Student Teaching Weekly Log

Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Alexis Noring Week: 1
1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
For the first week, I spent my time teaching and planning. Prior to the beginning of the week I
met with my mentor teacher. We both agreed that it would be beneficial to start teaching the start
of the new semester, which was January 19th. I planned a PowerPoint that introduced the unit,
standards, resources, activities, and my expectations. For the first two days I used the PowerPoint
to get the classes started. I broke the students into groups and had them complete a group activity
on vocabulary. It was sort of a modified jigsaw activity. After the activity, as a class we reviewed
the terms, and students completed a quick response related to the article we would be reading the
next meeting.
The next class meeting, I had students complete a name activity. They would introduce
themselves using an adjective that began with the first letter of their first name. This was a way
for me to get to know their names. Once we completed this activity, the students completed a
review of the terms using Kahoot.it. They seemed to enjoy this. I also had the students send a
message to their parents; notifying them they had a student teacher. I also typed some
information they could take home. In some of the previous classes, we were able to discuss their
responses to the question, so I read the article, Is Google Making Us Stupid? by Nathan Carr,
aloud. Then we discussed the article as a group.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
The most satisfying experience was finally being in front of the students. I was told that students,
who rarely raise their hands, were very responsive to me. In almost all of the classes, there were
several students who were completely engaged in the conversation regarding the question posed
to them based off the article we would be reading. My most challenging experience was having
the students understand, and see the value in the activities that we are doing. I imagine that when
it comes to giving them an assessment they will be frustrated and confused on the expectations.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
Next week, I plan on discussing the article using Aristotles Rhetorical Triangle. I have created a
worksheet for students to use as they look at the language in the article, and if that language
helped the author to meet his purpose. I have set up the first two days to be practice for the
assessment, on the fourth day. Next week will be independent work, using the worksheet, which
will lead to a large group discussion. I think this would be beneficial as students mentioned in the
surveys they like to work alone. On Wednesdays, my mentor teacher gives grammar lessons. The
responsibility of giving these lessons will be released to me, as we move further along in the
semester.

Student Teaching Weekly Log

Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Alexis Noring Week: 2
1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
This week, I spent the time doing close work with the article Is Google Making Us Stupid? by
Nathan Carr. I began with doing a close look at the article by having the students find evidence
within the article to demonstrate how the author uses rhetoric. The students were to find the
authors claims about the topic, identify the type of rhetoric claim represented, and explain why
that definition applied to the claim. I modeled this activity, by giving the students examples from
the article for each type (ethos, pathos, logos). Next, I let them complete this on their own. In
some classes I had the students work in pairs to see if this would help them understand the skill
they were learning better. After they worked on the worksheet, which was created for them, there
was a large group discussion. This was all done to get the students ready for the assessment that
would happen later in the week.
On the day of the assessment, I had the students choose from four different articles. Two articles
were about cellphones in school, with different opinions. The other two articles were about
school uniforms with different opinions. When students were done with the assessment, I had
them complete a post assessment survey to see what they and I could do to get them the score
they wanted.
We also began reading, To Kill A Mockingbird, by Harper Lee. We read through chapter 1 in
some classes and others the chapter was summarized. Students were asked to read chapters 2 and
3 for homework, to begin a new review game.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
The most challenging experience was trying to explain the concepts ethos, pathos, and logos.
Students seemed to have a difficult time understand what to do or how to differentiate the
authors claims from the evidence. There were times when it was difficult for them to explain
why the authors claim can be defined as a specific rhetoric. I think this had to do a lot with my
confidence. But, I found the more I explained the definitions, the more confidence I gained in
understanding myself. I did have my mentor teacher help me explain.
The most satisfying experience was the discussions we had after each class. She helped me see
that it wasnt necessarily the way I was explaining it, but the fact they are difficult concepts to
learn. After this conversation, I began believing in my plans to deliver instruction. But I also
think of other ways to get the information across to the students, such as handouts, and numerous
examples.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

Next week I will be introducing a new review game, and a speaking standard. We will also be
reading more of the book. In addition, the students will be learning several types of fallacies and
how to identify them.
Student Teaching Weekly Log
Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Alexis Noring Week: 3
1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
I introduced a new review game to get the students engaged. I found questions from a thematic
unit that was developed around the book we are using. In using the game Grudge Ball, I was
responding to the students feelings about English class being boring. I also went over some
housekeeping concerns regarding their work. I explained that the process was a twofold process.
I want to get any idea of what they are thinking and find ways to help them learn. Also, that the
process would help me look at my teaching practice.
I reviewed my expectations of the class, because the unit was a speech and argument unit. I
introduced the first speaking standard and explained how the reading standards are similar. I also
explained the skills they are learning is a recursive process. After the expectations and standards
were reviewed we played the Grudge Ball game, reviewing chapters they have read. Then we
started reading chapter 4 and I had students complete chapter 4 for homework.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
The most challenging experience this week, was dealing with students had not completed their
readings of chapters 2 and 3 of the text, to play the Grudge Ball game. This was very frustrating.
I explained to the students that in response to their surveys, I found this game to keep the class
from being boring. I explained that some stated they didnt like sitting there and reading. So, I
had the students read chapters 2 and 3 in class. I had them complete their summaries and
reiterated that we cannot enjoy fun days if they dont do the necessary work.
The most satisfying experiences was seeing the head nods, and understanding on the students
faces when I explained the work and money spent to get the necessary items to play the game.
They seemed to understand that I was trying to make the class fun for them.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
Next week, we will be working with fallacies. I will be giving a lecture on fallacies, adding
vocabulary terms that students will need to know in order to be prepared for their upcoming
vocabulary test. We will begin the class with a logic problem, and then I will lecture on the
fallacies. Students will take a break and choose their topic for their speeches. Then I will have
them complete independent work. After they have completed the work, we will review in large

