It has been so long...

But always when I find a good article it is hard not to share. (Especially when I am in a school that is driven by the gains the students are making and it is so relevant.)

So to share

http://birthtothrive.thrivebyfivewa.org/post/2010/10/19/Kindergarteners-Are-the-Same-As-Ever-Even-If-Kindergarten-Is-Not-New-Study-Finds.aspx

It has some good links to the research.

Clinical Internist

Heather

Clinical Internship II

Well it definitely has been a learning process. I think I finally am in the swing of everything though I find myself continuously taking notes to remind myself of what I need to be doing.

I really love all the children. Their personalities all very unique.

I wish I had more to report but I do not fell comfortable enough to write about everything yet. I will however write later about teaching and what has worked for myself and what has not.

I would love to see one of my professors during this process if she has the time. I will have to email and ask.

I have to say that is the one thing I do not like about the ST, I wish she was a professor from the college, because you have to create a new relationship and a since of trust with not only your CT but your ST as well. Just a thought for the masses. That's it... have to go and write in my journal for ST and start my LRP (due next week).

August 23, 2010

Today was clinical interns orientation day on campus. I enjoyed seeing colleagues who I have not seen since the end of the fall semester, but I was more eager to finally receive our assignments for the spring semester. I am eager to start in the classroom and meet again with my cooperating teacher.

We also had the opportunity to meet with our supervising teacher. I would have liked to have been able to meet with her on a one on one basis, but I see she has her hands full with nine clinical interns. I wonder if we will have any one on one time with her besides her observations?

Tomorrow we head to campus again to conduct our ADEPT training then it is off to the classroom on Wednesday. I hate to rush Wednesday, but I am ready to start. I am wondering if the old saying, 'be careful what you wish for' applies here.

Clinical Internship

So it has begun. My kindergarten internship. Three times now I have met with my cooperating teacher, to discuss the upcoming year. I have utterly enjoyed helping her get ready for the new school year and make plans. Ms. C is very organized and well established in her teaching practices. I am really looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.

CCSD schools have been furloughed for five days this year so for the beginning of the school year the teachers prep time for students has been shortened. Due to this predicament Ms. C has spent her own time preparing for the new school year, this shows her commitment and passion for her job, even after fourteen years. Tomorrow we begin school with the school staff, teachers, meetings, and a highly anticipated class roster.

My goal for this semester is to write every evening at least a paragraph about each day. This type of reflection will help guide me in my future teaching practices and allow me to log my experience.

Clinical Internist

Heather

Proctor PASS Testing

Yesterday, today and tomorrow I am proctoring in a third grade class for PASS testing. The South Carolina standardized test for students. This is the test that gives each school their scores for the year and whether or not they met AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). I have to say it is a painful experience to stand over third graders is a room that is completely silent, no getting up from their seats and timeless. However most students finish in two hours, and the teacher I am in the room with has the students close their test booklets and allows them to have a snack at their desks silently for ten minutes.

The most interesting thing I have observed in this process, is how the student actually takes the test. Not knowing any different way other then my own to take a test, I was very intrigued on how the students took the test. Some students followed the way in which I employe. Read answer the question mark the appropriate bubble. I never imaged all the different ways students would take this test. Some answer just in the booklet and then transfer there information to the scan tron. Some do this technique a page a a time. Still others bubble in sections at a time. Some students use the booklet for scratch sheets some not a scratch anywhere. I wonder how the different modes of taking a test are similar to their learning styles? Is their a correlation between the two? Or even a correlation in the answers and how well the individual student does on the test? Are the students taught all these different ways and given options on how to take the test, that best suits the need of the learner? Are there studies done on test taking for standardized test?

We studied multiple learning styles in school, multiple ways of testing students knowledge (assessment), why not study the way students take standardized tests? If they are here to stay and we will make all our decisions based on test scores, then we need to be studying the way students take the test and their process of thinking when taking a test. This way we do not teach to the test but understand the test outcomes in relationship to the child.

Teacher in training,

Heather Roller

Placement

So it came. I will be at Mount Pleasant Academy. Well, wanted downtown and wanted second grade (for more experience) and I got Kindergarten. I am headed next door to talk with the secretary from my kids school (Whitesides) to talk with her. I have to say I am not overly excited. I have preconceived ideas about the school, only from living in Mt. Pleasant for so many years. I need to reset my brain and enjoy this new experience. I know I can do it.

Laurel has not heard yet and she was going to call Mel and Erin to see if they know where they are going. Hopefully by the end of the week we can all get together and talk about everything.

Still do not know who my supervisor will be. More news to look forward to.

Teacher in Training

Heather Roller

Still Waiting

So it is Tuesday and after a tough day working with the adults at the school I am working at, I am ready to hear where I will be going to work this coming year. I know there are people out there that know where, when and how, but it would be very comforting to know for myself. I am taking the hint that I will probably be in a third grade class. Believe it or not I requested a higher grade because I have had no experience with that grade yet and in order to be a well rounded teacher I felt it was necessary. I am also looking forward to celebrating with my husband this weekend and it would be great if we could celebrate the school I will be at. Enough of the anticipation conversation, onto the end of the semester.

I have opted to take the back seat on the final project in my Field II class. I have chosen not to speak, I felt as if I participated and there is not enough time to allow everyone to have the opportunity to speak. I hope this is a wise move on my part but we will see, I am not to concerned. As for the teacher, I will miss her most of all. She is the one and only teacher I felt like treated me as an equal, how refreshing, how nice. I would find it a great pleasure if she were my cooperating teacher in the fall, however I know nothing yet. I have heard many horror stories this semester of the clinical interns that went before me and I worry not so much about the school but about my supervising teacher. I think if you have good support along the way, it does not matter how tough it is.

I will not write again until I know where I am going, just know that every day I check my mail box and wait to hear. (Crazy to think this day in age I am waiting for a letter!

Teacher in Training

Heather Roller