Student Teaching Weekly Log

Week 2: First Placement (First Grade)

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?

This week I began the morning routine and started taking over social studies.
For morning routine, we did the calendar, weather, number of school days,
and sticky note problems. For social studies, I lead a variety of lessons about
families that included read alouds and engaging activities. I began getting
more comfortable with managing the class, but it is pretty challenging. I find it
hard to build a positive relationship and getting to know the students, while
disciplining and directing them to meet desired expectations.

2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most
challenging experiences?

I found it reassuring that the students are so excited to learn and willing to
participate when I am teaching a lesson. Like I said before, classroom
management is going to be a struggle, but I believe that is common in every
classroom. I honestly think that classroom management is the most difficult
thing to accomplish as a successful teacher. I tried to implement catchy
quotes like I say, Holy Moly and the students say, Guacamole. I found that
this worked with other students that I worked in other practicums, but it did not
work with this specific set of students. It made them squirrelly. Therefore, I
look for help from my mentor teacher. We discussed that the school uses very
common language and that I should try to use some of the phrases like zero
voices, get in control of your body, mind, and voice, make me your focal
point, etc.

When teaching my first social studies lesson, one of the students started
running around the room, throwing pencil cases and chairs, and having
extreme misbehaviors. Finally, we had to do a room clear, where I lead the
students to the library to read some books until the student could calm down.
This was a great and realistic, while unfortunate experience to have.

3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

 Next week, I am going to take over whole group core reading and small group
math. We are working on breaking the students into small math groups, as we
just got the new list for math interventions. I am going to work on using
common language and focus on staying positive to maintain building strong
relationships, while showing that I still want them to be successful and meet
the expectations. Also, we are getting prepared for conferences, so
everything in the classroom is a little crazy.

Week 4: First Placement (First Grade)

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?

This week I was teaching a majority of the day. I was teaching core group
reading, writing, some small reading groups, core math, some small math
groups, and health/social studies. This week I worked a lot on classroom
management. The more I take over, the more I feel the students push to see
how far they can go with things. I found it helpful to stay consistent and calm.
This is a group of kids that need positive reinforcement versus punishment. I
started using common language that the teachers throughout the school use,
and it helped immensely. I could not believe how well the students responded
from this. I believe it showed them that I know the expectations that Mrs.
Joens has for them, and that I expect them to do their best too.

2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most
challenging experiences?

This week I found that being over prepared and organized is essential. There
are many times throughout the week that it was helpful that I had extra
activities planned in case of schedule change or extra time. I found it
challenging that the students behavior changed immediately after Mrs. Joens
would leave the room to do something. I tried to stay firm and consistent so
the students did not feel that they could get away with things that they are not
able to get away with Mrs. Joens. In the beginning of the week, it was
challenging to help the students understand that I am a teacher too, but by
the end of the week I felt like the students were responding to my directions.
Also, I tried reading a book before starting math to help them calm down from
specials, and I think that it helped tremendously. It gives them time to regain
control of their bodies. I was very happy with this change because our
afternoons have been very difficult.
 3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

Next week is my full bell-to-bell teaching. I am very anxious to see how the
first day goes. I dont think it will be a lot different that how things are going
right now, but I am prepared and ready to get started.

Week 8: First Week at Second Placement (7 th/8th SPED)

4. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?

This week I spent a lot of time trying to get to the school system and
observing what my mentor teacher does. He does not act as a traditional
teacher, but he supports a lot of content teachers. He collaborates with the
science, math, and humanities teachers. Sometimes he might help the
teacher catch up on work, or he might help the struggling learners. It depends
on the day and class on his role. I led a practice Iowa Assessment test, which
was a great experience.

5. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most
challenging experiences?

I was very excited because I got to observe my first IEP meeting. It was very
interesting, and I am glad that I received this experience. It was beneficial to
see appropriate dialect to use when talking about a struggling learner. We
worked with a very involved family that truly follows up with the IEP to make
sure their child is being provided with the supports that are supposed to be
offered. We changed the students reading goal. We switched from two
reading goals to one reading comprehension goals. Also, I got to go to the
West Des Moines Learning Resource Center for a professional development
day. It gave me a better understanding of what special education teachers
actually do.

6. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

Next week, I will proctor the Iowa Assessment to a group of 8 students. A

teacher will be gone, so Mr. Frey volunteered me to do it. I am anxious to see
how it will go. In addition, I will be taking over skill development for the 7 th and
8th grade group during Thursday and Friday.