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.