Weekly Reflection - April 29th

Seven Questions:

I would rate this week as a 5. I had a great week last week of full time student teaching! This week, I was pleasantly surprised by being observed for the last time. I was able to learn a lot from my post conference, and I was so excited to finally have reached the end of full time student teaching. From this experience, I learned that it is extremely important to use visuals when teaching vocabulary so that students will understand and remember what each vocabulary word means. My short term goal this coming week is to complete my philosophy of education and continue working on the rest of my portfolio. This aligns with my long term goal of successfully completing student teaching! This week, I could've spent more time working on my portfolio. The first logical step for next week is to continue working on my portfolio.

This week I analyzed my students' skill tub post tests that we are working on during WIN time to see if they could move on to a new skill. These skill tubs are separated by specific math/literacy skills, and each student is assigned a skill tub to work on for the entire week based on their data and what they need to specifically work on. The students can choose any games or activities within their skill tub and practice. At the end of the week, the students take a post test to see if they have mastered the skill or if they need to continue working.

One piece of advice I want to share with other student teachers is to use your resources! I am blown away by how much I have learned from just simply asking other people in the school for ideas and advice. Don't be hesitant to ask for help, other people may have great ideas that can help your students tremendously.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards:
1d. Teachers advocate for schools and students.
 This week I was able to advocate for a change in policy for AR rewards at the end of the year alongside my CE and share my ideas for what could help AR be more useful and beneficial in our school.
2c. Teachers treat students as individuals.

This week our nine weeks for AR ended. I was able to meet with students who had not met their goal at the beginning of the week and make goals for each day of the week to help them achieve their AR goal. 

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

This week I have aligned each of my lessons with the NCTCS.

4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods.

This week I used a variety of instructional methods during WIN with the students' skill tubs in order to help them achieve a skill that they had previously not mastered.

5b. Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.

This week I have implemented the strategies I found for my professional development plan.

Other:

This week I have been working on taking videos for my portfolio. I do not believe that my CE or I need extra support from my university supervisor at the moment.

Weekly Reflection - March 22nd

Seven Questions:

I would rate this week as a 5. I had a great week at school and the students
were great. This week, I was pleasantly surprised by one of my students
moving out of tier 3 reading! From this experience, I learned that intervention
is so important to help a child catch up. This has helped this child tremendously,
and it is evident how it helps students improved. My short term goal this coming
week is to strongly finish my full time student teaching next week.This aligns with
my long term goal of being the best student teacher I can be for my students. This
week, I could've spent more time working on preparing for my lessons. Although I had
everything prepared, I sometimes felt overwhelmed this week due to some schedule
changes. I think spending even more time preparing after my schedule changed this
week would've helped me feel less frazzled. The first logical step for next week is to
continue working on my portfolio.

This week I analyzed my students' text feature tests in order to decide whether or
not they are ready to move on next week.

One piece of advice I want to share with other student teachers is to keep powering
through, but always take a minute to look back and see how much your students have
grown. Realizing where my students started and seeing how far they've come always
warms my heart, and I don't think I always take enough time to see how much they've
grown.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards:

1c. Teachers lead the teaching profession.
This week I was able to help my grade level begin to make decisions for what
teacher our students should be placed with in third grade. This was based on
who we felt our students' personalities would fit well with, who could and could
not be in the same class, as well as what they need academically.
2e. Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the
lives of their students.

This week I have contacted the parent of a student who has recently become behavior
problems. I was able to collaborate with this parent and come up with a plan to help this child
improve.

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

This week I have aligned each of my lessons with the NCTCS.

4a. 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.

This week I used different games and hands on activities during WIN to help each student
work on specific skills they were struggling with. This was specific to each child.

5b. Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.

This week I have implemented the strategies I found for my professional development plan.

Other:

This week I have been working on revising my philosophy for my portfolio. I do not believe that
my CE or I need extra support from my university supervisor at the moment.

Weekly Reflection - March 15th

Seven Questions:

I would rate this week as a 5. I had a great week at school and it was nice to finally plan without edTPA hanging over my head! This week, I was pleasantly surprised by my CE doing an observation for me. I was able to have a post conference with her and learn about what I did well and what I can improve on. From this experience, I learned that ensuring that you keep the students motivated and engaged is extremely important. My short term goal this coming week is to prepare lessons that are extremely engaging and fun for the students. This aligns with my long term goal of allowing my students to learn to the best of their ability. This week, I could've spent more time working on my portfolio. This deadline is going to start approaching quickly and it is time to really start focusing on the portfolio. The first logical step for next week is to continue working on my portfolio.

This week I analyzed my students math assessments in order to place specific students in math intervention.

