Apply for Graduation

So I was not planning on applying for graduation so soon, but I looked at my academic report and everything was good. I just really wanted to get one thing out of the way, so I do not have to worry about it next month since I know I will be busy studying. 

I am not sure when I will find out if I am graduating or not. I am sure it will be some time before May since I would graduate that month. I have been trying to figure out if I will be graduating with honors and I can't figure it out. The page it directs me to, to learn more information, does not exists, so I am not sure. It would be nice to graduate with honors, but I am not keeping my hopes up.

Also I finally figured out how to embed Google Docs to wikispaces. We use wikispaces for our portfolios and I had copied and pasted the documents and it looked horrible. So far I have only embed three documents, so I still have a lot more to complete, but just knowing how to do it is a big step. 

Semester 7 Reflection

Semester 7 is over and I only have one semester left until I graduate. 

I feel like I learned so much about being a teacher this semester. I got to do so much in the classroom and especially during teach week. This semester was crazy busy especially from November on. I really need this break to regroup and get myself together again before the final semester. 

There are 4 important items that I need to do before next semester:
1. Pass Praxis 2
2. Get finger printed
3. Work on portfolio
4. Apply for Graduation


About next semester:
I will be going to my internship five days a week. I will spend 8 weeks with my first mentor teacher and then 8 weeks with my second mentor teacher. I will have one class on Wednesday that will take place after the school day is over. Hopefully I will make it there on time. My professor is the head of ECED Department. 

Also our cohort is all split up, so I will have different girls in my class next semester. And from my understanding my new professor, the Head of the ECED Department, will be observing us. Yikes!

Goals:
I had two goals for this semester. To differentiate and use technology in my lessons. I was able to do both this semester in almost all of my lessons. I want to continue doing that in the next semester. 

My only goal for next semester is to graduate!

Teach Week: Friday

On Friday my voice came back a little more. It was much better compared to the day before. My mentor did make it to the school. 

Friday. What can I say about Friday? 

It was absolutely crazy. 

So much was going on that my mentor did not tell me and I kind of got stressed. As I was giving the spelling test, my mentor has a lady that comes in every Friday and works with the students. I thought it was a whole group things, but no she pulls each student aside and works with them individually. 

So random students were getting up and leaving to work with her during the spelling test. Then they could come back and have know idea where we were. 

Then during whole group time my mentor had a parent volunteer pulling students out to do something. This was when I was explaining their seatwork that they were going to do. So when it was time for some students seatwork they did not know what to do. 

Also before that I completely forgot about the seatwork and did not have anything planned. I felt horrible when my mentor asked me about it. Thankfully we pulled through it and she talked to me latter about what I could do if I was by myself and stuff. 

Latter in the day we took the science test, which I graded latter and would need to the grades for my Cycle of Learning. Needless to say the grades were not that great. But it's a learning experience and I am learning for when I have my own classroom. 

Finally Cycle of Learning my over. I needed sleep so bad and my body would not let me have it. I kept waking up early throughout the following week. 

Lastly, this will be my last post until Dec. 29, so enjoy the holidays and spend time with your loved ones!

Teach Week: Wednesday and Thursday

I ended up losing my voice on Wednesday and could barely speak above a whisper on Thursday. Which lucky, me I had my cohort professor observing me that day. I felt that it was not good and my voice kept breaking, so I couldn't even talk at some points. Got through it though. 

Again I did not stay late at the school on either day because my mentor had to leave early. I took student's papers home to grade those  because I also needed grades for my COL (cycle of learning). 

And yeah... not much more to say. I was really nervous for Friday because there was a chance my mentor was going to be there. Also it was going to be the day I gave the student's their test to see how well I did on teaching them. 

Teach Week: Monday and Tuesday

I was so nervous Sunday night before starting teach week, though I felt ok for Monday and Tuesday because I had planned more for these days. I would stay after and get things ready for the next day like putting up the plans and typing up my morning work and message. I would have my mentor look at them before I left. 

On both days, I kept wondering when my cohort professor was going to come in and observe me, but she did not show up on these days. Which made me nervous because I did not like my lessons for Wednesday and Thursday as much as I liked my Monday and Tuesday lessons. So I was a little upset that she did not show up on these days. 

Tuesday when I got home, my throat felt a tad funny and I was worried I was getting sick. 

Semester 7 is Over!!

I had me last exam today and turned in my last lesson plan too. I am so glad that I do not have to go to class or to get up early to get to internship. I am ready for a break. This will be the first time in five years that I will not have anything to do over the break, since I quit work back in September. I do not plan on getting a job. 

I had my math exam and it was not too bad. I think I will be getting an A in that class, though I am not sure about the other classes. I am a little worried about them because this semester was so crazy. I do not feel that I did my best and that makes me worried. I mean... I am not going to fail, but I think that I will be getting Bs instead of the As that I want. It is what it is though. 

Student Teaching; Day 31 (Semester 7)

Today was the last day of student teaching for this semester. I got lucky because it was a half day of school, so I got to leave early. My mentors friend passed, so she left right away also. I did not have anything planned that i was suppose to do, which was really nice not having to worry about it. 

I helped out by doing little things in the classroom with the students. At the end of the day I gave my mentor a a gift card and a letter to so thank you. I did not do anything big because I am suppose to go back to her next semester, so I will do something more when the time comes. 

December Assignments

Oops. I was suppose to post this back on Dec. 3, but I forgot since I was taking that week off, so here it is. 

1-5 - Teach Week

8 - Collaborative Project Presentation, Chapters 15/17

9 - Binder Check 2, Attendance, Final Mentor Evaluation, Cycle of Learning, Phonics Test 3

11 - Portfolio

12 - Final, Lesson Plan, Exam, Informal Assessments

15 - Final, Lesson Plan

16 - Exam

Where has the Time Gone?

Honestly, what happened to September?

I want to go back to that month when I felt in more control. So much is going on and I have very little time left.

I was suppose to post a blog about my teach week, but I just have not had enough time. Finals are here and the last assignments are due. I am trying to finish up everything. Not to mention Christmas is here and I have not bought anybody anything yet. 

Then I found out that I still need to get fingered printed and the place I have to do it at is an hour away from my house. I don't understand why I have to go so far out to get it done. At my daycare they did it right there at the center. There is a police station right down the road. How come I can't go there. Then to top it off, it costs $60! 

I also still need to sign up for praxis 2 and pass all that and stuff. I just really need a vacation and not have anything that i have to do. 

I will post again late Wednesday about my last student teaching day for the semester. Eventually I will post about my teach week, but not right now.