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

Last Day In Field

The most interesting thing that happened today in field was a conversation I had with my cooperating teacher. We were discussing the number of children who were either in crisis or had a crisis at home. Those were the words she used to describe the varying arrangements of family dynamics that could possiblely result in educational set backs. It was pretty disturbing. Without using any names she discussed about half of the students in each CD class had some type of crisis in their lives. She was very positive about how the children are progressing in school dispite these problems, and how one would not believe that a school of middle to upper middle class students would have this many problems.
I know that I would like to teach at a title one school, I have told my kids for some time that I feel like that is where I am needed and could do some good. However on reflecting on my conversation with my cooperating teacher I realize it does not matter where the school is, if they have money or not, or even if their parents are educated, all schools will have students who need extra attention in their education and in their social lives, what they really need is a good teacher.
I am so looking forward to the end of this semester because it is going to be a new beginning. I think if my clincal teacher allows me I will keep up this blog so that I can continue to see the changes I have made, it has been a good tool for me, even if no one is listening. Maybe it is the act of actually writing something down that helps. Maybe it will help me with my writing skills.
Have a great summer and stay in touch.

Teacher in training,
Heather

Field #9

Today I had a great time talking with the speech therapist about Joshua and his speech and what she is working on with him... more to come in my final Case Study... good information.

I also was able to watch and do the adept forms for Laurel's last lesson. It worked out great. She used popsicle sticks to make a red and white pattern and then create a US flag. Made me realize all the great thinks one can do with popsicle sticks in the classroom... and cheap...

Went from Harbor View to St James Santee to interview my teacher from last semester... stopped at home to grab a bite to eat and headed to Hersey to interview the principal and hopefully HR. Trying to tie up all the loose ends on all my projects to finish out my last semester in classes. Any day now I should be receiving a letter.... come on.... any day... where do I go from here?

Stop and Think

What strengths do you have for connecting and building partnerships with families? What traits might stand in your way? Who could help you overcome these obstacles?

I have many strengths that I believe will help me connect and build partnerships with families. The first strength I have is one on perspective. I to have a family with three children, so I carry with me the perspective of being a parent. I also have a child who has a learning disability. I feel as if the experiences I have had, will be useful in working with parents. In addition, I am a great listener. I feel one way to build the relationship with families is to be a good listener. I also am very loyal and private individual, which I hope will ensure a sense of confidentiality with my parents.

When working with families for various cultures, my experiences with their cultures are limited due to my lack of exposure. However, I have tried to change that by attending various cultural events in the community. I would also like to create an alliance with a teacher from a different culture who would be able to reflect with me on my approaches to various families. This person could be a mentor, that would be able to provide feedback to me so that I can ensure a positive relationship with my families.

I believe as long as I stay in contact with my parents and establish a positive relationship at the start of the school year that whatever hurdles are placed before us we can overcome them together.

Stop and Think

When you were a child, how might you have describes on "ordinary" person? What family structure would the person have? What skin color? What home language? What would be their work and economic class? Where and how would they have lived?

I can honestly say until I moved south at the age of eight I probably never saw anyone as different from me. Or maybe I was just so unaware I did not know that there were differences. However, when I moved south and we went to southern public schools my view of people changed. Not because of the differences in skin color, which I do not believe effected me as much as the poverty that I saw. I truly lived in a sheltered community (gated). My brothers and I were of the very few who took the bus to school, much less a public school. I learned later we were picked up first because they would not allow "those" children in the gate. (Unless of course their family worked at the Club House.) I rode on the bus for almost two hours, through Pin Point a Gullah community in Savannah, Bethesda a home for boys, and various "trailer parks" along Moon River. Poverty was something I had never seen before, it was shocking. It did not seem to be a black or white thing, it just appeared to be everywhere on the way to school.

I have no idea what my peer's family occupations were but they were poor, especially compared to the world in which I had lived. They were families similar to my own but they had far less than I had. I believe it changed me and my view of life forever.

Day Eight EDEE 636

I really enjoyed class today! I got to observe a great lesson by Laurel who used a read a loud, a power point presentation, and a manipulative activity with the students on senses. Then I conducted my lesson with the students about rabbits homes and comparing them to our homes. The theme this week is Easter. (Oh, and I shared my family pet with the class, Buddy our rabbit.)

