And with good news!
So, as the semester wrapped up for me, really great things happened to me. I was hired as the long term sub in the classroom that I was student teaching in (six weeks of running and coordinating a classroom by myself was amazing) AND I was hired as the new special educator. Although the grade was something that I would have never seen myself approach before, I think it will be a great experience and I will be part of a fantastic team.
Since my last post, I have also graduated, walked, gotten my finalized transcript sent to the Agency of Education and am in the works to finalizing my license and having it mailed to me. It is an expensive and time consuming process, but what can I say? I HAVE A JOB!
Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts
Showing posts with label confidence. Show all posts
Saturday, June 27, 2015
Thursday, February 5, 2015
My very first 5th Grade ELA lesson
This lesson (explained in another one of my posts about a mascot), went amazingly! Students were excited throughout the period, they were on task and discussions were very meaningful. Even though this lesson was directed at beaing pretty silly and fun and creative, the students took it seriously enough to use their time effectively and the stories they came up with was beyond my expectation. The best part of it all was seeing students so excited to share their stories with the class at the end of the period.
During the first round of this lesson, my college supervisor was there to observed and made several comments on how well the lesson went and how engaged the students were. Student behaviors were nearly perfect, with only one student having difficulty because he was simply not sure how to get his ideas organized on paper. I presented this student with a graphic organizer I had premade and the issue seemed to be solved.
During the second round of this lesson, the 5th grade ELA teacher was in to observe. This time the classroom was louder (26 children were talking and discussing ideas), but all conversations were on task and meaningful. Toward the end, predictably, students became a little off task, so I pulled the group together sooner than I had anticipated in order to wrangle everyone to focus. By doing this, it allowed for more students to share their work, and I gave students permission to add to their stories while others were presenting. I think this enriched their writing further.
It was truly amazing to see the stories and narratives that the students came up with. So many possibilities, so many personalities, so much creativity.
I am more than happy to post my lesson plan or even student work if anyone is interested.
And as always, thank you for reading, feel free to share and like this post.
During the first round of this lesson, my college supervisor was there to observed and made several comments on how well the lesson went and how engaged the students were. Student behaviors were nearly perfect, with only one student having difficulty because he was simply not sure how to get his ideas organized on paper. I presented this student with a graphic organizer I had premade and the issue seemed to be solved.
During the second round of this lesson, the 5th grade ELA teacher was in to observe. This time the classroom was louder (26 children were talking and discussing ideas), but all conversations were on task and meaningful. Toward the end, predictably, students became a little off task, so I pulled the group together sooner than I had anticipated in order to wrangle everyone to focus. By doing this, it allowed for more students to share their work, and I gave students permission to add to their stories while others were presenting. I think this enriched their writing further.
It was truly amazing to see the stories and narratives that the students came up with. So many possibilities, so many personalities, so much creativity.
I am more than happy to post my lesson plan or even student work if anyone is interested.
And as always, thank you for reading, feel free to share and like this post.
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Thank you all!
Today I hit my 300th view in just a few weeks. What an amazing feeling to know that others are enjoying my work. Several of my posts have close to ten +1 and I have even gotten some comments. The best feeling is when others share my posts.
Just in general, thank you all for the support, you make this worth it for me!
If there is anyone who has suggestions to improve my blog or content you would all like to see just message me or comment. And as always feel free to subscribe or+1 my posts.
Just in general, thank you all for the support, you make this worth it for me!
If there is anyone who has suggestions to improve my blog or content you would all like to see just message me or comment. And as always feel free to subscribe or
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
What an Amazing Feeling!!
Today I was going to observe in another classroom as per a requirement of my Student Teaching (actually not necessary for 6 more weeks, but wanted to get my checklist finished), and my cooperating teacher seemed saddened. She expressed that she wanted my help in the classroom with the subject matter that was about to begin. She extended this with that my presence within the classroom has seemed to help many of the students that she has had trouble reaching. This was amazing.
I was wanted in her classroom. I was making a difference.
