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. 

Blog Post: March 1st

Week Reflection 

During this week, I would rate my week about a 2! Again, after this upcoming week with submitting edTPA, I will be able to put back up a 4 or 5 for a great week! I just feel so stressed to get everything done, but I know it is possible! This week I was able to lead the students in a unit review prepare the students for their unit test! This is something that I have never been able to do before! I have not been in a classroom long enough to teach a unit and then for the students to test on it! I am very anxious to see their test scores on Friday and see how they were able to do! Next week we are starting "book clubs" where our guided reading groups are getting their own book and they are going to be working with their own leveled book and reading the book throughout the rest of my student teaching! This is something that took a lot of effort and pre-planning and will continue to take a lot of effort and planning but something that my students LOVE and are really looking forward too. I can spend more time this weekend finalizing edTPA and really making sure all my ducks are in a row and ready to submit on Tuesday! I can have the courage that I WILL PASS EDTPA. I CAN DO IT. :) My mental clutter will be drastically smaller once edTPA is over and I will be less stressed and have more time to focus on my lesson plans and portfolio. I analyzed data during my WIN time. Some of my students were ready to go onto the more complex area and perimeter problems and others were Not. During this time I made sure that the students were working on problems that they were ready for! What I can share for advice: edTPA will all be over soon and we are going to be able to have a big sigh of relief!

NCTCS

• Standard 1
• 1A: During this week I was able to continue to use my doorbell to get my students attention and for them to not be talking while I am talking. This is something that my students are LOVING and they are really responding well to. 
• Standard 2
• 2E: This week I was able to get the Gardner-Webb University Police Officer to come and talk to my students and read them a book about being kind to each other! This is something my students thought was so fun and exciting! They loved hearing from someone in the community and having the ability to ask questions and answer questions.
• Standard 3
• 3A: During this week I was able to really focus the students in math by reviewing key vocabulary words and incorporating literacy into math. This allows the students to really think about what they are working on and how that can help them then apply the information within a math problem. 
• Standard 4
• 4C: I was able to incorporate 4C by having the students use collaboration, technology, individual work, as well as group work. Students were able to get a variety of instructional materials throughout the week. 
• Standard 5
• 5B: Throughout this week I was able to really apply what I have learned within PDP days and really try to incorporate those in my classroom! This week I made the lesson plans that specifically incorporated activities that I learned within my PDP days at the school!

Other

This week I have focused alot of time on the edTPA section of my portfolio.
I do not have any comments. :)

Blog Post: Feb 22

Week Reflection

This week I would rate the week a 3! It was a difficult week just for getting everything done. I taught my reengagement lesson for edTPA as well as finishing lesson plans and trying to work on edTPA! Besides still not having enough time in the day, I had a good week besides that. I have a lot of students absent because of sickness, so make sure that you are taking Vitamin C and getting the correct medicine that you need! During this week I will build upon my "signal" for getting my students attention! I got a remote control doorbell off amazon that hopefully will get my students attention when they are going to be too loud or I need to say something. I hope this will help my long term of being a leader in my classroom and making sure that I am always keeping my classroom attention and focusing on the students and keeping a safe and orderly classroom.  I need to spend more time with edTPA and really focusing on getting that done this weekend and into next week! That is definitely my focus and the logical steps that I need to focus on. Some data that I analyzed is that my students were not really understanding comparing fractions on a number line and they were not doing well with placing each mixed number on a number line. This is something we ended up breaking down and really taking it to step by step the next day in order to fully break it down and really understand the information by going through each step and how they can break it down and go slowly. 

My advice is that WE CAN DO EDTPA!!! WE GOT THIS!!! 

NC Standards

• Standard 1
• This week with my remote control doorbell being introduced on Friday, I will be trying to complete standard 1A which creating a safe and orderly classroom. 
• Standard 2
• This week I completed 2D when I talked to the nurse in depth and other specials teachers when one student had to be sent to the office for a medical issue and he stayed there the rest of the day. During this time the nurse talked to parents about how to help the student and I was able to take a roll in that and really have help in the situation which was a great feeling! 
• Standard 3
• This week I have completed 3C which discusses global awareness. Students have learned about China and how they have polluted the environment and they are going to be comparing this during the Google slide presentation! 
• Standard 4
• This week I have completed 4F and the students have to create a google slide presentation for NC Natural Resources. The students are working in groups and each student has their own specific roles. 
• Standard 5
• This week I have been able to complete standard 5B because I was able to sit in on a professional growth seminar that discussed behavior so it was really interesting to see and hear ideas on how to decrease behavior issues within the classroom! 

