To be completed by Sunday June 17th. Please number your responses.
1) How was your first full week with the kids? Discuss successes and challenges?
2) What did you learn about yourself that you did not know before?
3) Were you supported by the mentor teachers and if so was the mentoring helpful to you? In what ways?
1. My first full week was great. I initially thought that I was going to have some problems from a couple of students who had attitudes on Friday, but I had my points system in full effect and it worked! If I saw a problem, I would warm them about the points & if I had to say something more than once I gave points (3 points = no fun day). So my challenge was classroom management and my points system was my success.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that I can actually plan and teach for all subjects, all day, all by myself! I did do this during student teaching but I had my classroom teacher to fall back on and use her resources. I was stressed last Friday and over the weekend about it, but when Monday came, I was prepared and the week went great.
3. I was supported by my mentor teacher. She was there to answer any of my questions and to guide me on where I should go with my students next week.
I must add if you ever want to have the greatest time with your students and you have a well managed group you must play Twister with them! Today was honestly the best time I have ever had in a classroom. I laughed so hard. Oh and a special thanks to Ms. Shack for helping us during a base 10 math lesson.
ReplyDelete1. Overall, my first week was great! I was really stressing out last weekend because I was struggling to write 16 lesson plans in one day and I didn’t know where to start. After hours of thinking and writing, I finally finished and I was really tired. On top of that, I really thought my week was going to be horrible because my Monday morning started off terrible. When I woke up Monday morning, my power was out because of the storm, and I had to go to Wal-Mart early that morning to buy materials for our science experiment for the day. I ended up getting soaked. I thought my day couldn’t get any worse and thankfully it didn’t! It actually turned out better than I expected. I would say my MAIN success was getting through the week. This week seemed like a trial week; both the students and I got to see our strengths and weaknesses. We know what to expect next week such as what to do and what not to do. My students are awesome by the way! One of my challenges this week was catching my new students up to what we were working on. It seems as though I got a new student each day last week and I had to go back and explain to each of them what we have been doing the past few days. Sometimes it took away valuable instructional time. Another challenge I had was keeping everything organized. I feel like there is always something that needs to be done when I am in my classroom but I never get around to doing it because before I know it, it is time for me to go home for the day.
ReplyDelete2. Something that I learned about myself is that I am very flexible when it comes to teaching. As I planned many things to do this week, we did not get to all of it. I covered the most important things first, and then came back to the other things if we had time. I know that as a teacher, you have to be as flexible as you can because anything can happen.
3. My mentor teacher is doing a good job in asking if there is anything that I may need. However, I really wish that my mentor teacher (or any mentor teacher for that matter), would drop in on a lesson and provide feedback on how I am doing. It really helps me when I know that there is something that I can do better or if I am simply doing a great job.
1. Overall my first week went well. My students ate still learning what I expect and I am still learning as I go. I think just getting through my first week as a teacher was a big accomplishment. I was nervous and anxious. But we did it! I need to work on getting them to understand that although is it summer, they are here to learn and can't talk over me. I have science so we are always doing fun activities! My students really have been great overall!
ReplyDelete2. I am learning not to be so overwhelmed. Surprisingly I am flexible and can go with the flow, who knew?! I have always been one to have to have a plan and not veer from it but you never know what the day holds.
3. My mentor teacher is AMAZING! She is always giving me tips and advice on how to do things. I love her and she is a blessing! I will definitely need her next week with all my new lessons.
1) My first week had some ups and downs, but overall I'd say that it went pretty well. MY biggest challenge is still trying to make my students understand that although this isn't "real school" we still have work to do and things to learn. We also have a lot of work to do on talking out of turn and them making fun of each other. When we did do work, however, it was great. I found a lot of fun and interesting interactive activities for them to do on the Smartboard and they seem to be actually learning.
ReplyDelete2) I'm learning that I am much more flexible than I ever thought that I was. I'm usually extremely organized to the letter, but you just cant do that being a classroom teacher. I'm also learning that having your own classroom is a completely different monster than having a cooperative teacher there with you all the time. I've also learned over the course of the week to take time for myself to relax and unwind because this can be a very stressful job if you let it be.