One piece of advice I want to share with other student teachers is to help your students to always feel smart and as if you believe they can do anything. Creating this environment in the classroom can completely change a students experience in school.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards:
1a. Teachers lead in their classrooms. 
 This week I was able to lead in my classroom by evaluating my students' grades each day to determine what I needed to do to help students who had no mastered the topics improve.
2a. Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults.

This week I encountered a situation where a little girl in my class was having some dental problems that were really hurting her, and this situation was not being taken care of at home. I was able to help care for this child by ensuring she was seen by the nurse and that the school became involved in this situation.

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

This week I have aligned each of my lessons with the NCTCS.

4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods.

This week I used a variety of instructional methods in small and whole group math in order to help students learn money skills.

5b. Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.

This week I have implemented the strategies I found for my professional development plan.
Other:
This week I have been working on taking videos for my portfolio. I do not believe that my CE or I need extra support from my university supervisor at the moment.

Weekly Reflection - March 8th

Seven Questions:

I would rate this week as a 3. I had a great week at school, but I was very stressed completing edTPA at the beginning of the week, which left less time to plan my lessons. This week, I was pleasantly surprised by my principal coming to observe me! She wanted to give me the experience of having a principal observation, and I was very appreciative of this opportunity. From this experience, I learned that ensuring that you positively praise students that have previously been redirected is so important, and that this makes a huge difference in the motivation of the students.. My short term goal this coming week is to rearrange my WIN time to where it is more beneficial for all students, specifically those that fall in the middle. This aligns with my long term goal of allowing my students to learn to the best of their ability. This week, I could've spent more time preparing for my lessons each day. Since edTPA submission day was this week, a lot of my attention had been on perfecting my edTPA. The first logical step for next week is to begin working on my portfolio!

This week I analyzed my students comprehension tests in order to decide who needs to be placed in reading intervention next week.

One piece of advice I want to share with other student teachers is to always give your best, even when you're stressed and exhausted. You never know what your students have been through, and you may be the only one that makes them feel loved and cared for.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards:
1b. Teachers demonstrate leadership in the school.
 This week I was able to share an idea about WIN time with my grade level that helps my students all have their needs met. We are all working together to make this happen.
2e. Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students.This week we had parent teacher conferences and were able to work with families to decide the best plan for each of their students to improve.
3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

This week I have aligned each of my lessons with the NCTCS.

4a. 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.

This week I have planned new math group centers that allow the students to work with money in multiple ways. 

5b. Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.This week I have worked on using the strategies I have researched for my PDP.
Other:
This week I have been working more on my website for my portfolio. I do not believe that my CE or I need extra support from my university supervisor at the moment.

Weekly Reflection - March 1st

Seven Questions:

I would rate this week as a 3. I had a good week at school, but I got hit very hard with the stomach bug yesterday which has made for a very unpleasant end to my week. This week, I was pleasantly surprised by some of my tier two reading students doing so well on their TRC testing! I have two students who are required to receive in class intervention every week. My CE completed TRC testing on the class this week, and these two students have grown tremendously! It is so exciting to see the students growing after they've worked so hard. From this experience, I learned that intervention is so important, and that some students simply need a little extra attention to a skill each week in order to be successful. My short term goal this week has still been to continue working and completing edTPA, which aligns with my long term goal of being licensed to be a teacher. This week, I could've spent more time preparing for my lessons each day. Since edTPA submission day is quickly approaching, a lot of my attention been on perfecting my edTPA. Therefore, I have not had as much time to prepare for my students as I would like. The first logical step for next week is to complete my edTPA and to have it ready to turn in on Tuesday!

This week I analyzed my students math quizzes in order to reform my math small groups.

One piece of advice I want to share with other student teachers is to remember the difference we are making in the lives of our students. They are the reason we are working so hard. We are touching the lives of students.

NC Teacher Candidate Standards:

1a. Teachers lead in their classrooms.

 This week I was able to lead in my classroom by ensuring all students were learning and growing. I did this by analyzing my test data and pulling students that needed assistance for intervention groups. 

2e. Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students.

This week I encountered some behavior problems from a student that generally does not act up during class. I was able to collaborate with his parents to figure out why this problem was occurring and to put a stop to it. 

3d. Teachers make instruction relevant to students.

This week I was able to make my social studies teaching of landforms relevant to students by relating it to their vacations. I did this by allowing students to bring in pictures from their vacations to share. I was able to point out different landforms in each location. 

4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods.

This week I was able to use a variety of instructional methods during guided reading. I was able to find different leveled books to teach the same topic to all students so that the AIG students were pushed while the lower students were able to learn on their level. 

5b. Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.

This week I was able to participate in staff professional development where we learned about the behavior management strategy "STOIC." This is a checklist for environmental management that teachers can use to ensure that they are doing everything to promote a positive environment where behavior problems are lessened. 

Other:

This week I have been working more on the videos I need for my portfolio. I do not believe that my CE or I need extra support from my university supervisor at the moment.