The best part, it was simply because I was being me. I was doing what I would in any other classroom, from the resource rooms I have worked in as a paraeducator, to the classrooms I have worked in in the same roles.
I felt like I was doing what I am supposed to be doing.
The feeling is truly intoxicating and empowering. It brought a spring to my step and solidified that the stresses and sacrifices I have made over the last few years has been worth it, and I can make it through this and be a great teacher.
A great teacher! All it takes some times is making that connection to that one hard to reach student, the chance to change one life, that lets you know that you are doing the right thing.
I was wanted in her classroom. I was making a difference.
The best part, it was simply because I was being me. I was doing what I would in any other classroom, from the resource rooms I have worked in as a paraeducator, to the classrooms I have worked in in the same roles.
I felt like I was doing what I am supposed to be doing.
The feeling is truly intoxicating and empowering. It brought a spring to my step and solidified that the stresses and sacrifices I have made over the last few years has been worth it, and I can make it through this and be a great teacher.
A great teacher! All it takes some times is making that connection to that one hard to reach student, the chance to change one life, that lets you know that you are doing the right thing.
Monday, February 2, 2015
I have found a way to use a classroom Mascot with 5th Graders
My college supervisor aassigned that I plan and teach a ELA lesson. Language Arts is not my strong area and I dread having to plan lessons in this subject. Looking back at my previous posts, it came to me to use my classroom mascot to help motivate students to right. I thought to help students make a connection to the mascot, named Wage, they could create the backstory for him. While aligning this with the Common Core State Standards, I found that Narrative Writing was one of the components often looked over.
My next thought: how can I guide these students to write a detailed narrative without given them too much guiding information. My goal was for students to use their own thoughts and imaginations to write their own background stories for Wage, but in a guided way. How was I going to do this?
Storu Cubes! If you have not heard of these, they are a set of 9 dice with 54 different pictures on them. When the dice are rolled they can be used in various ways, but I thought I would have students choose 6 out of the 9 images to use for their narratives. The choices are selected by the students rather than guided by me, which gives them a level of freedom, but guided academic choice. OF COURSE I would model what I was looking for first, and give students the instruction they need to complete the task, but I think giving the students the CHARACTER and PARTIAL INFORMATION would challenge the students enough to be engaged in the activity, enough choice that they feel free to write their own style, AND enough choice that they can draw on their own strengths.
I would be willing to make the lesson plan public, just ask in the comments.
I will write an update post after I teach the lesson on Wednesday (which I will be teaching twice).
My next thought: how can I guide these students to write a detailed narrative without given them too much guiding information. My goal was for students to use their own thoughts and imaginations to write their own background stories for Wage, but in a guided way. How was I going to do this?
Storu Cubes! If you have not heard of these, they are a set of 9 dice with 54 different pictures on them. When the dice are rolled they can be used in various ways, but I thought I would have students choose 6 out of the 9 images to use for their narratives. The choices are selected by the students rather than guided by me, which gives them a level of freedom, but guided academic choice. OF COURSE I would model what I was looking for first, and give students the instruction they need to complete the task, but I think giving the students the CHARACTER and PARTIAL INFORMATION would challenge the students enough to be engaged in the activity, enough choice that they feel free to write their own style, AND enough choice that they can draw on their own strengths.
I would be willing to make the lesson plan public, just ask in the comments.
I will write an update post after I teach the lesson on Wednesday (which I will be teaching twice).
Friday, January 30, 2015
Substituting for a Cooperating Teacher
Today was my Cooperating Teacher's birthday, so she took it off, and guess who is the substitute!
What a great experience, having a whole classroom and being in the lead role. I was even able to help modify and schedule the lessons and activities for the day. Truly gave me some great confidence in my own abilities. Making my own choices and testing out my classroom management is amazing, and frankly, it is going very well.
Students have been responsive to me and my instruction, which is noted through the various activities they are completing. Although currently I am working with the most amicable class (or was, it is my planning time), I still feel confident that it will be a great day, and the same patter of responsiveness will continue throughout the day.
