Reflection #20

The first day I was at the elementary school was an average day with one acception. In the morning Ms. C was going to be on the morning news, so the class had to sit in another classroom until she returned. We went to Ms. W's classroom. I am glad that I was in the classroom to help Ms. W out. I could not imagine trying to handle two classes at one time. Ms. C's class was a little rambunctious. They were supposed to be sitting on the carpet reading a book silently, yet most of them were sitting there talking. Ms. W's class was well behaved. One thing that surprised me was that when the morning news came on the class didn't quiet down and Ms. W didn't ask them to quite down either.  I would have my class sit quietly and listen to the morning news, that is when all the important upcoming events are said, like McDonald's night, tee shirt day, jeans day etc. After the news was over Ms. C came back and things went as normal. The students from the other class came into our class and then we began centers. One students was putting in minimal effort on this day. O seemed like he wasn't even trying in ALL of the centers. O is an ELL student, however shouldn't excuse him from not even trying to his work. 

The nest day the things were the same as the day before. After the extra students left Ms. C's classroom and all of our students returned the students had earned a reward that they wanted to redeem. The reward was for spelling the word FAIRNESS. Each class is trying to spell this word. The was you can spell it is by earning 'soar card chips'. For every three chips your earn your get to add a letter. Everyone has the whole month to spell the word. Ms. C's class spelled it early so they got their reward early. The reward was an extra 20 minutes of recess. At 9:45 the class, Ms. C and I all headed to the play ground, ready to play and have fun! Then we saw the sign... "Play ground closed until 3/27". Apparently they school was painting the playground and it would be closed until said date. And the other playground had kindergartners playing on it so we didn't want to mess with them. The other choice we had was to have indoor recess. The students weren't too happy about that. I felt bad for the kids. They were so excited on their way out and then coming back  in they were gloomy and had long faces. I wasn't able to stay fro their indoor recess but I'm sure they enjoyed it, it was probably better then doing classwork!

The last day I was at the elementary school for the week was a very special day for me. I was able to teach a lesson to the students again! But first in the morning it was the same routine as the other days, the c;ass had to go to Ms. W's class in the morning and then when they returned we read a book. Ms. C also quizzed the students using brain teaser questions. When it was finally time for me to teach I was pretty nervous. I know that the kids aren't going to judge me, I guess its just my natural stage fright coming out. After I started my lesson the jitters went away. I was feeling confident in myself and happy with how it was going. I was also impressed by the student interaction during the lesson. Over all I am very happy with how my lesson went. I feel accomplished and and I am looking forward to being able to teach a lesson again. 

Reflection #19

This week during my experience at the elementary school started off pretty boring. The first day was student benchmark testing day for 3rd grade. The students had to take their 3rd quarter benchmark test for reading and writing. Last time they took the test the students did fairly poor on it. However the work that they do in the morning is specifically geared towards the benchmark test and FCAT. After the last test the students and teacher made a data chat chart. This chart showed their weaknesses and their strengths. Since Ms. C knew what the students needed to work on that is what she focused on. All the morning work was focused on the topic areas that required the most work. I really liked the idea of the data chat chart however I would not call them 'weaknesses' I would maybe call them 'focus points'. 

The second day was more eventful. The students were able to work in centers! The class started the day like most days, morning work, FASTT math, and then centers. The students from the other class are still coming into our classroom and our students are leaving our class and going to another class to practice for portfolio testing. 

I noticed that D wasn't in class for two days. I asked Ms. C were he was. She told me that her, D, all the administration and D's parents had a meeting together. After their meeting it was decided that D would be moved to an EBD classroom. Everyone in the meeting thought that it was for the best interest in D for him to be in that classroom. He will get more one on one attention and that is really what he needs. It was not fair for D to not be getting the attention he really needs. 

