Week 13 - Second Placement - Part - Time Teaching

Happy Thanksgiving. This week was extremely short. On Monday I taught the classes that my cooperating teacher teaches. On Tuesday I ended up calling in ill as I have been diagnosed with acute bronchitis which took a turn for the worse. 

My focus continues with the implementation of Standard 4 - Learning Environment and Standard 5 – Instructional Delivery as I am observing teaching, Standard 6 (Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication) continues to be addressed in all lessons as reading, writing, and oral communication are integrated into every lesson. I continued to observe Standard 8 (Collaborative Relationships) and Standard 9 (Professionalism, Leadership, and Advocacy) through the daily professional behavior of both teachers. Throughout each day Standard 1 (Teaching Diverse Students, Standard), Standard 2 (Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge), Standard 3 (Planning for Differentiated Instruction), and Standard 7 (Assessment) are addressed through the discussion of how grades are determined and how lessons are planned to ensure standards are being met. My beliefs about teaching or learning continued to remain the same. 

Week 12 - Second Placement - Part - Time Teaching

I officially love 3rd grade. Don't get me wrong some days do have its challenges but all in all, I am in an extremely positive classroom with down to earth teachers who sing and dance with the kids all day, District 97 provides amazing resources and support for its teachers. This past Tuesday I attended a coteaching institute day, this coteaching institute day was the last in a series of I believe 3 coteaching institute days. The day was definitely interesting and supplied teachers with resources and tools to ensure that they cotaught effectively. A big push during this institute day was movement. They had tons of research supporting student movement in learning. Many techniques and tools were demonstrated throughout the day. The very next day when we returned to the classroom we implemented the techniques learned and were extremely surprised how effective they were and how receptive the students were to learn how to learn and while moving around. I have taken over whole group instruction for math. Given that this is the time for me to learn I have asked for and I receive effective feedback from both teachers in the classroom regarding my contribution to the classroom and specifically my teaching. Thus far comments are positive and have helped me focus on key points to improve which I am told only will improve once I am familiar with the curriculum. Teaching continues to be a team effort, and I have continued to be included in weekly grade level meetings and discussions regarding planning. 

My focus continues with the implementation of Standard 4 - Learning Environment and Standard 5 – Instructional Delivery as I am teaching, Standard 6 (Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication) continues to be addressed in all lessons as reading, writing, and oral communication are integrated into every lesson. I continued to observe Standard 8 (Collaborative Relationships) and Standard 9 (Professionalism, Leadership, and Advocacy) through the daily professional behavior of both teachers. Throughout each day Standard 1 (Teaching Diverse Students, Standard), Standard 2 (Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge), Standard 3 (Planning for Differentiated Instruction), and Standard 7 (Assessment) are addressed through daily planning and grading of papers. My beliefs about teaching or learning continued to remain the same. 

Week 11 - Second placement - Introduction to teaching

 This week I have begun to teach small group reading. It is engaging and a fantastic learning experience working to help students reach individual goals. Within the whole classroom, the students are constantly reminded that their actions have natural consequences. One way the teachers work to keep the students on task with whole body listening and during activities is with Dojo. However, the teachers never take Dojo points away as they have expressed that studies show taking things away from students can contribute to a negative classroom environment and it is better for the students to deal with the natural consequences instead of the shame that comes from being called out with Dojo points being taken away. Students in the classroom all average around 600 Dojo points and work toward rewards such as reading to the class or having lunch with the teacher. Teaching continues to be a team effort, I have been included in weekly grade level meetings and discussions regarding planning. I will continue to take note of the whole class math instruction as next week I will take it over.  

My focus continues with the implementation of Standard 4 - Learning Environment and Standard 5 – Instructional Delivery as I am teaching, Standard 6 (Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication) continues to be addressed in all lessons as reading, writing, and oral communication are integrated into every lesson. I continued to observe Standard 8 (Collaborative Relationships) and Standard 9 (Professionalism, Leadership, and Advocacy) through the daily professional behavior of both teachers. Throughout each day Standard 1 (Teaching Diverse Students, Standard), Standard 2 (Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge), Standard 3 (Planning for Differentiated Instruction), and Standard 7 (Assessment) are addressed through the discussion of how grades are determined and how lessons are planned to ensure standards are being met. My beliefs about teaching or learning continued to remain the same. 

Week 10 - Second Placement - Introduction to teaching

The second week at my second placement was a short 3 day week. The week started off with a full edTPA writing day which was followed by a field trip day which I was not able to attend due to the amount of walking required and my health.  The remainder of this week was mainly observation with an introduction to teaching. For 3^rd grade, the students are given a lot of responsibility. The teachers encourage this environment by constantly reminding the students of natural consequences. For example, they are required to label their lunch on a board each morning, this is encouraged with vocal reminders as the students enter the classroom. The lunch board is also the attendance board, with each name on a fish, so if they fail to mark their lunch appropriately they are marked absent for the day. A couple day marked absent or receiving the wrong lunch and students remember to move their fish to indicate which lunch they are having I think I really going to like 3^rd grade. Teaching is a team effort. The ongoing discussion within the classroom is what is being done to ensure instruction reaches all students. I have been given the responsibility of attendance and lunch selection. I assist teachers at all possible times.

My focus continues with the implementation of Standard 4 - Learning Environment and Standard 5 – Instructional Delivery as I am observing teaching, Standard 6 (Reading, Writing, and Oral Communication) continues to be addressed in all lessons as reading, writing, and oral communication are integrated into every lesson. I continued to observe Standard 8 (Collaborative Relationships) and Standard 9 (Professionalism, Leadership, and Advocacy) through the daily professional behavior of both teachers. Throughout each day Standard 1 (Teaching Diverse Students, Standard), Standard 2 (Content Area and Pedagogical Knowledge), Standard 3 (Planning for Differentiated Instruction), and Standard 7 (Assessment) are addressed through the discussion of how grades are determined and how lessons are planned to ensure standards are being met. My beliefs about teaching or learning continued to remain the same. Next week I look forward to beginning to teach.