Week 12
As I was typing "week 12" I realized that this journey is almost coming to an end! Time is going by so fast. There is still much to do and learn. This past week I was observed by my supervisor during ELA. The focus of the lesson was to teach students that readers think about how characters feel to better understand a story. After my lesson my cooperating teacher, supervisor, and I sat down to discuss the lesson I gave. I was given some great and helpful feedback. One highlight mentioned was that I look and sound more confident and a goal I need to work on is encouraging more discourse by asking more open-ended questions. After our conversation, I reflected and I realized I never really paid attention to how much more confident I felt, but I actually do feel more confident. I feel that there is still a lot of room for improvement, but I definitely feel like I have a sense of direction.
During our meeting, we also discussed strategies I can implement to make the math lessons more engaging and successful. This upcoming week I am going to give centers a try again. This time, I will be more mindful of the activities I chose for each center. I am really excited about a particular center I have in mind. Students will solve addition problems by jumping on a number line that will be taped to the floor. I think this activity will definitely get the students excited about math!
On Wednesday, we are meeting with parents for parent-teacher conferences. I am a bit nervous for several reasons, but mainly I'm worried about holding a professional conversation in Spanish under the pressure. Although, I speak both languages my dominant language is English. I'm going to practice a mock conference to help with my nerves. On another note, there was a parent that approached me after dismissal this past week and asked me if I would be covering Mrs. E's maternity leave. She said her child was really attached to me and that she would love if I stayed, which made me feel great!
1. Discuss some ways that you could use the strategies from chapter 6 in your own teaching, even if you don't teach writing.
As I was reading this chapter I noticed that my cooperating teacher and I are already implementing some of the strategies mentioned in the chapter. For example, before the students begin to write I or my cooperating teacher will read them a story and we will teach them a particular reading/writing strategy then the students will go back to their tables and begin the writing process. There are some students who do not like to sit while they write and I usually tell them they can stand and move their chair to the side, but I never really thought about allowing them to write their paper on the wall! That is such a simple fix for students who like to think and write while moving. I am definitely going to be trying that in the classroom. After students write we also have them share their writing in the author's chair. Most students really enjoy doing this but there are some students who are timid and prefer to share with their partner, which is totally fine. Schmidt says that to encourage writing she would have students bring a writer's hat to school. I really love that idea. I sometimes forget how little they are and how much they enjoy animated voices, and costumes. I have to remind myself to think like a first-grader. I am going to mention the writers' hat idea to my cooperating teacher to see if we can implement it.
During our meeting, we also discussed strategies I can implement to make the math lessons more engaging and successful. This upcoming week I am going to give centers a try again. This time, I will be more mindful of the activities I chose for each center. I am really excited about a particular center I have in mind. Students will solve addition problems by jumping on a number line that will be taped to the floor. I think this activity will definitely get the students excited about math!
On Wednesday, we are meeting with parents for parent-teacher conferences. I am a bit nervous for several reasons, but mainly I'm worried about holding a professional conversation in Spanish under the pressure. Although, I speak both languages my dominant language is English. I'm going to practice a mock conference to help with my nerves. On another note, there was a parent that approached me after dismissal this past week and asked me if I would be covering Mrs. E's maternity leave. She said her child was really attached to me and that she would love if I stayed, which made me feel great!
Classroom Confidential
1. Discuss some ways that you could use the strategies from chapter 6 in your own teaching, even if you don't teach writing.As I was reading this chapter I noticed that my cooperating teacher and I are already implementing some of the strategies mentioned in the chapter. For example, before the students begin to write I or my cooperating teacher will read them a story and we will teach them a particular reading/writing strategy then the students will go back to their tables and begin the writing process. There are some students who do not like to sit while they write and I usually tell them they can stand and move their chair to the side, but I never really thought about allowing them to write their paper on the wall! That is such a simple fix for students who like to think and write while moving. I am definitely going to be trying that in the classroom. After students write we also have them share their writing in the author's chair. Most students really enjoy doing this but there are some students who are timid and prefer to share with their partner, which is totally fine. Schmidt says that to encourage writing she would have students bring a writer's hat to school. I really love that idea. I sometimes forget how little they are and how much they enjoy animated voices, and costumes. I have to remind myself to think like a first-grader. I am going to mention the writers' hat idea to my cooperating teacher to see if we can implement it.
It's great that you are feeling more confident and that others can also see it in you. That is a large part of teaching effectively. I'm thinking your students can also notice a difference. Allowing for more open-ended questions is good advice, especially when you want students to use the language, and you have opportunity to give feedback.
ReplyDeleteDiana,
ReplyDeleteTime is really flying and you have taken everything in stride. I have seen you grow so much in your confidence and deliverance during instruction. I know you were thrown so many curve balls, but your placement and hard work has allowed you time to grow and be reflective with your interactions with your students.