Reflect on your work in your PDS this semester. How have you benefitted from the mentoring relationship you have with your mentor teacher? What actions have you taken to be sure that the mentoring relationship is beneficial to you both? When commenting on your partner's posting, reflect on your prompt and your partner's prompt, then discuss what you plan to do next semester to ensure that this mentoring relationship is successful.
My mentor relationship this semester has been a positive one. I have gained a lot, from teaching techniques to worksheets for the classroom. As a future teacher, I have become more confident in myself, and do not get as nervous in front of the classroom. My mentor has worked with me to design lessons that fit in with her curriculum, and has taught me to change up a lesson to need the demands of the students.
At first, I thought being in an inclusive classroom would be difficult. A little less than half the students in one of my classes have IEPs. I was afraid I was not going to be able to meet these students' needs, or even help them understand the lesson in general. Instead, this semester, I have had the opportunity to work closely with these students, tweaking lessons as I went along.
This semester, the students seemed to be grateful I was there, and often addressed me as a second teacher. Being in the classroom twice a week really does show the students that you ARE serious, and it becomes easier to gain respect as well as their attention.
During my experience, I have talked to my mentor teacher about incorporating different lessons. We discussed what works best for her classroom and why. I feel I offered new ideas, and she brought forth an insiders pass into an everyday classroom. Next semester, I will be with a different mentor; however I would still like to maintain the same communication line as this semester. I know that if I needed help or had questions, I could always contact my mentor from this semester.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
Fall 2010, Post One
The East Fairmont High School blog that the other participants and I created was a great way to get to know the school. We learned a lot about history, and what the school has to offer. I think all of us wanted a way to become more involved in the school since we have been there this year and last. While working on the Wiki, we decided to go to the East-West football game to cheer on the Bees! Most of the staff has been very welcoming and answered any questions we had while completing the Wiki.
As part of the assignment my group and I looked up the Westest scores. Some of the results surprised me, but so did not since I have seen, first hand, what goes on in the classrooms. I feel we have a better understanding of these scores because we are looking from the outside in.
I had a great time working on the Wiki assignment. I think this would be a good project to start as a Tutor and continue on as a Participant by adding certain side bar, even adding our own blogs. It would be a place where all information is kept, instead of having to go to a few different websites.
As part of the assignment my group and I looked up the Westest scores. Some of the results surprised me, but so did not since I have seen, first hand, what goes on in the classrooms. I feel we have a better understanding of these scores because we are looking from the outside in.
I had a great time working on the Wiki assignment. I think this would be a good project to start as a Tutor and continue on as a Participant by adding certain side bar, even adding our own blogs. It would be a place where all information is kept, instead of having to go to a few different websites.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Semester Two- Final, Blog 3
The following post was written on March 3rd in Education 400. The posting was about the individual lesson that we have made a Backwards Design Template for; I will be teaching part of this lesson either this week, or next.
1. Describe your current ideas about the individual lesson that you'll be teaching at your PDS.
Since I am at my PDS while my host teacher is in a history classroom I will be teaching a lesson about the War of 1812. It was hard for me to come up with something creative to have the students do while learning about the war because I had forgotten about ever learning about it myself. When I was reading online articles about the war I was easily distracted because it wasn't something I was interested in as an english student. I think that by having students complete a journal/diary entry from one of the soldiers or a letter to one of the soldiers from a loved one would be an interesting insight to see if the students really did grasp the concepts. In my backwards design I wrote that I would have the students complete a time line. This time line will be done in class so that the studets can self assess themselves in class. They will not be able to use notes for this and will complete the time line as best as they can. I think this is important because the students need to understand some of the main ideas in a war such as, when the British took over our trade, when the war started, when the Star Spangled Banner was written, when the peace treaty was singed, and when the war ended. Students also need to understand why the war happened in the first place. British citizens were in American for 30 years after the American Revolution.
2. What concepts have you considered in relation to a personal educational philosophy?
I have considered self educating. I think it is important for teachers to keep studying education and their specialty area. Students change and learn different ways and teachers need to find how they learn and make their lesson appeal to the student. Today, it is through technology. WV has a strong foundation and certain CSO's to cover this technological need. As a teacher I will familiarize myself with texts and technology they are dealing with at the time.
