StudentTeachingWeeklyReflectionLogs

Directions:Answerthesequestionseachweekandemailthemtoyourstudentteaching
supervisorbySundayevening.
Name:AndrewMickunas

Week:2nd(Feb.1stFeb.7th)

1. Howdidyouspendyourtimethisweek?Whatresponsibilitiesdidyouhave?
ThisweekIspentmytimeinstructinginsomecapacity,observing,planning,learningroutines,
andpreparingmaterials.Myinstructionalresponsibilitiesthisweekwereprimarilyteaching
threelargegroupreadinglessons,34smallgroupreadinglessonseachday,andareadaloud
afterrecesseveryday.Ididthevastmajorityofmyplanningafterschool.Iwasplanninguntil
about9:00amjustabouteverynightthisweek.IwouldsaythatIknowmostoftheclassroom
routines,butimplementingthemconsistentlyiswhatIamnowfocusingon.Mrs.Callexpects
metoconsistentlyimplementtheseroutines,butshehasbeensupportiveofmewhenIstumble
inthisrespect.Ialsoamlearninghowmuchtimeittakestogetmaterialsorganizedandreadyto
goforthesubsequentweek.IdidthisinthemorningandafterschoolonFriday.Ialsospenda
greatdealoftimeindiscussionwithMrs.Call.WetalkaboutwhatIcantodobetterandhowI
willaccomplishthis.Thesediscussionsalsohelpmeunderstandthestudentswithmoreclarity.
Thesediscussionsareinvaluableinmytransitiontowardbelltobellteaching.
2. Whatwereyourmostsatisfyingexperiences?Whatwereyourmostchallenging
experiences?
IwouldsaythatmymostsatisfyingexperienceshavecomewhenIseemystudentslearningthe
contentthatIamteachingthem.Mystudentswereverysuccessfulatunderstandingthe
differencebetween1stpersonand3rdpersonwithinliterature.Theyarealsohavingalotof
successatcomparingandcontrastingdifferentpointsofviewwithinliterature.Seeingtheir
successgivesmegreatjoy.Iwouldsaythatmymostchallengingexperienceshaveallbeendue
toclassroommanagement.ThiswasprobablymostnotablewhenItaughtmylessonon
comparingandcontrastingthewolfspointofviewandthevideospointofview.Iamhaving
difficultyhavingstudentsturntheirvoicescompletelyoffsoIcancontinueinstruction.Iam
havingtroublewithstudentsthathavesideconversationswhileIaminstructing.Also,whenI
aminsmallgroupswithstudents,Iamhavingdifficultywithallstudentsmaintainingfocusat
onetime.Thus,Iwouldsaythatmanagementhasbeenthemostchallengingissue.Becauseofits
timecommitment,Iwouldalsosaythatplanninghasbeenverydifficult.
3. Whataretheplansfortheupcomingweek?
MyplansthisweekarefinishedandIhaveallofmymaterialsready.Thisweekreadingwill
continuetofocusoncomparingandcontrasting1stand3rdpersonwithintext,butwillalso
includeafocusonsummarizingthroughwriting.Eachday(otherthanMonday)Iwillreada
differentversionofCinderella.Iamusingagraphicorganizertohelpstudentssummarize.
Studentswillbeusingthisunderstandingtohelpthemsummarizetheirownversionof
Cinderella.
Hereisaveryroughoutlineofmyreadingschedule:

Monday:TheThreeLittleWolvesandtheBigBadPigandassessment
Tuesday:CinderellaPenguinandsummarizing
Wednesday:Cinderhazel(comparingandcontrastingpointsofview)
Thursday:BigfootCinderrrrrella:MakingyourownCinderellastorywiththepartsofa
Cinderellastory
Friday:TheRoughFacedGirlandwritingasummaryofyourownCinderellastory
FormaththisweekIwillpickupwhereMrs.Callleftoffwithaddingandsubtractinglike
denominators.Hereisabreakdownofmymathschedule:
Monday:Renamingandsubtractingmixednumbers.
Tuesday:ReviewofChapter7/timedtests(multiplication)
Wednesday:addingfractionswiththeassociativepropertyandcommutativeproperty.
Thursday:SolvingMultistepfractionproblems
Friday:Reviewandassessmentofchapter7
Iwillalsobecontinuingmyguidedreadinglessonsandwillbeteachingahealthlessononself
esteem.Iamusingabookjigsawactivitytoteachthehealthlesson.Thefocusofmyguided
readinglessonscontinuestobecompareandcontrast,butIamincorporatinginwordwork,
comprehensionstrategies,anddiscussionquestions.

