I can't believe that it is already March! I'm teaching every subject but Math this week and next week and then I start my all day teaching. I'm enjoying every minute as I navigate through learning how to plan and implement lessons. I've had the opportunity to modify the behavior plan in my classroom to make it something that works for me and the students really seem to respect me and enjoy the lessons I teach.
My biggest struggle so far has been finding interesting, relevant lessons that I can teach in the amount of time I am allotted for each subject. We are beginning to review for the EOGs and it is a major challenge and a lot of pressure to teach them the necessary subject area and test taking skills.
I went to a job fair a couple of weeks ago and have just started the job search and application process. It is definitely stressful trying to get the materials ready and sent out as well as deciding which area of NC I would like to teach in. I am looking forward to having my own classroom and the days are just flying by!
My online classroom management class leaves me with no free time. After school, I come home and try to get a little bit of work done each afternoon. Otherwise, it all piles up and I am overwhelmed. The theorists we are studying in the class definitely have theories that are useful and applicable and I've enjoyed reading about them.
I'm off to finish lesson planning for next week!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Student Teaching - Week 4
This week I'm teaching Math, Science, and Guided Reading! My supervisor is coming to observe my Science lesson so I'm spending extra time tonight preparing my lesson to make sure it goes well! A successful observation means that I can officially substitute for my teacher if she's absent for any reason.
In Math, I'm teaching Probability. For all you teachers out there, http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ExpProbability/ is a really neat interactive website that really engages students in learning about probability!
That's all for now...
In Math, I'm teaching Probability. For all you teachers out there, http://www.shodor.org/interactivate/activities/ExpProbability/ is a really neat interactive website that really engages students in learning about probability!
That's all for now...
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Student Teaching - Week 3
I have been Student Teaching now for 3 weeks!
My second week was interrupted by 2 snow days and a 2 hour delay so I only had 2 days to teach. The first subject I took over was Guided Reading and really enjoy working with my little group. We are reading Stone Fox and the students love it. Some of them have never read a chapter book before and are starting to feel like "real" reader.
This week, week 3, I am teaching Guided Reading and Science. In Science, we have started a unit on Food and Nutrition. I have really enjoying researching and planning for this because the FOSS Kit has some really interesting and fun Investigations for the students. At the end of the week, we are starting an Investigation called the Fat Test - the students will find out the fat contents of 16 different foods!
So far Student Teaching is a great experience. My Clinical Teacher is very supportive and I have enjoyed planning with some of my fellow MAT students. I'm picking up Math next week - Probability - wish me luck!
My second week was interrupted by 2 snow days and a 2 hour delay so I only had 2 days to teach. The first subject I took over was Guided Reading and really enjoy working with my little group. We are reading Stone Fox and the students love it. Some of them have never read a chapter book before and are starting to feel like "real" reader.
This week, week 3, I am teaching Guided Reading and Science. In Science, we have started a unit on Food and Nutrition. I have really enjoying researching and planning for this because the FOSS Kit has some really interesting and fun Investigations for the students. At the end of the week, we are starting an Investigation called the Fat Test - the students will find out the fat contents of 16 different foods!
So far Student Teaching is a great experience. My Clinical Teacher is very supportive and I have enjoyed planning with some of my fellow MAT students. I'm picking up Math next week - Probability - wish me luck!
Sunday, January 11, 2009
And so it begins...!
The Praxis II's are over!!!!! Now, I just have to cross my fingers that passed! The test was difficult but I definitely felt prepared. I had studied the right material. The test consisted of 110 multiple choice and 4 essays. It was challenging (especially the essay portion).
Tomorrow I start Student Teaching and my Classroom Management class. I can't wait to work with my Clinical Teacher and University Supervisor to come up with a plan for what I will be teaching each when and when I'll be observed. Having a plan and a schedule will make me feel a lot more relaxed.
Tomorrow I start Student Teaching and my Classroom Management class. I can't wait to work with my Clinical Teacher and University Supervisor to come up with a plan for what I will be teaching each when and when I'll be observed. Having a plan and a schedule will make me feel a lot more relaxed.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Student Teaching!
