Week 9

This week was an extremely busy week. Perhaps in the middle of the week, I would have rated it a one because of all the extra edTPA work. However, at the end of the week looking back on all the work, I am so glad to have finally been able to submit it. Now I can start working on my portfolio and keep my focus on graduation. I would rate my week a 4. I am also glad my CE will be coming back next week. She has been out for three and a half weeks. Though the first-grade team and the TA have been a big help, I look forward to having my CE back in the classroom to observe me. We will again start having the conversations which will better improve my teaching skills. I know a lot of improvements still need to be made before I graduate.

Questions for the Week.

What are some good literacy strategies you use?

What some good graphic organizers?

What do you use to keep parents informed in your classroom?

Does your classroom have a weekly newsletter?

How do you use the clip chart in your classroom?

How do you handle a student who lies to you?

What technologies do you use in your classroom?

Observe: My biggest thing which I accomplished this week which I am sure it is probably the same way for all of you is that edTPA is submitted. I was so relieved when I was finally able to click the submit button.

Reflect: I graded my student’s phonics papers this afternoon. Unfortunately, half of the class failed to get a good grade. Only three students made a 100. One student made an 83. The other students were all below the 80’s. Because my school is having a three-day week next week, I am going to reteach students the ai and ay rules. Students will do a lot of activities next week such as word building, doodle buddy spelling, and the kahoot quiz to practice the spelling words. On Wednesday, students will take the test again. Note: only students who got a bad grade will have to take a test over again.

Focus: My short-term goal is to begin working on lesson plans for the week after this weekend so I can dive into portfolio requirements next week. I have put the portfolio work on the backburner. I am looking forward to going ahead and getting the work accomplished. My long-term goal is to get my portfolio completed.

Be Productive: I wish I could have spent more time with science this week. We are supposed to discuss force and motion. Unfortunately, we only had time to read a short book on Force and Motion. I hope to dive into the subject next week. I spent to much time doing math work. Students are learning different ways of how to regroup by drawing pictures or number bonds. Some students are understanding the information and others are really struggling with the basic concepts.

Have Courage: My biggest concern is being able to have the time to get all the work done necessary for graduation. I know I will, but I want to start getting more things accomplished since edTPA is out of the way.

Begin Anew: Next week, we will not have such a tight schedule since we will not be doing our regular LIF lessons and literacy stations. My plans are to do something with cultural diversity in connection with the social studies of folklore.

Data Analysis: My data connects with the spelling words. I looked at my data (students result) and I realized students need the extra practice to be able to understand the work.

Advice: Keep working hard. Graduation is in the future. 

Standard 1: Teachers lead in the classroom. I am constantly looking at the clock in our classroom. Since the school schedule is so rigid, students only have enough time in the day allotted to each lesson.

Standard 2: My lesson next week will center around cultural diversity. Students will learn about different cultures through folklore.

Standard 3: I need to connect standards with everything I teach. The instructional coach for the county came to observe me on Thursday. She stresses the importance of always using the standards in everything I teach. The standards are the guidelines for teachers. If we are teaching something random which is not related to a standard, we are wasting valuable instructional time.

Standard 4: Students complete questions about the stories on pages app. They will be utilizing a technology. I am also going to investigate pic collage. This app allows students to insert pictures and sentences into a page and make a collage.

Standard 5: I have about four or five students who are really struggling in math. I am reflecting on how I can try to help them next week. What I plan to do is have the TA be with the higher-level students on the carpet while I help the students who are struggling with manipulatives.

Portfolio Requirements. My goal is to revise my Philosophy of education this weekend. Though I have already started revisions, it still needs some final improvement before I submit it next week for review.

My CE and I have no questions for Ms. Suttle this week. I will email you if we do. Thank you.

I hope each one of you has a great weekend. Thank you for all of your support during our edTPA day. I really appreciate each one of you.