StudentTeachingWeeklyLog
Directions:Answerthesequestionseachweekandemailthemtoyourstudentteaching
supervisorbySundayevening.
Name:AndrewMickunas

Week:3rd(Feb.8thFeb.14th)

1. Howdidyouspendyourtimethisweek?Whatresponsibilitiesdidyouhave?
Again,thisweekIspentmytimeinstructing,observing,planning,learningroutines,and
preparingmaterials.Myinstructionalresponsibilitiesthisweekexpandedagain.Itaughtreading,
math,andhealthwiththewholeclass.Also,Itaughtsmallgrouplessonsbothduringmathand
reading.Mrs.Callisdoingherbesttostepaway,soIamtakingoverallmoreofthegeneral
managementoftheclass.Thishasbeenchallengingbutalsohighlyrewarding.Ialsospenda
greatdealoftimeplanningandgrading.Iwouldsaythatplanningiswhatworemeoutatlast
week.Iwouldreallyliketogetaheadonthisthisweek.Lastweek,becauseofother
commitments,Ireallyhadtopushmyselftogetallofmyplanningdone.Italsotakesagreat
dealoftimetogetorganizedfortheweek.Mrs.Callhasprovidedmethestructuretohelpme
makesenseofthispartofthejob.Shehasanorganizerthathangsonherwallwheresheplaces
herweeklysuppliesandhasbeenniceenoughtoletmeuseit.Ofcourse,discussionwithMrs.
Callwasanessentialpartoflastweekalso.ThisishowIusedmytimelastweek.
2. Whatwereyourmostsatisfyingexperiences?Whatwereyourmostchallenging
experiences?

Mymostsatisfyingexperiencecamethroughlargegroupreadinglessons.IfeellikeIhave
thesedownfairlywellandthestudentsarelearningandapplyingtheirknowledge.Thisweekmy
focuswascomparingandcontrastdifferentpointsofviewthroughtheframeoftheCinderella
story.IreadfourreadaloudsthateachfocusedonadifferentversionofCinderella.Ithink
managementiseasierduringreadingcomparedtomathbecausethestudentsarehighlyengaged.
Teachinglargegroupmathlessonswasmymostchallengingexperience.ThatiswhatI
needtoplacemyfocusontogetbetter.TherearethreemainareasthatIneedtoimprovewhen
teachingmath.One,Ineedtolearnhowtowritemathproblemsontheboardinawaythatis
intuitivetomystudents.Mystudentsarefourthgradersandhavenotexperiencedthewaymath
istaughtinhighschool,soIneedtokeepitbasicandvisuallyintuitive.Ialsoneedtofocuson
maintainingclassroommanagementduringmathtime.Thismeansthatallstudentsarefocused
onwhattheyneedtobedoing.Also,Ineedtopaycloserattentionwhenwritingmylessonsto
whatwillworkwithmystudents.Ifanew,challengingtypeofstoryproblemiswhatIam
scheduledtoteachonValentinesDay,perhapsIshouldtrytofindsomethingdifferenttoteach.
3. Whataretheplansfortheupcomingweek?
MyplansthisweekarefinishedandIhaveallofmymaterialsread.Thisweekreadwillbe
focusedon1stand2ndhandaccounts.Iwillbereadingbooksaboutthemoonlandingandbooks
aboutJaneGoodall.ForMathIwillbeassessingChapter7onMondayandthenwillbegin
Chapter8(MultiplyingFractionsbyWholeNumbers)onTuesday.Iamexcitedtogetstarted
withthisnewchapter.
Hereisaveryroughoutlineofmyreadingschedule:
Monday:MaurosBeautifulDaughtersandanassessment
Tuesday:Introductionto1sthand/2ndhandaccountsandAnAutobiographybyBillPeet
Wednesday:1sthand2ndhand:TheWatcherbyJeanetteWinterandMyLifeWithThe
ChimpanzeesbyJaneGoodall.
Thursday:ComparingandContrastingTwoScientistsandReadingAloudBuzzAldrins
ReachingFortheMoon.
Friday:RocketToTheMoonbyLisaM.Combs:ComparingandContrastingtwopointsofview.
FormaththisweekIwillpickupwhereMrs.Callleftoffwithaddingandsubtractinglike
denominators.Hereisabreakdownofmymathschedule:
Monday:ReviewandAssessment.
Tuesday:IntroductionofChapter8/Vocabulary
Wednesday:Multiplying Unit Fractions by whole numbers
Thursday:MultipleofFractions
Friday:Multiplyingfractionsbywholenumbersandconvertinganswersbacktomixednumbers.
Iwillcontinuetoreadthesamebooksforguidedreading,butwillalsobetakebreaksfromthis
tofocuson1sthandand2ndhandaccounts.Iwillusebothautobiographyandprimarysourcesfor
thispurpose.Iwillbedoingtwolessonspergrouponthis,butwilladjustifnecessary.Iwillbe
usinganticipationguidesanditemsortstofacilitatelearning.

