I'm not going to lie, it was a huge challenge to juggle student teaching, coaching, and already being the responsible teacher. However, I think it has made me a more productive, successful person in the long run. This experience has taught me more about time management than I could ever learn in other situations. Prioritizing each aspect of my life had its difficulties, but overall I am pleased with the results.
As much as I hated blogging - I truly believe it was one of the things that helped me reflect not only about my teaching - but my day as well. Sometimes I just needed a platform to vent and blogging helped me rationalize my thoughts, which in return helped me come to my own solutions in certain situations. In a teaching context, blogging helped me conclude that this profession is a constant trial and error basis. Sometimes I think I have great lesson plans, but at the end of the day when I'm the only one who understood the material, I need to adjust and consider the members of my audience when planning to teach them. After reflecting, I believe that blogging helped keep me on track of my original direction but allowed for me to make adjustments when needed.
Even though I didn't share the same experience as the rest of the student teachers, I believe I learned just as much as they did. Teaching is a profession that might appear routine on the outside, but only the insiders know how much work is dedicated and how great variability actually occurs. I still wish I had the opportunity to work in a public school just for the experience, but I'm confident that I would still be able to handle it if the time comes because of my preparation from this seminar.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Entry 62
School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 12/4/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Normal planning period.
But I had to go to Roanoke this afternoon, so I took half the day off. My PE class was still in a study hall anyways, but I did have a discussion with my director about my ideas for next year during this time frame and she loved it!
But I had to go to Roanoke this afternoon, so I took half the day off. My PE class was still in a study hall anyways, but I did have a discussion with my director about my ideas for next year during this time frame and she loved it!
Reflections of Today's Activities
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Entry 61
School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 12/3/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Sports Medicine (2nd, 4th long periods) - Today is our test review day, woo hoo! However, I took a different approach this time, I wanted the students to be more involved in the process. Instead of creating the review (game, worksheetk, etc), I held the students responsible for making their own review game using various platforms. This also happened to be their assignment over Thanksgiving break, so I was pleasantly surprised about the amount of time each student had invested in his/her game. During class, I had the students pair up and play each other's game. By the end of class I was reassured that the students were ready for their summative assessment.
AP Stats (6th long period) I attempted to cover 1 chapter in 1 day because of its small prevalence on the AP Exam, but it didn't go exactly as planned. I handed out multiple notes pages and workskeets to help reinforce the idea, but the material was not being retained. I need to do a little bit of research to help simplify the concept so I can move on and not waste any more class time.
Middle PE (7th) Tuesday/Friday Class. No gym again, but we were lucky enough for semi-cooperative weather around the 50's for our large class to go outside for some fresh air. Today we supplied the students with a plethora of balls. All 35 students found an activity they enjoyed, and stayed active the entire hour.
AP Stats (6th long period) I attempted to cover 1 chapter in 1 day because of its small prevalence on the AP Exam, but it didn't go exactly as planned. I handed out multiple notes pages and workskeets to help reinforce the idea, but the material was not being retained. I need to do a little bit of research to help simplify the concept so I can move on and not waste any more class time.
Middle PE (7th) Tuesday/Friday Class. No gym again, but we were lucky enough for semi-cooperative weather around the 50's for our large class to go outside for some fresh air. Today we supplied the students with a plethora of balls. All 35 students found an activity they enjoyed, and stayed active the entire hour.
Reflections of Today's Activities
It was not my best teaching day in AP Statistics today - I have a lot going on outside of work right now and I feel like my AP Statistics class might be suffering from my abundant multi-tasking. I'm aware of this issue and unfortunately, I still can not find the time to completely devote to them like I should. I'm hoping once I get a few things off my plate, I can recommit and bring them back full circle - but right now, there is just not enough hours in the day. Maybe, an activity for Friday will be the best action plan - bring the interest back while learning the new concept.
It was not my best teaching day in AP Statistics today - I have a lot going on outside of work right now and I feel like my AP Statistics class might be suffering from my abundant multi-tasking. I'm aware of this issue and unfortunately, I still can not find the time to completely devote to them like I should. I'm hoping once I get a few things off my plate, I can recommit and bring them back full circle - but right now, there is just not enough hours in the day. Maybe, an activity for Friday will be the best action plan - bring the interest back while learning the new concept.
