7th week down. 3 to go!

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 5!! I ended on a fantastic note this week. It's just truly been a good week :)
• Seven questions to end your week:
• • Observe: I accomplished my 7th WEEK! Wow. After realizing that today, it was a little bittersweet. I also accomplished my first parent teacher conference day (which is a big feat when it actually is... ALL DAY).
  • Reflect: Throughout a few of my lessons, I was able to pinpoint my confidence and pinpoint what I was not so confident about. That was helpful in moving forward with my lessons.
  • Focus:  I will complete my full time student teaching in 3 weeks. That in itself shows me that my long term goal and my short term goal are now pretty much the same thing - GRADUATE.
  • Be Productive: I could have spent less time concerned with the detail of my lesson plans and more time with simply getting my plans together. I can pick them through with a fine tooth comb once their completed.
  • Have Courage:  I felt very confident about everything I taught this week, except a fraction of a number for our tier 1 class. I need to work on clarity when explaining this to the class.
  • Begin Anew: Finish lesson plans would be the first order of business! And realizing, my time here is limited. Do it to its fullest and to its best!

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help guide your decisions?
• NC Professional Teaching Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • Standard 1a4: I have been working to be more positive when managing my classroom. Rather than immediately react to my student misbehaving, I have taken the time to recognize the students that have been successfully participating in class and following directions. This offers a better and safer environment for my students as well.
  • Standard 2e1: I know I need to work on communicating effectively to my parents! I'm thinking about sending home a newsletter that updates them when my time is ending as a student teacher for their class, my plans afterwards and how their wonderful children have impacted my life.
  • Standard 3c2: Funny enough global awareness has been one of my favorite parts to integrate into my lessons. I feel that students really do benefit from simply "being aware" and they cling to every word you say about places around the world. I'm hoping that what I share doesn't simply have a daily impact, but that these pieces of information that I am sharing with them is reaching their curiosity and lasts throughout their lives.
  • Standard 4b1: I have been differentiating within my classroom since day 1. Whether I knew it or not, I have been. Now that I am more practiced, I am able to pinpoint exact moments when I differentiated for students. For example, I planned an entirely different language art test for 5 of my students. These 5 EC students would not have ever completed the material on the other students tests due their differences in ability, so I prepared tests with readability appropriate for these students.
  • Standard 4f1: One of my proudest moments this week was today. My students worked as a team, with jobs such as a pirate, an interviewer, or a film producer to create a script that tells us about pirates. These scripts that they created had to match certain criteria and pass the rubric that I gave them to work with. They recorded their video today, dressing up as pirates and wearing professional pants like interviewers would and completed this video. Each person was an integral part of the team and according to their comments on their self and class assessments, I am pleased to say that they recognized that as a big lesson.
  • Standard 5b1: I have been researching the impacts of ADD, ADHD, and medicine on students. Most of my students are medicated in some ways, but I am unfamiliar with what many of these medications are for and what they even mean.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
  • I have been finishing my website in order to make it the best looking one out there!
  • What support does your clinical educator need from Dr. Parker?
  • Nothing at the moment!