On the third and final day that I was in the classroom I got to teach the students!! I had a lesson plan and activity for the students to do having to do with idioms. First thing in the morning the students did their normal morning routine. After they reviewed and came up with the right answer Ms. C gave me the reigns and let me take over in teaching the class. I began teaching by asking the students if they knew what idioms were. The class went completely quiet. At that point my nerves were taking over and I started to feel butterflies in my stomach. I decided to change my question and asked students if they have heard of some idioms before. I showed them the idiom activity card. Some students raised their hands and said they have heard that before. Next I started to ask students to tell me what they thought the idioms meant. Some of the things they thought were hilarious! Other times I was pleasantly surprised by which ones they did know! I wrote all the idioms that we talked about on the board and the meaning for them. When we had almost 20 idioms on the board I told the students what we would be doing next. DRAWING! The students love drawing! They enjoyed being able to have fun and draw. 

Credit to Iowa Digital Library 

After most students were done drawing Ms. C was going to read them all a book. P ask if I could read it so of course I did. It was kind of a tongue twister of a story but I manged to make it through. 

I feel a lot better about teaching my real lesson for the class. This practice lesson has made me a lot more comfortable with the classroom and how I would control it if it was my own. I hope that my next lesson goes as well as this one did! 

Reflection #18

What an interesting week I had! First of all the computers did not work almost all week, again. In the morning the students use the computers to work on FASTT math. The internet wasn't working so that   was a major problem. Later on in the day we needed the computers for centers. They use the computers for a reading activity where they learn new vocabulary. Not havi8n the computers working was the first of the problems. We also didn't have any books for their centers. The students need a non-fiction book for "3-2-1 non-fiction" This is an activity where students have to write down three interesting things they read, two new facts they learned and one question they still have about the subject. Another activity they need books for is making a comic strip. The students are to choose a fiction book and then pick out the six most important parts of the book. Then create a comic strip using the story line of the fiction book they read.

Credit to Wikipedia

So not having the computers and not having books was a problem but Ms. C was prepare. She moved right along with the morning and had the students come wit on the carpet and they read a story together. It was the next story that they would be reading in the class. It was called "Suki's Kimono" We still had the extra students in the classroom, they had already read this story. A few of the students from the other class did not behave very well during this day. They were very disruptive and Ms. C had to move one of the students and talk to another one multiple times. After we finished reading the story we had extra time before our students came back. Ms. C asked me if I would like to read to the class. Since it is Read Across America Week I decided to read a Dr. Seuss book. I read the book "I Saw It On Mulberry Street" As soon as Ms. C asked me to read the students were so excited. I was picking out a book and they were all smiling and moving around on the carpet. It makes me happy to see the students excited for me to teach. It calms my nerves a little more for when I actually get to teach my lesson.

The computers still were not working on the second day that I was in the classroom. All students had to work on the morning warm up since there was nothing else to do. After the class finished the warm up and went over what was the right answer the portfolio kid left and the other students came into the classroom. Next we went over test grades. Ms. C handed back test to each student and to the extra students she gave them the test of the students who were not in the classroom at the moment.

The last day the computers finally were working!! It was a joyous moment for Ms. C, the students and I. The students could finally work on FASTT math. Also the students got a new center, it was one that helps with vocabulary. The students had sets of cards and were to match the vocabulary work with the definition of the word. Ms. C also decided to use Zoo Books for the 3-2-1 non-fiction reading activity. With the computers working, the new centers and the Zoo Books we could now work in centers. The other centers that the students work on are acrostic poems and writing a paragraph using two words from the word wall.

On that day Ms. C and I talked about C and D. Both of these students have problems focusing in class. C however has been put on ADHD medicine. He has only been on it for about 2 weeks but it has made a tremendous difference in his behavior. He has gone from out of control bouncing off the walls and very disruptive, to a very calm and pleasant student to have in class. Also D has major behavior problems in class. He acts silly and very disruptive. His parents have not put him on any medication, D is autistic. Ms. C said that there is going to be an emergency meeting with D's parents to see if he can be put in an E
BD class.