3) My mentor teacher has been pretty good. She's been answering my questions and offering suggestions when she can.
1) My first full week with the students went very well. I had a few problems with attitudes with some of the students and getting them to stop talking while I was talking was a challenge. As soon as I started giving those rewards out to the students who were respecting me and doing what they were supposed to be doing the others started acting better. I gave out lots of rewards everyday , that really motivated them. The students loved all three experiments that we did, overall they handled doing them very well. I am really looking forward to this coming week!
ReplyDelete2)I learned that I can be firm and get students to listen to me! It was hard for me before I started this program to get them to respect me, I was very inconsistent with my consequences. Now I had learned how to be more consistent with my rules, rewards and consequences.
3)My mentor teacher is very helpful. She took pictures of me and the students while we were conducting experiments, looked over my lessons and took care of a few behavior issues I had. I also get lots of encouragement from her which helps me out a great deal!
1. My first full week with the kids was amazing. I really have a great group of kids. My main issue this week was planning without a smartboard. I was planning on really using the sb a lot, but unfortunately my computer has been quite sick. I won't have it back until at least tomorrow so it has been a challenge to keep the kids really engaged with more "old school" methods. I think this has been both my challenge and my success. My students have been very intrigued and involved throughout the day.
ReplyDelete2. I think that I have learner that I am a "wing it" type of teacher. I always have a plan obviously but I have learner that I often get way off of the plan. I am still completely on topic but often because of questions that are asked or different environmental factors you have to deviate. I have learned that this is when my lessons are the best.
3. My mentor teacher has been great. They allow have been actually! I have had all kinds of people asking if I need anything or if they can help in anyway. Mrs. Reneager came in and taught a lesson this week and havering that model was great.
1) I had so much fun this past week. Our fourth grade students are absolutely amazing. Each day I was astounded by their vocabulary, their ideas, their ambitions and their strength. They have so many amazing talents! I was pleasantly surprised that I wasn't able to get through some of the things I had planned each day because I had more contribution and discussion from my students than I expected. They're so smart! Early in the week I was struggling with classroom management. As the students got to know each other it became harder to manage talking out of turn. My lessons consist of a small amount of whole group instruction followed by a game or activity for the students to do in small groups or as a whole group. I found myself repeating instructions three or four times to students who were talking to their neighbor instead of listening to the beginning of the lesson. This led to them missing out on valuable activity/game time. To remedy this situation I rearranged my classroom, moving the desks from groups of four into pairs of two. This arrangement allowed for less distraction and ensured that no student was facing directly away from me. I also instituted a positive behavior support system in my room. Each student has their name on a chart with several colors on it. When I catch students doing the right thing or working hard they are allowed to move up one color and when they arrive at the top color they receive a reward (a small toy or candy). Explaining this system immediately changed my room. One of my students asked if his name was on the board. I explained that everyone's name was on the board. He seemed surprised and explained that he didn't think he would have his name on there since he "is a bad kid". I was surprised to hear this and informed him that he was not a "bad kid" and in fact I expected him to be one of the first to move to the top since he is consistently contributing to our in class discussions and activities and follows my directions. Several other students turned their behavior around and I was sure to make a big deal about moving them up immediately to reward this behavior. I think this system was my greatest success of the week.
ReplyDelete2) I learned that I love teaching. I suspected it before, but until I spent a couple of days in my own room learning who I am as a teacher I don't think I understood how much it is a part of who I am. I spend every moment of my day thinking of ways to improve my lessons. When I'm driving to school or shopping for groceries I'm planning and adjusting lessons. I adore my kids; when they are in the room I can't think about being hungry or tired or worried. One of the best parts of my day is trying to find one odd accessory to wear so that this one particular little boy will stare at me for a minute, shake his head, and say "Ms. Simmons, you are so weird!" I feign confusion and ask him why he thinks this about me. It's hilarious. Each day is a nonstop adventure as we discover new things and they teach me as much as I hope to be teaching them.
3) I love when my mentor teacher stops in to observe a lesson. She always adds to my discussions, gives me great tips to keep things interesting and help clarify ideas for my students. She also has a plethora of resources that she is willing to share with me on the subjects I'm teaching. I'm always excited to hear her feedback and learn from her experience. At the end of each day I am able to improve my lesson plans with the ideas she has given me.
