Blog 6 (day 1 &10)

 I have now done my very last observation, along with my mini teach in Mrs.Hall's class. I'm so grateful to now have the experience under my belt and the many ideas for lessons from observing. The last time I went to Mrs.Hall's class the students were learning about the American Revolution. Therefore my lesson that I came up with was a break up letter to Great Britain from the 13 colonies.

As I walked into the classroom I was very nervous about messing up, or the students not enjoying the lesson. However as I began to get in the front of the class and introduce myself it all seemed to go away. After I introduced my self, I asked the students if they had ever wrote a breakup letter or recieved one. Every single student put their hands in the air. 

I then asked the students what  break-up letter contains, what the format typically looks like. Students began raising their hands as  I picked the students one by one to share. "you suck" "were done" "Its not you it's me" were most of the students answers. Which to me was a very funny conversation. I then asked the students what great Britain did to the colonist in order for them to want to "break-up" with great Britain.

I was very surprised as well as proud that all the students had something to say and remembered what the previous lessons about the American Revolution was about. The students answered that Brittan had taxed them too much, killed their men, and gave them no representation in their government. We followed with a class discussion about the American Revolution and compared the two.

I told the students to write about 3 to 5 sentences about it and then when everyone is finished we will share. After about 5 to 10 min I asked who would like to share, and of course everybody raised their hand. Although I couldn't get to them all, the letters were not only hilarious but also related to the prompt perfectly. Not only did I enjoy teaching it to them, but seeing the students laugh and have a fun time with it was definitely the best part.

I am so thankful for being able to go to the middle school and observe/teach. It has been a very educational as well as fun experience. I created many relationships with the kids down there and they even told me after I finished my last day there that they were happy to have me their and that they were gonna miss me. Overall it was a great experience and I can't wait to do it with my own class in the future.

Blog 4 ( 8&9)

 Continuing my observations for Mrs. Hall's class, I have gained many more ideas for future lessons and tips to use in the future in my own classroom.Since it is now close to the end of the year the students have to make sure to turn in any missing assignments they may have. This was a lot of what was done on day 8 while on the next day I was in there the students started to get their review for their quiz  they had at the end of the week.

Starting with the first day, the students had their regular bellwork.However during their usual reading time, the students were called up one by one to see what they were missing. After the teacher went through every student she explained to the class that whoever had makeup work had to stay in for recess until the work was made up. Just by taking away the students recess time, encouraged the students to get to work and finish whatever missing work they had. 

Mrs.Hall also explained to the students who were all caught up that they may read or play their educational games on their computers as a reward for staying on top of work. Not only did this reward the kids, but it also encouraged the students who didn't have their work done to complete it asap. However at the end of their reading time, Mrs.hall then began to finish the lesson that she had already started with the class last period.

 On day 9, the students were having a quiz over their most recent vocab words. To help the kids study and review, the teacher put the different words on different pieces of paper and stuck it all around the classroom. After that the students had a sheet of paper that had the definitions, if the students went around the classroom and matched all the words to the definitions correctly then the students would have the correct phrase at the end of the activity. This was a very helpful ad fun activity for the students and I could tell they got a lot out of it.

In conclusion, both days were very helpful for the students and I would definitely use these different activities that way the student stays involved and is at their own pace. This also gives the students more accountability on themselves because they are doing it themselves and if it is not completed it is not anyone else's fault but theirs.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               

Blog 3 ( days 6 and 7)

 During this week our sophomores at our school had testing all week. Therefor one of our hallways in our high school was shut off reserved for their testing. Because of this the whole week we had fast friday schedule which means every class everyday for a shorter amount of time. Not only that, but the teachers whose classrooms were in that hallway had to move classroom and adapt to the resources in that classroom to continue teaching.

Starting with my 2nd period since I do not have a first period, this teacher did not have to move classrooms since her room was already in the hallway that was not reserved. However she did have to change what she could teach each period since the time was cut in half. So what my teacher did was take the 2 days that she would have us that week and split it up throughout the whole week. For example we would go over a new subject then do one worksheet that day. Then the next day we would do more of that topic and review the move onto the next lesson the next day.

Going into my 3rd period whose classroom did get switched. Luckily each classroom has a tv in them therefore my teacher just had to bring calculators from her room and a folder for us to put in our homework that we completed.  So my teacher didn't have to do much besides hookup to the tv in that room.

Continuing in my 4th period. This teacher was already in the hallway that didn't have to move so this teacher didn't have to change up the way he taught or use different resources. After 4th period the testing was completed and we were able to go back to our normal classrooms.

Overall the teachers had to use many different ways to adapt and use the resources that were in the classroom to complete each period. Not only did the classroom affect the way the teachers could teach but also the time limit and amount of work that could be completed each period. From this week I have learned great tips of how to adapt as well as what is needed in each classroom depending on the subject.

Blog Post 2 ( Days 4 and 5)

 Continuing on my observations at the middle school, I have gained even more knowledge of how to become a better teacher. Along with the skills that you need to teach in the middles school. Meaning, that younger kids have shorter attention spans as well as the teacher has to have more patience with the kids. I have observed the same teacher 2 more times and gathered many methods and tips.

To start, I have really enjoyed the journal activity that she has the kids do everyday. For example, the other day she asked the kids to write about an animal and give clues about what the animal is without saying it. The kids loved it and after they wrote their stories the students got to share their stories while the other students guessed what the animal was. I like this activity because the students were having fun while also learning how to write sentences correctly.

