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

I would rate my week at a 3. I had a really enjoyable week with my students we did some fun learning activities to celebrate St. Patrick's Day and their excitement and engagement with what I alongside our grade level had planned were encouraging. However, I was also met with some challenges, having to readjust our rooms for the sixth time for all students to come back, planning for the additional time, and planning for our intervention groups that will start on Monday as well, I feel like I am constantly swimming uphill. When I think I can take a breath back under I go. 

• Seven questions to end your week:

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

The pleasant accomplishment I achieved this week was planning engaging activities that students enjoyed but were learning and reviewing (much needed) as well.

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

Lessons my work experiences taught me this week was how to approach planning for MTSS intervention groups.

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

My short-term efforts of planning MTSS intervention groups will aid my long-term goal by becoming more aware of how to approach this as I become a teacher in my own classroom.

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

I'm working absolutely as hard as I can.

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

Apprehension and indecision hold me back on planning a good bit, I want my plans to be as good as I can make them and this makes the process much more agonizing than it should be I'm sure.

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

Take a deep breath and keep working.

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

I analyzed MTSS data this week and it helped me to know better how to plan for my tier 1, 2, and 3 students for the coming weeks.

• 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.

1b. Teachers demonstrate leadership in the school.

I feel I worked well collaboratively with my colleagues to plan appropriate instruction and activities for this week.

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 students as individuals. 

In my planning this week in preparation for next week's start to MTSS intervention groups, I feel I had to consider each of my students' abilities.

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.

3c. Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.

When teaching about St. Patrick's day this week I was able to pull some things from the previous week's lesson on the Irish culture for students to continue to enjoy such as playing Irish folk music as they worked quietly, and using the Irish Jig dance for a brain break.

 

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.

4e. Teachers help students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills. 

One of the activities I had planned for my students this week for the math center involved building certain shapes (shamrock, hat, horseshoe, pot of gold) with linking cubes, then they had to count how many linking cubes it took to make that shape. This activity took critical thinking to complete.

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.

5a. Teachers analyze student learning.

Through data from Istation, MAP, progress monitoring, and classroom performance we were able to place our students in the appropriate tier for MTSS and better serve our students.

 

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

I would rate my overall experience of this week at a 4. I am beginning to get a better feel of the daily schedule and the transition from one thing to the next seems to flow a lot smoother. I am also becoming more aware of what my students need and how to support them in learning new things.

• Seven questions to end your week:

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

I introduced my students to the Irish culture and one thing I incorporated was the Irish jig. I found a video that taught students the steps and they loved it. It makes me happy when I find something that is interesting and fun for my students to learn.

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

My work and experiences taught me to always look for engaging lessons to teach my students. 

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

My short-term efforts of developing weekly lessons that align with the standard course of study align with my long-term goals of teaching my students the material required that should be covered in Kindergarten throughout my student teaching experience.

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

I feel I used my time wisely this week, balancing work, school, and time for myself.

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

Indecision made planning hard for next week. My grade level decided we would do literacy and math activity centers next week to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. I had so many ideas and choices that it was hard to narrow down what would best benefit my student's learning and be fun, this made lesson planning long and agonizing.

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

The logical steps for next week are to get organized and begin to set goals for completing my portfolio, and now that I know that all of our students are coming back to school face to face five days a week on March 22, I need to start earlier on lesson planning.

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

This week we analyzed data from different sources and placed our students in MTSS groups Tiers 1,2,&3 so we will effectively serve our students in intervention groups for the remaining 9 weeks of school to provide them with as much leveled instruction as possible.

• 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. Teachers lead in their classrooms.

Through analyzing data, we are able to develop a plan to help our students achieve as much as possible with the time they have left in this school year.

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.

2b. Teachers embrace diversity in the school community and in the world.

This week I developed a lesson plan that introduced my students to the Irish culture and I used examples from our own culture (county, state) to compare and contrast.

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.

3c. Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.

I developed a lesson using the book Green Eggs and Ham to teach students about their five senses.

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.

We use technology for independent intervention time where students scan qr code developed by our grade level about phonics and sight words, I used technology by using the smart board daily for viewing interactive flip charts or incorporating things into my lessons such as brain breaks or learning the Irish jig dance.

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.

5a. Teachers analyze student learning.

Through analyzing data and grouping students by tiers we can now develop an effective group schedule that will benefit our students moving forward.

• Other: 
• What components of your portfolio have you started to complete? Taking videos of my teaching to complete the philosophy video, placing logs for various things.
• What support does your clinical educator need from Mrs. Suttle? none at this time
• What support do you need from Mrs. Suttle? none at this time

 

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 1 - Very difficult | 5 - Great week. 
• I would rate my overall experience of the week at a 2. It was very difficult to manage the stress of being prepared to submit my edTPA, being prepared to teach my students, and have lesson plans complete as well. I am praying that edTPA is behind me but unfortunately I will still fret about it until I get the news on April 1st, but for now I will try to keep bad thoughts at bay and try to center my focus on student teaching and my students. 

Questions to end your week:

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

I feel pretty good about the Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham lessons I developed for my students this week.

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

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

My short-term efforts of developing good lessons for my students are aligned with my long-term goals of students showing growth. 

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

I have nothing for this question at this time because I feel I give 100% of myself, and I am doing the best I can even though I constantly feel I am falling short.

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

The mental clutter I can clear is the constant thought of edTPA.

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

Some data I analyzed this week was our students' six-week report card. I better know what skills my students need to focus on moving forward.

• 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. Teachers lead in their classrooms.

This week I taught a lesson about the White House and we did a virtual tour of the White House on the smartboard.

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.

2e. Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students.

I had to communicate with my students' parents about several upcoming events through class dojo this week.

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.

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

In several of my lessons this week I integrated with multiple standards.

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.

4b. Teachers plan instruction appropriate for their students.

I chose topics that I knew would engage students in learning. 

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. Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment.

By using the technology to take my students on a virtual trip through the White House I was able to keep them engaged and interested in learning new facts about one of our country's symbols.

• Other: 
• What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
• What support does your clinical educator need from Mrs. Suttle? not at this time
• What support do you need from Mrs. Suttle? not at this time