Week 15? nah!

Today felt like what I would feel like if I was going to my wedding.
I started to tear up as soon as I started recessing in with all the other graduates.
When the first prayer was prayed my eyes started to tear up again.

I can't explain it, but I just know that God was with me and all of us in that moment. 
I feel like today marked a transition in my own spirit. 
From student to teacher.  From child to adult. (hopefully you know what I mean)...

I left feeling grace, and feeling strength, and feeling love from so many friends, family members, and cohorts from my cohort. ;)

I'm beyond blessed today and just feel like my heart is full of thanks and praise to God.
I don't know what's coming next, but he does, and I'm excited!

Thank you all!

Week 14!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!

My goals for this week are to enjoy the children and to actively make peace happen in my classroom. 
One word to describe last week was fast!  It went by super fast, and I am so thankful for that.
I'm so appreciative at this point of all the support through prayers and words of encouragement I've received from my supervisors and first placement cooperating staff.  I've even met some teachers at my second placement that have been super encouraging.

I'm challenged to move forward with confidence and a dedication to including many different types of learning activities. 

Things are going as smooth as possible, and I'm looking forward to THURSDAY!!!

Yay!  We did it.

Week 13

My goals last week were good.  I've been benefitted by having extra activities or extensions of what the kids are learning in my mind and at the ready for if there's extra time.

My new goals for this week were to pray for the Spirit to just lead me and flow through me as I teach.  I've been praying that God would just activate the gifts he's placed in me for his glory.  I realize more than ever that if this is a calling from Him, then I need to humble myself and be willing to be weak.  To realize that he's the one that is giving me everything I need to be a teacher.  I've been praying that his love would flow through me as I teach.  And honestly, if that sounds uber spiritual, I'm sorry.  I just realize how weak I truly am and how much I really need him, every day for everything.

I've been humbled and taught many things throughout this experience, and I'm still learning.  One word I would use to describe this week is miraculous.  God has taken the reigns this week and somewhere along the way, I feel like a switch turned on.  I felt it during some lessons, and my teacher even started leaving way more.  I think she felt it too.  God is with me, and I have been enjoying the kids, and what I'm teaching, and I don't take any credit... If I do take credit it's mostly for my weaknesses.

My daily interactions with my students (being that they come from diverse backgrounds: Arabic, Polish, Mexican, Caucasian, etc.) continue to help me realize how much language, culture, family, and community values have an impact on their learning.  It impacts everything, down to how they think and what they think about certain topics.  It is a factor that can be attributed to why they understand certain mainstream cultural things and why they don't. 

I'm so touched by learning more and more about these kiddos.  Learning about their parents and home backgrounds just causes me to want to pray for these kids, and to create a safe and fun environment, a community for them to work and learn in.  I understand that a huge factor on some of their lives is the fact that many of their parents are very young.  When teaching such a diverse group, I have realized in the moment (those moments when I need to think on my feet in front of them) that their experiences and perspectives are not going to be my shared experiences. 

This week I tried to be sensitive to cultural diversity during one of their arts activities.  I played them some music while they were cutting and pasting and tried to get them into a festive mood.  I chose songs that did not bring up Christmas.  I chose songs like Let it Snow and Jingle Bell Rock (by the chipmunks).  The kids know them, but I felt this was helping diversity because some of the Arabic kids don't celebrate Christmas, but celebrate EID.  I didn't want to promote one holiday over another one, and that is why I tried to choose neutral songs, things that would sing about winter/snowy things.  I don't feel that I denied my faith in anyway by doing this.  I really took time to think it over.  I think this is appropriate because in my own heart, I feel like that American Christmas is crazy.  It's presents, gifts, and people overspending.  I don't think any nonbeliever is going to see Christ just because I play a song that has the word Christmas in it.  I think they will experience Christ if I'm a Spirit filled teacher who lives and gives out the grace and love that God's given me.  (I'm not sure if I'm right, but I feel like my heart is in the right place, so to each their own perspective I suppose.)

I've been trying to design my instruction appropriate to the students' needs by choosing an activity or assessment, and then depending on their response to it (confusion, or instant grasp of the concept), I move forward and make decisions on what type of activities we should do next.  It helps me to decide if we need to stick to the same topic for another day, or if we're free to review other topics that we've previously learned.  Every day reflection is such a huge part of how I think through this process.  And I'm reflecting into the night.  I have found that teaching isn't something that you leave when you sign out at 3:15 or 4:00 or whenever. 