StudentTeachingWeeklyLog

Directions:Answerthesequestionseachweekandemailthemtoyourstudentteaching
supervisorbySundayevening.
Name:AndrewMickunas
21th)

Week: 4th (Feb. 15st Feb.

1. Howdidyouspendyourtimethisweek?Whatresponsibilitiesdidyouhave?
ThisweekImainlyspentmytimeinstructing,planning,preparingmaterials,andfocusingon
growth.Myinstructionalresponsibilitiesthisweekwereteachinglargegrouplessonsofmath
andreading,smallgrouplessonsinmathandreading,artlearningfacilitation,spelling,anda
dailyreadaloud.Additionally,Ifacilitatedthemajorityofclassroommanagementandcontinued
astrongdialoguewithMrs.Call.Goingforward,Iamgoingtobeplacingmyfocuson
smoothnessandbehaviorduringtransitions,teacherjudgment,andstayingcalmwhenmy
lessonsdontgothewaythatIplannedthemtoorifIforgetsomething.Iamalsogoingtobe
changingthewaythatIengageaspecialeducationstudentintheroom.
2. Whatwereyourmostsatisfyingexperiences?Whatwereyourmostchallenging
experiences?
Iwouldsaythatmymostsatisfyingexperiencescamewhenteachingmaththisweek.I
wouldsaythatmylessonswentalotmoresmoothlyandthevastmajorityofstudentsweretruly
learningwhatIwasteachingthem.StudentsweremoreattentiveduringmylessonsandI
modeledthematerialinawaythatmadesensetothem.Ialsodidagoodjobofremediatingwith
thosestudentsthatdidnoteasilyunderstandthematerialandstretchingthosestudentsminds
thatquicklygraspedthematerial.Thiswasagoalofmineforthisweek,soIamgladthatImade
progressinthisarea.
However,IwouldsaymymostchallengingexperiencescamewhenIforgotsomething
thatIneededtodoorforgotaprocedure.Asaresult,Igotfrustratedanddidnotkeepmy
composure.Ithinksleepdeprivationalsoaffectedmelaterintheweek.This,ofcourse,doesnot
justifymylackofcomposure.IfIamnotgettingenoughsleep,Ineedtodosomethingaboutit.
Asaresultofmyinnerfrustration,whenspeakingtoacolleague,Isaidsomethingthatsounded
rudetothem.I,ofcourse,subsequentlyapologizedtothisindividual.InnowaydidImeanto
conveythemessagethattheyreceived,butIstillfeltbadaboutitandneedtocontinuetogrowin
thewayIcommunicateandrespondtostress.
3. Whataretheplansfortheupcomingweek?
AlthoughIstillhavepreparationtodo,mygeneralplansareprepared.Wearegoingtocontinue
comparingandcontrasting1sthandaccountsand2ndhandaccountsinreading.Thefocusofthis
willbeautobiographyanddiary.Withmathwewillbefinishingupmultiplyingfractionsby
wholenumbersandonFridaywillintroducethenextchapter,whichisonrelatingfractionsand
decimals.Ihaveattachedmyschedulefortheweek.
Mybelltobellteachingwillbeginthisweek.Iamgoingtofocusontheaforementionedgoals,
butIwanttoalsorememberthatthisisanewweekandanewbeginning.Withthisnew
beginning,Iwanttofocusonusingpositivitytomotivatemystudentsanduseasofttonetoget
mystudentsattentioninsteadofusingvolumetodemandfocus.IfIcanharnessasofttone,my

