? Should I send a kid to the guidance counselor for this? Should I have a kid clip down for this?” I’ve started to live by going with my gut. If there’s even a question of whether or not a kid might need to go to the nurse or guidance counselor, I don’t think it hurts to send them. I’d rather be safe than sorry!

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

To start writing my Task 3!

Adapted from: Cernoff, M. (2013, August 7). 7 Questions to End Your Week With. . Retrieved July 21, 2014, from http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/08/08/7-questions-to-end-your-week-with/

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

When starting to go through my Task 4 data, I realized that I didn’t have enough to write my commentary about. So, I decided to completely start Task 4 over again and teach on a different topic. I think it’ll be so much better this time! I’m counting my other one as a practice run.

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

Don’t forget why you worked so hard to get to this point! Don’t forget to joke around with your kids sometimes, make them laugh and smile whenever you can, and encourage them when you see them having a hard time. It makes the job so much easier and rewarding when you stay focused and remember your “why!”

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.

1. d. “Teachers advocate for schools and students.” This week I realized that just by sending a kid to the nurse or guidance counselor, it may seem small, but you can intervene in a big way. Use your resources at your school!

• 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.

2.a. “Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults.” Yesterday, one of my kids was so worried about not having enough time to make a box to put their Valentine’s in for the party today. I came home yesterday and made one just in case they didn’t have one. I decorated it with all kinds of things that I used last year when I decorated my dorm door for Valentine’s. This student came to school without one, saying they were too busy to make one last night because they were working so hard on their homework. I handed them the Valentine’s box and I have never seen such a big smile! Best day ever💖

• 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.

3.c. “Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.” This week, I have noticed more and more that I am integrating, and sometimes I don’t even mean to. It’s like second nature! I have been integrating reading and math a lot. I’ve also had them thinking critically and doing creative writing!

• 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.

4.a. “Teachers know the ways in which learning takes place, and they know the appropriate levels of intellectual, physical, social, and emotional development of their students.” I expected a lot out of my kids last week when I taught my edTPA. I gave them a lot of work and I just set the bar really high for them. So this week, for celebrating the 100th day of school and Valentine’s Day, we just had a ton of fun together! We write about what we would look like when we are 100 years old and glued pictures on the paper that we took using an app that ages you to look 100. Then, we wrote about what we would buy with $100. To give us an idea of what kinds of things cost $100, we played 2nd grade “The Price is Right.” We had a Valentine’s party today, and make Valentine’s for friends and family while listening to music. I think it’s so important that these kids are just able to have fun and relax sometimes! After all, they’re only 7 years old.

• 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.

5.a. “Teachers analyze student learning.” This week, I noticed that with 3-digit addition, my kids were trying to regroup from the ones to the hundreds place, and they were skipping regrouping in the tens place altogether. I saw this by grading papers, and I had to help them in their guided math groups with this. This is just a real-life and simple example of the assess--teach--plan--assess cycle!

Other:

• What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?

I took a lot more videos and pictures this week for my portfolio video, with this being the week we celebrated the 100th day of school and Valentine’s Day. I’m moving towards my parent event and moving ahead with my behavior plan.

• What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?

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• What support do you need from your university supervisor?

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