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.