voicewillbemuchmoredynamicasameanstomanagemystudents.Ultimately,though,Ijust
wanttorememberwhyIdecidedtobecomeateacher.Thatis,Idecidedtobecomeateacher
becauseIcaregreatlyaboutstudentsandwanttoopentheireyestothepoweroflearningand
growth.Iwanttoseemystudentshappyandenthusiasticaboutlearning.Ifirmlybelieveinthe
positivepowerofeducationandthisfactneedstoalwaysremaininmymind.Thiswillkeepa
smileonmyface.ThisideawillalsobewhatIwillcontinuallygobacktothisweekifIstartto
feelrattled.

StudentTeachingWeeklyLog
Directions:Answerthesequestionseachweekandemailthemtoyourstudentteaching
supervisorbySundayevening.
Name:AndrewMickunas
28th)

Week:5th(Feb.22ndMar.

1. Howdidyouspendyourtimethisweek?Whatresponsibilitiesdidyouhave?
ThisweekItaughtmyfirstweekofbelltobell.Itwasverychallenging.Itaughtmath,reading,
readingguides,mathgroups,writing,health,andartfullearning.Fortunately,artfullearninghas
beenlowstressbecausewehavehadspeakersscheduled.Myjobatthistimeismainlyto
managethechildren.Also,thisweekwehadconferences.IattendedallconferencesthatIwas
availablefor.TheywentuntilaroundeightoclockonbothWednesdayandThursday.Ofcourse,
Ispentagreatdealoftimeplanning,butthiswasdifficultwithconferences.Also,thisweekwas
different,becauseanotherteacherdecidedtheformatfornextweeksreviewduringreading.
ThatrequiredthatIadjusttothechange.Istillhadtoplanmylessons,butplannedthembased
onwhatshedecided.Shedidareallygoodjobthinkingouttheweek,soIwashappytoadjustin
thisway.OurwholeweekisgoingtohaveaDr.Seusstheme,whichshouldmakethingspretty
interesting.
2. Whatwereyourmostsatisfyingexperiences?Whatwereyourmostchallenging
experiences?
IwouldsaythatmymostsatisfyingexperiencecamewhenIretaughtmystudentsproblem
solvingthroughmultiplyingwholenumbersandfractionasalargegroup.Ifeellikemystudents
madealotofprogressinthisarea.Althoughsomeofthemdidnotunderstanditthefirstday,a
numberofthempickeditupthesecondday.Ithencontinuedtoreviewitwiththemthroughout
theweek.TheytooktheassessmentonFriday,whichIameagertograde.Itwaschallenging
material,butIhavehighhopesforit.IjusthopethatIdidnotmakethetesttoochallenging.
Onthecontrary,Iwouldsaythatmathgroupsweremymostchallengingareaformostthe
week.Ihadtroublefocusingthestudentsattimes.Also,Ihaddifficultywhenstudentswereat
differentlevelswithinthesamegroup.Iwouldhavetwostudentsthatactedconfident(but
probablystillneededhelp)andtwostudentsreallystruggling.)Iwouldnormallystartby
modelingaproblem,butthiswasnotalwayssuccessfulwhenstudentshadwhiteboards.My
studentswouldgetdistracted.However,IhadabreakthroughwhenIrealizedthatIcouldjust
takethewhiteboardsawayfromthem.
3. Whataretheplansfortheupcomingweek?

