Domain 2 Personal Development
Elaboration:
We had another field trip this morning and a party this afternoon. It was more of a fun day and I really enjoyed spending time with the children. I was able to sit with them on the bus and during the concert. I also played with them at recess today. The children were really excited when I was participating.
Analysis:
I think being involved in these activities helps build a relationship with the children. They see you as someone they can trust and children also have a great sense of whether or not you actually want to be with them. I love being with the children, whether teaching them or just hearing what they have to say. As I've gotten further along in student teaching, I've had to find lines between friend and teacher. Also, I've had to make sure that my participation in something like recess is not going to cause a bigger problem for the other teachers.
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Domain 1: Content/Subject Matter Expertise
8:30= 10:15 a.m.
Elaboration:
One of the things that I have realized is that besides planning a variety of lessons with different strategies, it is also important to plan a variety of assessments. During the reading of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I had decided that we were going to use weekly reading quizzes instead of having a test at the end. Instead I had a final project. These past few days have been dedicated to working on the final project. During their final project work time, I also have been holding conferences with the students. I allow them to tell me about their favorite parts and give me an overview of the book. I also used this opportunity to let them choose a passage they liked and read it aloud to me. I tracked their fluency, self correction, and oral expression during reading on the sheet. Afterwords, I had the students talk about what they liked or didn't like about the unit. Asking them if I taught this again to a new group of children, what should I change or leave the same?
Analysis:
I love the final projects that they are working on and the conferences have been awesome to assess in several different areas. I can see not only whether children have comprehended the story, but whether they see the whole picture or the small picture, or even whether they understand literary terms such as setting or problem and solution. I can provide cues for those who don't and see where they are at in their comprehension skills. It also has provided an opportunity for self-improvement. While there may be things that the children hate that are necessary, I do not want the children to hate learning. It is important for me to figure out what exactly these children need.
8:30= 10:15 a.m.
Elaboration:
One of the things that I have realized is that besides planning a variety of lessons with different strategies, it is also important to plan a variety of assessments. During the reading of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I had decided that we were going to use weekly reading quizzes instead of having a test at the end. Instead I had a final project. These past few days have been dedicated to working on the final project. During their final project work time, I also have been holding conferences with the students. I allow them to tell me about their favorite parts and give me an overview of the book. I also used this opportunity to let them choose a passage they liked and read it aloud to me. I tracked their fluency, self correction, and oral expression during reading on the sheet. Afterwords, I had the students talk about what they liked or didn't like about the unit. Asking them if I taught this again to a new group of children, what should I change or leave the same?
Analysis:
I love the final projects that they are working on and the conferences have been awesome to assess in several different areas. I can see not only whether children have comprehended the story, but whether they see the whole picture or the small picture, or even whether they understand literary terms such as setting or problem and solution. I can provide cues for those who don't and see where they are at in their comprehension skills. It also has provided an opportunity for self-improvement. While there may be things that the children hate that are necessary, I do not want the children to hate learning. It is important for me to figure out what exactly these children need.
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Domain 5 Methodology
Elaboration:
Spring break is approaching. This means that the students are restless and the teachers are nearing their breaking points. I myself am very ready for a break. One of the temptations during these times is to let go of the things that are needed to make good teaching. It seems as if movies are popping out everywhere and there are worksheets galore all over the building. Today during Social Studies my students were being restless and complaining that they would rather do a different activity then the one I was doing with them. I informed them that I didn't want to hear any complaining. I was trying my best to come up with fun ways to learn things. While this may not be playing computer games like they might like to, this is much better than copying worksheets out of the textbook. I said it would be easier for me to give them worksheets, but I wanted to do something more interactive.
