Graduation

Yesterday was my graduation. On Weds my students gave me a graduation card which was super special. Those kids are the BEST ever! I am so lucky to have such wonderful students during this experience. I've even been asked to sign quite a few yearbooks. I don't remember ever asking a teacher to sign mine, so I was surprised. Another plus is that I am completely done with grading. I hate grading. It takes so much time and it is so subjective. I don't like that!

WOW!

Well I had the students do the presidential project. Some were fantastic and others not so much. I gave out a lot of C-'s. They turned in their papers yesterday. i haven't started reading them yet, but I will do so this week.

This week I was nominated for a teacher award at the school by more than one of my students. I wasn't at the teaching conference because I had to pick up my graduation tickets, but I heard that I was very well praised by my students and some of the staff. I went to a carnival at the school and the principle told my husband how fantastic I am. Wow! I never expected that, but it sure makes me feel great to know that I am a great teacher, and that my students love me.

Upcoming Presidents Project

This is an idea I have, but I am waiting to hear Mr G's thoughts on this. He wanted the students to do a much more scaled down version, but I really want to challenge them.

Objective: Students will examine the presidencies of Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and Bush.

You will work in groups to research and present the U.S. President assigned to your group.

Each group member needs to write their OWN report on their president. (100 points)

Class presentations must include:

- A handout for classmates highlighting the importance of the presidency (Ex: Nixon handout) (100 points)
- Brief biography of president
- Brief description of 1st presidential election - How he became president
- Overview of president's foreign policy and major world events (focus on Cold War for presidents before 1990s)
- Overview of president's domestic policy and major events at home
- Overview of President's achievements and/or failings
- Overview of Popular fashions, music, and American lifestyles during their presidency
  (Presentation is worth 200 points)

In total this project is worth 400 points. This will be a large portion of your quarter grade, so make sure you cover all points and put a lot of effort into your presentation.

Students are encouraged to use posters, images, powerpoints, video clips, and other sources during their class presentations.

You will also be responsible for the information your classmates present, so you will need to take notes for a test on the information.

Use the textbook and the PO listed for your president below to guide you on what you should cover in your report and presentation.


Textbook Pages Concept 10:  Contemporary United States

Gerald Ford (906- 908) PO 2.  Describe events (e.g., succession to presidency, pardoning of Nixon) of the presidency of Gerald Ford.  - Presentation Monday, May 4, 2009

Jimmy Carter - (910 - 914) PO 3.  Describe events (e.g., Camp David Peace Accords, Iran Hostage Crisis) of the presidency of Jimmy Carter. - Presentation Monday, May 4, 2009

Ronald Reagan (922-926) PO 4.  Describe events (e.g., Star Wars, Iran-Contra Affair) of the presidency of Ronald Reagan. - Presentation Tuesday, May 5, 2009

George H.W. Bush (928-933) PO 5.  Describe events (e.g., Persian Gulf War, Berlin Wall falls) of the presidency of George H.W. Bush. - Presentation Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Bill Clinton (936-944) PO 6.  Describe events (e.g., economic growth, impeachment) of the presidency of William Clinton. - Presentation Wednesday, May 6, 2009

George W. Bush (945- 951) PO 7.  Describe events (e.g., September 11 Terrorist Attacks, Afghanistan, Iraq War) of the presidency of George W. Bush. - Presentation Thursday, May 7, 2009

Passed My Student Teaching

This last week was very stressful! I was teaching, preparing my teaching portfolio, and getting my final evaluation. Plus I had a meeting to attend with my colleagues from the College of Education.

My teaching went really well. My students learned about President Nixon. I introduced my students to the Dialectic Journal (http://bla.stisd.net/MH_dialectical_journal.pdf). Some of them did a wonderful job and filled several pages with notes and responses. Others did the very minimum, and others refused to fill in the response side. I explained that responding was a way to strech your thinking ability and remember the information better, but they did not understand how this might help them. I also had students create a storyboard (http://accad.osu.edu/womenandtech/Storyboard%20Resource) using six events from Nixon's life. Some of my students went way beyond my expectations with this, and I feel like most of my students enjoyed making and sharing these with their classmates. I hope the visuals will help them remember Nixon's presidency too.

My portfolio was a lot of work. I think I did a pretty good job, but my mind was so overwhelmed that I didn't spend as much time on my reflections as I'd hoped. I will add to those once it is returned and sooner if my supervisor requests it. I did include some great examples of my students' work. It was wonderful too see everything I've accomplished through teaching, and how much my students really have learned from my efforts.