Myplansfortheupcomingweekarecomplete.Duringreadingwearedoingareviewof
mainidea,theme,summarizing,and1st/3rdperson.ThiswillallbedonethroughthelensofDr.
Seuss,becauseitishisbirthday.FormathIambeginningtoteachanewchapterthatison
relatingmoney,fractions,anddecimals.Iamexcitedaboutthis!Iwillbeteachingrhyming
schemepoetryduringwritingtimethatalsousesDr.Seussasthemainmodel.Wewillcontinue
toexperiencecareersduringartfullearningtime.Wewillhaveanewspeakereachday.
Thiswillbemysecondweekofbelltobellteaching.Justlikelastweek,Iamgoingtotryto
startfreshtomorrow.IwasquitedrainedbyFridaylastweek.Iamgoingtofocusonalotofthe
samethingsthatIwasfocusedonlastweek.Ineedtoworkontransitionsandgivingallofmy
directionsbeforeItellstudentstoleave.IoftenforgotoneortwothingsbeforeIletthemgoand
thisdisruptedtheflowofmylesson.Again,similartolastweek,Ineedtocontinuedevelopinga
softerandquieterversionofmyvoice.Ineedtorememberthatmystudentsfeedoffofmy
energy.IfIamcalm,theywillbemorelikelytobecalm.Ihavenothingtobeafraidof,soIcan
beconfidentthisweek.

StudentTeachingWeeklyLog
Directions:Answerthesequestionseachweekandemailthemtoyourstudentteaching
supervisorbySundayevening.
Name:AndrewMickunas
6th)

Week:6th(Feb.29thMar.

1. Howdidyouspendyourtimethisweek?Whatresponsibilitiesdidyouhave?
Thiswasmysecondweekofteachingbelltobell.Again,itwasverychallengingandIlearneda
greatdealfromtheexperience.Itaughtmath,reading,guidedreading,mathgroups,writing,
health,andartfullearning.Ofcourse,thisweekIwasalsoplanningfornextweek.Despitethis
beingmylastweekatWrightElementary,Idecidedtocontinueteachingreading,math,and
mathgroupsformyexitweek,soIcangetmoreexperienceandgrowasateacher.Iwillalso
teachguidedreadingonMonday.Asfarasspecificresponsibilitiesareconcerned,itismyjobto
makesurethattheclassroomrunssmoothlyandonschedule.
Iftheschedulechanges,whichitregularlydoes,Ihavetobeaccountableforthesechanges
andadjustappropriately.Thismeansmakingajudgmentcallbasedonwhatwillworkandoffer
mystudentsthebestlearningopportunities.ThisalsomeansthatImustinformmystudentsof
thesechanges.Forinstance,becausewehavehadspeakersforartfullearning,thishasoften
occurredduringthetimeIwouldnormallybeteachingguidedreading.Additionally,thisweekI
scheduledmyclasstogovisitreadingbuddies,sothishappenedoutsideofourregularschedule.
Similarly,TheCatInTheHatcametovisitourroom,sothatwasanotherchangethatIhadto
adjustfor.
Additionally,towardsofendofthisweekItookamoreresponsiveapproachtostudentswho
failedtoturnassignmentsin.OnThursdayandFridayIrequiredeverystudentthathadworknot
infromlastweektodoitontheplaygroundduringrecess.Thisisanotherpartofclassroom
managementthatIammakingpartofmyroutine.Ifstudentsdonotusethetimegiventothem,
itmakessenseforthemtolosetheirrecesstime.AfterTuesdayandreflectingonthestudent
teacherdynamic,Iamfocusingonformingamorepositiverelationshipwithmystudents.Ido

