March 31

 

• Rate and explain your overall experience of the week: 1 - Very difficult to 5 - Great week
• This week has been a great week! We have been working on our visual projects for Kidsfest which is next Thursday. The projects are going great and our students have been working very hard on them. I had my last observation and passed edTPA so that was a great accomplishment!
• Response to these questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? I was pleasantly surprised with how normalized our students were even while students were completing their visual projects. We have 2 amazing moms that volunteered every day this week to help with projects. They were able to pull students into the workroom or foyer table to work on projects while we continued to give lessons and have work cycle. It worked out really well. My students loved my Fact/Opinion read-aloud lesson. The students not invited to the lesson actually stopped their work cycle and observed the lesson. Then they requested I read the book again after community during read-aloud time.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? I learned to remember to be consistent and model the behaviors I want to see in my students, and that work normalizes.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? I had my last observation and passed edTPA so now I just have to finish the portfolio and my long-term goal of graduating will be met.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? We had parent-teacher conferences so I had to stay late. I would have liked to have stayed home with my son.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? These had no effect on my week.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? Get rested up because kidsfest week is a super busy week.

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions? I noticed that 2 students were not understanding subtraction with the stamp game with borrowing. I gave new lessons and monitored for understanding. I supervised extra follow-ups to make sure they were able to understand the lesson.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? Stay prepared and organized.

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (Be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer.)
• • Pick an element from standard one of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. I was able to complete my Professional Development on Deep Deliberate Engagement of Self Directed Learning.
  • Pick an element from standard two of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. I established a respectful environment by providing my students with what they needed, making sure my students knew the expectations of each day, and modeling the expectations I expect from my students.
  • Pick an element from standard three of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. I was prepared for all my lessons and knew the content I was teaching. I always make sure that the materials are clean, in the correct order, and read my manual before presenting a Montessori lesson.
  • Pick an element from standard four of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. I facilitated learning during my Small Bead Frame lesson by noticing I was losing two of my students focus. I was able to reengage them by including them more in the presentation. I also decided to not have each student build and read a number during the lesson since I was losing them. I chose to catch each student during workcycle and this worked really well.
  • Pick an element from standard five of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. After reflecting on some behaviors in the classroom I decided that some students may not understand the expectations. I decided to try to have students repeat back the expectations so they are hearing it again from a peer. This worked well today.
• Other:
• What components of your edTPA and portfolio have you started to complete? I am finished and I passed. I need to finish my portfolio video clip.
• What support does your Clinical Educator need from your University Supervisor? None
• What support do you need from your University Supervisor? None

3/23/23

 This week was a difficult week. My son was in an accident and airlifted to Duke Hospital for surgery. I am so thankful his injuries were not worse than what his injuries were. A femur break can be a life-threatening injury. Recovery has been rough and I had to take the whole week off. Finding substitutes is very difficult and I had one substitute cancel the morning of which was frustrating. I usually am very good about not having to take very many days off and I just had to use 5 of my days. I was not happy to hear we have to spend that much time observing other classrooms. It's hard enough to find a sub for a regular day and now we have to find them for 5 half days. That seems like an excessive amount of observations for those of us already working full-time in the classroom.

I have my plans submitted and I am ready for my final observations by my CE and University Supervisor. I have my website finished except for the technology videos and I have my philosophy turned in for approval.

Almost there! 

3/17/23

 

• Rate and explain your overall experience of the week: 1 - Very difficult to 5 - Great week
• 3 This week was just very busy with my classroom partner out, no encore for planing time, and not having a helper for some afternoons. It was just long and exhausting.
• Response to these questions to end your week:
• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? I did a couple new activities with my kiddos that they enjoyed. A listing game I found called Figit family. They did really well with it and it was a good transition into an afternoon activity that differed from our normal routine.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? I am thankful that my classroom partner and I are organized! It would have been a super long week if we had the personality to do things last minute.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? I am working towards my long-term goal of graduation.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? Should have spent less time working, but long days happen.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? Not applicable
  Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear? I am going to take a nap. 
  What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions? I was able to see observe some Dot board work and saw my students were struggling when carrying. We did a review lesson and they were able to catch on after some practice. 
  What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers? That you have to keep working hard! Teacher Candidate Standards (Be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer.)
  Pick an element from standard one of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. Teachers show leadership-I and shared a math fluency intervention tool with my level at our level meeting. I also presented my progress monitoring for a student in child study. 
  Pick an element from standard two of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. Teachers Establish a Respectful Environment for a Diverse Population of Students- I adapt my teaching to my individual students. One student was not ready to go fully abstract with addition so I adapted the lesson so they begin with addition to tens and work up to thousands. 
  Pick an element from standard three of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. Teachers Know the Content They Teach- I am able to match the standards to my Montessori lessons while using the Montessori materials. 
  Pick an element from standard four of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. Teachers Facilitate Learning for Their Students- I was able to help my students use critical thinking skills while leading a discussion about points of view. 
  Pick an element from standard five of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element. Teachers Reflect on Their Practice- I reflect after each lesson and think about what I need to do to either keep the students engaged better or to have more appropriate follow-up work. 
  Other:
  What components of your edTPA and portfolio have you started to complete? Submitted edTPA, started Portfolio
  What support does your Clinical Educator need from your University Supervisor? None
  What support do you need from your University Supervisor? None
  