1.) My first full week with the children was awesome! I was pleasantly surprised by their eager and respectful attitudes. I had fun bringing the students to the carpet to play math games, and all of them were very excited to participate. I was initially very nervous about the first teaching week, but I ended up feeling very comfortable with the students. All of the students were very well-behaved and happy to be a part of the program.
ReplyDelete2.) I learned that I need to have more confidence! I was a nervous wreck entering the classroom even though I have already completed my student teaching. However, with my mentor teacher's support, I was able to teach several new concepts this first week through fun and engaging ways. I feel like I should have had more self-confidence entering the program because I'm not as clueless as I thought I was! I have never considered math to be "my subject," but with the help of other teachers, I believe I have created a fun, engaging classroom environment.
3. I have definitely been supported greatly by my mentor teacher! She has helped plan and provided manipulatives and other resources. I was also able to team teach with her last Wednesday, and we all had a blast! I am so grateful to have an excellent mentor teacher with several years of experience. I do feel like I should credit much of my success this first week to her.
1. My first week with the students was so much fun! I planned a variety of experiments for my third graders that they had a blast with. The successes in my room were keeping my students engaged and on task. I had several back up ideas for them to complete if my lesson went by quickly. My challenges were learning how to assign students roles. At the beginning of the week it was a bit rocky, with students going in every direction. But after a few tries, we all got the hang of assigned roles and placements.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that being funny is a good thing. I've always enjoyed teachers that bring humor into a lesson. However, I've never felt like I have the ability to accomplish that. I've learned that with my third graders, a few corny jokes make me the funniest, most interesting teacher ever. My class learns and experiments while having fun. I think that bringing humor and excitement into their lives creates an environment they will never forget.
3. My mentor teacher has assisted me with one of my CASE lessons. It was very helpful to have her in the room to help monitor the students during that lesson. My class was doing a hands-on arts and crafts lesson. It was really helpful to have someone else in the room to encourage the students, monitor behavior, and give me ideas to teach my lesson.
1. My first full week went as well as I’d hoped. I feel like the successes are in my classroom. The kids seem to be really enjoying the games I have and we, together, are making math pretty fun! The challenges for me are the kids are now getting to know each other and have friends in their classes. They are getting more and more comfortable, which is a good thing, but also something that makes the class get out of control. The kids listen less and worry about their friends more. I am trying everyday to come up with ways to stop the talking when necessary, to get used to the procedures of class, and to always be on top of things. One thing that is a challenge is to get them to keep the routine. It seems every day things are being repeated when they should know.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that I can do this. I was very nervous about having a classroom to myself. I am my biggest critic, so worry was on my mind when I knew I was going to be alone with 20 something kids. I feel more comfortable in a classroom teaching than I have in the past two semesters student teaching. I feel like I have learned more in a week about having a classroom and it feels fantastic!
3. My mentor teacher is so wonderful! She has helped me more than words can say and it has only been a week. I feel very comfortable asking her questions and getting her opinion. She is always around the corner when I am in need of something. This week, we team taught on Thursday and fun Talents lesson. She started the lesson, the kids did their work, and I ended it. I think it went perfectly and loved her being in the classroom with me. I got a lot of great ideas for classroom management from her being in the room with me on Thursday. She is definitely a blessing!
1) My first week was better than expected. The students are so smart and willing to learn and participate. I did have a few behavioral issues but I am trying to smooth that out by showing students how to get along and teaching them to choose their emotional battles. One thing I have used in my class are sticky notes. When there is a student that is not wanting to participate in class or showing signs of anger I write "What's wrong" on the sticky note. I walk around the class while I'm teaching so when I place the note on their desk it doesn't draw attention to them. More times than not, the students responded and I am able to help monitor feelings of my students without embarrassing them. After the sticky notes they begin to participate and let go of any anger they had coming into my classroom. My biggest challenge is trying to bring them back to "order" after a fun activity. They take things too far and I find myself having to just make them sit in silence for a while until I continue on with the lesson. Overall though, I believe I had a very successful week and believe by the end of the program we will learn so much from one another.
