Blog 14

Week Of THE LAST BLOG!!!!!!

Level of Difficulty: FINALLY!!!

Observe

What a crazy road it has been to get here! This week, only had 2 full days. Not much teaching, mostly me transitioning from full time to moving forward into full time teaching...on my own! I have learned so much.  This week I am trying to prepare my heart and mind for my new path. I have seen where I still need to improve.

Reflect

I think one of the hardest things to learn as a teacher is how to manage it all. Though, I am still learning and growing, I have learned how to manage time, manage students and how to effectively instruct. This time we have spent during student teaching has strengthened my skill set and given me a good understanding of how to run the classroom, how to get the most out of my students and how to plan accordingly.

Focus

My focus for the next few weeks will be to get settled into my new room and school I will be starting sometime in the next week hopefully. I am so ready and excited!

Be Productive

My goal and purpose this week is to really get ready to move into the teacher role. I am trying to get my thoughts together and my plan. Looking at the curriculum map and think through how I am going to start is top priority.

Have Courage

To get in there and do this! It will be good to get almost a full year in by summer. It is going to be stressful and challenging but it will work out! I am stoked!

Begin Anew

Job

Data

ADVICE

Work hard, get after it, do great!!

Here we are! We made it!!

Blog13

Week Of Friday: November 17

Level of Difficulty: Awesome

Observe: This week I observed that I have developed a lot as a teacher and a leader. I don’t mean to sound conceded but I just believe so much more in my abilities to teach and to run an effective classroom. I see more clearly everyday how students learn and how to provide them with an education and an environment where they can thrive!

Reflect: I have been very thankful and grateful for everything my CE has done to help me and encourage me as an educator. I have learned so much and I really do not want to leave. I wish I could be in her class forever!  I also hate to leave my kids (yes my kids, that is how much I have taken ownership of this class!) They are such a great group and they are going to be upset when I leave (not as much as me though) Even as a grown man, I am probably gonna tear up a bit :(

Focus: Focus this week goes to my new possible job op. My gig at my school didn’t work out.  It went to another more qualified teacher which bummed me out. But I had another interview lined up and it worked out...well so far. They are very close in making it happen (probably over Thanksgiving break :)  Focusing all my prayers and preparations for this new job!

Be Productive: Finishing strong. It is bittersweet, but I am ready to knock this student teaching out and get in the classroom.

Have Courage Courage to start my new job!

Begin Anew Get ready to start my new class. Lesson planning, classroom design, getting settled etc….learning how to steer the ship solo (with the help of my mentor and other team mates) Start thinking about the future and present.

Data In PLC meetings, we are still making strategies available for each student and trying to develop their strengths and overcome any weak areas. I see more and more how data drives instruction and how each student needs different things.

ADVICE You got it!!  Work your tail off!! You will be stronger!!

Blog 11

Week Of Friday:  NOVEMBER: 6-9

Level of Difficulty: GETTING BETTER

Observe: This is a real quick blog. This week started off a little rough but ended well! Getting better at this here teaching thing.

Reflect: To work on this week: Finish Portfolio, Develop new guided reading groups, incorporate new classroom strategies that I am learning from the book: Teach Like a Champion Get it here for $1.99!!!. A must read...good stuff on facilitating learning, instructional coaching as well as classroom management strategies that work for all age groups.

Focus Getting the last full week knocked out!! Getting a job and all my requirements completed.

Be Productive Get all of my lessons in and get all of my students caught up who are behind work wise.

Have Courage Just to be patient on my job situation and begin thinking about the transition and how it will look.

Begin Anew Job soon hopefully

Data Took our NC check ins. My group scored an average 80% !!!! So excited and hoping to continue that pace as we move on into the year.

ADVICE Be ready for everything. Always be on your game...you don’t know who may walk in and be impressed by your teaching.