Reflection #17

In class we were learning about lesson plans. We used a specific template and made our own lesson plan. it included the learning goal, materials needed and also adaptations for special needs. The lesson I learn in class is helpful to what I learn at the elementary school because I will be teaching a lesson to the children there soon. The students in the classroom ask  me almost every day "When are YOU going to teach us?!?" I shared my lesson plan with Ms. C. My lesson was about equivalent fractions.Ms. C liked my lesson and the template. I am never in the classroom for math so this obviously wasn't the lesson that I wanted to teach. 

Credit to Ms. C

The warm up for the morning was fact or opinion questions. the students were given 20 statements and had to tell if they were fact or opinions. They have been working on this for a long time so it should have been pretty simple for the students. Ms. C told me that all the warm ups they do in the morning are to help prepare them for the FCAT. Every single thing they review is supposedly on the FCAT. After the morning work was done the students went to the carpet to go over their answers. At that time a few students had to go for portfolio testing as well as a few students came into Ms. C's class for centers. A new center was added on this day. It was a special center for me. It was to help me finish my bulletin board. The students were given a piece of paper and had to write a correct sentence focusing on one of the three check for three areas. Most students did really well with it. A few students came up with some very original sentences! Some students struggled a little with it a first but with a little guidance and help from friends they got the hang of it. One mistake I noticed a lot of students make is not putting a capitalization at the beginning of a sentence. I hope that the bulletin board will serve as a reminder to all students and help them remember to check for three.  

Credit to Ms. C

This week was another short week. On the second day I was supposed to go it was a half day so I couldn't go to the elementary school that day

The last day of the week that I was at the elementary school it was all pretty much the same. The morning warm up was a cause and effect match up work sheet. I noticed that a lot of students struggled with this. At least the ones that were trying. This morning was a little rough. The students were very rambunctious. very few students who were at their desk were actually doing their work, most of them were talking. Thankfully things got under control and the students got back on track. Through out the time that I was there no one was ask to move their clip down. During centers every one was on green or above. I was very impressed by the class.

Reflection #16

On the first day that I was in the class room the students worked in centers. Because of portfolio testing students had to go to other classrooms and also other students came into our classroom. Portfolio testing is testing for students who are not doing well in class and are at risk for failing FACT. There were five extra students in the classroom during the week. The extra students did the same things as the other students, worked on centers. Each center is 15 minutes long and is focused on reading and writing. The students from the other classroom had to learn about the centers from the other students. I think that is a good technique because then the students get to talk to each other and interact with one another. After centers were over the students who had left for portfolio testing returned. The students who came into the classroom from another class went back to their class too. Also on the first day I was surprised to find out that C had ISS (In School Suspension) I asked Ms. C why he had been given ISS she told me that every day she has to write C up for his behavior.

Credit  to: Positive Identity

The next day the same thing happened. In the morning the students worked on their morning warm up and listened to the announcements. when that was over a few students left and a few students came in. They worked on centers and when they were finished the students from another class left and the students who are normally in the classroom returned. Next the class sat on the carpet for reading. The class had already read the story the were reading for the week so on this day they were reviewing it. The students paired up with the people around them and went page by page reviewing what happened through out the story. I liked this method of review that Ms. C used. It helps the students remember what happened in the story and if they don't remember one part then their partner can help them out.

The last day of the week that I was in the classroom the same things were going on. All week it was the same routine. One interesting thing that happened was that the school had a fire drill. The students from the other class were still in Ms. C's classroom. Before leaving the class Ms. C counted the students in the class and then we headed to our designated area. Our area was the teachers parking lot.

In the beginning this week was not very average and kind of difficult. Ms. C and I had to reteach the centers to students and help them a lot. However toward the end of the week and once everyone started to get the hang of things it all started to get easier. Also during this week I worked on my bulletin board. I am almost done with it and hopefully I will finish with it by the end of next week!

