Student Teaching

Week 9

I would rate this week at a 3. It wasn't great but it wasn't bad either.
Observe
This week I was able to demonstrate a strategy group to the other first grade teachers, specialists, Principal, and Assistant Principal. While I was nervous at first, once I started teaching I felt confident in my abilities. I got great feedback about my strategies and the engagement of the students in my group, as well as the other groups.
Reflect
This week, and every week, I have realized that classroom management comes with trial and error, reflections about what went well and what didn't, and correcting myself through the process.
Focus
My short term efforts of becoming confident in my abilities are aligning with my long term goal of being confident by me getting more experience in teaching and managing.
Be Productive
I could have spent more time on edTPA and less time on worrying about what score I'll get.
Have Courage
I have noticed as the weeks go by that I am continually effected by my fear of failure. This fear then causes me not to want to put in the work for success, so I have to force myself to do the work. While I am still getting my work done, I do not always feel confident in this.
Begin Anew
First steps for next week is to turn in edTPA! Yay it's going to be done! Next is to focus more on my students' needs. I have realized that with so much of my time being taken up with lesson plans and edTPA and any other requirement we have that I do not spend as much time outside of the classroom thinking about how I can improve my students' lives, which is the reason I am becoming a teacher. I want to focus more on my students and try not to worry so much about everything else.
I analyzed my students' reading this week to help determine what extra support they need in strategy groups. I also analyzed my students' behaviors towards one another during reader's workshop and decided to change some reading partners that would work better together. So far the groups are working out okay.
To other student teachers: We're almost there! Hang in there!
NCTCS
1c I was able to lead in the teaching profession this week by demonstrating to other teachers how a reading strategy group should be performed with students
2d I have adapted a lot towards students special needs this week, such as letting one of my EC children to sit on the floor in front of the screen so she will actually complete assignments. This allows her to feel less closed in, which she has expressed concerns of when taking tests because the students at every table have a testing folder to cover their work, which takes up a lot of space.
3c I was able to integrate science and literacy together this week
4b I took a step back in math and worked with students to break down graphs part by part instead of having them take a survey, answer questions, tally up their answers, and figuring out how to graph those answers.
5c I have changed reading partners based on data
I am collecting evidence for my portfolio
At the moment my CE needs no support
I need to know if I'm making appropriate progress in student teaching.