Blog Post: Week of April 26th

Overall Week

Throughout this week I was able to observe other schools as well as watch my CE teach full time and help him any way that I could! Saying this, I would give this week a 5 because I loved being able to help and see other classrooms and gain insight that I can incorporate into my future classroom. I was surprised at how different fourth-grade classes were! I observed another fourth-grade classroom at the same school and it was a completely different environment! I will continue to learn about things that I can incorporate in my future classroom next week and really try to make the most of the time I have with the students. My long term goal is almost complete because we are almost done with student teaching! I submitted all my material and now just have to present my portfolio soon! At the end of this week, our class is taking a vocab test on the math vocabulary that they have been learning throughout the geometry unit that is going to be important on their EOG testing. For next week I am going to spend more time focusing on applications and where I can apply back home. Advice for other student teachers: Really soak in the time we have left and make the most of it. Spend this time making connections with the students and really spending time with them- that is what they are going to remember. 

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• During this week I was able to watch my teacher implement 1A by leading in the classroom. He was able to lead by example and throughout the week the students are learning about character traits of being a leader. 
• Standard 2
• This week I was able to see my CE create an environment that was respectful and welcoming for all students. This is directly related to standard 2A. 
• Standard 3
• This week I was able to see standard 3C met by watching a teacher use CNN student news! This was something that is specifically for students but directly connects them to global events that are happening all around us. 
• Standard 4
• This week I was able to see all the teachers that I observed and my teacher use technology. This is directly related to standard 4D. 
• Standard 5
• This week I have seen my teacher meet the standard of 5A by having the students take quizzes as well as the test at the end of the week. This is really going to give him feedback on what the students are understanding or what the students need more work with. 

Other

I do not need any feedback. I turned in my portfolio! 

Blog Post: April 12th

Overall Week

This week has been a 5! Even though I have given the class back, I have loved still being in the classroom with the students and having that extra time to really invest in all of the students. This week I have been able to go to other schools and visit 2nd grade, and 3rd-grade classrooms! I loved these classrooms! It was great to see other teaching styles and to see how all classrooms are different. My students have been so sweet when I return to the classroom as well. Next week I am going to continue to build on my portfolio and work on the portfolio. My long term goal of finishing strong is almost there! I can not believe that we are almost done with this whole experience and about to GRADUATE. FROM COLLEGE. I am still shocked it went by this fast. This week I have spent a lot of time working on applications for back home in Texas. I could have spent more time on my portfolio, but trying to balance both during this time period. This week I have felt really good about the decisions I have made and helping out Mr. Dow while I can. I think this is such a great time to be there to do whatever he needs and have the opportunity to really help specific students.  For next week, we have spring break! This week I am going to go home back to Texas and really try to finish a lot of my portfolio on the workday on Monday. This week in class we are giving the benchmark test through the county to our students. This data will tell us what the students are understanding from the last nine weeks and how they can really see what students are missing before the EOG.  In our classroom, it is all prep for the EOG right now! 

My advice for other student teachers is to really soak up these last few weeks we have with the students! We do not have much more time so it is important to make it last. 

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• This week I was able to watch my CE really lead his classroom and start teaching the full week again. This was an important week because he has to establish his norm again now that I am no longer teaching. (1A) 
• Standard 2
• During my observations, I was able to see how teachers adapted their teaching to benefit students with special needs. Students were able to get differentiated instruction that really helped students understand the specific learning targets. (2D)
• Standard 3
• This week in every classroom I was able to enter I was able to see standard 3A which is alignment to NCSCOS. Every class I was in really did a good job of sharing the learning targets with the students and discussing the goal of the lessonStandard 4
• Standard 4
• Throughout my visits to classrooms, I was able to see teachers really use 21st-century skills and teach students collaboration and cooperation and how to work in a team. This is something that I think is crucial in a classroom and something that I want to continue in my own classroom. (4E) 
• Standard 5
• This week with the ability to do the benchmark testing for the county we will get data back that we will bring to our grade level team and discuss as a whole grade what we are doing with the specific information from the test. 

Other

I have finished my resume, classroom management, and other components of the portfolio and have started on my video and worked through my video. My CE and I do not need any support. 

Blog Post: April 5th

Week Reflection

Throughout this week I would say that this week was a 5!!!! Gradually giving back the class has worked very well! The students are getting used to it and have been kinda sad about me no longer teaching anymore! ALSO WHAT MADE THIS WEEK SO AWESOME IS THAT I PASSED EDTPA!!!!!! (Thank you, Lord). I think that was my accomplishment for this week :). Next week, students are still going to be going over traditional literature but Mr. Dow will be teaching now! My long term goal of being organized and staying focused has really shown this week in planning and through edTPA scores. I could have spent more time working on my portfolio this week. I had the courage this week when I got observed by the principal! I love that my principal was able to come to observe me, just like she would for teachers at our school. I was nervous about this but it went really well and the post-conference was very beneficial. Starting next week, I am going to observe some other classes and grade levels as well as really focusing on my portfolio. This week I was able to analyze the data on the traditional literature story work articles that we have been reading (we have been reading fables). The students did very well on these quizzes! 