Week 9 3/10/23

 

Rate and explain your overall experience of the week: 1 - Very difficult to 5 - Great week

• 5 for the week. Friday is a very long day, but not counting that against the week!

Response to these questions to end your week:
Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? 

• I was able to successfully get in all my lessons and even some extra math interventions to my math intervention group. I provided birthday snacks and a fun Walk Around the Sun (Montessori birthday celebration) for a student whose parent did not show up for it. They were very happy and seemed really proud to have had the special snacks for their celebration. I also submitted my edTPA!! Such a relief! I also volunteered to read aloud for Read Across America week in the adaptive classroom last week which was enjoyable! 
• I also have completed my 4th observation so I just have 1 left. 
• I enjoyed spending my birthday at work Thursday. My sweet students that had moved up to 4th grade this year came to visit with some beautiful hand made cards! 

Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? 

• Every week I am reminded about being prepared and staying prepared. It is hard to do, but very critical, especially in a Montessori classroom. I am also working on leaving work at a reasonable time and not staying so late every day. This has been very rejuvenating. 

Focus: How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned? 

• I turned in my edTPA last week so this week I could focus on the portfolio and breathe a little! 

Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? I work very hard every week. 

• I feel I need to do less work/school work and spend more time with my family on the weekends. 

Have Courage: How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do? 

• I do not think apprehension had an impact on any decisions this week. 

Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?

•  Be prepared and ready to go for the week. Keep trying to go home at a reasonable time after school. 

What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions? 

• I looked at the math intervention/standards spreadsheet list to plan my interventions for the next few weeks. This data comes from our MAPS testing. I also saw a student struggling with money and did a review lesson with immediate follow-up. I had them do another money follow-up the following day while it was fresh. 

What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?NC Teacher Candidate Standards (Be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer.)
Pick an element from standard one of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

• 1d. Teachers advocate for schools and students I have been learning and preparing some math fact intervention material to present to our level that would complement our Montessori Math Fact materials and not have the students wanting to use flashcards for fact intervention. 

Pick an element from standard two of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

• 2c. Teachers treat students as individuals I have one student that is struggling with moving to the next work independently. They want someone to tell them what to do. I paired this student with a capable 3rd year that could check in with them and help them move to their next work and this has helped them with their independence. 

Pick an element from standard three of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

• 3d. Teachers make instruction relevant to students. In the Montessori classroom 21st century skills are naturally built into the curriculum. By pairing 3rd-year students with 1st years for some activities the 3rd years are learning leadership skills. 

Pick an element from standard four of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

• 4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods. I was given feedback and a suggestion from my University Supervisor after Observation 3. It was to try to use the Somebody, wanted, but, so, then for retelling. I used a think-aloud method read-aloud for the lesson. Then assigned Lexile-level books to students and found a nice graphic organizer to use. The kids enjoyed it and did really well. A few students needed read-aloud of their books, but they seemed to really grasp the S, W, B, S, T lesson. 

Pick an element from standard five of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

• 5a. Teachers analyze student learning I analyzed the math intervention data to plan my intervention lessons. I analyzed the SPIRE assessments for a student who was struggling with the digraph qu. I made them some qu practice work and also some qu dictation work to use with the movable alphabet. 

Other:
What components of your edTPA and portfolio have you started to complete? edTPA is submitted. I have started some tabs for the binder part of the portfolio. I have started the website. 
What support does your Clinical Educator need from your University Supervisor? None
What support do you need from your University Supervisor? None