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Entry 60
School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 12/2/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Normal Tuesday planning period.
PE (5th - long): No gym access again. Study hall in the Upper School.
Middle School Study Hall (7th grade)
Middle PE - Since the lower school kids weren't using the Hart gym (lower school gym), we traveled down to have a little time to exercise and play games. As the students walked in, I had them line up in their normal exercise lines and do their routine. As they were finishing, I added on a few more (to make up for Thanksgiving)- they were so thrilled, ha! For the 20 minutes we had left, I set up a basketball competition. When you have a group of 35 rambunctious kids and only 2 basketballs, you learn to get pretty creative at a rapid pace.
PE (5th - long): No gym access again. Study hall in the Upper School.
Middle School Study Hall (7th grade)
Middle PE - Since the lower school kids weren't using the Hart gym (lower school gym), we traveled down to have a little time to exercise and play games. As the students walked in, I had them line up in their normal exercise lines and do their routine. As they were finishing, I added on a few more (to make up for Thanksgiving)- they were so thrilled, ha! For the 20 minutes we had left, I set up a basketball competition. When you have a group of 35 rambunctious kids and only 2 basketballs, you learn to get pretty creative at a rapid pace.
Reflections of Today's Activities
Next year I need to be prepared when Festival of the Trees rolls around. Instead of just having my students sit in a study hall, I want to do a fun activity such as bowling or going to the YMCA for a kickboxing class. PE hardly ever takes fun field trips - I want to change that!
Next year I need to be prepared when Festival of the Trees rolls around. Instead of just having my students sit in a study hall, I want to do a fun activity such as bowling or going to the YMCA for a kickboxing class. PE hardly ever takes fun field trips - I want to change that!
Entry 59
School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 12/1/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Semi-normal Monday: The gym is out of commission this week due to the ever popular Festival of the trees - aka big fundraiser for Carlisle.
Sports Medicine (2nd & 4th, short periods) - First day back from break and I'm in the process of recovering from the flu - not exactly a great combination. On top of it being a non-spectacular Monday, I also don't have a voice (flu repercussions), so I had to plan accordingly and keep my students busy without having to do a lot of teaching. It's helpful that my Sports Medicine book also has a workbook to accompany it, usually I use it as a homework tool. When my students came into the classroom, I gave them their assignment and included a blog and an online research topic. Whatever they didn't get finished in class was assigned for homework.
PE (5th, short period) - No gym access. I had to find a room in the upper school and assign a study hall.
AP Stats (6th) - Over the break, I assigned a big project to be assessed as their test grade - so I collected them as they walked through the door. And just as I had suspected, all international kids turned it in without question and majority of my American students had more excuses than actual work. Since I had already anticipated this happening, I planned ahead and put together the most basic, to the point review - I even included one of those follow along notes page aligned to the powerpoint. My mission is to eliminate all excuses of not being able to learn the material so I can introduce a little tough love.
Middle PE (7th) - No gym access again but at least it was warm enough for us to go outside. We played a game of kickball as we enjoyed the last pleasant day before winter strikes.
Sports Medicine (2nd & 4th, short periods) - First day back from break and I'm in the process of recovering from the flu - not exactly a great combination. On top of it being a non-spectacular Monday, I also don't have a voice (flu repercussions), so I had to plan accordingly and keep my students busy without having to do a lot of teaching. It's helpful that my Sports Medicine book also has a workbook to accompany it, usually I use it as a homework tool. When my students came into the classroom, I gave them their assignment and included a blog and an online research topic. Whatever they didn't get finished in class was assigned for homework.
PE (5th, short period) - No gym access. I had to find a room in the upper school and assign a study hall.
AP Stats (6th) - Over the break, I assigned a big project to be assessed as their test grade - so I collected them as they walked through the door. And just as I had suspected, all international kids turned it in without question and majority of my American students had more excuses than actual work. Since I had already anticipated this happening, I planned ahead and put together the most basic, to the point review - I even included one of those follow along notes page aligned to the powerpoint. My mission is to eliminate all excuses of not being able to learn the material so I can introduce a little tough love.