everythingIcantogreetthematthedoorinthemorning,givethemahighfiveattheendofthe
dayandbeforelunch,andfocusonpraisingthosestudentsthatareshowingpositivebehaviors.I
needtodoabetterjobofconnectingwithmystudentsinthisway.StartingonThursdayImade
thispartofmyroutineduringdailymathreview.Insteadoffocusingonthestudentthatwas
writingontheboard,Iusedthisasanopportunitytobeoutwiththestudentswhilecontinuingto
monitorthosestudentsattheboard.ThesepracticesareallpartofclassroommanagementandI
willcontinuetofocusontheseintheupcomingweek.
2. Whatwereyourmostsatisfyingexperiences?Whatwereyourmostchallenging
experiences?
Mymostsatisfyingexperiencingcameinthesecondhalfoftheweek.Inparticular,Iwould
saythatThursdayandFridayweremytwomostsuccessfuldaysoftheweek.IwouldsaythatI
madechangesthatweredefinitelybeneficial.AlthoughIdefinitelyhaveworktodo,my
managementdidimprove.Iwasmoreconsistentinapplyingconsequences.Ialsofeelthatmy
lessonsweremorearticulateandIunderstoodbetterhowtoteachthecontent.Partofthisis
practicewiththecontent.TuesdaywasmyfirstlessonofthenewchapterinMathandMonday
wasthebeginningofanewunitforreading.ByFridayIfeltmorecomfortablewiththematerial.
Also,Iamcontinuingtodevelopasofterandslowervoicetocalmmystudentsdown.
Additionally,IfelthorribleaboutwhatprecededThursday.Iamsurethishadaneffectonme.
MymostchallengingexperiencecameonTuesdayandWednesday.Itaughtabadlessonon
Tuesdayandhadtodealwiththeconsequencesofthat.Althoughitisdifficulttocopewith
failure,Idoappreciateconstructivecriticism.Itisagenuinegoalofminetobeareflective
practitioner.IneedtotakethoseareaswhereIamweakandfocusonimproving.RightnowIam
astrugglingstudent,sothisisanopportunityformetofeelsimilartothosestudentsthatIteach
thatalsohavedifficultieswithlearning.ItisanopportunitytoincreasetheempathyIfeelfor
thesestudents.AsanindividualandasateacherIhavealwayshadagrowthmindset.Ihave
neverbeennaturallygifted,butIhavedetermination.Iamgoingtocontinuetoapproach
teachingwiththismindset,soIcanperseverethroughthisexperience.
3. Whataretheplansfortheupcomingweek?
Myplansfortheupcomingweekarecomplete.Iwillbeteachingthefirsthalfoftheday
throughouttheweek.ForreadingIwillbeteachingthestudentshowtoidentifyanddescribethe
claim,reasoning,andevidencebehindpersuasivewriting.EachdayIwillbereadingaspecific
persuasivearticletohelpthestudentsunderstandtheseconcepts.Iwillbeusingananchorchart,
highlightingundertheELMOtomodelmythinkingandprocess.ThenIwillshowthestudents
howtotransferthistotheirresponse.Iwillbeusingthegradualreleasemodel.ThefirstdayI
willmodeltostudentsthroughhighlightingandusingthesameresponsesheettheyhave.The
seconddayIwillmodelmythinkingthroughtheuseofhighlightingmysheet.ThethirddayI
willnothighlight,butwillusequestiontoguidetheirthinking.Thiswillplacetheresponsibility
ontothem.FormathIwillbefinishingthecurrentchapteronThursday.Iwillbefocusingon
problemsolvingtomorrow,whichIamveryexcitedabout,becauseIknowmystudentsneedthis
exercise.Throughouttheweekwewillbecomparingdecimalsandaddingfractionswith
differentdenominators.IthinkmystudentscandoagreatjobonthiscontentandIamexcitedto
seehowtheytaketoit.
Again,thiswillbemyexitweek,butIamgoingtoapproachthisweekwiththesameamount
ofdeterminationthatIappliedtowardtheendoftheweek.Ineedtocontinueworkingon
transitions.Inparticular,IdontwantanystudentstostartmovinguntilIhavecompletely

