These are my last 2 journals from student teaching. I hope this was interesting to someone! For more info. on what these journals are and to read my previous journals, please click here http://sfraww.blogspot.com/search/label/Teaching
Week 13
My 8th and final observation didn’t go as well as I had wanted. Making an interactive math review was a good idea that would have the students excited to come up out of their seats and put a little spotlight on them. However, the technology started messing up from the start even though we had set everything up prior to my lesson. I had to just roll with it and the interactive part was out unfortunately.
Prior to my lesson, I had asked my CT what she thought of my review and she had said it looked good. I didn’t want to bother her and ask too many questions on every little detail of my lesson so I thought we were good to go. But once the lesson started, a lot of comments were made that lengthened the lesson and got the students focused on the teachers rather than the questions. Another teacher even told me that she felt there were a lot of interruptions and I should have been given the chance to teach my way since it was my observation and the comments that were made could have been said in a better way. For example, instead of having said “that is too confusing” my CT could have said, “or you could do it this way” and shown her way after letting me finish my thought.
Many of the questions were advanced and I was surprised that 3rd graders were being expected to know such math. When I took the benchmark before making the review and study guide, I decided to teach the students the way I solved the problems myself. I realized I need to think like a third grader. I wish my last lesson had gone well, but this is all part of learning!
Week 14
My days at the school are numbered and the students know it. Many of them keep asking me when I am really leaving, am I coming back tomorrow, where was I last Monday when I was absent, etc. A few of them even questioned me if I am their friend to which I replied that I am their teacher. It is amusing to see how much my presence affects them! I do hope they have enjoyed having me in their class and found me to be a helpful and caring person.
Although I didn’t write the lesson plans last week, I still helped the students as much as possible. The students had three projects that my CT wanted them to complete by the end of this week and they managed it even with three days of PARCC testing! The students did oral presentations with their partners for a social studies project. They were able to present their drawings and knowledge of their southwestern states to the class. Of course they were nervous, but overall they did a great job! I think having students get used to standing and speaking in front of a crowd is a good skill to acquire from a young age. This will be needed in the future so the earlier they get to practice the more confident they can hopefully become.
During PARCC testing, I actually stayed with the 3rd grade students. One day I was asked to stay with the special needs children while their classmates were testing at a different time in the day. I tried to get some work done for my writing portfolio the other days while the students tested. Initially, I wanted to observe different grades, but I figured I would spend my remaining time with the students in their class, especially since they had some free time afterwards.