ReplyDelete2) I am very fast paced and find myself teaching that way. I learn things quickly and easily. I need to learn to slow down and repeat myself over and over again. I can't get "bored" with my subject matter because even though I say things over and over, my students may still not get it.
3) My mentor teacher is very helpful! She tells me every good and bad thing I do in my classroom. She helps me break down the lessons and even add other elements to it. She has given me new ideas to add to my lessons that I never thought about adding. She gives me encouragement and tells me I am on the right track. I am very grateful for her advice and insight!!
1) First full week with the kids was both exciting and stressful. It was really just like jumping in with both feet and not looking back. I enjoyed seeing all of the different personalities of the kids come out when they got comfortable after a few days. I planned a lot of games to practice their multiplication, and they really loved those. We played a game altogether as a class that I even joined in on. Then, they played a few partner games that they really enjoyed. I walked around and would partner up with some students on the games, which was good for me because I got to know the students better. A few things that went badly this week were mainly things that I feel can be corrected with classroom management adjustments. The kids did get too loud several times. I kept reminding them that it is ok to whisper during the partner games, but they really got to yelling and getting loud several times. Also, I had an incident with a group of girls that were talking about myself and another teacher in a disrespectful manner, but I talked to the girls outside the classroom to see if we could fix the problem. While I was talking to them, an administrator walked up and helped me by talking to the girls, reaffirming what I told them, that they should follow the rules and respect the teachers. I assigned seats for all of my classes beginning Thursday, and that really seemed to help. That is one management tool that I really hadn’t wanted to use because it is summer time and I know they want to visit with their friends, but it really helped them not only keep the noise down so everyone can function but also many of them are getting to know classmates that they hadn’t gotten to know yet. I really need to figure out how to stay positive with my class, but yet remain consistent with the rules because I feel that is the way to be effective in managing my classroom. I want it to be fun, but I also want them to learn and think, so it cannot get so loud in the room that everyone is struggling to concentrate.
ReplyDelete2) I learned that I do not have the “tough skin” I thought I had. By that, I mean that I thought I could take whatever insults and attitudes the kids gave and just let it roll off, but I have not quite learned to do that yet. For example, the kids make fun of my very southern accent. I laughed with them the first couple of times, but then it really started to bother me because the whole class would just keep mocking me and laughing. I told them that I cannot change the way I talk after 23 years of practice. I tried to make it a “teachable moment” by telling them that they wouldn’t want people teasing them for the way they talk, so they shouldn’t do it to me either. They are not as bad about it now, but there are still a few that mock me and laugh. I have not figured out whether it is better to ignore it or confront it. If it was bothering another student, I would confront it, of course, but I think that kids, and everyone for that matter, are going to judge you and tease you sometimes. For now, I think it is one of those things that I just need to learn to laugh with them about and get a little tougher.
3) I have the best mentor teachers! They are always checking on me and getting me supplies I need. This week, I needed colored tiles and that’s just what I got. They have been so patient with me because I am teaching out of my content area, but they really are there for me. Also, I have been getting really good advice about management from my mentors, which is the main area I need to work on. They are so good to me, and I am very thankful for their support and encouragement.
1) My first full week with the students went great. I had so much fun doing experiments with the students and watching them get excited to find what we are doing for the day. I hope to continue to keep them that enthused the whole time they are in my class. The students loved all of the experiments and especially the one where we went outside. A challenge that I have is during C.A.S.E. I have around 6 to 8 boys during that time and the activity goes by so quickly. I was struggling to find something else for the boys to do once we are done with our C.A.S.E. activity. Another personal challenge for me is time management outside of the classroom. I have a lot on my plate and I added this job because I did not want to miss out on the opportunity to grow not only as a person but as a teacher. I am still struggling to find that balance this semester.
ReplyDelete2) What I am learning about myself is that I still have patience left and I feel more confident in front of the class that I thought. Teaching is a process and it takes time and effort. When I am teaching I find that I am not nervous at all; maybe it is because I did an interim position before I started this program. No matter what the case, I am excited to teach more and I am excited for the students to learn more.