Standard 1 1A: Teachers lead in their classrooms Continuing to develop a culture of positivity and independence in our classroom. I am really sad to be moving on soon. :(

Blog 10

Week Of Friday:  OCTOBER 11/3

Level of Difficulty: 4

Observe: This week was pure craziness. First: It was Halloween on Tuesday of course. Second: It was Benchmark week (Wednesday and Thursday) Third: It was a half day Thursday (Double crazy with 3 parent conferences) and Fourth: Teacher workday on Friday! To say the least, I am not sure how we will get back on track Monday but I know we will. My students were awesome this week! Not too many behavior problems, they were great when Dr. Wesson came in….honestly, they are always great. I am so spoiled.

That is why if I get this job, I am going to have my hands full. The group in 4th grade, I have heard, struggle behaviorally and academically. So I am really not worried, but contemplating a strategy. Like I said though: I am spoiled!

Reflect: I had my first interview this week, my last observation and I am looking ahead to plan for full time status. First the interview. I honestly was not too nervous but still, I had that feeling like I wasn’t sure how it was going to go. I know everyone involved so that was a plus, I just didn’t want to be typical or scripted, which I wasn’t. They asked me things like: How will you handle the situation you are going to be in? (Behavior? Classroom Management? What is your style? How do you handle stress?)  What is your style of management? Style of teaching? (Student led/PBL/Lecture, practice, independent practice etc….) How do you feel about technology in education? What is your philosophy on homework? These are the heavy hitters I remember. There were a few curveballs (I believe this is a tactic to see how the interviewee answers a question “off script” or how do we process information quickly on the spot). One was: Falcons or the Panthers? (I think because my teammate is a diehard Falcons fan!) Another was: What kind of crazy do you bring? The hardest one honestly was: What would you change about your current classroom? This was hard because my CE was in the interview. My answer: Nothing honestly. The only thing I would change is how I deliver my lessons. I love our class vibe, structure and schedule. My issue is how do I teach two different blocks the same content when one block is higher and understands/participates/gives feedback and the other group acts bored/disinterested/doesn’t understand. This is where I have really had to differentiate and make sure I work to reach each student. But time…..(every teacher’s struggle I know.)

So all things considered, I have contemplated what my strategy will be WHEN I get in the 4th grade classroom. Notice I said WHEN not IF.  Haha!

Focus Focus has been getting portfolio finished and ready to present. I have 2 more weeks and I will be finished with my 10 week full time status!!

Be Productive Working with 4th grade to look over what the next 9 weeks looks like. I have also made sure to stay on top of my lesson planning etc...Also making sure I have enough content to add to my student teaching video.

Have Courage Courage to finish strong and get busy whenever I get hired. To continue to grow as an educator and how I instruct.

Begin Anew Hopefully a job.

Data We took benchmarks this week so we will see what students are understanding and what we need to work with them on over the next few weeks. Using iReady still to drive remediation and make sure students are getting what they need all around.

ADVICE Always be prepared, make sure you make a lasting impression as soon you start working with your school system. Go above and beyond and be willing to do extra things that no one else wants to.

Standard 1 1A: Teachers lead in their classrooms: I have been working to build independence in my students as much as possible. When they have a question, I ask them to see if they can figure it out or ask a teammate first. If they can’t figure it out together, then I will help them. Maybe not give them a direct answer, but I will lead them. I want them to develop those problem solving skills and to work as a team as much as possible.

Standard 2: I have a student who has a hard homelife and really has trouble making friends. He is a great kid but I think it is hard for him. He has 2 other boys that he likes to hang with so I try as much as possible to keep them together. He also comes to school with no snack so I keep a stash of snacks for him just in case. They are for anyone, but I bought them for him mostly.

Standard 4: Again, making sure each group has what they need academically has been a struggle because of the two very different blocks. I have had to be intentional in how I teach them both. It is very interesting to me in how to create content and how to teach in a way that supports each type of learner. In the future I will really focus on this a lot more.

This has been a great week and I appreciate my CE and Dr. Wesson for helping me, cheering me on and being there for me.  Almost there!!!