I will have to admit that as of today I'm just the tiniest bit overwhelmed about Graduate School and Student Teaching! We had a meeting today with all of the students who will be starting their Senior II (full time Student Teaching) on Monday. The combination of learning all that I will be responsible for (lesson plans, 15 days of all day teaching, portfolio, etc.) at my internship, thinking about our Classroom Management class that starts Monday, our Action Research Project, and the impending Praxis II tests (tomorrow AM), has made me just a little nervous. I am excited about everything and really looking forward to all the experience I will be gaining throughout this semester, but right now it looks like a mountain of work!
I'm headed to bed now so that I can be up bright and early to take the Praxis II! Wish me luck!
I'm headed to bed now so that I can be up bright and early to take the Praxis II! Wish me luck!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Almost Thanksgiving!
This week all of the Elementary MAT students got together for a pot-luck Thanksgiving dinner! It was so much fun. I cooked the turkey (first one I've ever cooked) and it was certainly an adventure. I had to dedicate pretty much my entire day to it, but I'm proud to say that it turned out edible - maybe even yummy!!!! It was nice to have a social gathering before we all go home this coming Tuesday for a little vacation.
All of our classes are wrapping up right now and we have a bunch of projects/papers due this coming week. Our Social Studies unit that will be part of our final portfolio is due tomorrow which includes 5 lessons, a content outline, and an annotated bibliography. We also have a research paper for Social Studies coming up after the holiday. My topic is the integration of Math and Social Studies and I have learned a lot of interesting ways to integrate the two subjects. We also have a Science Research Project due as well as a Literature Circle assignment for our Language Arts class. We have been reading books in groups (much the same way our students will) and each person has a job to do while they read the book. My job was to find vocabulary words that might be difficult and define them for the group.
It has been a busy semester but I have really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to Student Teaching starting after Christmas!
All of our classes are wrapping up right now and we have a bunch of projects/papers due this coming week. Our Social Studies unit that will be part of our final portfolio is due tomorrow which includes 5 lessons, a content outline, and an annotated bibliography. We also have a research paper for Social Studies coming up after the holiday. My topic is the integration of Math and Social Studies and I have learned a lot of interesting ways to integrate the two subjects. We also have a Science Research Project due as well as a Literature Circle assignment for our Language Arts class. We have been reading books in groups (much the same way our students will) and each person has a job to do while they read the book. My job was to find vocabulary words that might be difficult and define them for the group.
It has been a busy semester but I have really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to Student Teaching starting after Christmas!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
I am quite possibly the worst blogger ever! I'm sorry that it has been so long! I've gotten so wrapped up in this semester and student teaching that I've let a lot of time go by since I've blogged.
Things in the MAT program are going great. I registered recently for both the Praxis II's that we are required to take and will spend most of my Christmas break studying for them. I would like to begin studying before that, but I really do not have enough time during the week! I'm hoping that our 5 methods classes this semester have prepared us well for the tests, but because this is a fast-tracked program, I know that there will be some material that I will have to learn on my own.
This semester has been a challenging experience for me as a student. As a future teacher, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and like to be organized and work ahead on projects. This program has really challenged me for many reasons. One, it is graduate school and the professors give assignments that tend to be a little general and expect us to interpret the assignment and add our own flair to it. This is hard for me because I really like to have specific assignments and know what is required of me - I've really had to adapt to this style of teaching and learning. Two, I really like to work ahead but our work load and time schedule generally does not allow us to work ahead more than a day or two (possibly!).
Tomorrow, we are presenting one activity from our Social Studies units (that we wrote this semester) on film. If they turn out well I'll post them for you to see!
Happy almost Thanksgiving!
Things in the MAT program are going great. I registered recently for both the Praxis II's that we are required to take and will spend most of my Christmas break studying for them. I would like to begin studying before that, but I really do not have enough time during the week! I'm hoping that our 5 methods classes this semester have prepared us well for the tests, but because this is a fast-tracked program, I know that there will be some material that I will have to learn on my own.
This semester has been a challenging experience for me as a student. As a future teacher, I'm somewhat of a perfectionist and like to be organized and work ahead on projects. This program has really challenged me for many reasons. One, it is graduate school and the professors give assignments that tend to be a little general and expect us to interpret the assignment and add our own flair to it. This is hard for me because I really like to have specific assignments and know what is required of me - I've really had to adapt to this style of teaching and learning. Two, I really like to work ahead but our work load and time schedule generally does not allow us to work ahead more than a day or two (possibly!).
Tomorrow, we are presenting one activity from our Social Studies units (that we wrote this semester) on film. If they turn out well I'll post them for you to see!
Happy almost Thanksgiving!
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