Student Teaching

I kow I haven't update in a VERY long time. I think it is about time I give some reflection on my student teaching. It has been challenging and amazing all at the same time. I have been keeping a weekly journal for NAU and I am going to share it with you here!

January 12-16, 2009
I have had a great week. I am so enjoying getting to know the children. Observing the students has given me a very unique perspective. I am able tosee the inner workings of the classroom. I have to luxury of noticing whomight be an instigator, who needs a little more help and who needs a gentle push in the right direction. I have enjoyed helping Mrs. Page with classroom maintenance. I am becoming familiar with her computerized grade book as well as attendance, lunch policies, and classroom routines, procedures andschedules. This week I have been able to read to the students from their read aloud book after lunch recess. The students get so excited and enthralled with the story; they always want “one more chapter”. I have enjoyed planning my lessons for reading for the week. I am very grateful toMrs. Page she has been an amazing guide. At first I was nervous to just jump in, but she held my hand through the first couple of ideas and let me go. I have enjoyed bouncing ideas back and forth and am looking forward to teaching reading next week.
What I learned this week:
Student teaching thus far has been a great experience. I have learned a lotabout myself as well as navigating around a school as a teacher. I havestarted reading aloud to the class, and have learned that the studentsreally enjoy that. Inflection is a big part of reading aloud and drawing thestudents’ attention. At first I was nervous because I haven’t read aloud ina while, but I found my rhythm rather quickly. I have also learned thatteaching is a journey and experience, and no matter if you are a brand newteacher, or a veteran teacher, it is awesome to share ideas. During myplanning of my reading lesson (I am teaching context clues) I asked Mrs.Page if she had an overhead of the story so that I could model for thestudents how we might look for context clues. She really liked my idea andit made me feel like I really have something to bring to the table. I thinkthe most important thing I learned this week is that I am prepared, and Ishouldn’t be afraid to be creative, I just have to have confidence.

January 20-23, 2009
This was my first week actually teaching. I taught whole group reading inthe afternoons following lunch and recess. I had a difficult first day. Mrs.Page was out of town due to her son having a Dr.'s appt. so I was in theclassroom with a sub. I can see that the students not only act verydifferently when a sub is in the room, but also have a hard time adjustingafter a long weekend. My second day of teaching was MUCH better. I haveenjoyed very much teaching the students. The week has been very successful.I have been a bit stressed as this is my first week to teach; I have beenstudying for the AEPA and am taking both the professional knowledge andsubject knowledge tests tomorrow. I have also been busy working on my 7 steplesson plan for your upcoming visit, and working on ideas for my task streamassignment. It has been hectic!What I learned this week:
Most of the time when kids misbehave it has nothing to do with theteacher. I have learned that I will never know exactly what a student isdealing with at home, and I can never judge their attitude based solely onwhat happens at school. Students for the most part want structure anddiscipline. I have learned that there will sometimes be students who makeyou want to pull out your hair, but as long as you are consistent, fair, andhave their best interest at heart they will come around. I have learned thatalthough you may have a bad day, you get back up on the horse, and the nextday can't be nearly as bad as the day before. I am really enjoying coming upwith ideas and activities to do with the students. My first week I was verynervous about making my lesson plans and felt that my ideas weren't going towork, but this week has showed me that I do have good ideas and there willbe times when what you plan doesn't work, but you just modify and try itagain, or in a different way.

January 26-28, 2009
This week has been challenging. I have been sick with a cold so I have dealt with losing my voice and my hearing hasn’t been as keen as usual. I have enjoyed taking on another subject. It allows me to spend more time in front of the kids and they are starting to see me more as one of their teachers. I get frustrated sometimes because I feel like I am not being as effective as I would like to be. I think I am being a little too hard on myself and I think my sickness has something to do with it. I have felt like I need to run everything past Mrs. Page, but have come to realize that I need to just go with my gut and she will let me know if I need to change or fix something.

What I learned this week:
I have learned that sometimes it is important to just take the reins and run with it. I have relied on Mrs. Page to help me with ideas, but I am realizing that this is my time to come up with ideas. I am also learning that over planning is good, but there are going to be a lot of times that I can’t get to everything in a day and I need to not beat myself up about it. Time management will need to be the next thing I really focus on. I am starting to gain more respect from the students, and as long as I stay consistent they are responding to me in a positive way. It is sometimes hard for me to be “mean" but as several teachers have told me it is important for the student to have structure and become familiar with procedures and respect for others.

February 2-6, 2009
This week has been AMAZING!! I have been really wondering if teaching is what I want to do, and this week reminded me what I have been working for, for so long. I had some lessons that I was really excited about, and really good participation from the kids. They are finally starting to see me as a teacher, their teacher. So I have a lot more authority and acceptance now. I have loved coming to school everyday and making lesson plans, handouts and worksheets. I am realizing that even though at times it is difficult I really do love it. I have a renewed excitement and a new exuberance. It’s been a great week!

What I learned this week:
Parent teacher conferences really aren’t that scary!! This was a shock to me. I anticipated things going badly with at least some parents, but we had 18 out of 19 parents show up and it was awesome! I love teaching! I “knew” I loved it, but I have never taught close to all day everyday. I am amazed at the feeling I get when I teach! It is incredible! I really feel as though I am making an impact. I love when Mrs. Page gets excited about my ideas. It makes me feel like a legitimate teacher. She values what I do and that makes me feel like I am growing ten fold. It has been a week of adventure and discovery!

February 9-13, 2009
This week was one to test my patience. I am realizing that the students react directly to my mood, volume and demeanor. It is incredible how changing just one thing makes the class behave different. This week I have taken over math which leaves only 2 subjects left for me to take on. I I have come to realize that week long lesson plans for so many subjects can sometimes be easier to plan for. It helps me allot time for each and every topic, so I know just how much time I need for each. I love teaching math! The kids have really been into it as well. It is such a hands on subject and the kids really get involved. It's been great.

What I learned this week:
A full moon and or air pressures make or break your kids! It is a crazy phenomenon, but it is REALLY happens! This week I was blessed with encountering both things at once! That made the week....LOUD! I have learned that you will never get the kids to "stop talking" you must DIRECT their talking. "Turn to your shoulder buddy and tell them what line of symmetry means." This allows the students to get talk, but it is useful and increases learning. I have learned that if I want the volume of the kids to go down I must speak softer. I set the tone, they follow. It has been an awesome week of learning and testing myself. Bring on the rest!