Other

This week I have taught my reengagement lesson and really trying to get edTPA finished and ready for submission date!

Blog Post: Feb 15th

Overall Reflection 

This week I would rate I this week a 2. This week was pretty difficult because I have had to spend more time with edTPA and I feel like it was very hard to balance edTPA with lesson planning and what I need to be doing within the classroom to prepare. I would love if I could just add two hours to each day and that would have helped a ton this week! This week my pleasant surprises were my students understanding their North Carolina Cherokee Indians information within social studies time. My students loved to learn about this and they were able to successfully compare the Cherokee Indians to how we live our lives today. Next week we are going to continue to go more in-depth with fractions, and this is something that is still going to be new for my students. My short term goal and long term goal of staying organized have really been stressed this week, but in the future, I am going to do my best with time management and getting ahead as early as I can. This week I could have spent more time on everything, to be honest. This week we had professional development after school and then robotics so my time that I normally was working on my lessons and edTPA I did not have. This added to my stress of this week and getting everything done. For next week, I can get as many things done this weekend as I can. I can try to get everything ahead for the week so I do not have to focus during the week as much as I should at the end of the week. This week they took their math test on comparing and adding fractions. Students did well with adding fractions and subtracting fractions but could use more work with comparing fractions. This is something that students will work on during WIN time as well as during fluency review. 

Advice: I learned that Valentine's Day is a HUGE day for our students. They LOVE this day and this day can be very chaotic sometimes but also such a day to enjoy with your students!! 

NC Standards

• Standard 1 
• During this week I was able to implement 1C by attending a PD day on Word Study and how you can incorporate activities dealing with vocabulary and phonics. 
• Standard 2
•  During this week I was able to incorporate 2B by working through the culture of the Cherokee Indians and then comparing that to our culture now by asking specific questions about why and how we are different. Students were really able to see how we are very different now than how we were then. 
• Standard 3 
• This week I was able to incorporate standard 3D. I was able to incorporate a science experiment and have the students use magnets and get to explore with magnets and how some metals are magnetic and others are not as well as how magnets can create movement through the magnetic fields. My students LOVE magnets and this is something they all loved to work through and accomplish. 
• Standard 4 
• During this week I was able to incorporate standard 4D which talks about technology within the classroom. Students were able to work with kahoot during this week as well as working with a website called Study Island! 
• Standard 5
• During this week I was able to incorporate standard 5B which discusses how you can continually go to professional development and continue to learn and professionally grow. 

Other

During this week I was able to continue working on the professional development log as well continued to work on the classroom website. I do not need anything from my university supervisor. 

Blog: February 8th

This Week

Throughout this week, I would rate it a good 3! I have been sick this week and under the weather. I tried to fight it out but went to the doctor after school today and got medicine! Hopefully, I will start to feel better and be on the up and up! I would say that is really the only thing that I was struggling with this week. My students have learned this week about inferences and textual evidence. This was something that was so fun to teach and for my students to learn about! The students really excelled in this and were able to understand the information! Students will continue to use textual evidence and inferencing throughout the rest of my time student teaching. Next week, they are going to be learning about cause and effect and sequencing! My short term goal of getting my video clips cut and ready to write my instruction commentary for EdTPA have been done so that is exciting! Now I can continue to look forward and stay organized and on top of things! This week, I could have spent more time taking care of myself. I feel like I get so overwhelmed with everything that I have to do, but I do not take time for myself. I really should have gone to the doctor on Tuesday, but better late than never I guess. :) During this week, I was able to become more comfortable with the students. This is something that really shines within my lessons. My students were able to really be able to understand the information by me bringing in some jokes and sayings that are going to have the students really think about what they are working on. For next week, my goal is to continue being confident and a leader within the classroom and continue to really pour into the lives of my students. 

My advice for fellow student teachers: If you are sick go get medicine! Do not put it off like I did- you will be feeling better faster and that is what your students need!!! 

During this week, I have been able to analyze data within my math edTPA segment as well as during ELA time during inferencing. This is something that I was able to really help with my instruction for the next few days. For example, my students were really starting to understand inferencing and showing that they can correctly make inferences so later in the week, I did not spend as much time reviewing it as I would have if they were struggling with the information still. 