3) I had multiple mentors stop by and check on me and make sure that everything is running smoothly in my classroom. It is reassuring that they are there to help at any moment. One mentor gave me suggestions for websites to use in my lessons.
1. My first week was great. I was nervous at first because this is my first to teach my own classroom. There seemed to be a lot more challenges than successes. Allison and I seemed to spend a lot more time than we planned on bell ringer activity. We wrote the bell ringer on the board and on the smart board. Students struggle with just getting the question written in five minutes. Our mentor teacher encouraged us to use a timer with the bell ringer. Then to simply move on and not to worry about whether the students completed the activity or not. Another challenged I faced, is dealing with a student that wants to do the exact opposite of he is asked to do. At first I saw the behavior as defiant, but then I realize that he was just doing it for attention.
ReplyDelete2. One thing I learned about myself is I need to use better resources in the classroom. I used a book this week to help teach the students setting and also go along with the Case Art lesson of "buggin". The book I chose ended up being boring and lacking a plot and climax. I could see that the students were getting bored and it was difficult to keep them engaged. Another thing I learned,that Allison and I planned way too much for the students to do in a 50 minute period. This next week the theme is simplify the lesson.
3. Our mentor teacher is amazing. Whatever we need, she has gone out of her way to help us. This past week we needed ideas for centers. She has offered helped to model how teach certain reading skills. This next week she is helping me teach Monday and Wednesday. I love how she has sought us out to see if we need anything. I feel very comfortable to share any concerns or questions with her.
1) My first full week with the kids was honestly a bit more challenging than I expected it to be. Since I have not spent a great deal of time teaching JUST Reading, I didn't know what to expect going into this. At the beginning of the week, I tried to teach without using technology and instantly realized that was not going to be successful. Once I implemented technology in the classroom, I was able to do more with my students and the students were much more engaged in the lessons.
ReplyDelete2) One thing I've learned about myself is how little I know about Smart Boards. I've learned that learning new things with the students is actually a very neat experience. I am 100% Promethean Board trained and the only time I ever worked with a Smart Board was in my first semester in the field back in Spring 2011. However, the kids have really enjoyed teaching ME about the Smart Board and how to use all of the tricks and tools that come with it. I initially thought that teachers couldn't let the kids know they didn't know how to do something. However, what I have found is that when the kids see teachers not knowing something that they know, it gives them a lot of confidence knowing they can actually teach a teacher something.
3) I did feel very supported by my mentor teacher. The day I was absent this past week, my mentor teacher more than willingly stepped in and taught my class for me. She also came in and helped me get a few projects together for my class and helped me monitor behaviors during the activity.
1)My first full week with the students was exciting, fun and at times stressful. I enjoy being in the classroom and want the students to enjoy me as a teacher. I learned a great deal about teaching in this past week. I was able to team teach with Mrs. Harris and really walked away from that day with a great deal of knowledge. She was able to teach me more effective behavior management skills and how to spice up a lesson to make it more exciting.
ReplyDelete2) I learned that I need to interact with the students in a different way. I interact with them throughout the entire lesson. Ms. Harris was able to get me to self reflect a bit and see how if I did a few things differently the outcome of my lessons and behavior management would go much smoother. For example, I am soft spoken and when I tell a student to do something such as sit down or write a journal entry without talking and they don't do it my approach is to repeat myself. That is where I make my mistake. I should already have the students respect and they should know when I give directions the first time that is what needs to be done. Ms. Harris helped me realize I need a little more conformation in my teaching approach and need to interact with the students in a variety of ways.
3) I was supported by Ms. Harris and she was wonderful. She was a great teacher to team teach with for the first time and I learned so many new teaching tips from her. She also stressed the importance of building background knowledge before starting any lesson. That is an area I did not spend a lot of time on. Now I realize that is the best way to prepare the students for the lesson that is ahead of them.
