Student Teaching: Day 3 (Semester 6)

I walk into my mentor's classroom and notice something on her wrist. I then hear her say "I broke my wrist yesterday during recess." Of course this occurs to the hands that she writes with. It's not that big of a deal, but for me when she asks me to write things I get nervous 1. I don't have the best hand writing and 2. Pretty bad speller. I don't know why, but the students had gone outside for recess while it was snowing the day before. It was a light wet snow, but it was slippery. And so she slipped and fell.

Anyways the day began with the older classes (3,4,5 graders I think) performing a parody of Romeo and Juliet called Romeo and Harriet. I really enjoyed it, though it was long. I could tell some of the kids, especially the kindergartners, were getting restless. It began around 8 and didn't end until around 10. Then the students had lunch right after along with recess, then their specials(which Anne and I sat in to do our observation), and then finally they were in their classroom.

Believe it not the students had outdoor recess with the cold temperatures and the wind blowing. There was still snow on the ground in some spots. It was only me, Anne, and the principal outside with all of the kindergartners and the first graders. There had to be at least 100 students outside if not more. It was crazy because I would have students come up to me and say they had to go to the bathroom and I didn't know what to do.

I worked with my child today for the second part of the screening project (Literacy and Language). I had to do a 20 minute observation, a survey, print awareness assessment, and a phonological awareness assessment. It went fine. He got brunt out I could tell towards the ends and was asking if he could go back to class. After he started saying I don't know as the answer I stopped and we headed back to class. The teacher for this project said before that it's fine if they don't complete the whole assessment.

Believe it or not I also work on this day and I just got back from work and the day before I told them I couldn't work on Friday. Now they guilt tripped me into working. Work is so stressful  since we are short staffed. I only want to work on Mondays and they say I can't do that and if I do then I would be considered a Sub and I would work at whichever of the centers would need me on that Monday. I don't want to work at any of the other centers.

I have a grant that pays for my college and in order to keep that grant I must be working at a daycare while going to college. I don't see how that is going to work when I begin full time student teaching next spring semester. I'm going to email the grant adviser at my college and ask her....well I'm not sure. She's not very nice and responds to emails strangely. I can't go and find another daycare because they aren't wanting to hire somebody just for one day a week. So I feel like that now that I'm student teaching even if it's only one day then that should count as the requirement to keep the grant while in college. Right?

Parking Garage Dilemma

         I don’t like parking in parking garages, but that is the only place to park at college. I don’t mind parking in them in the morning because there are places to park. It’s more of a problem on Tuesday when I have class at 2:00. I have been going early to make sure I’m able to get a space. It is absolutely chaotic during the noon time in the parking garages. Everybody is driving around trying to find a spot.

          A few weeks ago it took me an hour trying to find a parking spot and I almost didn't make it to class on time. I made the mistake of going to different garages to look for spots. The problem is I don’t know those garages as well, since I have always parked in the same garage. This day was just a horrible day trying to find a spot. I plan on leaving even earlier now and if I get to early class then so be it. I’ll have my lunch to eat when I get there and I will work on other items that I need to do.

          I hope Tuesday will be getting better soon because really I shouldn't have to leave so early. It’s odd that on Wednesdays the parking is nowhere near as bad. I have always been able to get a spot on those days no problem. 
      
           For the past two weeks I have been meeting up with another student who lives in an apartment close to the college and we drive to school. Both times we have been able to get a spot, which is great. 

Laminator Plunge

I known that there is some tools that I want to buy when I graduate, which will be in about a year. Like a new laptop, a labler, a laminator, and possibly other items like a camera.

I might have gone out and bought a laminator already last weekend. Is it too early? I need to laminate items in my prop box and literacy bag. I figure that in my last semester when I will be full time student teaching it will get used a lot.

I did some searching on teacher blogs about what brand I should buy. I was leaning towards Paper Monster which wasn't bad for a price, but I wanted to buy one from the store, so if I have a problem then I could return it.

I ended up buying the Scotch TL902 at Walmart for only $20. Beware, on the website its priced at $37, so if you are going to purchase it then go to the store.

I wanted to match sure that the pouches for it weren't going to be too pricey. I found the Scotch brand 8.5" x 11" at Sam's Club for $20 for 200 pouches. That is a great price. On the Walmart website they are selling them for the same size at $14 for only 100 pouches. Way better deal at Sam's.