Analysis:
I think there are two different things I realized today in thinking about Methodology. First of all there is a balance when it comes to times like these (right before breaks). The children are also tired and need a break. It is ok to plan a movie as a reward or allow for activities that are a bit more relaxed. However, this isn't an excuse to stop learning all together. Second, I've realized that kids really do appreciate the extra things that meet their needs. Even though they complained at first, after I talked to the children, they were all very grateful that we weren't doing worksheets. Some of them even asked for the website we had used so that they could look at more things about the government at home. Worksheets aren't all bad. But they definitely don't need to be the main thing that is associated with Social Studies. So many of my children hate Social Studies, I think this is the main reason why. I hope with a little change in methodology, I might change some of their minds.
Elaboration:
Spring break is approaching. This means that the students are restless and the teachers are nearing their breaking points. I myself am very ready for a break. One of the temptations during these times is to let go of the things that are needed to make good teaching. It seems as if movies are popping out everywhere and there are worksheets galore all over the building. Today during Social Studies my students were being restless and complaining that they would rather do a different activity then the one I was doing with them. I informed them that I didn't want to hear any complaining. I was trying my best to come up with fun ways to learn things. While this may not be playing computer games like they might like to, this is much better than copying worksheets out of the textbook. I said it would be easier for me to give them worksheets, but I wanted to do something more interactive.
Analysis:
I think there are two different things I realized today in thinking about Methodology. First of all there is a balance when it comes to times like these (right before breaks). The children are also tired and need a break. It is ok to plan a movie as a reward or allow for activities that are a bit more relaxed. However, this isn't an excuse to stop learning all together. Second, I've realized that kids really do appreciate the extra things that meet their needs. Even though they complained at first, after I talked to the children, they were all very grateful that we weren't doing worksheets. Some of them even asked for the website we had used so that they could look at more things about the government at home. Worksheets aren't all bad. But they definitely don't need to be the main thing that is associated with Social Studies. So many of my children hate Social Studies, I think this is the main reason why. I hope with a little change in methodology, I might change some of their minds.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Domain 4: Rights and Responsibilities
7:35- 8:10
Elaboration:
Every morning, my teacher is always extremely willing to help me get things ready for the day. Because of carpooling, I often don't have quite as much time as I would like in the mornings and afternoons. I get as much done as I can while I am at school, but often I need some help. Teachers have a lot of paperwork to keep up with during their teaching and these tasks can quickly take over. I am so grateful that I have been able to utilize the help that I have in my classroom.
Analysis:
I very much appreciate the fact that my teacher is willing to share responsibilities in these areas with me. By helping me copy things or even grading papers sometimes, I am able to concentrate more on my lesson planning. While I know that I may not always have an adult in the classroom, I think that it is important that I learn to do things with help and independently. Too often we make things harder for ourselves because we do not allow others to help us. I always want share my ideas with others and to collaborate in order to share responsibility, even if it isn't in the same way I have been able to this semester.
7:35- 8:10
Elaboration:
Every morning, my teacher is always extremely willing to help me get things ready for the day. Because of carpooling, I often don't have quite as much time as I would like in the mornings and afternoons. I get as much done as I can while I am at school, but often I need some help. Teachers have a lot of paperwork to keep up with during their teaching and these tasks can quickly take over. I am so grateful that I have been able to utilize the help that I have in my classroom.
Analysis:
I very much appreciate the fact that my teacher is willing to share responsibilities in these areas with me. By helping me copy things or even grading papers sometimes, I am able to concentrate more on my lesson planning. While I know that I may not always have an adult in the classroom, I think that it is important that I learn to do things with help and independently. Too often we make things harder for ourselves because we do not allow others to help us. I always want share my ideas with others and to collaborate in order to share responsibility, even if it isn't in the same way I have been able to this semester.
Friday, March 25, 2011
Domain 1 Content Subject Matter Expertise
3:00 p.m.
Elaboration:
I am getting ready to begin a new unit for Social studies on government. This is my first time teaching social studies for student teaching. After school today I was working on my lesson for next week and I was looking things up online. Not only does this provide me with the information so that I can accurately teach the children, but it also gives me great new ideas for ways to engage the students.