My final evaluation was really nice. I received the top score in almost every category. The categories that I scored one less in where things that teachers continue to develop through experience, so I did wonderfully. Plus I got some really great comments about how impressed everyone was with my dedication and hard work especially with two small children at home. It felt really good that someone recognized that because I've had to work so much harder than others to get here.

The meeting with my colleagues was all about job searching and interview questions. I am nervous about getting a job, but I feel like I am on a journey headed to where I am meant to be. I really feel pretty calm about this, and I just know that things are going to work out. So I am officially done with student teaching in 1 week, and it has been an amazing experience. I am staying at my school for 4 more weeks though, because I've really connected with my students and I want to see them off to high school.

3 more official weeks to go.

Well I am almost done. My graduation is May 14th, so only 5 weeks away. I am officially done with student teaching on April 27th. I have an evaluation on Monday and then the final evaluation in 2 weeks. I will feel so much better being done with these evaluations. I feel really drained. This past week was tough. The kids had AIMS testing. They were tired of sitting and wanted to chat all day after that. I felt really impatient with them for acting up too. I am usually not like that, but I am getting really tired. I really want to stay and finish out the year, so I am going to do that. It's only 6 weeks, and I will be happy I got to experience them all leaving for high school. I feel really attached to them all.

Last week, one of my students came to school drunk and another one hit the VP. He was hauled off in handcuffs crying for his mommy and daddy. He's kind of a jerk, so I think he was playing that up a bit. Anyway, it's a relief to know I get a break from him for at least a week. I know that's bad, but it's hard putting up with some of the crap sometimes. I know they are all kids, and hopefully they will outgrow it. The majority of my students are wonderful though, so I shouldn't complain. Anyway I am almost done, so I just need to pull through. This has been a wonderful experience, and now I know that I can do it.

Another week down!

This week went really well. I had to make a few on the fly adjustments to my lesson plans because of schedule changes. The first happened because the high school came during one of my classes to register students and then the same class period had a movie party another day. It worked out well in the end though.

Next week, I have my 2nd to last evaluation. I will be so happy to be done with this part! My supervisor is coming Monday, Thursday or Friday. I am kind of hoping for Monday. I am having the students act-out photos from the Civil Rights movement on Monday. They have to play the part of one of the people in a photo, and I am going to be a reporter that interviews them. I think a lot of them will hate this, but it will be a great learning experience. Hopefully they will learn from watching their classmates. Plus I really want to help them overcome their fears of being in front of a group. I've always had horrible anxiety about this, but I am now over this. Thank goodness for that or teaching wouldn't be too great for me.

There are things I need to work on still like classroom management. Mr G. was late today and I was a bit worried about being all alone with the kids. I think it would have been a great experience for me though. Plus the kids would have learned their limits more with me. I think, they think I am going to let them do whatever. Not going to happen, but I guess they could test me.

Another thing I am constantly working on is questioning. I do well with this if I plan it out and then make changes as I go, but I find myself struggling a bit if I don't have it planned out. I am getting better at doing this in the moment though.

Difficulties and frustrations

So I am more than 10 weeks into my student teaching. The teacher I am working with is great, but he annoys me too. First, he says he doesn't need lesson plans or anything, then last week he decides he needs a copy of everything. No problem, but instead of saying he decided to get this, he makes up some lame story about how at the end of each year every teacher has to turn in their daily lesson plans to the district. I know for a fact this is b.s. I honestly don't mind doing this, but I hate lame made up b.s. The truth is better! Second, I am in charge of everything except the things he's made clear that I am not in charge in. The students have to have bellwork everyday. I can see where this is helpful, and he has the students do a current event journal every two weeks. He made it clear without saying so that he wants them to do this. Another thing, I am grading students' work and I know he feels like I am not harsh enough. The thing is, I like to be encouraging. I honestly think grades are all crap. They are so subjective, so maybe I don't dock students the same way he did. It does all work out because students who don't work as hard, don't score well on things that are more straight forward. Anyway we got grades turned in for the quarter and they were evenly distributed. I guess it's hard having someone constantly watching every move and judging. One last thing, I am teaching the civil rights movement, so I ask him how he usually teaches it. His response, "fast, I just show a video Eyes on the Prize." Then he basically told me that I have to rush through it. He doesn't think it's important enough to spend much time on. He just wants to rush through the curriculum, and it's annoying. Anyway I just needed a little vent.

Excited for the 1950's

Last week Mr G. taught the Korean War. I was disappointed in his teaching to be honest. He did a powerpoint, showed the pilot episode of MASH, and that was it. I had so many ideas about the Korean War being the first integrated war, and also having the students read a story from the average Koreans point of view. I guess I'll just save my ideas for next time. I did learn by watching him do the powerpoint though. And I got to show some of the video The Atomic Cafe on Weds. Mr G. gave me good feedback about commenting during the film, and that was something I really wanted to develop.  That was really helpful.

