Week Nine Reflection

 

• Rate and explain your overall week
• I rate this week a 4. The stress of EdTPA was gone, however, the anticipation of getting a score is weighing heavy on me. 
• Respond to these questions to end your week: 
• Observe: What pleasant surprises/accomplishments did I achieve this week? 
• I accomplished setting up a routine for sending home positive notes. These positive notes go to one student each day as a way to praise them for a task they did well- whether that be academics or behavior. I am glad I started this because my students and parents are responding very well! Some of my more behaviorally challenged students have shown significant improvement as they are trying their best to get a positive note! I have a tracker to know who has already received a positive note and who has not received one yet. I am trying to make sure that everyone gets at least one! 
• Reflect: What did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? 
• I learned that the parents are actually not that scary to communicate with! I have communicated with parents in the past, however, it has always been when my CE is present. I found a way to connect with parents that is personal by photographing their child with their positive note and sharing it with them via messages on ClassDojo! The parents have responded really well to this and I truly feel that a positive bond is forming. 
• Focus: How are my short-term efforts still aligned with my long-term goals?
• I am currently working on communicating with parents. This will help me with my long-term goal of being a good teacher because good teachers communicate effectively with parents. 
• Be productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing? 
• I could have spent less time relaxing and more time working. Since EdTPA was submitted, I have been a bit slack. All of my energy and motivation is gone. I have to force myself to do work. I still love going to school and absolutely look forward to that, but all the other work is a struggle for me to complete right now. 
• Have courage: How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and did not do? 
• I was apprehensive at first about sharing the positive notes with parents via dojo. I have found that the best thing for me to do is to share the photo and then copy and paste this message each time- "Hello! I just wanted to let you know that [student name] received a positive note home today!😊". Some parents do not respond but I know they see it and other parents are thrilled and respond back quickly! I send this to parents as well as sending the note home to hopefully make sure the parents see it. 
• Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? 
• Catch up on what I've been slacking on. 
• What were some data you analyzed this week? 
• I analyzed iReady data to know what my students were working on. I also reassigned Reading Horizons lessons as needed. 
• What is one piece of advice you wish to share with other student teachers? 
• Talk to the parents! Build a relationship and talk! I am an extremely quiet and shy person so if I can do it, anybody can do it! Also, positive notes home can make the biggest difference in behavior. We have begun saying "Make smart choices to maybe get the positive note!". 
• NC Teacher Candidate Standards: 
• Standard 1: I demonstrated teachers leading the classroom as I am currently student teaching and leading the classroom. 
• Standard 2: I demonstrated treating students as individuals by looking at individual student behaviors before rewarding a positive note home to one student. 
• Standard 3: I demonstrated aligning my lessons to the NCSCOS as all my lessons had standards attached. 
• Standard 4: I demonstrated planning instruction that was appropriate for my students as we did things that they could developmentally understand. 
• Standard 5: I demonstrated teachers analyzing student learning throughout the week with skills checks on reading horizons. 
• Other: 
• What components of your EdTPA and Portfolio have you started to complete? 
• I am finished with EdTPA thank goodness. I have begun working on my portfolio. I am currently working on a parent communication log. 
• What support does my clinical educator need from your university supervisor? 
• No support
• What support do you need from your university supervisor? 
• Kind words and encouragement. I am still slacking from submitting EdTPA... it really took all of the energy I had left to finish it. 

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This week's joke: 

What do elves learn in school? 

Answer down below↓

The elf-abet