North Carolina Standard

• Standard 1
• Throughout this week I was able to implement 1A. I was able to use a variety of assessments to evaluate the students. This week they were able to play a game with popsicle sticks that showed their understanding of adding and subtracting fractions! This is something that my students loved and something that was different than the normal Eureka that they have been used to. 
• Standard 2
• This week I was able to implement standard 2C dealing with high school graduation and even college. Students were able to see my timeline "Road to Graduation" and then the students were able to make their own as well as present it to the class. It is so fun to hear about the dreams of my students going forward and how I am having an impact on them now to achieve that goal. 
• Standard 3
• This week I was able to make instruction relevant for the students. (3D). During my inference lesson, students were making inferences about pictures. This lesson was on Monday and the day after the Superbowl. One of the pictures was the Patriots player in the endzone celebrating after a touchdown. Students loved this because this was something that was relevant for them and something that they all spent time going over.  
• Standard 4
• During this week I implemented standard 4D which states "Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction".  This week I have really been trying to let students model information within math and within WIN time where they are coming up and interacting with the smartboard. This is something that the students love to do and they all want to come up to the board and solve the problem.  
• Standard 5
• During this week I was able to implement standard 5A on analyzing student learning. I was able to use exit tickets as well as other means of assessment to really make sure that my students were understanding the lessons and really able to show their learning. 

Other

I do not need anything from my university supervisor or my clinical educator. I have started to complete my math edTPA this week for my portfolio!!

Blog: February 1st

Overall Week

This week was an interesting week! The workload is VERY heavy this week as well as filming for edTPA I feel like I have focused on that this week. I would give this week a 2 because trying to balance everything has been very overwhelming! I was surprised at how well they were able to understand my edTPA unit and how they were able to really comprehend the material. I will continue to build on my students understanding of fractions as we continue to learn about fractions. Students are still struggling with this topic and will continue to need more guidance on this. My long term goals are aligned by making sure that I  am changing my instruction for data purposes and really being a leader in the classroom. I could have spent more time focusing on the other subject lessons when planning this week ( I was mostly focused on English for edTPA). I had more courage this week with discipline still. My students were really trying to "test me" as my CE calls it. I have found my "teacher voice" and am trying to make sure that the students see me as that authoritative figure. For next week, I would like to spend a lot of time this weekend getting my edTPA video cut and done so I can write my planning commentary. 

This week I was able to analyze data in a huge way. We had a data day this week which I was able to sit on and make changes to our WIN time. This was something that was very interesting to be a part of and have a say in! During this time, my students were taking a math test with a substitute. The sub said our class was very loud and talkative and when we got the grades back, the majority of our class did not pass. With this information, I changed things up and during WIN time later that week I retaught the information and overlooked the test and what went wrong. Students were able to retest today (Friday) and they improved their score (Some by a lot). I thought this was such a cool and neat experience to be able to do and see how I changed my instruction for what my students need and to see how it was able to improve and help their understanding was so amazing! 

NC Teaching Standards

• Standard 1
• 1A: Take responsibility for students learning and use data to set goals and organize for lessons
• Standard 2
• 2E: During this week I was able to give out my first awards ever on awards day! This is a day that we are able to choose students for the awards in their class. This is a big day at my school and parents were able to come and cheer on their children! This was a great day because I was able to discuss and talk to parents and tell them how proud we are of their child! Was a great way to get on a positive note with parents. 
• Standard 3
• 3C: This week I was able to incorporate global awareness within my lessons! I was able to teach my students about Japan and how we are different but also the same! Students LOVED this! They were able to make Origami bees at the end of the week and they loved it! 
• Standard 4
• 4D: Throughout this week students were able to use technology within their own hands! Students were able to use the computers for kahoot as well as quizizz! Students love working on this. 
• Standard 5 
• 5A: This week as mentioned above I was able to really analyze student learning throughout the week (especially on their math test and the retest). 

Other

This week I did my first global awareness and I was able to put that in my portfolio! As well as teaching edTPA which will eventually go into my portfolio. I do not need support from my CE or my university supervisor. 

