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.