My cooperating teacher respects the diversity of students and families by acknowledging the fact that certain students celebrate EID and others celebrate Christmas.  I think that it helps the kids not feel weird or different.  The kids just feel like a little community, and no one is treated badly for their differing celebrations.

Things are winding down, and next week I should be teaching half days.  I will be observing a little, but teaching Monday & Tuesday.  The school musical is Wednesday and Thursday, so they'll be easy days.  I plan on enjoying the kids as much as I can, and I hope my cooperating teacher's goal is the same. 

In response to the discord that's been going on in my placement, I have to say that since this switch has been turned on, it's been like a source of life.  I feel like it just came out of nowhere.  The fear is gone.  My hands may still shake but I'm feeling more confident and enjoying these kids.  The lessons and discussions come easier and I'm sure it might baffle or surprise someone who thought that I'd never get past my lack of confidence.  And I guess this is my only explanation.

I Corinthians 1:27
"But God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong."

In spite of any struggle or weakness that I've had, in my weakness God's been strong and he's the one whose going to put me in the teaching position that he wants me to be in.  Done.  It's pretty awesome to see the completion of an awesome goal. 

Which reminds me, it's so entirely true...

"Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." Eph 7:8

Week 13: Done      :)

Week 12

My goals for last week were to have activities to take up the teaching time, and then to plan over the break.  Well I was able to have activities for the time. I think my teacher pinpointed a good thing that I missed on one of my activities. I had a game that was a blends Bingo, that was supposed to help students to identify blends.  I introduced it in a way that wasn't as great as it could have been.  We talked after about how to structure the game so that the kids were still getting some higher order thinking skills in.  She really made me think, and it was just a simple switch that I could have made with my wording.  This conversation helped me to make sure that I'm evaluating what I am asking of the students.  I want to be making THEM think, and not putting the thinking on myself.  If I did that all the time, I will definitely lose some of the kids who are higher.  I mean, they would still enjoy the game, but the learning that could have happened will just be missed.  This was a good lesson for me to learn.

One word to describe my week:  short.  It came and went, and now I'm in my almost last week of full time teaching.  It feels so good to be so close to the finish line.

A lesson I taught where I created multiple learning activities that allowed for variation in students' learning styles and performance modes was probably something that happened last week.  I've been trying to integrate a couple different things during Phonics.  So, we listened to a song, had kids come up to the board, and had pictures to pass out for the kids to see to illustrate what we were learning.  This week, I have a powerpoint for them to see a few of the words with long a (our focus this week) and then they'll be able to practice coming up with other long a words. 
I don't have any students with IEPs in my classroom and so I didn't have to plan instruction for any students with disabilities.  The students who receive reading/ELL services are pulled out of class by another teacher.

I have learned from my teaching that accessing students' prior knowledge of content before beginning the lesson is vital to grabbing the kids interest.  It also is the framework for getting their little minds thinking along the right lines.  I think it fires up their schema and that's what enables them to connect what they already know to what they're going to learn next. 

As of right now, I don't need any feedback.  I'm wondering if there are any teacher/resource websites that you have used/would recommend.  I've been trying to find supplemental sites, and so far Pinterest is a good site.  Otherwise, I'm looking up the sites that go along with the textbooks.

Thank you!

Week 11

My goals from last week were good.  One of my new goals I have for this coming week are to be prepared with activities to take up my teaching time (the 2 1/2 days I'll be teaching is very haphazard with Thanksgiving activities taking up the whole time according to the lesson plans that the First Grade Team created).  I'm planning on read alouds, cut & paste activities, singing stuff, etc. Another goal I have is to make it to Wednesday afternoon and then take books home and plan out the next week so that I can enjoy my holiday.  I need to see family or maybe just get this placement off my mind.  Two and a half days seems like it'll be the longest week regardless.

One word to describe my week:  blank.  Nothing I do is good enough, and even if I have an amazing teaching day, the littlest weakness is being pinpointed.  I don't know if I'm going to make it through.  Honestly.  I've been getting comments that a few things I've forgotten could lead to me being kicked out of the school. 

Well, unless it's in God's plan for me to fail, after all these years invested, money invested, heart invested in learning and teaching, then the result she thinks is inevitable will not come to pass.  I'm just going to try paying even more attention to every detail.  I'm like part of a circus, trying to make sure I jump through all the hoops.  And even then it's not good enough, I need to move faster and jump higher.

The prompts.
A lesson I taught this week that successfully engaged my students was a phonics lesson that we had. (there were a few more, but this was my number 1) I reviewed a few words on the board to remind them of what we'd been working on during the week:  sh & th blends, and the a sound in ball.  Then we listened to the Phonics song which they loved and I displayed the words on a big chart on the board.  Then kids came up and identified words that contained the blends or a sound.  They loved singing the song, and it was such a great time with me and them.  We listened to it play through a few times.   