A piece of advice/statement:   I am so proud of all of us for our hard work this semester. We have been working so hard for this and it is finally coming all together now. SO PROUD. (I am slightly emotional)

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• This week I was able to implement standard 1A of leading in the classroom. I have used data to organize and set goals for my students throughout the week. 
• Standard 2
• During this week I was able to implement standard 2E by working with family. One of my students has been in the process of getting different medication and we have been working with his family during the transition process. 
• Standard 3
• During this week I was able to implement 3C which was dealing with the interconnectedness of content. During our read-aloud of Number the stars, students were able to learn about Adolf Hitler and how some Jews were running to Sweden for freedom. 
• Standard 4
• During this week I was able to implement standard 3C by using a variety of instructional methods. During this week, students had a traditional literature book and they were filling it out and also having the ability to watch short stories of different myths, fables, fairy tales, etc. 
• My students watched a short Cinderella and after I had multiple students that said they have never seen Cinderella. (I WAS SHOCKED!!) 
• Standard 5
• This week I was able to implement standard 5A by working with analyzing student learning through the Storywork quizzes over the fables that we have been reading. 

Other

• I have completed the edTPA component and passed!!!! WOO HOOO
• Also, I have started working on my video, documenting and writing the global awareness portion as well as classroom management portion! Crazy how time has flown! 

My CE and I do not have any further questions. 

Blog Post: March 29th

Reflection 

This week I would rate it a 5! It was such a good last full week of student teaching! I can not believe that we have completed 10 weeks of student teaching full time! EEEPP!! It is so crazy and it has been such an amazing and stressful time but all worth it! Next week I am starting to slowly give the class back to my CE. This week I really started working through their geometry unit of angles, lines, etc. This was something that I was very nervous about and nervous for them to understand it, but they all did so well with it! This is a slightly different topic, but they caught on rather quickly. My short and long term efforts aligned by having the students finish their book club books! They all finished on Friday and were able to meet their AR goal for the third nine weeks! This took a lot of planning, but to see everyone get so excited when they finally finished the book and figured out the ending made it all worth it! I could have spent more time getting prepared for my portfolio presentation and worked on that more, but I had my birthday this week as well as senior pictures which took some time away. For next week, I am all prepared for the subjects that I am teaching so that is exciting! Next week is really going to be crunch time on working on my portfolio and getting that started.  

Advice: Start looking to apply to jobs! I applied to my first jobs this week!! They are out there already and good to get your name out early :)  

- Also scary to note: We get our edTPA scores back on Thursday!!!!!! 

 NCTCS

• Standard 1
• This week I have met standard 1B which discusses demonstrating leadership in the school. I have been able to attend a SIP meeting and really discuss the school's plans for the next upcoming year. 
• Standard 2
• I have met standard 2E by helping out families during Kindergarten Orientation. This is the first introduction that a lot of these parents get to our school. To help make that introduction as smooth and seamless as possible was such a privilege! 
• Standard 3
• I have met standard 3A by constantly having integration of the NCSCOS while teaching. Making sure that all of my lesson plans are aligned to the standards and making sure that I am teaching what the students need to know. 
• Standard 4
• I have met standard 4B by making sure that instruction is appropriate for all students. This was done by using the data from these nine weeks and helping my CE create a plan for the next nine weeks. Using this data from this past nine weeks now and seeing how that can affect the future nine weeks. 
• Standard 5
• I have met standard 5A by keeping data on my students and really making sure that these students are really understanding the information and really comprehending the material that has been presented to them! 

Other

This week I have worked on editing my philosophy and really changing that up to fit my teaching style now. 

My CE and I have no further questions. 

Blog: March 22nd, 2019

Week Reflection

This week was week 9!!! Crazy how time flies! I would rate this week a 4 out of 5! it was a great week! Students were able to show their understanding of decimals from their decimal test. During this week I was able to really focus on lesson plans and really have prepared for all of the information and class each day! I felt like I had prepared lessons each day and really have been connecting with the students! Throughout this week I have been prepared through book club groups as well as during mathematics. This week I was so proud of how my students did on their math test! This is aligned with my long term goal of always being prepared and organized. This was something that the students have never seen before and the majority of my students made above an 80! WOO HOO. Next week we are going to be continuing to start their work on the new geometry unit of angles, lines, line segments, and rays. I was a little apprehensive when it came to starting this unit because the Eureka Math for this unit is very different (especially on the teacher scripted portion). The students started to understand this but can still have practice with this in the future. For next week, I need to make sure that I am staying organized and planning the best lessons that I can for the following week!

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• This week I was able to do Standard 1B which talked about leadership within the school and attending Professional Development days. 
• Standard 2
• This week I was able to meet the standard of 2D by really talking to area specialist and implementing our new specials plan for our class! This ensures a safe and orderly environment in specials but also makes sure that the students that are in specials are getting beneficial time. 
• Standard 3 
• During this week, I was able to meet the standards of 3B by allowing students to really expand their natural curiosity. Students had the capability to create their own word problems and have the capability to solve each other word problem. (THEY LOVED THIS). 
• Standard 4 
• This week I was able to use 4C by having the students use a variety of classroom materials. This week my students played jeopardy and they got to use the smartboard as well throughout the week. My students love being able to use the smart board. 
• Standard 5
• During this week I was able to attend a Professional Development day and having the capability to dig deep into what they were discussing and seeing how that can impact specific students in my class and how we can use that in the future. 