I have yet to laminate anything. I'm cheap and don't want to waste any of the pouches, though I'm very happy and excited that I took the plunge by buying this already.

Student Teaching: Day 2 (Semester 6)

After already being to my placement school before, I wasn't nervous about going in Thursday. Last time we were there it wasn't a normal day, so this time it was interesting to see more of a routine. The day again went by fast.

Schools begins at 7:30. The students hang up there jackets and backpacks in the coat area outside of the classroom. They come into the classroom and are given a prompt to write in their journals. Then at 8 they go to the carpet and complete their morning stuff; pledge, read plans, weather, and calendar. 

Next they do phonemic awareness and whole group reading. Then small groups begin at 8:50. Each child is in a group either doing, centers, seat work, group with teacher, or a star activity (teacher picks). 

10:15-10:50 is lunch time and after the child are dropped off in the cafeteria, we get to eat are lunch. Anne, Mentor, and I eat in the classroom and talk.  From 10:50-11:20 is recess. The snow was still on the ground, so we had indoor recess. The children went back to their classroom and do activities. During recess is when I did my 30 minute observation of the child for my screening project. 

At 11:30 they had two specials and while they were at specials the kindergarten teachers did planning. at 12:10 they return from specials and do math and science for the rest of the day. During this time is when I did the other part of my screening project; interest survey. After I did that I did the concepts of print with another child. He knew everything I asked him except one thing, They are suppose to do D.E.A.R for thirty minutes, but that didn't happen this time. 

1:55 is when school ends. After the children were gone we helped grade papers, put them in their shelves, then put all of their papers in their folder. I left a few minutes after 4:00. 

I didn't feel that the day went as fast as last time. I think I was just worried about getting the assignments done and that's I all thought about. Then after I finished them the time went by. I got to talk to my mentor about a small lesson on March 13. Then I found out the week before they are going on a field trip to a science center and we are invited along for free. I'm so excited to observe and experience the field trip with the students.  

Assignments To Do

Even though the semester has already began and I have been going to class, I feel like I haven't really done anything yet. This is the first week that I truly feel that I have things that need to be done when I go to my placement.

To Do:

1. Concepts of Print - I need to read a story to a child and ask questions like; Where is the cover?, Where do I start reading?, Where is the spine?, and etc. 
2. Interest Survey - This is part of a bigger assignment, Screening Project, that is being turned in by parts. This is one item  in part A. I just ask the children a few questions about his interests  and write them down.
3. Social/Emotional Observation - This is also part of my Screening Project for part A. I just observe the child for about 30 minutes and write down what he does. 

Those are just parts of the assignment that I have to do when I'm at my placement. I still will have to write a reflective narrative for the concepts of print and type up a report for part A of the screening project. It's important to make sure that I at least get everything for part A of the Screening Project done while at the placement.

I sent an email to my mentor teacher asking about the permission slip and asking if the about the above assignments interfering with plans on Thursday. She said the permission slip was brought back signed and I'm good with doing everything on Thursday.

I have a few items that I also need to discuss with my mentor teacher after school:

• Prop Box Ideas
• Pick family for Family Literacy Bag
• Possibly teach small group lesson next week

Note: I just got back from class Tuesday night and the professor has decide to push back the Concepts of Print assignment, so now I don't have to do it this Thursday. I'm still going to do it because it really not that difficult and it's easier to just get it out of the way now.

College Organization: Tip 5

Binder Covers

Binder Covers! I don't know why, but I never thought about doing binder covers back during my Gen-ed classes. Instead I always just put my syllabus in the front pocket of my binders.

Binder covers are a great way to know which binder goes with which class if all your binders look the same or just a way to help you. The question is how do you make a binder cover? You don't have to. I recommend going over to Teachers Pay Teachers where you can find free binder covers already made and you can write whatever your class is on them.

Here are some free cover options you can use and customize;

        Garden Theme                                Chevron, Polka Dot, More

                          

           Chevron                                                  Owl Theme

These are just a few themes that I found for free. There are still many others you can pick from.

Note: You can find many great free treasures on Teachers Pay Teachers, so don't be afraid to check it out even if you are not a teacher.                                         

Snow Day Stress

This is what I was greeted with Thursday morning. 