Middle PE (7th) - No gym access again but at least it was warm enough for us to go outside. We played a game of kickball as we enjoyed the last pleasant day before winter strikes.
Reflections of Today's Activities
I semi reflected in my summary above, but I'm really growing tired of my seniors acting like irresponsible children whose hands need to still be held. I've made it my personal mission to see them succeed, so I will not give up and just give them bad grades and move on. Bad grades will probably still happen, but I want to cut down on the consistency.
I semi reflected in my summary above, but I'm really growing tired of my seniors acting like irresponsible children whose hands need to still be held. I've made it my personal mission to see them succeed, so I will not give up and just give them bad grades and move on. Bad grades will probably still happen, but I want to cut down on the consistency.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Entry 58
School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 11/21/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Today is Grandparents day, which means an early dismissal = woohoo!!
We met with our normal Friday classes but for a shorter period today. Most of my students did not show up to school and I only had 2 grandparents actually attend my classes. (Grandparents are more involved with the younger children, so the lower and middle school are really active on this day, as opposed to the upper school which usually wastes a half day of instruction). However, I showed a short E:60 film in my Sports Medicine class and had my students relate it to the material we have been covering (strength training and conditioning). In AP Stats, I worked a FRAPPY with the students and gave them student responses for them to score. Seriously, that is all I accomplished today in the classroom; although, I posted assignments for all of my classes to be completed over break on edline (so that made up for my lost instructional time ;) ).
Reflections of Today's Activities
Very grateful for a half day and a little time to get caught up on some work! This is my last post until Dec 1st!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Entry 57
School Placement: Carlisle School
Cooperating Teacher: Mancino Craighead
Grade(s)/Subject(s) of Placement: 6-12 (Sports Medicine, AP Statistics, PE (6-12))
Date: 11/20/14
Summary of Today’s Activities:
Normal planning period.
PE (5th, long) - Well I knew it was too good to be true - the senior schedule to lead today leaves right before class and doesn't even check out. Once the school got in contact with his dad, the dad gave an excuse that he left because he had "blisters on his toes". See below my reflection in regards to this matter. I quickly had to step in and makes plans for my class, yay. The warm-up consisted of our new-revised routine - with timed exercises. After exercises, we began our basketball lesson with lay-up lines. And since I wasn't prepared to introduce anything new, I just went with whatever they already knew well. The other drills that the class participated in was 3v2 and 2v1 and then they finished up with a 4v4v4 activity (winner travels down the court to the other team of 4 in attempt to score more points).
Middle School Study Hall - drives me nuts every Tuesday and Thursday; feels like punishment.
Middle PE (7th) Monday/Thursday class. Special day - last class before Thanksgiving so I waived the normal 20 minute warm-up routine. I allowed them to just "be active" for 10 minutes to be sufficient as a warm-up. Then I introduced a new dodgeball game called "ghost ball". Ghostball is a normal game of dodgeball with a set number of balls (start off with 1 or 2 and increase by 1 ball per every game played). However, the team is allowed to select a "ghost" to go to the other teams side but only allowed to travel on the outside perimeter of the court. Each team is allowed to use their ghost by throwing them a ball so the ghost can throw a ball at the other team - so balls will be thrown at you from all angles of the court. Once you get hit, you become a ghost on the other side of the court, so you are still technically in the game. The game is played until 1 side has all became ghosts. We played 3 rounds of this before I let them have 10 minutes of free play before we left for the day!
Reflections of Today's Activities
It has become an epidemic of parents sticking up for their children by supplying them with excuses once they violate school rules. It is almost more important for the child to seem "golden" for the parents, rather than teaching them that breaking the rules has consequences. It is troubling that parents value appearances over being responsible - but what can a school do about what? I'm so tired of hearing excuses rather than being held accountable for actions. What is the appropriate action a teacher should take in this situation?
It has become an epidemic of parents sticking up for their children by supplying them with excuses once they violate school rules. It is almost more important for the child to seem "golden" for the parents, rather than teaching them that breaking the rules has consequences. It is troubling that parents value appearances over being responsible - but what can a school do about what? I'm so tired of hearing excuses rather than being held accountable for actions. What is the appropriate action a teacher should take in this situation?
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