Week 5 Reflection

Sarah Gilbert

Friday, September 18, 2015

Week Rating: 4

Questions to end the week:

What pleasant surprises/accomplishments did I achieve this week?

This was my first week as full time.  I am exhausted, but very happy.  This week, since it was Constitution Day yesterday, we have been studying the Constitution.  Mrs. Lawson said that she usually does the Constitution in sign language in the past, which was very cool.  So I did the same thing.  She told me later that she did basic hand motions, not as in depth as I did.  But the students absolutely loved it.  They did amazing and had almost no trouble at all with it.  They have learned more and more information about the Constitution, and decided today that they wanted to write their own.  Little do they know that we will be doing that next week!

What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?

This week, I have learned so much more about my students than I have ever thought this week.  I love them to pieces, and they challenge me every day.  This week, we have been trying to figure out the best methods of classroom differentiation skills that work best for various students.  One of my ADHD students who constantly moves his legs and feet (at one point, he had his bottom in the seat, his feet on his desk, and his knees on his shoulders), has been a huge challenge.  I had the idea for a resistance band.  The PE teacher provided us with one that she happened to have, and it has been so helpful the past two days.  A few kids that struggle with AR test have benefitted from reading aloud to me, retelling the book to me, and then sitting with me while they take their test. 

How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?

This week, I have learned ways to help my EC students and some of my students who struggle.  It made me so happy to know that the resistance band helped the student.  I want to be able to help all of my students and provides methods for all students to progress, and I have definitely made progress with them this week.

What could I have spent more or less time doing?

This week, I should have spent more time planning the week after next.  I have started, but I wish I could have progressed further than what I have.

How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?

This week, the biggest ways that apprehension impacted me this week is that I still feel that I am not up to date with the procedures of previous year, and so I have had to defer a lot of things to Mrs. Lawson.

What is the first logical steps for next week?  What mental clutter can I clear?

The first steps for next week are to finish planning, no matter what happens.  I am still a little on edge about a lot of things, so I need to calm myself down a bit and move forward.

What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help did it help guide your decisions?

This week we have analyzing and grouping the students using the results of all the assessments.  Flex starts next week, so I will be able to see that soon. 

North Carolina Professional Teaching Standards

·             Standard 1a – Teachers lead their classrooms:  I have taken over the whole schedule now, and I am leading the classroom. 

·             Standard 2d -Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs:

I have made lots of progress with my special needs students.  The band is just a great example of that.

·             Standard 3b – Teachers know the content appropriate to their teaching specialty:  Learning the new methods of multiplication and division instruction are still challenging, but I am working extra hard to keep ahead of my own planning.

·             Standard 4b – Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students:  This week, I have been planning the lessons that I will be teaching next week.  I have used the county curriculum websites as well as a lot of Mrs. Lawson’s help to make sure that the lessons are appropriate for eight and nine year olds.  Mrs. Lawson has also given me a lot of tips for how to work with eight year olds, since I do not have very much experience with this age group.

·             Standard 5c – Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment:  This week, I have taken over the full day, and this is the first “normal” week.  The students do not even know what a normal week looks like.  Scheduling has been difficult, but I have learned that writing the schedule on the board for the last couple of days, and that has really been helping me and the students as well.

Other:

·             Components of the portfolio started/completed:

o   Classroom Website published

o   Technology Tools

o   Observation 1 Complete

o   PDP – in progress (shared)

·             Mrs. Lawson does not need anything from Dr. Parker at this time.

·             I do not need anything from Dr. Parker at this time.