Another whole class method that I really liked was the bellwork the students did. As soon as the student got in the classroom they began to do their bellwork. Bellwork consist of writing three complete sentences about prior topics or whatever topic the teacher decides. Then at the end of the week all the student pass their paper down to the end of the table and turn them in. I like this because the students once again are learning how to write, and are refreshing their minds about what they have learned.

I also like how Mrs Hall, the teacher I am observing, gets ahold of her students. She never really has a problem keeping the students in line, but when the students start talking she will say things such as "clap once if you can hear me, clap twice if you can hear me..." This get ahold of the students and silences them.

Lastly, the students have to read a certain amount of books per month and take a test on them to get a sticker. Once they get their sticker they put it on a chart by their name that way the teacher and students can keep up with how many books they have read.The students have to show the teacher that they passed the test on the book before getting a sticker as well. I really like this method because it helps keep a organized set of data for the teacher and encourages the students to read.

Overall I have really enjoyed Mrs. Halls class, and got many valuable methods and tips. Like I said before I never really thought that I would want to teach a younger age but I have really enjoyed being around the students and could definitely see myself as a middle school teacher.

Blog post 1( FE Day 2 and 3)

When wanting to become a teacher, the best way to figure out the grade level, subject, and school is to actually get some experience. I have observed twice so far and had some really great tips and tricks shown to me. I observe a teacher named Mrs. Hall in the middle school who teaches 5th grade literacy. Mrs. Hall is very organized and makes sure to keep her classroom tidy. 

One of my favorite whole class methods that she does with the students is giving them classroom jobs. After the period is over some students are assigned to put up computers, binders,etc. while the other students pick up the floor area, push in chairs and more. I feel that this is very important for students to have classroom jobs because it is teaching them to clean up after themselves and be responsible. Plus it is helping out the teacher and janitor at the same time.

Another one of my favorite methods that she includes the whole class in is the bathroom policy. When a student needs to use the restroom the walk up to the small white board on the wall which has four different boxes on it. On both of the top two boxes there is a pink and a blue magnet ( blue for boys pink for girls) the top left box that has the boys magnet is titled boys, and on the top right box it is titled girls with the pink magnet.The boxes that follow under it are each titled with out. So therefore, when a a girl or boy needs to use the bathroom they move it into the slot that says out and when they get back they put it back on the top box. This method allows the teacher and students to keep up with who is in the bathroom and if it is available.

Not only does she have great whole class methods but she also is very observant and organized. The students know to respect her and pay attention which is something that I definitely want to be able to do with my students someday.

 She also asks questions to students before explaining that way the students will remember it better and pay attention.  She also does a really good job at keeping the students busy, which is something that students need to be. She has assignments that once you complete there is always something else to do.

 Overall, Mrs. Hall has many helpful methods that I would definitely consider using in my future lessons and in my future career. I used to not want to teach the lower grade, however observing Mrs. Halls class has changed my mind and I would now consider teaching the middle school level.

Pre- School Presentation

 Do you ever get nervous trying to entertain little kids? I in fact do. I love little kids, however entertaining them is either really easy or super hard. When the assignment of making a puppet scene and book to show In front of the preschoolers, I was nervous. However, going to the Pre School and presenting to all of the kids there was awesome. There were some negatives such as being nervous and stressed about the way the kids would act. Though, there was so many positives, such as the kids excitement, the pictures the kids would draw for me,  and the way the kids wanted more after it was over.

The negatives of going down to the preschool was just the preparation and my own self thoughts. Such as being nervous for what the kids think about the story, if they like the story, or if they were going to even care. The preparation was stressful just because of trying to reshape my story to fit the puppet scene. Since you have to have  a whole story in just one setting it was difficult. However the outcome of the kids excitement was worth it.

When I walked into my first class the kids were already excited just because there was an older kid there. The questions and compliments I would get from all the little kids that honestly made my nerves go away. As I started to read the book the kids showed so much excitement and enthusiasm while I was reading and even more when are started the puppet show. This was such a positive to me because I loved hearing the kids excitement and knowing that they loved me being there.

Going into the next positive which was the students drawing me pictures. The students giving me pictures just showed that they liked me and that they enjoyed my presence. The pictures were pictures of me and the puppets that I made as well as them beside me. Seeing their different perceptions of me through their pictures made me realize how they looked up to me and what they thought about my puppet show. Not only the pictures, but the hugs and smiles each of the little kids gave me made me happy.

The next positive was the students wanting me to continue the puppet show after I got done.Not only did the kids want me to think of another story but they asked If they could try and do the puppet show which I gladly let them do. I even made up a story and performed it with one of the little kids which was so sweet to me. The kids then proceeded to ask me questions such as, How did you make that? Can you make me one? How did you make the puppets? Just the little kids showing that they were interested in the story so much that they wanted to try it for themselves gave me a relief that I had done a good job.

To conclude all of these negatives and positives, I would say that the Pre- School Presentation went better than I could have imagined. Overall, there were some negatives such as being nervous and stressed about the way the kids would act. Though, there were so many positives, such as the kids excitement, the pictures the kids would draw for me, and the way the kids wanted more after it was over. Although the work to make prepare for the presentation was stressful,  I would definitely love to go back and see them again.