Blog: January 25th, 2019

Overall Week

Throughout this week, I would rate it a 3. I would not say that this week has been necessarily too hard, but I would not say it has been easy either! This week has been a lot of time management when dealing with first observation, preparing for my edTPA week for literacy, and lesson planning for the next week. Doing everything all of this at once has really challenged me. Saying this, actually teaching this week has been amazing! I love being able to teach the students and see if they are actually understanding the information fully or not. One pleasant accomplishment this week that I completed was successfully taking over WIN, what I need, time. With having a half day on Wednesday, I had to extend our literacy time into WIN. The students are not going into their rotational groups, so this means I have the full class! I am able to be working on two-step word problems, which my teacher says that the students really struggle with.  This was something that they were not excited about learning, but at the end of the lesson, the majority were starting to get the hang of it. Going into next week, those who are still struggling with these word problems will be pulled into a back table with me in order to get more teacher guidance during this time. During this week I have started reading this data. We started word problems on Thursday, and on Friday I am going to pull students who were really struggling and could not solve the problems individually without help. This will allow these individual students to get more one-on-one teacher input while the class is working on the word problems individually. My short-term goals of taking data throughout each lesson and using this to drive instruction are apart of my long term goal and one of the NCTCS. I could have spent more time this week working on preparing my edTPA lesson plans. This is something that I am going to have to spend a lot of time this weekend making sure that I am fully prepared. During this week, I was able to show apprehension throughout the half-day. Having the students come in and having our schedule completely change, students were very confused and concerned. Being apprehensive and showing the students leadership during this time, they were able to stay focused and go with the flow throughout the day.  For next week, my logical steps are going to be to fully prepare for my edTPA teaching week. This is something that is going to be crucial to me throughout student teaching so I need to be fully prepared.  

Advice to my fellow student teachers: BREATHE. DO ONE THING AT A TIME. This is something that I really had to learn and focus on today. We have so many things going on and if we try to do all of them at once we are not going to be giving it our best effort. Try to focus on one thing and do it well, then go to the next task. 

 NC Teaching Standards

• Standard 1
• Throughout this week I was able to implement standard 1C which states, "Teachers lead the teaching profession". I was able to attend Profession Development that deals directly with my students and how to deal with my students when they are upset. This was called the CRM module. This was really interesting and I was glad to be present! 
• Standard 2
• Throughout this week I was able to implement standard 2A which states, "Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults". In the morning meeting on Thursday, I was able to share with the students that it was national compliment day! I gave the class a compliment and read the compliments that we had in the compliment jar of the class! This was a great moment for the students because they were able to see how lifting each other up can be positive for each person involved. 
• Standard 3
• This week I was able to implement standard 3A which states, "Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study". I was able to align all of my standards to my lesson plans and see where some standards overlap each other. (Reading and Math- Word Problems). 
• Standard 4
• Throughout this week I was able to implement standard 4C which states, "Teachers use a variety of instructional methods". Throughout this week, students were able to use a kahoot (online quiz: students try to get the top score), puzzles (Figurative Language Puzzles), and manipulatives within mathematics. These all provide a variety of instructional methods for the students to allow the students to get different ways of instruction. 
• Standard 5
• Throughout this week I was able to use standard 5A which states, "Teachers analyze student learning". Throughout this week I was able to take up data and fully get the information on how the students are doing with the specific learning tasks that the students are having to do. 

Other

• I have continued to work on my PDP and finalize my PDP for my portfolio. I have also continued taking data for my Behaviour plan. I am also teaching edTPA next week! (YAY!)
• I do not need support from my university supervisor or my clinical educator. 

Blog: January 18th, 2019

Overall Week

I am going to rate this week a 2. This week was started out great! On Monday it went really smoothly taking over reading. Throughout the week the students got more rambunctious. I get really bad migraines, and on Wednesday I had a super bad migraine. Working through a migraine was something that was difficult for me, but now I am going to always bring my medicine in my bag in case I need it during teaching. This way, I do not have to continue teaching with a migraine. Besides this, I thought taking over reading went very smoothly and the students were able to slowly getting used to myself teaching instead of my CE. The lessons that I am going to be building off next week are with poetry. Students have been learning poetry, but next week students will be working on figurative language within poetry. After students learn this, they are going to be working on their poetry test. Students will be building off the previous knowledge because they are able to discuss the figurative language that is within the poetry and have this aid in their comprehension of the poem. My short term efforts and my long term goals are still aligned by still trying to stay focused and get ahead each week. I am still trying to be as organized as possible as well as trying to plan well ahead! This week I could have spent more time working on my edTPA earlier in the week. This week on Monday I came in confident in what I was teaching on Monday and excited to start taking over some of Reading. I feel like this courage really helped my lesson and helped the students see that I was confident with my teaching. My first steps for next week are to go ahead and get all of my materials together and start what I need to be working on. I can clear out working on my planning commentary because I will be doing that this Saturday! This week I was able to successfully incorporate closures to my math lessons and allows me to see what the students are actually learning throughout each lesson. I use this data each day to decide who is going to be in my small group that is struggling with the material! I have a normal group as well as the group :) 