During my teaching I adjusted my strategies by letting them hear the song more times than I had planned, and then I asked them to listen for the sh/th/a sounds.  It's a good preview, and they were motivated to come up and identify the sounds.  I was able to be myself, be silly with them, and yet maintain order.  These kids are just the sweetest.

I don't need any feedback.  My supervisor knows everything, and one of my goals right now is to stay in constant contact.  Any communication I have that is questionable I will be forwarding to her and possibly my seminar instructor.  The refrain of my communication with this CT is repetitive.  Anything that happens I'll be emailing/communicating so that there's notice of the situation that's transpiring.  I can definitely say that I never thought it would be like this.  There's just no fixing it.  Anything I try to say to defend myself or explain myself is shut down, and so I'm left without an advocate.  I just keep my mouth shut, which may be putting me in a bad light as well.  I feel like I can't win though, so it's better to just shut my mouth and hope I'm still able to graduate in December.

I'm still trying my best, but the last few days I've been so _______.  That's why I said blank.  I'm just trying to trudge through and enjoy my time teaching the kids, as well as make sure I remember every little OCD detail of all of her systems in her room so that the constant corrections die down.  But like I said, that's highly unlikely to happen.  The upside:  she's been leaving the room and that's helping me to feel so much more confident and I feel able to practice what I'm learning without a critical eye on me.

Week 10

Last week, my goals were to focus on incorporating activities that would allow my first graders to create, and also to have the best attitude.  I feel that I made a good start with the activities that I taught the kids this week, and my attitude was pretty good.  I feel like I'm in the home stretch and so I'm really excited about it.  I'm not as anxious as I used to be.  I even went back and visited my classroom from my first placement today.  I was able to be there all day and work with the kids and alongside my good friend.  It was just awesome and such a gift to be able to go back.  I just love that grade level, and I felt that I had grown so much with how I handle classroom issues.  I feel like it just gave me a shoot of confidence and I can see how God's been using my second placement as well as a place for me to grow.  I'm just so excited that I do see progress and growth (even if I'm not the best, I'm not putting the pressure on myself to be that anymore, just to DO my best, and that's all that matters)!  I feel like I still would really like to teach in a private school environment.  I've been in both environments.  I'm not opposed to public, but there are certain elements of creativity and freedom that aren't quite in the public setting.  But we'll see, I haven't observed the other grades in this second placement yet.

My goals for this week are the same:  to insert creative ways to teach subjects while meeting the objectives, and to have the best attitude possible (as a result of personal devotion time with God).  I'm excited for this portion to be wrapping up.  I can't say AGAIN how thankful I am to see growth.  It's not leaps and bounds, but it is enough.  I'm so thankful for God's work in my life, and helping me to persevere.  When I prefer the easy route, God takes me around the hard way, and I know it's for my good and because he is trying to make me.  It's not what I like, but it's shaping me into who he wants me to be... So, really, how can I complain?

It's not easy to find a single word to describe this week. I will say it was a kick in the pants.  In a good way!  My cooperating teacher ended up leaving at random points and then by Friday was gone for most of the day.  Being left on my own with no notice was interesting.  I did it though! I was able to effectively transition the kids, and get them to their specials on time.  This experience is invaluable to me!  I realize all that she does when she's trying to maintain order and a low volume are necessary.  The noise level that I originally thought was ok, I've come to realize is not.  It seems like the little bit I let them talk, it begins to escalate.  I've found the structure and times of quiet that we ask the kids to obey are much needed and are teaching these first graders how to show respect and be responsible for their next teacher.  If I let these good habits fall to the wayside, then their second grade teacher will just have to deal with the problems.  And that's not fair.  It's a good experience for me to be able to realize this on my own.  I hope that she continues to leave the room when I teach because I learn so much more when I don't have her to rely on or fall back on in the classroom.

Describe what I learned about creating a learning environment that encouraged social interaction, active engagement in learning, and self motivation.  This week I learned that these are all necessary for students to be able to enjoy what they're learning and want to participate.  This takes a lot of preparation, and my tone of voice when I'm teaching is so important.  With everything I do, I must instill a love of learning and a spirit of cooperation in these kids.  When they're able to be actively engaged (hands-on, visually stimulated, or kinesthetically involved) in a lesson, it is definitely more exciting and motivating for them.  I'm seeking to incorporate many times where students are able to do things like this.