The lesson made me reflect about one aspect of the program that I find might be lacking. We are so excited about the lessons we want to teach. We make connections with the students prior knowledge, we try to scaffold what they have already learned, and possibly introduce a new concept or idea in the process, while still trying to assess the students knowledge and cover all our own objectives on the adept form. It appears we are being to rushed to get our lessons completed, to get all the pieces in place in a short period of time. Do the students retain anything we teach, are we just going through the motions, for ourselves? I guess there is really no way to tell if we are making an impact. It really is a short period of time to be with everyone. Once a week for three hours. It makes me realize how I am really ready to be in a classroom. That way I will be able to reflect on my teaching in a more authentic situation.

Teacher in Training

Heather

Day...what day is it...

So I had a great day working with the students doing my assessment with six children. I believe the children enjoyed the assessment we did because it was done with pennies (authentic materials) and we counted them.
I do not have much to say about class other than that because I am trying to figure out what I should do with the information I currently am learning about. Do I write about it in a blog? Do I keep it to myself? Do I talk with the professor? Concerned but, not sure which way to turn. Once I figure it out I will write more.

Teacher in Training,
Heather Roller

Volunteering...

I learned after last semester that even though the teacher tells you she would like you to come any time she does not really mean it. So this semester I have taken the approach of being cautious. I believe it has paid off in spades!

I offered to come over the spring break just to help. I clarified, I was not the student just a parent volunteer, what ever she wanted me to help with I would. She explained to me how many teachers felt parents were there to look over teachers shoulders not to help, but to judge. I think this is a misconception by many teachers. Does it have to do with lack of confidence? Does it have to do with cultural differences?

Last semester with Dr. Bartel we read a book about conferences with parents and teachers, looked in the syllabus and I could not find the title I will have to email her and ask for the title. It was a very informative book about parents and teachers and the misconceptions that abound. I think every teacher should read it no matter what type of school they are going to work at. I believe it clarifies to the teacher how important the student is to the family, which is important. I think confidence is something no one can teach even in a teacher program. Yet, people skills and building relationships are a must for teachers, so that they can learn to become a partner with the families of the students they are teaching.

Teacher in Training

Heather Roller

EDEE 636 Day Six

Let me start by saying I hope when I student teach next semester I love my teacher as much as I love my teacher now. What a fun semester it will be!

I taught again today and everything went well. The kids really enjoyed the lesson and learned in the process about the proboscis of the butterfly (tongue) and what they eat (nectar). We pretended we were butterflies, made our own flowers, and drank the sweet nectar (juice). Fun was had by all.

I have one question for all out there reading. When did silent lunch become a okay? I noticed that the kindergarten and child development programs have the children spaced throughout the lunch room with no opportunities for talking. They all have assigned seats and if they talk it is only with those that are closest to them. I do not know if this is the way school lunch works for all the grades at the school, I am curious. I would like to think that when I become a teacher all my students can sit together and talk while they eat their lunches. I think it is a missed opportunity to learn manners, socialization skills, and enjoy the meal.

Teacher in Training

Heather Roller

EDEE 636 Day Five

So day five and I taught again. My lesson today was on counting teeth and graphing. I enjoyed the lesson but realize, I feel like I do not know the children and all of their abilities, personalities, and idiosyncrasies. So I am conducting the lesson and learning about who enjoys what, who doesn't enjoy something and what works. It makes me wish for my own class with my own children. I can not wait to see them learn and grow. Back to the lesson.

The lesson overall went well. I had the children look into hand held mirrors to describe what they saw eventually leading to their mouth and their teeth. I had created for them a visual picture of the inside of their mouth. We counted the teeth on top (ten) and bottom (ten). Then we glued one dot on every tooth (one to one relationship). This was overwhelming for some and easy for others. Some just choose to write the number 10. (This offer a variety of ways for them to express ten.) Then we grapher who in the class had 10 teeth. (One student had nine on bottom and was was convinced he only had five.) I enjoyed it. We later read two stories about the tooth fairy. They all seem to be very interested in reading and telling stories. In the end we wrapped up the lesson by practicing how to brush ones teeth with a huge tooth brush and model. A successful day... now I should read what the teacher wrote.