My piece of advice for other student teachers is continually asking your CE for resources that they may have access to! It is important we are taking as much away from this learning experience as we can! My CE has been super helpful with ideas and resources that I can use. Always ask and keep learning! 

NC Standards

• Standard 1
• This week I was able to complete part of NCTCS 1C which is, "Teachers lead the teaching profession". This Friday, we have a half day. Once the students leave, the staff is all going through a PD seminar from 1-3:30. This is something that is going to be very new to me, so I am excited! It is going to be on analyzing data and the best ways to incorporate data within the classroom. 
• Standard 2
• Throughout this week I was able to complete on NCTCS 2E which is, "Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in their lives of their students". Throughout this week I was able to sign my student's planners and agendas, which their parents see. As well as sit in on a parent conference with my teacher. This was something that was also new for me and interesting to see! I was able to add to the conversation and continue building a relationship with this parent. Also throughout this week one of my student's mom came to lunch. This student asked me to sit with them, so I was able to sit with the mom and have a conversation with her and really build a relationship with the parents of this student. These relationships are important to make sure that both ends are doing everything that we can for the student. 
• Standard 3
• This week I was able to incorporate 2B which is, "Teachers know the content appropriate to their teaching specialty. Throughout this week, I made it apparent to really know what I was teaching each day and really prepared before the day arrived. This way I could fully answer any students questions as well as get the students excited about learning. 
• Standard 4 
• Throughout this week I was able to incorporate 4B which is, "Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students". This is something that I was able to do by monitoring and modifying plans to enhance student learning. I was able to adapt my plans when the need is this week as well as really get a glimpse of how to change something in the middle of the plan if it is not working. 
• Standard 5
• This week I was able to incorporate Standard 5C which states, "Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment". Throughout this week I was able to adapt my practice based on data. One day during this week during math, my students were really struggling with what was being presented to them. Throughout this lesson, I just slightly adapted what I was teaching and how it was being presented on the smartboard and it was able to aid in the comprehension of my student's knowledge of the information that was presented. 

Other

I have been working on my management plan as well as finalizing my information for my global awareness. I do not need any information from my CE as well as my University Supervisor. 

Blog Post: January 11th

Questions for Week

Throughout this week, I would rate this week a 4. This was a good week with taking over mathematics! This week, I was able to start taking over mathematics! This was an accomplishment for me because I have not taught that many math lessons before. My lessons taught me that my students are reading to continue building on fractions.  The students were able to understand the information presented and they will continue to learn off that. My short term efforts are still in line with my long term goals. Learning how to manage my time, and learning how to effectively interact with the students is something that will help me in my long term goals of being a teacher that is going to effectively teach students and provide students with what they need. I can spend more time focusing on my hooks and researching hooks for my lessons. I think I was more apprehension this week since I started taking over lessons. I was not as timid when it came to classroom management. My steps for next week are that I need to prepare for my math and reading lessons, as well as get my materials ready that I need to be printed. This can be done on Friday, to prepare for the upcoming week. 

Some data that I analyzed this week was at the beginning of my fraction lessons. The students were tested on two-digit by two-digit multiplication at the beginning of the week. Afterward, I was able to start teaching fractions. For morning work, the students worked on a worksheet that was dealing with identifying fractions. This was something that the students should have learned in 3rd grade. The students were able to answer these problems very quickly. The students all were able to understand the information. Which is very important, because the students needed this foundation in order to fully understand the lesson. Based off how they were doing on their morning work, I did not need to do a reteach of this information. 

Advice for my fellow student teachers: Get ahead! As much as you can. It is going to be crucial to plan ahead and start working on all things!