Strategies that I used to create a smoothly functioning learning community in which students assume responsibility for themselves and one another are really behavior strategies.  I ask the students to help their neighbor if they are talking when they're supposed to be listening.  I remind them of what good, respectful listeners do, and verbally praise those students who are behaving how I want them to behave.  Students instantly respond and try to help each other to make the good choice of listening and being respectful.  It works as a kind of positive peer pressure.  I've also tried to add opportunities for students to work collaboratively when we're having a group discussion.  They were able to share their favorite land environment and animal in front of the class.  They had a drawing that they drew of this environment.  All of the students were listening very intently and seemed to enjoy it.  I'll try to incorporate sharing time again this week if it fits into our schedule.  I think opportunities to share what they've created with their friends are very motivating to the students.  They want to follow instructions and complete their assignment so that they're able to receive positive feedback from their peers.

I don't need any feedback right now.  I've been talking it over with my cooperating teacher, and my last week to teach will be the first week of December.  The second week of December will be my observation week.  I had planned on foregoing this, but now I definitely want to view several different grade levels, and am excited to see how each grade level teaches in the public school setting.  Keep the prayers coming, please.  Prayers for peace between this teacher and myself, and an attitude of collaboration. 

I'm almost there!  I'm in the home stretch and very excited about it.  Toward the end of the week my co-op teacher was being more encouraging, and said she could tell I was doing great with handling discipline.  So, I'm thankful for a positive comment.  I'll take it, but my confidence and assurance comes from God.  I'm so grateful that I made it this far.  It's pretty awesome.  My mom would be proud.

Week 9

My goals from last week were things I thought about, but it seemed like other goals
crept up on me as a matter of necessity.  I've been dealing more with interpersonal/intrapersonal
struggles.  I'm definitely being tested when it comes to self control, wisdom, and endurance. 
I feel like my goals for this week need to be to go above and beyond what is expected.  My cooperating teacher is not my biggest fan for reasons I'm still coming to find out.  I'm just seeking to focus on doing the best I can do by incorporating many different instructional methods of delivery, so that kids are engaged and they are able to doing higher order thinking (creating).  So, those are my goals, to do my best at having the best attitude and focus, and to use that focus to introduce many of my activities and lessons with the opportunities for students to create something.

One word to describe my week was responsibility.  I feel like instead of focusing on negatives and the way others act, I need to just take responsibility and put forth my best effort.  I feel like when people are trying to say negative things about you, and pick you apart on every side, they won't have any ammunition if you're doing your best and presenting your best.  I have to focus on my goals, and growing, and let the other stuff just kind of roll off my back.

One take-away from this week is that I'm learning how to treat people who dislike me.  I'm learning that it's not good to ignore or deny problems, but to keep an open dialogue and work your way through.  It's best not to be defensive or prideful of my abilities, because in reality, any great talents I have are from God.  I definitely feel humbled and feel like I'm in an incredible growing experience.  I am excited to graduate and finish at this point.  I'd like to move on to my own classroom and feel like I'd like to try this on my own.  It'll be nice to not have a teacher in the room with me all the time. 

Onto the prompts.  I think this school displays consistency in some ways, and others it doesn't.  The school has certain programs and rewarding things, and all teachers carry out those programs and promote them in their rooms.  The first grade team has the same lesson plans, and as a result all the classrooms know that their curriculum is aligned and all are learning the same thing.  Something that isn't consistent is a program that the principal promotes to first and second grade.  The teachers have hinted at the fact that they don't agree with the results so they don't implement it as much as the prinicipal would like.  They feel that because their students are progressing, there is no conflict.  I'm not sure how I feel about this, and what I would do if I was in that situation.  I think I would still try to do it, if I was being asked by my principal to implement the program.

I think that my school does a great job of communicating with the parents.  There are procedures set up to keep parents up to date on student grades as well as behavior in the classroom.  I think I'll have more of a handle on how the parent communication goes after I observe Parent Conferences tomorrow and Tuesday. 

I think what I will do as a teacher to communicate effectively with parents is (if there's time) try to make a list of students who are doing great, and plan to call those parents by the end of the week to let them know.  Too many times a parent is called when something wrong is happening, and I want the parents to know that I'm working with them.  I'm not just there to give them the bad news, I want them to share in the successes as well.

I don't need advice so much as I need prayer.  Prayers, prayers, prayers for myself and my cooperating teacher.  That there would be peace, an attitude of collaboration, and I'm just hoping she starts leaving the room after next week so I can have the kids to myself!  I enjoy it so much more when it's just me and the kids.