Week Fourteen Reflection

• Rate and explain your overall week: 
• This week was fairly okay. I give it a 3.9. It was a fun week as we had the eclipse, but it was also a four-day week and the week after spring break.... it was a lot. My kids had a blast learning about the eclipse and getting to view it (using safety glasses of course)! 

• Respond to these questions to end your week: 
• Observe: What pleasant surprises/accomplishments did I achieve this week? 
• I was pleasantly surprised with how well my students behaved this week! This is the week we came back from spring break, had a four-day week, AND had the solar eclipse. I was expecting the kids to be CRAZY but they proved me wrong! My CE and I completed the two CE observations I needed this week and I couldn't have been happier with how my babies behaved... I rewarded them all with bucks for a well-behaved week when they were packing up on Thursday 💛
• Reflect: What did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week? 
• I learned that I can have fun with my kiddos when things around the world are happening! During the solar eclipse, we took the kids outside with sun-safe glasses and let them view the eclipse! The kids LOVED IT! They talked about it for the rest of the week! 
• Focus: How are my short-term efforts aligned with my long-term goals? 
• My short-term effort of completing this portfolio is aligned with my long-term goals of being a great teacher as I need this portfolio to pass and be a teacher. 
• Have courage: How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and did not do? 
• I was apprehensive about how my students would behave while my CE did her formal observations. I had no idea what to expect with all the craziness this week. I am pleasantly surprised with how well their behavior was throughout the lessons! I learned to sometimes just let things roll and see how it goes instead of stressing about it. I stress myself out more than anyone else in this entire world. 
• Begin Anew: What is the first logical step for next week? 
• The first logical step for next week is to begin writing my gradual-release lesson plans. This was my last week of student teaching so it is time for me to start handing back the lessons. 

• What were some data you analyzed this week? 
• Interestingly enough, I was able to participate in a restart day on Friday where each grade level meets with the grade that is one up/one down to talk about student needs, grades, specialties, etc. I did not analyze any numerical data this week, but individual student data about behaviors, habits, plans, needs, etc. was analyzed and it was quite intriguing. It was neat to see my first-grade team collaborate with the Kindergarten and Second-grade team. The Kindergarten team prepared our first-grade team for the students we will be receiving next year. Then, my first-grade team collaborated with the second-grade team to prepare them for the students they would be receiving next year. Then, we sat down as a grade level and created a long-range plan for the next school year. This involves planning out Heggerty, Eureka Math, Wit & Wisdom, and Reading Horizons. 

• What is one piece of advice you wish to share with other student teachers? 
• The one piece of advice I could share is that the end is near and we are almost finished. Keep holding on!!! 

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards: 
• Standard 1: I demonstrated teachers leading the classroom and this was the last full week of student teaching where I 100% led the classroom by myself. 
• Standard 2: I demonstrated treating students as individuals by praising them for good behaviors throughout the week! All my students had a pretty good week! 
• Standard 3: I demonstrated aligning my lessons to the NCSCOS as all my lessons had the appropriate standards attached. 
• Standard 4: I demonstrated planning instruction that was appropriate for my students as we did activities that they were developmentally ready to do. 
• Standard 5: I demonstrated teachers analyzing student learning throughout this week as I looked at Reading Horizons data throughout the week to see what students were retaining each day. 
• Other: 
• What components of our portfolio have you started to complete? 
• I am finishing up completing all my logs to go into the portfolio. EdTPA is doneeeee!!!!!!!
• Support from my US for my CE? 
• N/A
• Support from my US for me? 
• Patience and encouragement!