finishedmydirections.ThisisanerrorthatIhavenotbeenfixingwithconsistency,soIwill
continuetofocusonit.Additionally,Iamgoingtocontinuemyefforttobeconsistentwith
misbehavior.Forexample,Iamgoingtogiveonewarningtoastudenttobequiet.Ifthatstudent
hasissuesagain,Iwillbetakingtimefromthatstudentduringrecess.Consistentconsequences
areessentialanditisapartofmypracticethatIneedtoworkon.OntopofthethingsthatI
mentionedearlierinmyreflection,thesewillbetheadditionalthingsthatIwillbeworkingon
thisweek.

StudentTeachingWeeklyLog
Directions:Answerthesequestionseachweekandemailthemtoyourstudentteaching
supervisorbySundayevening.
Name:AndrewMickunas
March13th)

Week: 7th (March 7th

4. Howdidyouspendyourtimethisweek?Whatresponsibilitiesdidyouhave?
ThiswasmyexitweekatWrightElementary.Itriedtousemytimeasbestaspossibleby
continuingtoteachindependentlyinthemorning.ThismeansthatItaughtthewholegroupmath
lesson,wholegroupreading,andsmallgroupsformath.Ithoughtthiswouldmakesense
becauseIstartedournewchapterformath,soitwouldmakesenseformetoputaclosetoit.
Also,Ijustwantedasmuchexperienceaspossible.Also,teachinghalfthedayandlettingMrs.
Callteachtheotherhalfseemedlikeagoodwaytotransitionthestudentsoutofmyteaching.
Basedontheirresponsetoher,IcouldtellthatthestudentsreallymissedMrs.Call.Ialsotried
toprovideclosuretoanumberofareas.Forexample,Imadesurethateveryassignmentthat
studentshadtheopportunitytocompletewasturnedin.Also,Igradedtheassessmentsfrom
Thursdaybeforeleaving.
Ofcourse,Ihadalotofuniqueexperiencesthisweekbecauseitwasmyexitweek.On
MondayIcompletedamockinterviewattheendofthedaywithPrincipalHurlburt.Iprepared
forthisbyreadingpotentialinterviewquestionsandformulatingresponsesinmymind.Iworea
suitanddidmybesttolookprofessionalforthisexperience.Overall,Iwouldsaytheexperience
waspositiveandsheseemedfairlyimpressedwithmyanswers.Basedonmyexperience
interviewing,theoneareathatIneedtoworkonisdiscussingPLCtime.Ifeelconfident
explainingthebenefitofcollaborationandunderstandingthateveryteachersharesthe
accountabilityofeverystudentwithintheschool.Ifirmlyunderstandthatteamsproducebetter
ideasthanindividualsandwillpromotethisnotionintheschoolsthatIworkin.Everyperson
bringsdistinctexperiencesandperspectivestocollaborationandthisisagreatstrength.
Diversityofideasisanasset.WhatIneedtoworktounderstandbetteristheformatofaPLC
andthespecificgoalsettingthatoccurswithinone.
ThisweekIalsospentanafternoonobservingafifthgradeteacher.Thiswasagreat
experiencebecausemynextplacementwillbeinafifthgradeclassroom.Iwantedtobetter
understandthementalityofafifthgraderandknowhowbehaviorcandiffer.Iwaspretty
surprisedhowdifferentthosestudentswere.Thetopicstheydiscussedweremoresimilartothe
middleschoolagedstudentsIhaveworkedwith.Andtheyweretaller!Icaughtstudentsmaking
commentthatwereinappropriate.Iquicklycorrectedthestudent.However,asaresultofthis
experience,theteacherintheroomrecommendedthatIpickmybattleswithstudents.Because
ofthenatureofthestudentscomment,Ifoundheradvicetobeaveryinteresting.