Analysis:
I have learned that there are a lot of details about many subject areas that are important to teach. I have found that textbooks and the internet can provide great resources for these lessons. Also, many times I might not know an answer right away for a question that the children ask. I have found in these situations, I can't know everything, I have to look it up. I think it has been beneficial for me and my students to be able to admit when I don't know an answer.
3:00 p.m.
Elaboration:
I am getting ready to begin a new unit for Social studies on government. This is my first time teaching social studies for student teaching. After school today I was working on my lesson for next week and I was looking things up online. Not only does this provide me with the information so that I can accurately teach the children, but it also gives me great new ideas for ways to engage the students.
Analysis:
I have learned that there are a lot of details about many subject areas that are important to teach. I have found that textbooks and the internet can provide great resources for these lessons. Also, many times I might not know an answer right away for a question that the children ask. I have found in these situations, I can't know everything, I have to look it up. I think it has been beneficial for me and my students to be able to admit when I don't know an answer.
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Domain 1 Content Subject Matter Expertise
8:50-11:15
Elaboration:
Today we went on a field trip in the morning. We went to the Sieberling Mansion in Kokomo. It is a museum that has been maintained by the Kokomo historical society. Since third graders learn about communities, this was a great way for the students to be involved in their own community and learn more about it. Also, it was neat to see the children being so interested in the history of the mansion and Howard county. If we had just talked about this content in the classroom, they would not have been nearly as interested.
Analysis:
Students love field trips. While they involve organization and cost, they are memorable for the students. Experiencing something, especially in relation to Social Studies or Science, is such an effective way for students to learn. These subjects are often thought of as "boring" and any experience students can have with them is great. Sometimes field trips won't be available, but special guests, realia, and hands on activities are extremely engaging.
8:50-11:15
Elaboration:
Today we went on a field trip in the morning. We went to the Sieberling Mansion in Kokomo. It is a museum that has been maintained by the Kokomo historical society. Since third graders learn about communities, this was a great way for the students to be involved in their own community and learn more about it. Also, it was neat to see the children being so interested in the history of the mansion and Howard county. If we had just talked about this content in the classroom, they would not have been nearly as interested.
Analysis:
Students love field trips. While they involve organization and cost, they are memorable for the students. Experiencing something, especially in relation to Social Studies or Science, is such an effective way for students to learn. These subjects are often thought of as "boring" and any experience students can have with them is great. Sometimes field trips won't be available, but special guests, realia, and hands on activities are extremely engaging.
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Domain 5: Methodology
8:30-10:15
Elaboration:
Stations can be a great way to provide a different type of instruction for language arts. The kids are always excited when they see a chart is up on the board for stations. While the movement of the stations went well today the students were not doing a very good job at being on task. I've been trying to find ways to have the students be self motivated. I have been trying to encourage them to use their time wisely so that they don't end up with homework.
Analysis:
I think that one of the things that will help my students is to continue to provide a balance between new activities and using old ones with new concepts. I have recognized that they frequently do better if they have something that does not transfer into homework. They like to be able to see the end result while they are still in class. Games usually go well, however, writing is often hard for them to accomplish. I have been trying to figure out when this is because the children are not doing what they are supposed to do and when it is too much for the time.
8:30-10:15
Elaboration:
Stations can be a great way to provide a different type of instruction for language arts. The kids are always excited when they see a chart is up on the board for stations. While the movement of the stations went well today the students were not doing a very good job at being on task. I've been trying to find ways to have the students be self motivated. I have been trying to encourage them to use their time wisely so that they don't end up with homework.
Analysis:
I think that one of the things that will help my students is to continue to provide a balance between new activities and using old ones with new concepts. I have recognized that they frequently do better if they have something that does not transfer into homework. They like to be able to see the end result while they are still in class. Games usually go well, however, writing is often hard for them to accomplish. I have been trying to figure out when this is because the children are not doing what they are supposed to do and when it is too much for the time.
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