Blog Post 3

For the previous two weeks, my goals were to improve my classroom instruction by slowing down my pace and expressing my instruction more descriptively to the students and to write and teach my edTPA lessons. As far as improving my instruction, I did feel an increase in my confidence this week. I prepared carefully for my lessons and was able to slow down my pace. I practiced walking around the classroom as I was teaching, partially to slow myself down, but mostly to assure that students were on task, which has been a problem recently in our classroom. I will continue this next week as I begin my first week of taking over every subject. I also wrote, taught, and video taped my edTPA lessons this week and plan to give the students my post assessment early next week. I feel the lessons went very well and the students did a great job. I look forward to getting this project pulled together in the upcoming weeks. 

My first goal for the next two weeks is to successfully take over every subject. I acquired a lesson plan book and have begun to write my lesson plans similar to my cooperating teacher. I have also developed some of my own lessons based on the district required learning standards, which have turned out to be quite fun.  My goal is to try to stay ahead of the game and do my homework on what we are learning, so I am prepared and feel confident. My other goal is this week is to continue to improve classroom management by keeping students engaged and on task. I’ve realized as we head into week 7 of our placements that the students have realized that I am, unfortunately, a bit of a push over. I have enjoyed getting to know them but this has slightly impaired my ability to keep some of them quiet and on task. Many of the students seem to like having my attention and continually ask me questions. I realize that this is not the best situation and have started in the past week to become more strict with my expectations by walking around the classroom more often and calling out those who are being disruptive. 

I would describe this past week as challenging. Preparing to take over every subject in the classroom, along with trying to work on my edTPA has been difficult. I am fortunate my cooperating teacher is supportive and helpful when I ask for her advice. I am working hard to find a balance between the required curriculum and my lesson plans so that I can feel good about what I am teaching the students. I am hopeful that the upcoming couple of weeks will find me less frazzled and that I find a comfort level as I finish up my first placement.

As I continue to work on my classroom management skills, I plan to continue the effective procedures and routines that my cooperating teacher employs. I feel fortunate that my cooperating teacher has an effective, proactive classroom management plan in place that does not require discipline. The behavior expectation was set on day one and the students are clear on what is required of them daily. I also believe that consistency is best for students, especially when a student teacher joins the class halfway through the school year. Although, I must admit, my implementation the expectation is not quite good as my cooperating teacher’s and definitely not exactly what I would like it to be, I do feel I have made progress in managing the class and will continue to strive for improvement through the last four weeks of my placement.

In reading this weeks assignment in “The First days of School”, I have been thinking a lot about classroom management and the importance of routines and procedures. Like I mentioned in the previous paragraph, I appreciate student teaching in an effectively run classroom.  Much of what I read this week applies to my experience. In a way, I wish I could have been there to see how these class rules and procedures were taught at the beginning of the year. I definitely plan on discussing this further with my cooperating teacher. Some of the things that have stuck with me from the reading are how having procedures in place before school even starts offers efficiency, security, reduced disruptions, less confusion, and organization to the classroom. By putting in the work on routines and procedures at the beginning of the year, you are setting yourself up for less stress and problems throughout the year. I also liked reading about how procedures are the classroom expectation and that they should not require a penalty or reward, they are in place so that achievement can happen. I definitely plan to work hard to accomplish this type of environment in my classroom.

The Principal Panel this week was very interesting. My biggest take away from it was to remember that when you are on an interview, not only are you being interviewed but that you also want to do your homework and ask your own questions. I believe the principals said to make sure that you are being set up for success at a job. It is a priority for me to find a mentor when I get my first job, as well as have the support of the administration in the school I work, so I do plan to “interview” my interviewer. I do not feel that I need to take a job that I will not be able to be successful at.

I did enjoy a visit from Prof. Royster this week. I was glad that she was able to come for a lesson I had planned that I was excited about. I only wish that we had a bit more time for the lesson, as we were not able to finish talking about what the students discussed about context clues with their partners. I had a bit of time to talk with her afterward about the students in class who require more guidance and attention and how the time constraints make helping them difficult. She mentioned that this is where my special education training will be most constructive. The frustrating part is that many of these struggling students do not qualify for special education services. I hope that eventually I am able to find a teaching environment where I can spend more time helping those students who need just a little more guidance than they can receive in a regular classroom.