I will edit this post throughout the day and throughout my experience as teacher for the day (which I got to plan). I have substituted before, but the plans and such were written out for me.
Wish me luck!
Edit:
Soooo..... some classroom dynamics can be.... interesting to say the least. I have never heard "I don't like him/her" said about peers so many times in my life, but with every gray cloud comes a silver lining. I was able to have a great talk to the students who were having conflict, and I think that it really hit home for them.
What a great experience, having a whole classroom and being in the lead role. I was even able to help modify and schedule the lessons and activities for the day. Truly gave me some great confidence in my own abilities. Making my own choices and testing out my classroom management is amazing, and frankly, it is going very well.
Students have been responsive to me and my instruction, which is noted through the various activities they are completing. Although currently I am working with the most amicable class (or was, it is my planning time), I still feel confident that it will be a great day, and the same patter of responsiveness will continue throughout the day.
I will edit this post throughout the day and throughout my experience as teacher for the day (which I got to plan). I have substituted before, but the plans and such were written out for me.
Wish me luck!
Edit:
Soooo..... some classroom dynamics can be.... interesting to say the least. I have never heard "I don't like him/her" said about peers so many times in my life, but with every gray cloud comes a silver lining. I was able to have a great talk to the students who were having conflict, and I think that it really hit home for them.
Thursday, January 29, 2015
A Challenge to all Teachers: Magic 37
Ladies and Gentlemen, I have a challenge for you! When you see the patterns be ready to be amazed. This is also a great way to get some enthusiasm to your students.
Today while practice counting, my cooperating teacher and I decided on having students count by 11 and 37 as far as they could get in one minute on paper. 11's were predictable and the students saw the traditional patterns (numbers counting up, etc). The fun part comes when students were counting by 37, and the teachers in the room took on the challenge as well. We found that when the multiple of 37 were placed in a certain way, (ie. a 9 down by 3 across array), patterns began to emerge. Students were able to pick out a few, then with come guidance were able to figure out more complex ones.
New patterns emerged as multiples of 37 broke into 4 digit numbers, which held true to 5 digit numbers. With the patterns and equations students came up with, we were able to find the 24,000th multiple of 37 within 5 seconds using mental math only, then the 54,000th multiple, then the 81,000th multiple within the same time frame.
It has been a long time since I have seen a group of 5th graders so excited about math and willing to self explore and discover and go through trial and errors that stunned the principal.
Plus! Students felt so great about themselves, it was a great confidence booster to them all, no matter their achievement level, because they were all able to come up with atleast one pattern that worked for them.
Comment wityh what you find, or request some of my own student work and patterns!
EDIT:
Here is an example of student work. You can see their efforts to find some of the trickier hidden patters and algorithms.
Today while practice counting, my cooperating teacher and I decided on having students count by 11 and 37 as far as they could get in one minute on paper. 11's were predictable and the students saw the traditional patterns (numbers counting up, etc). The fun part comes when students were counting by 37, and the teachers in the room took on the challenge as well. We found that when the multiple of 37 were placed in a certain way, (ie. a 9 down by 3 across array), patterns began to emerge. Students were able to pick out a few, then with come guidance were able to figure out more complex ones.
New patterns emerged as multiples of 37 broke into 4 digit numbers, which held true to 5 digit numbers. With the patterns and equations students came up with, we were able to find the 24,000th multiple of 37 within 5 seconds using mental math only, then the 54,000th multiple, then the 81,000th multiple within the same time frame.
It has been a long time since I have seen a group of 5th graders so excited about math and willing to self explore and discover and go through trial and errors that stunned the principal.
Plus! Students felt so great about themselves, it was a great confidence booster to them all, no matter their achievement level, because they were all able to come up with atleast one pattern that worked for them.
Comment wityh what you find, or request some of my own student work and patterns!
EDIT:
Here is an example of student work. You can see their efforts to find some of the trickier hidden patters and algorithms.
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