This week coming up I am teaching about the 1950's. I am going to have the students start out reading a small section from the textbook in groups and developing skits to teach the rest of the class their sections. I know two of my classes will do really well with this. I always worry about 6th period though. After we do the skits, I am going to do a quick powerpoint and have the students work in groups to analyze some 1950s ads. I want them to see how much of our lifestyle today actually came from then. Finally, I want them to see the 1950's from the teenage perspective. I am going to do a powerpoint of teenagers. Then I'll have my students do a compare and contrast chart of their life as a teen now with teenagers of the 1950's. Finally I am having them do an open-note chart quiz about 3 ways life changed in the 1950's. The last day, I'll show them some clips from the movies Rock Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Rock.

2 months into it

Things are going more smoothly now. The kids have been great with giving me suggestions. A few weeks ago one of my students left an anonymous letter recommend changes to how I do the notes and I listened to that. Hopefully that made them see how I am willing to listen to them. My biggest concern is that they put in the effort and learn as much as they can. 

Yesterday Mr G. taught the class and did his style of note taking. It was good to hear that the students liked mine better. Of course mine is less work for them and more work for me, but I am hoping it will allow them to actually process the information rather than writing notes word by word. 

As far as teaching, there are a lot of areas where I need to improve. I realized that I am conditioned by the bell and allowing students to get up even while I am talking. I will work on this next week, so that I can gain better control over the class. The students have been great, but I realize I will someday have students that are much more challenging. Another area I need to improve is in questioning the students and getting them to expand on their thinking. I got to see Mr G do this on Friday and it was super helpful.

So this week coming up is only 3 days. Mr G is teaching to give me a break, and allow me to learn more by observing. This is good since I have a different perspective now. So I will do this while planning out the next couple of weeks.

I had my 1st "I want to run out of here" moment!

I've been doing great with leading the class after watching Mr. G. Today was my first day of teaching all day and my own lesson. First period went well, and second period did except they finished about 15 minutes early. I did not know what to do. I felt really embarrassed that my teacher was judging the students chatting. They did pretty well with sitting, but I wished I had planned more. I had a lot of self-doubt about wether or not I would be a good teacher all because of this 15 minutes of time. It seems pretty silly now. Anyway I added in some more time taking-up stuff and my lessons went really well for 5th and 6th periods.

So my lesson plan today was to continue with the introduction to the Cold War. Friday I had students fill out a KWL form with Cold War, Communism, and Containment. Today, We discussed their ideas, then had them read Dr. Suess Better Butter Battle in groups. We discussed the cover and what they thought the book was about first. To add more for the time issue, I added some events about 1984 when the book was published. After the groups finished reading, I had each group write down some ideas about how the book related to the Cold War. We held a class discussion, and I wrote their replies on the board. Once we finished discussing the book, I had them copy down vocabulary words I had written on the board. I actually had not planned for them to do this, but there was time, so that was my first improvisation. Tomorrow is my first powerpoint lecture lesson ever. I am really nervous and I have a cold. I guess that happens with student teaching!

I start Monday!

Today is Saturday and I start my student teaching in two days. Yesterday morning my partner and I took our boys to their new daycare to hang out for a couple of hours. Lucas seemed to really enjoy it, and I liked his teacher. My partner wasn't so sure about one of the teachers in Simon's class. She didn't seem to want to be there. One of the boys had a messy diaper and she just left him until the other teacher came in and changed him. I may have to complain about her, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open for now. The other teacher seemed wonderful though. It was kind of like that at the other daycare with Simon's teachers as well.

As far as student teaching, I've been doing a lot of teacher development on my own over this break. I feel pretty good about it and have some great ideas. I haven't started planning yet because I want to observe my mentor teacher first. I want to see how he runs his class and what the students are used to. I will change it up, but I don't want the student's to rebel because it isn't their normal routine. Hopefully they like what I have in store for them. I need to work on amping my voice up. I have one of those quiet voices that doesn't carry well. I may need to buy a mic to help with that later on, but I'll give it a go first and work on speaking loudly.

Also I have teacher development workshops all day Wednesday, and I am sure I'll get some great ideas to use from those as well. Wow, I am getting excited. I think the worst part for me now is thinking about leaving my kids all day long. I am hoping my mentor teacher doesn't stay at school much later than the students leaving because I really want to spend as much time with my own kids as possible. Also I really hope my kids get some great teachers that really help them development and learn.