Teacher in Training,

Heather Roller

PS hate when i find something after the fact... this would be perfect next time.

http://www.preschoolplaybook.com/2010/02/aspiring-dentists.html

Jobs in Education

Gone are the days where there was job security in education. For years, my husband has been a teacher and we have never worried about his position in education. He has done all the right things. He got his master plus thirty, he got his national board, he took on extra curriculum, (he is the guy who introduced journalism as a subject in dorchester county), and he has been a reliable employee. Now, however because of the state budget his job might be in question. He like many other state employees has been given furlough days. Now they are talking about shrinking the pool of teachers. I wonder why the law makers who find it so difficult to balance the budget are not being furloughed? Should they not be penalized for their mistakes? Why do not only the teachers but the students have to suffer because their mistakes? What message is this sending to the students? Sorry for the rampage. I am going on this because I too wish to teach. I wish to do the right thing. Am I going to be able to find a job?

Teacher in Training

Heather Roller

EDEE 636 Day Four

Today was assessment testing day in Mrs. Munn's classroom. I was very confident with the material because I had read through the booklet and was prepared to assess. However, as many people know it is rolling with the changes that might crop up. The change was the assessment booklet that I was given to look over was for three to six years, the one I needed to use was from birth to three. So, I needed to very quickly survey the new booklet and begin my assessment on Joshua. I really enjoy interacting with Joshua, he has a very strong personality and is truly an eager learner, just on his own terms. We got through all 56 pages of the assessment, with some questions for Mrs.. Munn. Most of the information was the same which made the assessment easily accomplished in about two hours. On the other hand, two hours for one child! Wow, when as a teacher does one have the time to complete such a comprehensive assessment! Especially when one has four (yes one was added this week) who all have to have this assessment done!

I also had the opportunity to sit and talk with Joshua's mother today. She is a great mom and goes above and beyond for her child! She is truly an advocate for her child. I enjoyed speaking with her and look forward to getting to know her some more through out the semester. I can not wait to pass along the information I just received at the lecture about REACH at COFC. I think she needs to start saving now for Joshua's college education!

Teacher in Training

Heather Roller

Day Four EDEE 636

The day started off very cold, husband home with fever, and no kids in my house very happy about stepping outside into the cold air! When is winter going to end! Yet, I have to say I am always excited about going into the classroom ready to see everyone and talk with them and get to know them a little better.

Today was my first lesson (for Dr. Mayer). It was a letter bingo game, with a valentine theme to go along with the classes discussions about the upcoming holiday. It was also used to see their social developmental level, taking turns is a huge milestone for the developing young child.

I had three groups to teach the lesson two, all very different. The first group was engaged with the letters and creating their own names. We worked with just the letter bingos and I felt as if the game dragged on to long, but they where attentive. The second group had two students who were otherwise unengaged. I found it very hard to try and get them involved in the activity. I managed to have two involved before the end of the lesson but was not sure what to do to fix it for the next time. The final group had five students one of which had downs syndrome. This introduced me to many problems. When in small group, what does the teacher do for the child with such a severe learning disability? Does one focus just on the social skills or the learning? How about fine motor? I realized focus on just one item would have been key for both of us. The last group of students had a much harder time waiting for their turn however they seemed to be playing the game. I also felt as if I was able to assess the first group best using my checklist, while the checklist for the five became cumbersome.

Next week laurel and I will work on AEPS with the students the teacher assigns to us. A different kind of lesson, an assessment lesson.

Teacher in Training

Heather

Praxis

I have to say I am not a fan of standardized testing. Hated taking the GRE, actually had to take it twice! Thought to myself after my score jumped over 200 points, that the validity of the GRE test is questionable. Then I learned from a professor, that the GRE was not actually created to test your content knowledge but, some how test ones ability to finish the program.

Yet, we all have to play the game. Especially since we are going into a field where testing dominates. I see the importance of assessment and teaching. The relationship that coexists. I do not always agree with the forms that it is given in but, I have to say it makes one feel good to know you have accomplished the task and passed.

Yeah me day! I passed the Praxis!