As a class and lesson on life cycles we bought from the science center catterpillars. The container had five caterpillars and each of them turned into a chrysalis. After about 3 days they started to hatch and we got to release the butterflies today. It was raining and cold so it was hard to let them go and they really did not want to leave the habitat they were in because of the cold weather. My Host Teacher and I are not sure that the butterflies will survive the weekend but we also did not think that they would make it through the weekend in the school as we are out for 2 days and the weekend due to UEA.
The class really liked the butterflies and it was fun to watch them get excited about them hatching and worrying about them because it was cold and wet. It makes you realize how caring the students are.
I am looking forward to the long weekend. Getting caught up on homework, sleep and just relaxing. I am also going to a student teacher/new teacher workshop on friday and I am hoping to get a bunch of information out of it. I will find out if the workshops are worth it or not!
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
2nd Observation
So I did not think it was possible but my second observation went better than my first. This time I did a math lesson. I taught the students how to tell time. It was another whole group lesson but this time we were at our tables.
I gave each student a clock so that they could show me time. We talked about why we use a clock and what each hand on the clock stands for. We mostly focused on the whole hour but we talked some about half hour and quarter to and quarter past.
For the lesson I read the Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. It was a really fun lesson because I asked the students to show me the time on their clocks. Then I had a student come up to the front of the class and change the demonstration clock. The class was fully engaged. Through out my observation the students stayed engaged the whole time. After the story I gave each student a worksheet with blank clocks. They all did really well filling in the hands based on what the time under each clock read. Along with this lesson I also had the students make clocks out of paper plates during centers. It was a fun activity to help them better understand clocks.
Yesterday we did an art theme time for centers with the students rotating freely to each center. It was a bug theme so we did butterfly paint prints, caterpiller story sequence cards, ladybugs and spiders. I was in charge of the spider center and we made hand spiders. It was a fun activity that involved tracing and cutting. Some of the students did really well, others struggled a little with the cutting and tracing but the spiders turned out really cute. I will take pictures of the demonstrations and post them soon.
I am getting less and less stressed each day but I am still tired. Some days more than others. It all depends on what the students are doing during the day. Lately they have been really full of energy. I am glad that this is a short week as well as next week. Good time to get caught up with all MY school work and start planning for when I will be fully in charge of the class. That task will begin after UEA. Wish me luck!
That's all for now but I will write again shortly. Much love to all!
I gave each student a clock so that they could show me time. We talked about why we use a clock and what each hand on the clock stands for. We mostly focused on the whole hour but we talked some about half hour and quarter to and quarter past.
For the lesson I read the Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle. It was a really fun lesson because I asked the students to show me the time on their clocks. Then I had a student come up to the front of the class and change the demonstration clock. The class was fully engaged. Through out my observation the students stayed engaged the whole time. After the story I gave each student a worksheet with blank clocks. They all did really well filling in the hands based on what the time under each clock read. Along with this lesson I also had the students make clocks out of paper plates during centers. It was a fun activity to help them better understand clocks.
Yesterday we did an art theme time for centers with the students rotating freely to each center. It was a bug theme so we did butterfly paint prints, caterpiller story sequence cards, ladybugs and spiders. I was in charge of the spider center and we made hand spiders. It was a fun activity that involved tracing and cutting. Some of the students did really well, others struggled a little with the cutting and tracing but the spiders turned out really cute. I will take pictures of the demonstrations and post them soon.
I am getting less and less stressed each day but I am still tired. Some days more than others. It all depends on what the students are doing during the day. Lately they have been really full of energy. I am glad that this is a short week as well as next week. Good time to get caught up with all MY school work and start planning for when I will be fully in charge of the class. That task will begin after UEA. Wish me luck!
That's all for now but I will write again shortly. Much love to all!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
1st Observation
Today I had my first observation and basically my first lesson that I planned and executed all by myself. I used a program called text talk and read a book called The Cow who wouldn't come down. It was a really fun story. The lesson went well. We read the story and then I introduced 6 vocabulary words. The words were glide, contrary, ignored, sternly, innovative and rivals. All those words were used at some point in the story. After the story we went back to our desks and we talked as a group about what each word means. I gave students examples of each word and then we talked about situations where those words would be used. After our discussion we came up with objects and people that glide. The students did a really good job of coming up with all different types of things. Some of the things they named were iceskaters, squirrels, frogs, jets and boats.
For assessment I used a bubble sheet and read 6 sentences out loud. If the sentence made sense using the vocabulary word they filled in the yes bubble, if not they filled in the no. The students did a really good job of staying on task.
After the lesson I talk to my clinical supervisor and he gave me very positive feedback. I received good to exceptional grades on everything. I must not be doing so bad. It was nice to know that I am doing my teaching correctly.
I am looking forward to next week when I teach my first planned math lesson.
For assessment I used a bubble sheet and read 6 sentences out loud. If the sentence made sense using the vocabulary word they filled in the yes bubble, if not they filled in the no. The students did a really good job of staying on task.
After the lesson I talk to my clinical supervisor and he gave me very positive feedback. I received good to exceptional grades on everything. I must not be doing so bad. It was nice to know that I am doing my teaching correctly.