5. Whatwereyourmostsatisfyingexperiences?Whatwereyourmostchallenging
experiences?
Mymostsatisfyingexperiencecamewhenthestudentssaidgoodbyetomeonmyfinal
day.ThiswasalsoaverysadmomentformebecauseIwillmissthesestudentsagreatdeal.
However,itwasasatisfyingexperiencebecauseIcouldseehowmuchmytimewiththemhad
affectedthem.Mrs.CallpurchasedmeacopyofOh,ThePlacesYoullGobyDoctorSeuss,
whichallofthestudentssigned.Thiswasincrediblytouchingformeandwillalwaysbea
memorythatIcarrywithmeforever.ItisalsoabookthatIhavealwayswantedacopyof!A
numberofthekidsalsomadecardsforme,whichIwillholdontoasamemoryofmy
experience.ThekidsandMrs.Callreallymadeanimpactonmeasateacherandtheymeanso
muchtome.IwillneverforgetmyexperienceatWright.
IwouldsaythatmymostchallengingexperiencecamewhenItaughtReadingon
Tuesday.ThisisbecauseIthoughtthatthestudentswouldbeabletoreadthetextthatIhad
undertheELMO.However,itwastoosmallforanumberofthem,sotheyanumberofthem
wantedtocrowdaroundthefrontoftheroom,whichmadeclassroommanagementchallenging.
Thismadethelessonlessorganizedandslightlyawkward.ItwasanexperiencethatIlearned
from,though.ForWednesdayslessonIdecidedtoprovideeverystudentwithacopyofthe
writing.Thatwaythestudentswerealsoabletopersonallyhighlightacopyofthetextanduseit
duringtheirassessment.Ialsofirmlybelievethatthiswasanecessaryscaffoldthatthestudents
neededafterthreelessonswiththecontent.Thus,althoughitwaschallenging,IfeelthatItook
somethingawayfromitthatispositive.
6. Whataretheplansfortheupcomingweek?
DespiteitbeingSpringBreak,IwouldsaythatIhavefairlyambitiousplansthatIfeelwill
setmeupforsuccessduringmynextplacement.Firstoff,tofacilitatereflection,Iamgoingto
regularlyreviewthefeedbackthatIwasprovidedduringmyfirstplacement.Iwanttocontinue
tounderstandtheissuesthatIhadandtodeepenmyawarenessofthem.
Additionally,ImetwithmynextmentorteacheronWednesday,sothatIcanplanaheadfor
mynextplacement.Wehadapositiveinteractionandtalkedmoreabouttheplacement.She
providedmethemathstandardsthatwewouldbeteaching.Additionally,sheaskedmetobegin
myinstructionbyteachingscience.Thus,overspringbreakIwillbewriting12lessonsthat
focusonastronomy.Astronomyisapersonalpassionofmine,soIlookforwardtothis
opportunity.Havingworkedatthesciencecenterforanumberofyears,sciencemightbemy
strongestcontentarea.WiththeselessonsIwillbeaddressingthefollowingIcanstatements:
1. Icanrecognizethatmostobjectsinthesolarsystemareinregularandpredictable
motion.
2. Icandescribehowrotationoftheearthonitsaxisevery24hoursproducesthedayand
nightcycle.
3. Icandescribethephasesofthemoon.
4. Icandescribehowtheeightplantsandmanyotherobjectsrevolvearoundoursunin
predictablepatterns.
Tobecomemoreinvolvedwiththeschool,ImayevenaskifIcanscheduleaneventoutsideof
schoolhourswherestudentshavetheopportunitytolookattheplanetsthroughatelescope.

MyotherprimarygoalthatIbelieveIcanaccomplishoverSpringbreakisfinishingmye
portfolio.NothavingthisdonewasanadditionalcommitmentthatIwasresponsibleduringmy
firstplacement.Ibelievethathavingthistakencareofwillopenupmyscheduleandfacilitate
mysuccess.Also,toensurethatIamwellrestedandhealthyformynextplacement,Iamgoing
tofocusongettingsleep,eatingwithhealthinmind,andgettingregularexercise.Iwant
everythingtobereadytogowhenIbeginatPhillipsElementary.Ilookforwardtoit!