Other

This week I have been working on my resume as well as really trying to make sure I have enough videos, and pictures for my philosophy video. 

My CE and I do not have any questions at this point in time. 

Blog Post: March 15th

Week Reflection

This week I would rate it a 4! Throughout this week, the students have been pretty well behaved (I think still adjusting to the time change). Also this week, with having edTPA over it has given me huge relief! I have been able to spend more time preparing for my students and more time planning lessons. This has been so much fun and relaxing for a little bit! I would say this is my accomplishment because I have been so focused on edTPA I haven't had the time to really focus and plan. This goes with my long term goal of always being prepared and always focusing and being prepared for every day. During this upcoming week, I am going to continue to build on decimals and continue working with my students on this. During this week I have been really consistent on discipline throughout the day and making sure that the students are doing what I have been asking. This is something that has been beneficial for my students. For next week, I really need to focus on making sure that I am finishing strong on my lesson plans and making the most of the time I have left with the students. 

Some data that I analyzed is that my students did very well with decimals! Throughout the exit tickets, students were able to show their understanding of decimals and how they were doing with them. This was something that I was really nervous about teaching but the students did so well with this! 

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• During this week, I have completed standard 1C which discusses professional growth. I was able to incorporate technology within the classroom during the lesson. We went to three different mini-sessions about how to incorporate technology within the classroom. 
• Standard 2
•  Throughout this week I have been able to complete standard 2B which discusses diversity in the school community and in the world. We were reading a book that is discussing World War 2 and we have talked about how what is happening in the book is very different from our culture now.  
• Standard 3
• Standard 3C also has been done throughout this week because they are going to be working with the Number the Stars book that has been discussing about Germany and Denmark, but also during science students are keeping up with precipitation and temperature for the week and we have compared that to my hometown Texas. 
• Standard 4
• Throughout this week I have incorporated standard 4B by having the ability to change instruction based on what the students are answering. Throughout the week I have changed the fluency of math in the morning, because of how students are doing on their exit ticket. This way the students are really getting a glimpse of what they are doing wrong and how to fix that before the students are learning more on top of it. 
• Standard 5
• This week I was able again to complete 5B by going to the PDP on technology! 

Other
I have been working on the PDP part of my portfolio and making sure that I am starting on small pieces of the video. My CE and I do not have any questions or concerns at this time.

Blog Post: March 8th

Overall Week

Overall this week I would rate it a 3! It was a good week at my school, but being stressed with edTPA really bogged down the beginning of my week because I was so focused on edTPA that I did not start my lesson plans later than normal. The thing that makes this week great also though is that edTPA is done!!!! It is uploaded and submitted. It will not consume me for the next couple of weeks!!! YAY.  During this week, I have had the ability to start "Book Clubs". This is where each guided reading group has a specific novel and they are going to be reading it for the whole month of March! This has been something that my students have LOVED and have enjoyed starting. It requires a lot of work on the front end, but the reward is still worth it. This is something that I am going to have to continue working with next week, which incorporates my long term goal of staying organized and on top of everything. I spent the majority of my time this week working with edTPA, which was needed. Next week I am going to have the ability to spend more time on my lesson plans. During this week I was nervous about doing Book Clubs because this was very different from our nonfiction unit. The students LOVED it though and that made it a lot easier. For next week, I am going to try my hardest to get as much planned for this weekend and start working more on my portfolio. I can clear the edTPA clutter :) At the end of this week, I will be giving the students a test on mathematics that discusses mixed fractions and the ability to add and subtract fractions. Throughout the week the students have done exit tickets, and they have been able to do really well, so hopefully, that will show up on the test! Advice: We can now breathe and take a little time to yourself now that edTPA is over :) 

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• Standard 1A was met this week by having the ability to maintain a safe and orderly classroom where the students have high expectations. Students are still getting used to the doorbell and it has worked very well! 
• Standard 2
• Standard 2E was met this week by the ability to meet with families during conferences! I was able to sit down with a lot of families and have the capability to discuss with them how their child is doing. I love being able to see this partnership between parents and families.
• Standard 3
•  Standard 3D was met this week by playing the Jeopardy game! Students love the ability to play the game and once they realized how to play it, they loved being able to review this way!
• Standard 4
• Standard 4D was met as well because the students were playing jeopardy where they got to come to the screen and click what category and amount that they wanted!
• Standard 5
• Standard 5A was met by having a test on math and wordlywise at the end of the week. This will really show me the students ability to show their understanding of the information they have learned the past week and a half. 

Other

For my portfolio: WE HAVE SUBMITTED EDTPA. HALLELUIAH. My CE and I do not need any help at this time.