I didn't get to go to my school because a snow storm hit us and as I am typing this it is still snowing. We have about 14 inches of snow right now and more snow is expected to come during the night. I'm kind of happy to have a snow day, so then I can have a day to breath during the week. Though now assignments I needed to get done on Thursday is pushed back and I have three items that I need to get done when I go next Thursday. I'm going to send my mentor an email next week about what I need to do to make sure that I can do it and it's not going to be a problem. Its three small things, so I don't think it will be a problem. One is only a 30 min. observation.

I'm slightly disappointed because they were going to have their Valentine's Party yesterday and now I'm going to miss that. Such is life. I have written down most of the assignments that I have to do during the semester and I just cringe. Missing even just one day puts so much stress on me and everything that I need to get done on these upcoming Thursdays. I might even have to go in early before class one day and get an assignment done.

Here are some pictures of the snow in my area:

I’m thinking that I’m not going to have morning class on Friday, though I may still have to go into work. I wish I never agreed to work more hours. What was I thinking? 

Commuting is Annoying

I don't like to drive, so driving four days a week to campus which is about 30 miles away is an absolute pain. I have come to learn that some cars just like to go as fast as they can. They are just trying to catch up to the car in front of them, but there will always be another car ahead after the other one.

People need to slow down when they are driving because some cars are just insane when driving. They are whipping in and out of cars Not using turn signals and just cutting people off. Someone is going to get hurt, by the idiot not driving safely. I understand trying to get around slower cars, but people don't have to be so aggressive about it.  Causing an accident will not get the person to their destination any faster.

College Organization: Tip 4

Preparing for Class

It's very important to be prepared for class. Waking up early in the morning to get ready for class, you can't always remember to grab everything that you need in a short time.

• I pack my bag the night before with the binder/books that I will need and any other materials for class that day.
• Look in your binder to make sure you put your assignment or the paper you worked on is in your binder. 
• Pack a snack or two in your bag or I liked to pack snacks in my car at the beginning of the week and to snack on throughout the week.
• Try and plan your outfit the night before. You don't necessarily have to have it out, but just knowing what you are going to wear will help.
• Have other items you do in the morning out. (I have my flat iron, heat spray, and comb out, so all I have to do is turn it on.)

By doing all those things the night before will allow you to get a little extra sleep in the morning because you have already done them. Also reduces your stress knowing that you have everything due that day in your bag. 

Student Teaching: Day 1 (Semester 6)

The day went well. I knew from last week that they were continuing the 100 day events from the day before because it was a half day. We started out the day with a balloon dance party which was very fun and balloons popping everywhere. Me and the other student teacher, lets call her Anne, helped set up the place where the party was happening and helped to take it down.

Then our mentor teacher had us help students at the table in the hallway make a 100 hat. Then we had lunch and after lunch we had recess duty. It was so so cold out. While the students had lunch we ate in the classroom and talked to our mentor about stuff. After recess the kids had specials, so we got to sit in and listen to them planning and it was a little crazy because of the snow days.

For one of my classes we are doing a screening project and had to pick a child. I picked mine and now I just have to wait for the permission slip to come back.

The day just went by so fast. I think that this whole semester is just going to fly by before I know it.

Standards

 I forgot to mention when I was at orientation that we received a folder with a bunch of papers and one of those papers was this. I had already seen this paper before when one of my teachers last semester had found this and wanted to share it with the class. I found it interesting the amount of standards that are expected from students and only 3 expected from teachers. I believe that all those standards that are expected from the students should be expected from the teachers too.  

I have had teachers show up late to class and never say anything to us, but if a student shows up late it's a bigger deal. Nobody should be be late to class.

College Organization: Tip 3

Organizing Digital Content

To me it's very important that your digital college work is organized too. You can't just save assignments anywhere because when you look for them later you can never find them or there are not where you thought you saved them.

• In Documents I make a folder labeled whatever the semester is (Spring 2014, Fall 2013). This is where I keep everything I need for college that semester.

• Inside the folder I make more folders. I make one for each class I have and label them (EDCU 101, PHYS 102, MATH 301, etc.). 

• Then sometimes in each folder I have other folders depending on the class. Sometimes I have folders that hold course materials like the schedule or syllabus. 

Not much to it. Pretty simple.