I like it okay.

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 4
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: So a pleasant surprise would be that I realize that I DO have control over the classroom. This week I have been on-my-own (for the most part) for 3 days! I have been able to lead my students in lessons and through transitions; we got everywhere in a timely manner, and everyone survived! I also observed that when the going gets rough, I can rely on my principal and vice principal to help me out. On Wednesday, my CE wasn't in the room and I could not control one of my students. The days he is on his meds, he is fine. When he's not, it's as if all hell breaks loose. He was uncontrollable and I felt way out of my comfort zone. He made me feel uneasy and for a while I was actually afraid he was going to hit one of my students. I called in the principal and he came into the room, pointed to the student and said "pack your bags, you're going home." Turns out he was near suspension anyways. He was wild on the bus and from my complaints, that last straw tipped the scale. It was awesome to see that my administrators had my back! See you in 3 days, buddy.
  • Reflect: I have learned that the more thoroughly you plan, the more you'll find that you still actually missed. I felt prepared for this week, yet it came and went in what seemed like a heartbeat.
  • Focus:  WEEK 5 IS COMPLETED WHOA. this realization just hit me like a really nice brick covered in chocolate and yummy smelling flowers. This is wonderful that I am halfway through... My that means I have 5 more to go... Oh man. Keep my head down and keep trucking.
  • Be Productive: Well I haven't watched a full season of Grey's Anatomy since student teaching started, so I'm doing okay in that department. However, I did watch 3 episodes last night and my lack of preparedness for next week's lessons is showing.
  • Have Courage:  I realized I should have called the office sooner for my suspended student. I was trying to keep my classroom under control for too long it took away from the lessons being taught in the classroom. Have courage that just because you're a new teacher, that doesn't mean everyone thinks that you're incapable of teaching or controlling your kids. What that student was doing in your room could have (and has) happened to anyone.
  • Begin Anew: Start fresh with students and realize that this week is NEW. This means we have turned over a new leaf and they have an opportunity to grow. So do I!

• NC Professional Teaching Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • My leadership could have improved by putting more effort in talking during my grade level meetings on Tuesdays. I kind of just sit there, but I'm not really sure how to be more engaged without just constantly questioning. So I usually ask questions afterwards to my CE about what was going on.
  • Recognition to prevent stereotypes within my lessons and within the classroom would be fantastic practice and evidence for my students. 
  • I know my information! I study often and continuously prepare myself for this math. Especially when it comes to math. However, I need to study to prepare for the general curriculum test. That 6th grade math might be quite a surprise.
  • I realized that I had to be strict Ms. Kertesz. Upon reflection and talking with Mrs. Suttle, I could have a gentler approach with more positive affirmation, rather than pointing out those doing the incorrect thing.
  • Reflection isn't a problem for me. I do it freely and often. However, putting what is gained from the reflection into practice is something I need to work on. The reflection does me no good if it just sits on my paper. Let it be something beneficial for my growth, for my teaching, and of course that all leads up to my teaching.
• Other:
• • I've been fine tuning my resume to get in on tip top shape! There's a lot more that goes into a resume than I thought. Also, I hadn't made one in probably 4 years. Things have definitely changed.

Short Week.. Yeah right.

This week has been very interesting. And I feel like I start on my blogs that way, because it's actually true every week. Monday was a planning day, Tuesday was supposed to be a regular day back to school, which turned into a three hour delay, which then turned into a closing day due to snow. Teaching in the south requires flexibility and adaptability to change and change that happens quickly.

By the way, I would say we're at a 7 out of 10 this week. 

Waking up at 5:45 in the morning never feels better than when you add a head cold runny nose sore throat and upset stomach with it too. When you're not feeling well, kids get on your nerves faster, you lose energy rapidly and it just seems that you are moving at a turtle's pace. Which is already a problem for me.

I had some excellent constructive criticism from my CE. She sat me down after school on Thursday and we talked about my lessons from the day, we talked about my classroom management, we talked about my pacing during lessons, and we talked about my overall tone when instructing. She usually is full of compliments but this was the hard truth that I have to learn by the end of my fourth week of student teaching.

We finally recognized what's been obvious since I first started teaching. And that is my classroom management skills. I came into the classroom in the fall and wasn't in a position of leadership or in a teacher position really. I came in as a friend. And ultimately that has messed me up the semester. I think it was very beneficial in plenty of ways, but if I'd simply come in and asserted my authority from the beginning, I would have as many problems with behavior as I do now. For example, a student called me Brittany to my face at lunch the other day. This got under my skin skin more than I thought it would. It was a blatant disrespect for my authority and when I asked her to stop she just giggled and said "well, it's your name." This shows me that they're trying to get away with what they can and I've been letting them, so why would they not? My leadership in the classroom (NCPTS one) need some help.

Also, I have had a hard time with teaching to one of my students. He just doesn't understand. And on days he doesn't take his meds, he is out of control. It's unmanageable and it is frustrating for all those around him. I had full classroom control for almost all of today. My teacher had to leave due to family issues that came up around 10:15 and she left for the day. 

I had mixed feelings. 

So a pro was that I got to try out the strategies she suggested yesterday.
And a con was that I got to try out the strategies she suggested yesterday.

In many ways, what I did today was effective. The students and I had a come to Jesus meeting. TWO TIMES. Both times, I had their attention and I was even called a strict teacher (behind my back of course, later told to me by one of my "faithful" students). Not that this was the goal, but it was about time that I maintain control over them. I asked them to get in line quietly and THEY DID. One of the 4th grade teachers said she walked by my class and checked on me and she was shocked by their compliance and quiet of the room. I WAS PUMPED. I was excited to know I was capable of creating an atmosphere good for learning (NCPTS 4).