Reflection #15

The first day of the week that I was at the elementary school was ordinary. Nothing special happened at all. The schedule went as normal. Students come in, unpack and begin on the warm up on the board. If it is their day for 'FASTT Math' then they get on the computers and begin working on that. After about 15-20 minutes of that Ms. C calls all the students to the carpet. She has been getting really upset at people wasting time in the morning so anyone who has not finished the morning warm up has to move their clip down. After they finish talking about the warm up they move on to reading. On this day they did 'Count Down To Launch Reading'. It is a workbook that they work on each week. It has a different lesson for each week. The students normal work on it individually but today Ms. C let the students work in pairs. I like that the students get to work with each other sometimes, it seems to help them get the correct answer, by comparing answers with each other they can come up with a solution. How ever Ms. C should be careful who she placed together. One pair was R and C. They were not working well together, they were talking the whole time and just goofing off.

One thing I noticed this week was that C has a behavior chart. It is to be filled out by Ms. C during different times of the day after certain subjects. He is graded on a scale 1-5 on how well his behavior is doing, also there is a place for teacher comments.

The second day that I was in the classroom at the elementary school was as usual. The only difference was that the students started something new. It wasn't a new activity or a new project however it was something that would benefit them in the future. The students were given a folder and had to write their name, student number and ' Weekly test score folder' on the front of it. On the inside the students would be a paper that would have all their weekly test scores charted, both reading and math. After their folders were all set up Ms. C handed back the students test. After they received their test they had to put the percentage at the top and also chart it on a bar graph underneath. The reasoning for the folders is for them to go home and so the students parents can see them. Ms. C stated that there would be no more'student led conferences, therefore the teacher and parent have no communication about their child's grades and school life. Ms. C made a rule that you MUST get you folders signed by your parents every Thursday, if you do not get it signed then you get no recess, you will not have recess until you get your folder signed. I think that Ms. C's approach to this subject is very direct yet effective. Children love recess, so the best punishment would be to take away something they love.

The third day that I was in the class room was exciting for me. I got to start on my bulletin board! I decided to go with Check for Three, and my theme would be 'Three Trees Check for Three!" On each tree there would be a different check for three theme, first tree would be capitalization, the second tree would be punctuation, and the third tree would be using a complete sentence. So far I have a blue back ground, clouds at the top and grass cut out at the bottom. I hop to be able to finish next week.

Picture credit to openclipart.org

This week was a special week. Not only was it Valentine's Day but also I got to spend an extra day at the elementary school! When I first walked into the class room the students were already passing out Valentine's Day cards, so I began passing mine out also. I was pleasantly surprised to receive cards from the students. Some had made cards for me and others had bought some, either way I was very touched. After all the cards were handed out and the children had settled down a little bit Ms. C began to talk about snack and the activity that students could do while they ate their snack. The activities were to write a letter to some one you love or someone you care about dearly, or you could write and acrostic poem about Valentine's Day using your name. Now, for the snacks it had been made clear that only healthy snacks were allowed, and boy did the kids obey that. The snacks they brought were; oranges, bananas, applesauce, pretzels and also juice. It was a nice little party we had going on.

Reflection #14

Source for picture: Computers in the Classroom

It was another short week for me at the elementary school which I intern at. I was only able to go two days this week instead of the normal three. I still enjoyed the time I had with the class. The days I was in the classroom were pretty normal. Last week the projector was broken and that was a major struggle for Ms. C. She was very lost with out technology. I noticed that she relies a lot on technology. It isn't necessarily a bad thing in a 21st century world however when it does stop working then it becomes a bad thing. I think that working with technology is a great thing. Learning new things about technology is important for everyone also. Technology is always growing, so we must grow with it. I however don't think that our whole curriculum should be entirely focused on and through technology.  

Since the projector was fixed the classroom could return to its normal state. In the morning the students start on the morning warm up. It is usually an FCAT type question. For example, which sentence uses 'sign' in the same way as the sentence below: The sign said 'DO NOT ENTER' 
A. My mom had to sign my permission slip.
B. The woman only spoke sign language
C. The sign said right turn only. 

Once all the students have finished with the morning warm up the students would go to the carpet to discuss. Ms. C goes through all the answers and writes notes about each one. She makes notes about what the word means in each sentence. I think her strategy works well. It teaches the students how to take notes about a topic and also how to find the correct answer.