group. Following this lesson, students will be developing their own review questions to either be
used in Grudge Ball or Kahoot. They will also be looking at speeches, and analyzing them. We
will also be looking at the movie for a certain part in of the book, To Kill a Mockingbird, by
Harper Lee. This will get the students caught up to choose a partner, chapter to read, and present
to the class.
Student Teaching Weekly Log
Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Alexis Noring Week: 4
1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
This week I continued to teach the speech and argument curriculum. I planned a lecture
involving the types of fallacies. I had the list of fallacies on a power point, provided a definition,
and provided an example. In addition to this, I found a logic problem that I felt was challenging
enough for students to work through and complete. Some students enjoyed the challenge while
others just didnt care for it. When I allowed students to work in groups they did attempt to work
through the problem. The logic problem was my attempt in explaining how difficult it can be to
identify false statements in an argument. I feel this comparison was lost on the students.
We also, continued to work with our speaking standard. I showed two Tedtalk speeches and we
analyzed the speakers purpose, arguments, and looked at the speakers rhetoric. This seemed to
go very well with a few classes. Students were starting to make the connections from what they
learned using the Google article, and how similar it is to speeches. The students also chose their
chapter and partners for group presentations. They will be teaching their selected chapters to the
class. In addition, students were put into groups to develop questions for their vocabulary review.
Each student took one term from the vocabulary list and wrote a review question.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
In one of the last classes of the day, one of the students stated that the second speaker had a lot of
ethos, because of all of the sources he cited. I was ecstatic because the class prior to this class
was apathetic and not engaged. It felt really good to have a student provide that information
without having to guide their thinking in that direction.
The most challenging experiences is trying to get one of my classes to care. My third block class
on A days, is just not engaged with any of the activities that they are given to get them up and
out of their chair. I feel exhausted trying every day to get them to care or to participate in
activities. There is a high level of frustration with this class because of the few who do the work,
dont get to do the fun activities.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

The following week we will be reviewing for another assessment on pathos, ethos, and logs. We
will be playing Grudge Ball to review the terms for the vocabulary test for the next class period.
We will also be discussing and looking at another Tedtalk about speeches. Due to course
planning for the following school year, and a career quiz, the week will not run as smooth as it
should. We will also have grammar retakes on nouns.
Student Teaching Weekly Log
Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Alexis Noring Week: 5
1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
This week students did some pronoun work and review of the terms we have discussed in the
unit. We played the grudge ball game based on those terms. I had students in the prior week
develop questions that they will respond to in the game. This was an attempt to familiarize them
with the terms. A majority of the classes chose terms they knew very well. Some chose the
easiest terms to just complete the assignment. Those who were able to complete the review were
able to take both of their tests. One test they were given was over the terms ethos, pathos, and
logos. This test was created by another teacher and considered a common formative assessment I
had to administer. The other test was a vocabulary test that I created and administered. I will be
interested to see how well the students do on the test with the game. The first time I used the
game, it was an introduction. The second was more purposeful. I am hoping the results will be
favorable or I will have to think of another way to help the students review before a test.
Some of the classes are further ahead than others due to course and career planning. The school
counselors came in and met with each student individually, while the others completed online
task to help them get ideas for their future. While students met with the counselors, I walked
around and helped students as best as I could through the online process.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
The most satisfying experiences is finally seeing one of my classes fully engaged in the activity
we were completing. I explained to them that I am listening to their voices and we can do games
such as Grudge Ball, but they have to do the necessary work outside of the classroom as well.
The most challenging experience was having my entire day being taken up by course planning.
This was challenging due to the fact that the students are seen every other day, and so the
information that they learned in the last meeting is spending less time in their working memory.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
Next week, I will be getting the students caught up in all classes. Students who did planning last
week with the counselors, will be finalizing their preparations for their group presentations. By

Thursday and Friday, all students will be presenting their chapters. So the following week we
can resume with reading our novel, to begin working on our individual speeches.
Student Teaching Weekly Log
Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Alexis Noring Week: 6
1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
I spent my time last week teaching and just assisting my students. The week began with giving a
common formative assessment and a vocabulary test over the terms used so far in the unit. In
some classes we had counselors come in and help students complete their course work for the
following school year. The counselors visits took the entire class period. In other class periods
students were completing just the vocabulary test, and evaluating a speech about speaking found
from Tedtalks. Students did have class time to prepare for their speeches. Later in the week the
students began to present their chapters.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
The most satisfying experiences involved a small number of my students from different classes.
Some of them went above and beyond the criteria given to them to complete their presentations.
The most challenging was juggling all of the distractions that occurred during the week. One of
them involved the counselors taking up the entire block time, which interrupted the flow of
learning for students. I had an interview during lunch which took away some planning time as
well. And trying to negotiate, the making sure all students learned and received the same
information as the other classes.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
We will be finishing speeches, and starting the script of the trial from To Kill a Mockingbird.
After we have completed the script, we will watch thirty minutes of the movie, to wrap up the
text.