Blog One

Hello Beautiful Readers!

It is week four of Social Studies Methods and Facilitating Learning-21st Century.

The month of January has been full of some interesting weather! Snowing one week, then wearing shorts the next. A new semester has just started, now it's time to get busy!

I have had the opportunity to get settled into my clinical placement. I have been able to observe a great management plan in the classroom and learned so much about school procedures, like SWPBIS, emergency plans,and student expectations. Before, I had no idea what SWPBIS was, but now I know it is rule guidelines the entire school follows (plus any classroom rules). My school has PAWS, it is an acronym for P- Playing it Safe A- Accept Responsibility W- Winners Always Learn and S- Show Respect. "We PAWS for good behavior" is the slogan that goes along with this.

I have learned so much with classroom management so far. Here are some things I learned:

• Have a detailed plan for the day
• Follow along with the "Big Idea" or concept, bring questions and responses into this
• Be ready to have brain breaks and know what is best for your students
• Having math and writing notebooks cuts down on losing paper and keeps work organized
• Assign students a number, then have them turn in their work by their numbers
• Understand that no class will ever be the same, so your lessons from year-to-year should not stay the same either.
• Non-Verbal cues are powerful- it lets the student know they are doing wrong without drawing attention to them
• Use timers for group work, individual work, reading, and any other time limited experience.
• Play games to exemplify good behavior. 
• Example: In the hallways, Ms. Taylor's class plays the "Do What Your Supposed To" game. It is like the silent game, but you can still act up while being silent. Each student gets to watch all of their peers, then has 10 seconds to choose someone who is showing good behavior. We play this while lining up from bathroom breaks.
• Plan for extra. You do not want to waste time in your classroom. If students are working quickly because they understand a topic, have more ready for them to practice or move on.
• Know what your students are interested in and use their interests to motivate them in the classroom.
• When you see a bad behavior do not let it slide, let the student know why what they are doing is not okay. 
• Have questions prepared and examples prepared for lessons.
• Have a loving and respectful environment. Be sure students understand that this is what you expect from them, and show this behavior with your own.
• When talking with guardians about their child, do not give only negatives. Have check-ins with them about what their child is doing right so they do not dread picking up the phone or opening an email from you.
• When giving bad news to a guardian, it is best to sandwich the negative. Start with something positive then end with a positive about their child.
• Stay consistent with rules. No child is exempt from the rules.

I have seen and will get to see more of great classroom management and cannot wait to see more. I most definitely will use the above strategies in my classroom. 

In Social Studies Methods we get to experience how to create an informative PowerPoint or source in under 10 minutes regarding a question a student may ask. I love doing this, I think it will greatly help in the classroom with the access to technology and relevant information we will have. Since social studies is not a main target in the grade level I am placed in, I am learning and researching ways in which I can integrate an appropriate amount of information into my weekly, or even daily, lessons. There is a social studies concept that can be integrated within any concept, all it takes is a little research and students are getting two or more content areas within one lesson.

There has been so much information that has come with 435. For one, edTPA scoring and creating is harsh! When I become a teacher, I will submit one for National Certification since I am getting this experience and will have this fresh in my mind. I am working towards and hoping for the best! I learned the above classroom management through our LE 1, and next I will be working on how I would like my own classroom, which is going to resemble my clinical educator's classroom management- she does very well!

NCTCS

• Teachers lead in their classrooms. 
• By observing and planning my own classroom managemen
• Teachers demonstrate high ethical standards
• I observed and dealt with a situation in regards to bullying
• Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults. and Teachers treat students as individuals.
• I have taken every opportunity I can to talk about students' interests and try to get to know them on a personal level so I can help relate to them.
• Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.
• I have been researching integrating multiple content areas
• Teacher make instruction relevant to students
• I have been looking at lesson plans and tests that are proven to work and determining how to make it relevant to today's student.
• Teachers utilize and integrate technology in their classroom.
• I am researching multiple approved websites I can use in my classroom.
• Teachers help students work in teams and develop leadership qualities.
• Unfortunately, this class does not do well working with one another, so whenever there is a group project or group work I try to work with one or more groups to assess and handle each situation in order for them to do better as a team and eventually as a high-functioning adult.