• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1 - Very difficult | 5 - Great week. 

I would rate my overall experience of the week at a 3. This was my first week of taking everything on and although I had some good experiences with teaching, I also experienced times where I see I need to improve.  Time is one of the biggest challenges I have encountered. Luckily, we have a pretty solid schedule out of necessity but making sure your lessons fit within that time was sometimes a challenge. Some of my lessons were spot on but a couple ended up being too long or too short, so I was left with the challenge of what is a priority or how to fill the extra time. I know this will get better over the next few weeks, but for this week it was exhausting.

• Seven questions to end your week:

1. Observe: What pleasant surprises/ accomplishments did I achieve this week?

I would say my accomplishment for this week would be making it through my first week of teaching having had planned everything and teaching everything as well.  I have been in the position where I have worked as a substitute teacher and I followed the teacher's plans but planning and teaching are rewarding, satisfying, and exhausting all at the same time. 

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

The lesson that my experiences taught me this week that I will build upon next week is that I need to have a few notes for prompting my lessons. Even though I have flip charts they can be very vague, so to ensure I cover the material I need too I will need to have some notes to jog my memory.

3. Focus: How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?

My short-term efforts of looking over assessments and seeing what students need support in learning will align my long-term goals of planning lessons that will enable students to succeed to the best of their ability.

4. Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?

I could have spent more time preparing notes to ensure my lessons were completely covered. I can't say I should spend less time doing anything because I feel that all I do is try to prepare and write lesson plans.

5. Have Courage: How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn't do?

I think apprehension keeps me from teaching as well as I possibly can. I tend to get nervous at times and I am praying that this part of teaching will improve for me.

6. Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?

My first logical step for next week is to learn from my mistakes this week to improve going forward. The mental clutter I can clear is to not dwell upon my mistakes and beat myself up over them but to remember I am learning and this is the process in which I can improve my teaching skills.

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

Some data I analyzed this week was report card assessments. This information helped to guide my lesson plans for our intervention time.  

• NC Professional Teaching Standards             

1. Pick an element from standard one of the evaluation tools and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

1a. Teacher lead in their classroom.

I feel I have reviewed some good data this week to help guide my instruction moving forward, especially during individualized intervention times.

2. Pick an element from standard two of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

2c. Teachers treat their students as individuals.

I think developing an individualized intervention plan for students is proof that teachers see their students as individuals and meet the student where they are to build on necessary skills.

3. Pick an element from standard three of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

3d. Teachers make the instruction relevant for students.

In our classroom, we utilize turn and talk to build leadership, people skills, collaboration, and cooperation.

4. Pick an element from standard four of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

4c. Teachers use a variety of instructional methods.

This week I used technology, writing, and art within one lesson to engage students.

5. Pick an element from standard five of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.

5c. Teacher functions effectively in a complex, dynamic environment.

I will take what I learned this week about teaching and my students and make changes moving forward to improve my teaching in the following weeks.

• Other: 
• What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? specialist log, data folder, 
• What support does your clinical educator need from Mrs. Suttle? none at the moment
• What support do you need from Mrs. Suttle? none at the moment