Weekly Reflections: March 1st

       This has been a very interesting week.  My CE was out for the first two days of the week with her children because they were sick.  My TA was also out for the week.  I was able to carry on both days with the students normal routines and lessons.  This was Dr. Seuss week and read across America at my school.  The students were able to have guest readers come to the class and read to them Dr. Seuss books.  The students have enjoyed the festivities this week and learning about Dr. Seuss.  I believe having the volunteers from the community come in to read with our students, helps us build a strong bond with our community.  This act results in positive influences being available for our students.  I would rate this week as a three because the students were very wild from excitement and I did not feel well all week.  I have two pleasant surprises this week.  The first pleasant surprise would be how well the students responded to just me being in the room.  The students behaved and responded to my instructions.  I was so proud of myself for being able to handle any situations that transpired with the students both days.  My second pleasant surprise would be how well the students took to the chief of police and how well the chief of police interacted with the students.  The lessons my work experience taught me this week would be to find time to cut up and have fun with the students.  The students need to see this side of their teacher just as much as his or her serious side.  The students need to see that you are real and like to have fun too.  I have seen how much this has helped me to build closer relationships with my students.  I hope to build on this next week and incorporate mini session times throughout the week where the students and I can act silly and give our brains a break for a minute.  I would say my short-term efforts this week would be to focus more on giving very clear and specific instructions for activities.  I even want to take time to have students model the correct way to act during the activity and how not to act during the activity.  This way students will have a visual on how they are supposed to act and what they are supposed to be doing during the activity.  This short-term goal aligns with my long-term goal of being successful in my student teaching and as a future teacher.  The students need clear instructions so they know what they are supposed to be doing, helping them to learn all they are supposed to be during the activity.  I could of spent more time on my portfolio if I would have had more of my copies done and my edTPA task done.  I would say I was courageous this week and was able to go with my gut while I was on my own with the students this week.  The first steps for next week is to double check over my edTPA task 1-4 and make sure they are 100% ready to submit by Sunday night.  I was able to review the students assessments on the standards included in their progress reports.  This data collected and reviewed helps me know what each student needs to focus on and have more practice with, so they can master the standard.  The one piece of advice I would give other student teachers is to keep pushing on.  You can do this!
NC Teacher Candidate Standards  
 Standard 1a- Teachers lead in their classrooms.  I was able to be a leader in the classroom by leading the students through their day, no matter what came up or erupted.
Standard 2a- Teachers treat students as individuals.  I was able to treat students as individuals by building on the relationships with each student.  I created a stronger relationship with students by showing them I can have fun too. 
Standard 3d- Teachers make instruction relevant to students. I was able to help students see how we can relate to Dr. Seuss books. Especially, with "The Lorax," helping students to see the importance of trees and taking care of the environment.
Standard 4d- Teachers utilize technology in the classroom.  I was able to use the digital read aloud book for students so they could find different items and wacky things in the Dr. Seuss books.  
Standard 5b- Teachers link professional growth to their professional goals.  I was able to see where my students are and I am able to see how I need to change my goals and teaching to help the students be successful in all subject areas.      
I am double checking my edTPA task.  No support needed at this time.