I am looking forward to next week when I teach my first planned math lesson.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Alone in the Class
Today my host teacher had to deal with a family issue so I was in charge of the class all by myself. Well not all by myself. The other student teacher was there with me but o my goodness was it crazy. The kids think that just because I am a student teacher they do not have to listen. For the most part the class was great and we got through the day with no serious problems but those students who have behavior issues let their behavior shine. There are a few students who tried to take advantage of the situation but we kept in under control. We got through everything that was planned for the day and even got in some reading from our chapter book Charlotte's Web. We were also able to get through most of our mystery bags which made from some wonderful transitions and time fillers.
I have to say that today was a day where you wonder if you made the right choice. I know that I did but it is sometimes hard when you are in someone elses classroom and the control is not fully yours. I will be greatful when I have a class of my own and disipline is something that is completely up to me.
All in all the day went well but I am absolutely exhausted. It is nice to have a host teacher to help keep the students in control and have that ultimate power that the kids seem to be almost afraid of. It is like my rules dont count. Clean up was hard because some of the students thought that they could goof off but we got them under control and with the use of positive reinforcement were able to get everything accomplished.
I have to say that today was a day where you wonder if you made the right choice. I know that I did but it is sometimes hard when you are in someone elses classroom and the control is not fully yours. I will be greatful when I have a class of my own and disipline is something that is completely up to me.
All in all the day went well but I am absolutely exhausted. It is nice to have a host teacher to help keep the students in control and have that ultimate power that the kids seem to be almost afraid of. It is like my rules dont count. Clean up was hard because some of the students thought that they could goof off but we got them under control and with the use of positive reinforcement were able to get everything accomplished.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
SICK!
So I am loving school so much! However I have caught cold number two. This one however knocked me down. I ended up missing my first day and I was sad but at the same time I think I really needed it. I slept for most of the day and I know feel like I will be able to return to school tomorrow rested. I am going to up my vitamin C intake so that I hopefully can kill off the bad germs before they attack my body! On to a better note!
Yesterday the teacher gave me complete control of the whole class and it was a very interesting day. It went really well, but it made a interesting day for more than one reason. The first reason was President Obama's speech was at 10. We only had one student whose parent opted out and so we had her out in our caring corner reading. Our classroom TV was having issues so we joined the 1st grade class next to us and watched the speech. Because the speech was during recess or at least it ended at the begining of recess this pushed the day back a little and threw us off schedule. I felt pretty good about the day but by the end my cold was getting the better of me and I was drained.
Ms. Gilmour was very kind and supportive through the whole day and kept giving me positive feedback with helped a lot. The students were great also. They seemed to listen to me well and did not give me too much greif. I am sure as the weeks go on I will get more comfortable with everything and transitions will go smoother but for now the day went well and I was able to live through it.
Yesterday the teacher gave me complete control of the whole class and it was a very interesting day. It went really well, but it made a interesting day for more than one reason. The first reason was President Obama's speech was at 10. We only had one student whose parent opted out and so we had her out in our caring corner reading. Our classroom TV was having issues so we joined the 1st grade class next to us and watched the speech. Because the speech was during recess or at least it ended at the begining of recess this pushed the day back a little and threw us off schedule. I felt pretty good about the day but by the end my cold was getting the better of me and I was drained.
Ms. Gilmour was very kind and supportive through the whole day and kept giving me positive feedback with helped a lot. The students were great also. They seemed to listen to me well and did not give me too much greif. I am sure as the weeks go on I will get more comfortable with everything and transitions will go smoother but for now the day went well and I was able to live through it.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Week 1
The first week of school was very exciting. The students and teachers are still getting in the swing of things but for the most part everything went well. We did a lot of fun getting to know you activities to help both the students and teachers learn names.
One thing the students did was color a puzzle piece with things they like or that describe them. Here are a few pictures of the puzzle that we turned into a bulletin board.
We called our bulletin Parts of the Whole and talked about how each one of the students makes up an important part of the class. Everyone is important in the class.
Here is the entire puzzle put together. It is hard to see where one piece ends and the next begins. We did this on purpose because we wanted the students to know that we are one whole class.
Last but not least here is a picture of our classroom. There are 7 tables with 4 students at each table. It makes for an interesting group. The students have assigned seats and each month their assigned seat will change so that everyone has a chance to sit with everyone.
In the morning we put math manipulative's on the tables for the students to play with. This is a good way for them to get settled into class and work with each other.
One thing the students did was color a puzzle piece with things they like or that describe them. Here are a few pictures of the puzzle that we turned into a bulletin board.
We called our bulletin Parts of the Whole and talked about how each one of the students makes up an important part of the class. Everyone is important in the class.
Here is the entire puzzle put together. It is hard to see where one piece ends and the next begins. We did this on purpose because we wanted the students to know that we are one whole class.
Last but not least here is a picture of our classroom. There are 7 tables with 4 students at each table. It makes for an interesting group. The students have assigned seats and each month their assigned seat will change so that everyone has a chance to sit with everyone. In the morning we put math manipulative's on the tables for the students to play with. This is a good way for them to get settled into class and work with each other. I know I have not been keeping up with this blog as well as I could. I am still getting adjusted to the energy required to keep up with my class. I am glad that there is another teacher in the class with me because I can not even imagine trying to get them on task without her help.
Give me another week and I should be on schedule to where I can post daily or even every other day.
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