Weekly Reflections: January 4th

Overall Reflection
        My first half week back in the classroom was exciting and the students were on their best behaviors, a great way to start off the semester!  I have really missed the students and I am glad to be back in the classroom and full-time.  I can now focus solely on the students and what needs to be done in and out of the classroom.  I was able to experience my first full teacher workday on Wednesday of this week.  I worked for a daycare the past semester and was not able to spend many whole days in the classroom except on Wednesdays.  I am so grateful to be able to not have to worry about my responsibilities at my job and have time to really focus on being the best teacher I can be.  I have worked very hard to be at this point in my life and I am not going to jeopardize this opportunity in anyway.  Therefore, my full time and focus will be on student teaching and absorbing all knowledge and experiences possible.  Wednesday we cleaned the room and planned as a team for the next week.  The students came back to school Thursday and Friday.  The students were very quiet and sleepy Thursday, they were having a hard time adjusting to their schedules changing back to school time.  Thursday we begin our unit on the arctic.  The students seem to really enjoy this topic and are excited to learn more about this part of the world.  On Friday the students were very energetic and restless, this came from not being able to go outside because of the weather.  I would rate my overall experience for this week as a 5.  I observed and assisted this week, the students were well behaved, this is why I rated my week as a 5.  A pleasant surprise for me this week would be observing how well our two new students are doing with the content, social emotional, and behavioral aspects of the class.  The accomplishments I am most proud of this week would be my creation of my lesson plans for the next week.  I was excited to hear my CE and University Supervisor approved them!  I am a perfectionist so I stress over every detail in my lesson plans, so this was an accomplishment for me.  The lesson I was taught during my experience in the class this week taught me the importance of classroom management and staying consistent.  I will build upon my classroom management skills next week.  I am seeing a positive response from the students by staying consistent with the classroom rules, expectations, rewards, consequences, etc.  My short-term efforts are to stay ahead on my lesson planning and school work.  This will help me to have the materials and content prepared for my students and will also help me to take care of myself so that I am 100% for my students each day.  This aligns with my long-term goals of being successful in my student teaching and as a future teacher.  I need to have all lesson plans and assignments done and turned in on time.  I also need to be prepared for my students by having lesson plans done early and getting enough rest to give them a 100% each day, this will help me to be a successful teacher.  I could have spent more time on my other assignments for this class and getting ahead if I had worked ahead before the semester started.  I could spend less time on the assignments due now if I already had them done.  I second guessed myself when planning certain activities for the students in my lesson plans.  I put the activities in there anyway and was pleasantly surprised my CE liked them.  I second guessed myself a few times this week on calling students to clip down.  I ended up not calling them down.  I will go with my gut next time.  My first steps for next week is to have my lesson plans printed, activities printed and ready, and to be started on the lesson plans for the next week.  I can mentally clear some clutter by getting ahead on assignments this weekend.  I was able to review the data my CE had completed recently on the students book and print concepts understandings.  I used the data to guide the standards and parts to review on book and print concepts for next week.  One piece of advice I would share with other student teachers is to take time to plan your lessons.  Break down your lessons into sections and complete over a few days.
NC Teacher Candidate Standards  
Standard 1a: Teachers lead in their classroom.  I was able to observe my CE and kindergarten team use their data to organize, plan, and set goals for their students.  (math task, book and print concepts, shapes, etc. )
Standard 2a: Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults.  I was able to observe my CE grow in her relationships with each student.  I was also able to grow in my relationships with each student.  We were able to make the two new students feel welcomed, loved, respected and gain their trust in our classroom.  The students accept each other and we allow each student to have a voice and feel safe to use their voice in the classroom.
Standard 3a: Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.  I was able to see the kindergarten team align their instructions they planned during planning to the North Carolina Course of Study.  I also was able to align my lessons for next week to the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.
Standard 4d: Teachers integrate and utilize technology in their instruction.  I was able to observe my CE using youtube educational kid songs to help the students become excited and engaged in the content at hand.  My CE also had the students use iPads to learn more about the arctic in the marcopolo app.  I was also able to integrate technology into my lessons for next week.
Standard 5a: Teachers analyze student learning.  I was able to see my CE analyze student learning to determine the lessons for next week during planning with the kindergarten team.  I also was able to analyze the student data to determine the lessons for next week to plan as well.
Other 
     I have begun to review the rubric for the portfolio project.  I have started a list on what needs to be included in the portfolio this week.  No support needed at this point and time for my CE or me from my university supervisor.