I study my content more and more everyday and I try my best to get ahead.

Oh and how does that fix my stack of papers? Well, good question. Those papers that need to be graded are at an annoying high... As usual. I feel like I constantly have papers to grade and things to do, no matter how proactive I have been. 

Another thing I have noticed was my quickness to complain. Next week, I will begin my transformation of becoming my happy, bubbly self again. Can't wait!

To the old me, 
Brittany Kertesz

Big Shoes to Fill.

I would have to rate this week at an 8 out of 10. Simplified, that would be a four out of five. We're obviously doing simplest form in math right now. I have felt very confident in my abilities to teach and with my preparations this week. Although I was definitely caught off guard when I was observed this week, I still feel like the situation and lesson that didn't go as planned, was still educational. For the students and definitely me. 

Observe: I always thought that Valentine's day was a skip in the park for elementary school teachers. I mean what is so hard about getting free presents and eating some candy with kids while parents send pizza and cookies and the like to school? THAT is exactly what is hard about it. I hardly ate any lunch today because I was passing out pizza that was brought (despite the fact that it was pizza day in the cafeteria...) and I then proceeded to watch the students as they continue their sugar highs from the purchase of cookies and candies from the line. Then their minds were blown with FREE pizza. One girl ate 4 slices... And then complained of a stomach ache.. No, really. It was bizarre to be apart of...

Reflection: The whole phrase "you never know until you walk a mile in their shoes" is one of the phrases I will forever stick by after student teaching.

I attended two data meetings, one yesterday and one today during planning period and it was terrible. Very informative, but wow was I confused. Our data is low. Like our students that are not on grade level aren't just not meeting benchmark. They are light years away from benchmark. This is hard because even though we may get growth, our goal is that 60% of our students meet DAZE level (including EC, Tier 3, Tier 2. and Tier 1). That's 14 out of my 23 students that will be passing.. But 9 students will. not. pass...

I learned a lot about leadership (ncpts). I need to learn how to be active in my learning and better attentive in meetings. This stuff will definitely come in handy for the future and I look forward to learning more about the inner working of elementary schools. 

Although, I do miss planning periods :(

Here's to no complaints!
Happy attitudes await!
Brittany Kertesz

Whirlwind of.. What exactly?

I accomplished a full week without breaking down! But actually... This week was really tough and on a scale of 1-5 (1 being the worst and 5 being the best), I would probably give it a 4. I just surprised myself by putting a 4 there and not a 2 because I think the week was tough, but at the same time... I love it. I really do. And I thought I wouldn't like it this much, but wow, it's a whirlwind of fun and super crazy. 

I lead the students in all their subjects and we made it through two tests. We also made it through a CRAZY pj day and an even more insane book character day. We survived and I actually want to come back next week...

I have realized that I need more classroom management strategies. I can for the most part refocus them but I have had to single out 3 students more in the past week than I have in the past month! I don't know what it is about pj day, but when it comes to your school, WATCH OUT. The kids LOSE IT. I mean, I gave my first negative dojo and then I got some sob story about how now a puppy will die because of him because he now won't be able to get a puppy from the pound.. I mean... REALLLY?? It was already tough, dude. Much less you guilt tripping me to try and take it away (I didn't by the way).

Either way, all that is behind me. He wore a Harry Potter outfit for book character day and won my heart again, so this coming week, I am planning for better attitudes and better compliance. And I plan on trying a new tactic. We'll see how it goes. 


Standards.
I have related to standard one by acting as a role model for the students to follow. There have been many arguments and disagreements between a few students in the class this week and I was able to be the mediator and the one to direct them to better thinking process of getting long.

I have related to standard to because I have allowed and engage my students in learning activities that will challenge them. Even for my EC students, I think they are capable of completing work that is made appropriately for them and so I differentiate where I can. I challenge my AIG students to do more than what they can just get away with. I was working with one AIG boy and he was trying to get away with writing a paragraph that had only two sentences. I refocused him and I said "I know you're much better than this work you're turning in. I have higher standards than that for you because I know you're capable of reaching them and growing. You're in the fourth grade and have a reading level of 12.5. Use it or lose it, dude. Try again." And I gave his work back to him and he completed a piece that blew my mind away. I was SO proud.

I have been studying my content in order to be able to teach it at the best level (NCPTS 3). Going into this some of this work confused me, but I honestly didn't know the difference between unit fraction and any other fractions. It's been a lot of changing my vocabulary and working to think about every word that I share with the class before I teach. 

For standard 4, I have been working with students to keep them on track and pushing for student discussion. I don't want to lead all of my student teaching because I believe a lot of students and they are capable of learning at a fast pace and even then they would be able to teach the class. I'm working up my trust with some students to get to that point.

Upon reflection, I lead a math lesson on Tuesday that I was a little embarrassed about. I thought it was going well but when I came time for them to complete some of their group work, I realized that I hadn't prepared them in the best way that I should've. We continued with the test the next day because we believed that most students would score well on the test and we had to move on. We had a few 100s which encourage me that I didn't do as poorly as I was thinking. Actually, the students did quite well on the test and I am very proud of them!

I actually stayed up late Wednesday night sick, because I thought the students did poorly... I told my friend that and he just looked at me and said, "my God you need to be a teacher." Confused I looked at him and asked why and he simply responded by saying "because you care that much about them to be sick over this..." This kept me focused and really made me look differently at the situation. 

"Don't stop, don't give up, keep trying!
(Watch it. It's totally worth your time, she's adorable.)

You're welcome.
Brittany Kertesz