NC Standards

• Standard 1
• Throughout this week, I was able to help with Stanard 1A. I was able to take responsibility for all students learning during mathematics. I had to make sure that the students were learning the material. I also was able to use data to organize lessons, plan and set goals for my students. 
• Standard 2
• For standard, I was able to implement standard 2A. I was able to encourage an environment within the classroom that was inviting and respectful for my students. 
• Standard 3
• During this week, I had the ability to implement standard 3D. I was able to make instruction relevant for students by creating engaging hooks and activities for the students. During this week, I was able to plan these engaging activities and hooks for the following week. This is something that is going to make the students relevant for students. 
• Standard 4
• Throughout this week, I was able to implement standard 4C. I was able to use methods and materials that create a variety of instructional methods. Students worked on computers, with partners, and small groups throughout this week. 
• Standard 5 
• Throughout this week, I was able to implement the standard 5A. I was able to analyze student learning and have the ability to use that to drive data. 

Other

Throughout this week I have been able to work on edTPA as well as my behavior management. My CE does not need anything from my university supervisor and I do not need anything from my university supervisor. 

Weekly Reflections: January 4th

Seven Questions to End Week

This week I would rate my week a good 4. Since this week is all observation, it was not too difficult and I had the ability to get the majority of things done that were needed to be done this week earlier. 

The pleasant surprise I achieved this week was surviving the first week of student teaching! Woohoo!! Although this was only an observation week, I loved having the ability to get to really know the classroom and how the full day functions and works. I learned this week to be very organized and plan well! This is something that I can build upon next week because next week I start to take over Math! My short-term efforts this week of getting things done on time and being organized and products are still aligned with the NCTCS and my goals throughout this year of being organized and staying on top of the information.  I could have spent more time this week working on my edTPA. This is something that I need to carve out time for, even if I am very busy. This is a huge part of student teaching as well as my future! Throughout this week, there were a few moments of indecision on if I should discipline students or not yet. With not fully taking the classroom over, I was unaware if I should or should not discipline students. This is something that starting next week I need to have courage on and get more appreciation in and practice in- students need to see me as an authoritative figure (and that starts now)! The first logical steps for next week are going to start working on lesson plans for the next week and get more settled within the classroom. For Sunday, I really need to work on getting all of the math ready and organized for the week. 

With this week being an observation week, I did not analyze any data myself. I watched what the students were doing and how the students were doing on two-digit by two-digit multiplication and I noticed that these students are going to need slightly more practice with this before the test on Tuesday. 

One piece of advice I want to share with other students is to stop in the rush, stop in the hustle, stop at the moment, and ENJOY. This is such a fun time, (yes stressful time), but just take time to actually stop and look at this wonderful experience we are in! ENJOY IT. 

NC Teacher Candidate Standards: Observation Week

• Standard One A: Teachers Lead in Their Classroom
• Throughout this week I was able to watch my CE lead within the classroom. I was able to watch my teacher foster communication, collaboration, respect, and a great classroom environment. This is something that I want to incorporate throughout my student teaching experience. One way my CE lead the classroom this week was by encouraging students about the new year. He was trying to empower our students and let them know they have the capability to work on anything if they do hard work.
• Standard Two A: Teachers Provide an Environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. 
• Throughout this first week, observation week, I had the ability to watch my teacher create a positive classroom environment. There were pictures put up on the bulletin board that was from the past semester, and all of my students were on the bulletin board. My students absolutely loved this and the pictures made the students feel like they were apart of the class and that they belonged within the class. 
• Standard Three C: Teachers Recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines
• During observation week, I saw my teacher interconnect science to math. For the word problems during multiplication practice, students were reading information about National Parks around the United States. This was something that is informational as well as what the students are practicing. 
• Standard Four C: Teachers use a variety of instructional method
• Throughout observation week, I watched my CE use multiple different instructional methods. One was using small group instruction, this was in ELA reading time. The groups were leveled and the students had the ability to read material that was on their certain level. My CE also does whole-group lessons. 
• Standard Five A: Teachers analyze student learning
• My CE gave a test on the drama play that my students have been working on. This is one way to ensure that the students are understanding the informaiton and fully having the ability to comprehend the text. 

Other

• I outlined the portfolio and started on my classroom website this week! 
• My clinical educator does not need support from my university supervisor this week. 
• I do not need any support from my university supervisor this week.