The wondering I had, and wrote about in my Exit ticket had to do with special education students in the mainstream classroom. I wondered how to test this students accurately and if placing them in an inclusive classroom helps their scores. Branching off my Education 400 post I wonder what is the best way to keep things "fresh" for students. Does a good and effective teacher attend conventions and try to keep up with young adult literature? And is it hard to keep up with the technology that students use when you are an older teacher?
Nicole
1. Describe your current ideas about the individual lesson that you'll be teaching at your PDS.
Since I am at my PDS while my host teacher is in a history classroom I will be teaching a lesson about the War of 1812. It was hard for me to come up with something creative to have the students do while learning about the war because I had forgotten about ever learning about it myself. When I was reading online articles about the war I was easily distracted because it wasn't something I was interested in as an english student. I think that by having students complete a journal/diary entry from one of the soldiers or a letter to one of the soldiers from a loved one would be an interesting insight to see if the students really did grasp the concepts. In my backwards design I wrote that I would have the students complete a time line. This time line will be done in class so that the studets can self assess themselves in class. They will not be able to use notes for this and will complete the time line as best as they can. I think this is important because the students need to understand some of the main ideas in a war such as, when the British took over our trade, when the war started, when the Star Spangled Banner was written, when the peace treaty was singed, and when the war ended. Students also need to understand why the war happened in the first place. British citizens were in American for 30 years after the American Revolution.
2. What concepts have you considered in relation to a personal educational philosophy?
I have considered self educating. I think it is important for teachers to keep studying education and their specialty area. Students change and learn different ways and teachers need to find how they learn and make their lesson appeal to the student. Today, it is through technology. WV has a strong foundation and certain CSO's to cover this technological need. As a teacher I will familiarize myself with texts and technology they are dealing with at the time.
The wondering I had, and wrote about in my Exit ticket had to do with special education students in the mainstream classroom. I wondered how to test this students accurately and if placing them in an inclusive classroom helps their scores. Branching off my Education 400 post I wonder what is the best way to keep things "fresh" for students. Does a good and effective teacher attend conventions and try to keep up with young adult literature? And is it hard to keep up with the technology that students use when you are an older teacher?
Nicole
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Semester Two- Blog Two
The questions I chose to reflect on were asked at the beginning of class on February 17th. I have been able to good instruction and poor instruction through the time I've spent in my PDS. The two teachers I have been placed with thus far have been amazing and extremely helpful. Last semester I was able to grasp English teaching strategies while this semester I am learning about integrated classrooms. I think both methods are important to learn because I may have an integrated English classroom one day.
1. What kinds of assessments have you seen used in the classroom? Which do you like? Dislike? Explain.
Last semester the host teacher I was with did a unit on The Canterbury Tales. My host teacher gave me a section to teach the next week I was there. I came up with an activity that incorporated the tale. I typed up each characters part in the tale, and had the students read it aloud. However, they had to pay attention because they didn't know when they went next-- I would cue them in each time. I made up some discussion questions and asked the students what they thought the purpose of that tale was. They really enjoyed the assignment. I thought it was good for me to be able to create a mini lesson and perform it to the class. My host teacher told me what she liked and what I may want to do next time if I were to teach the lesson again. Feedback helped me decide how to do better during the next lesson I would put together, and what things to do again.
This semester I am with a special education teacher that collaborates with other teachers. He floats around 3 classrooms while I'm there. I was able to witness my host teacher in his own classroom a few weeks ago for about 15 minutes. He teaches 1 special education history. It was interesting that he tried to incorporate different learning styles. The students put together cereal boxes that had a famous person in history on the box. Then the students added information and whatever else they wanted.
2. What kinds of assessments would you like to use in your future classroom? Explain. What will you need to do between now and then to increase the likelihood of you using those kinds of assessments?