1. My first full week was great. I felt that I planned well, but definitely could have used more improvement, organization, and structure. Overall, I felt like I was effective. Echoing Mr. Moore’s statement, the challenge is to reach the students in a manner that helps them understand that although this is summer and not technically “real school,” the 6th grade team still expects them to complete all assignments and be respectful of others and their property. The biggest challenge has been to help the kids break the habit of just shouting out responses and making fun of one another.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that 55 minutes is a short amount of time. Additionally, I learned that I am very longwinded and that I find myself constantly referring to maps, documents, images, and videos to help the kids. But, I tend to have a lot of discussions with a friend of mine about the challenges of actually teaching history. Again, I think I over analyze a lot of the material and I spend more time on minute, small details that I find interesting and the students are obviously lost. I knew I would not have a problem with the content material, but I did not realize that I would spend so much time focusing on the theories and issues, rather than just facts.
3. My mentoring teachers were amazing. Mrs. Stanley, Mr. Lewis, Mrs. R., and Mrs. Walker were very supportive. I am always open to criticism, suggestions, ideas, and strategies to help me in the classroom. I am very happy everyone is around to help out because that was a concern of mine when this all began, “how deep and structured would our support system be?” That question has been easily and obviously answered by their constant support and critique.
1. My first full week was very good as I learned a great deal about myself and my students. Our morning work involved the students writing about themselves and what they expected from the program. A big success in my first week was that I could talk to and relate to my students. They accepted my teaching style and I relayed my rules and expectations. My greatest challenge will be to teach from the AMSTI Kit in a way the students will learn and my instructions will be effective.
ReplyDelete2. I learned that I just might be a good teacher. I didn't know if I could manage a class, develop a classroom environment, or deliver effective instructions. I found out that I was doing a good job in all areas. There is always room for improvement and I will continue to accept feedback and get better.
3. I was supported by some great mentor teachers as they gave me feedback on lesson plans and many more areas experienced teachers have faced. I will continue to work hard, learn, and accept the professional feedback from my men tor teachers.
1. Our first full week was a great learning experience. We learned what was working with our kids and what was not working. We established a bell ringer procedure that we thought we explained explicitly, however, the kids were constantly taking longer than 5 minutes to complete the bell ringer, and they were also constantly asking questions daily. This issue with a simple bell ringer pushed everything else back, leaving us with hardly any amount of time for centers or small groups. Once we took a step back, we figured out a better way to complete the bell ringers, which allowed for a smoother day. Overall, we did have a great first week. Katie is hilarious, and we all laugh while we learn. I truly think our kids like coming to our class because they tell us that they enjoy our class and cannot wait to come back.
ReplyDelete2. One thing I have learned about myself is that I try to stick to schedules too much. I cannot stand it when I plan something and we do not get to it. I guess becuase I take the time to plan something, I really would like to get to it in the lesson, but I know and am still learned that is just part of teaching. Not every lessons goes according to the plans on paper, and it does not mean we still did not have a good lesson. Most times, we do not get to everything because the kids extend the activities by going into depth or constantly asking good questions, which are great things.
3. Our mentor teachers are FANTASTIC!!! Honestly, we could not have better mentor teachers. The reading team is especially lucky because we have a reading coach at the school that is able to provide us with numerous resources and materials. Both reading teachers are very supportive and provide positive feedback that helps us become better teachers. I really enjoy working with our mentors, and they could not be better to us. They help us with our lessons when we need it, and they also model for us to help us teach better and more effectively. They are great!
The first week had it issues but overall it was a good week. Getting to know the students’ names were a challenge. Also, transitioning from one class to another was a problem. One would think being so close to the other classrooms would result in smooth transition however it does not work like that. When it comes to success, I have to say having some control over the classroom has help. Many of the students pay attention and follow the rules once they have been addressed. Time will tell how things will play out.
ReplyDeleteI have learned that I have more patience than I thought. At times repeating oneself over and over can be frustrating. Students sometimes are not following directions or may just be confused, but having patience can help. Students are there to learn and it is my job to make sure that they do.
Having a mentor teacher can be extremely helpful. For instance, some topics are hard to teach. With a mentor, one can get ideas how to make the lesson fun while making sure the students get the main concepts. Mentors are also great for asking questions about classroom management. Everyone has concerns when it comes to controlling their classrooms. Students get out of hand at times, but knowing different strategies that one can learn from a mentor is useful.