Blog 8

Challenging

I have learned how to manage challenging learners. By challenging I mean two categories: 1. the school year is coming to an end, the weather is getting better and summer fever is in the air. Challenging in this capacity is across the board in every classroom. With this said, students are still productive but a bit more susceptible to distraction. 2. In every class there seems to be one student who thrives on building an audience for themselves. These learners may speak out at inappropriate times, are non-compliant, and can be disruptive in many ways.

In handling both scenarios I let students know the consequences of their actions. In some cases I used the 3 strikes = a detention method. In others I reminded the class that productivity was a part of their grade and wasted time in class = poor productivity. In one cases I spoke with the school counselor about repeated behavior from the same student. This student was exhibiting some very dark characteristics which suggested violence towards other classmates as well as himself. Out of all these  cases it is encouraging to know that I have been successful in continuing class productivity. At the same time, I also know that having my own classroom will be a tremendous advantage to issues such as these. Ever teacher has their own management plan which syncs with their personalities. These idiosyncrasies paired with a personal philosophy that go into a teachers behavior plan are intrinsic to a teachers success. When following another teachers foundation, as a student teacher, trying to adapt the participating teachers culture of that classroom can seem unnatural. This has been the case for me. I am however better off having experienced this differentiation.

I will miss my students which I am working with. I feel a strong bond with these classes and look forward to seeing them succeed in the future.

Some final things I need to finish to complete student teaching are: turn in student observation hours, turn in TPA project, complete a summer class, and begin weaning myself from the classroom as a primary instructor.

At this time there is nothing that I need nor any surprises to be expected for my college supervisor.      

Blog Post 7

For making a successful transition out of the class it is important to have my junior high students begin to get exposure with my cooperating teacher. Two things to help with this transition which I'd like to accomplish regard the involvement of Mrs. Wines as a partnering teacher. To begin this process, introducing Mrs. Wines to the atmosphere of the class and giving her the task of taking attendance will help students see her as a leader. As we begin to co-teach a new unit, I'd like to offer her distinct areas of corresponding lessons which are foundational to its pedagogy. While co-teaching these lessons, deferring to her judgment and letting her answer questions will give her a place of leadership.

I think the biggest growth experience associated with my student teaching has been learning how to address a crowd confidently. I've learned how to multi-task the responsibility of communicating important task information while being engaging and not loosing anyone along the way.

I need to finish task 3 and 4 of TPA

No help needed, no surprises.

Blog Post 6

I have found the overhead media projector to be a fantastic tool when giving presentations to students on art movements, history, artists, their works, and examples of classroom projects. Using google docs it is very easy to put together a slide show of art movements which characterize a unit's preemptive ideologies and help shape student expectations. "Prezi.com" is another free website slide show generator presents media in a hip and captivating way.

Another tool which helps keep order in the classroom is the live web cam at my desk. While students remain at their desks, I can do demonstrations of techniques for the whole classroom and have them projected. In classes of 25-30 students this tool is most beneficial. Now students are not crowding around my desk trying to get consistent glimpses of imperative techniques which they must use for their work.

Two takeaways from the recent alumni panel are; one, when filing digital applications I will save much time and energy by saving answers to questions given in the digital portion of the applications. They shared that many of the questions are repeated among many of the districts applications. Storing them in a digital cache will be very helpful for copy paste at my convenience. Two, when interviewing, it is important to research schools background mission philosophy, AYP, demographics, etc… in order to taylor my questions most proficiently to the interviewers interests.

Something I want to accomplish which I will have a chance to do is develop my personal classroom behavior management plan.

The next steps which relate to my TPA project are putting it in order and answering the post-observation questions.

College supervisor
no surprises and no help needed at this time