I would like to include different genres of literature in everything I teach. Whether it be from the 1920's and The Great Gatsby, or a graphic novel, American Born Chinese. I think the reason students don't enjoy literature is because most teachers do not incorporate things the students like. They like technology and like working with technology as much as they can, so as a teacher, that needs to be incorporated in the classroom if possible. I think student responses can be done via blog. If the students see that they can write whatever they want with some structure online and can respond however they want, and comment of other students responses they may do this more frequently. To make this happen I need to find a school where I can have computer access. Most schools only have one computer in the classroom, the teachers computer, and have computer labs for students to use if the teacher requests to use it. I need to experience different styles of literature myself, so that I can introduce them to my students as well.
Some of the wonderings I have incorporate both aspects of my host teachers and mentors. If the special education can not be in the classroom how willing are they to help collaborate with teachers? I know this will vary from school to school; however this is a relevant question to ask when getting hired in an integrated school. Also, does the school (whichever school I am at whether it be EFHS or another) offer special education materials that teachers, or student teachers, like myself, can use to help students succeed in the classroom?
Nicole
1. What kinds of assessments have you seen used in the classroom? Which do you like? Dislike? Explain.
Last semester the host teacher I was with did a unit on The Canterbury Tales. My host teacher gave me a section to teach the next week I was there. I came up with an activity that incorporated the tale. I typed up each characters part in the tale, and had the students read it aloud. However, they had to pay attention because they didn't know when they went next-- I would cue them in each time. I made up some discussion questions and asked the students what they thought the purpose of that tale was. They really enjoyed the assignment. I thought it was good for me to be able to create a mini lesson and perform it to the class. My host teacher told me what she liked and what I may want to do next time if I were to teach the lesson again. Feedback helped me decide how to do better during the next lesson I would put together, and what things to do again.
This semester I am with a special education teacher that collaborates with other teachers. He floats around 3 classrooms while I'm there. I was able to witness my host teacher in his own classroom a few weeks ago for about 15 minutes. He teaches 1 special education history. It was interesting that he tried to incorporate different learning styles. The students put together cereal boxes that had a famous person in history on the box. Then the students added information and whatever else they wanted.
2. What kinds of assessments would you like to use in your future classroom? Explain. What will you need to do between now and then to increase the likelihood of you using those kinds of assessments?
I would like to include different genres of literature in everything I teach. Whether it be from the 1920's and The Great Gatsby, or a graphic novel, American Born Chinese. I think the reason students don't enjoy literature is because most teachers do not incorporate things the students like. They like technology and like working with technology as much as they can, so as a teacher, that needs to be incorporated in the classroom if possible. I think student responses can be done via blog. If the students see that they can write whatever they want with some structure online and can respond however they want, and comment of other students responses they may do this more frequently. To make this happen I need to find a school where I can have computer access. Most schools only have one computer in the classroom, the teachers computer, and have computer labs for students to use if the teacher requests to use it. I need to experience different styles of literature myself, so that I can introduce them to my students as well.
Some of the wonderings I have incorporate both aspects of my host teachers and mentors. If the special education can not be in the classroom how willing are they to help collaborate with teachers? I know this will vary from school to school; however this is a relevant question to ask when getting hired in an integrated school. Also, does the school (whichever school I am at whether it be EFHS or another) offer special education materials that teachers, or student teachers, like myself, can use to help students succeed in the classroom?
Nicole
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Semester Two - Blog 1
1. Prior to this class, what experience/exposure have you had to national/state/local standards?
2. What are your concerns about the standards?
Last semester for my fiction for adolescence class we had to pick a project to do. I choose to write a lesson plan; with that choice i had to find CSO's that related to my lesson. While research and typing up my unit plan for the book Speak I found that my lesson plan covered many CSO's. I found this project to be very beneficial. I was able to incorporate a book i enjoyed with many fun and student oriented activities that covered a wide range of CSO's. As a teacher I now know that one activity may be able to cover a few different CSO's. This will be important if I need to cover a certain amount throughout the school year.
My only concern is that I will not be able to come up with an activity that incorporates a state standard or CSO's. However,with the use of technology today I'm sure between internet and my cohort I will be able to find something that my student can do that they will find useful that incorporates a standard.
Does covering CSO's and state standards such as SAT's in a high school English classroom help students to do better in their high school classes as well as their state standards?
2. What are your concerns about the standards?
Last semester for my fiction for adolescence class we had to pick a project to do. I choose to write a lesson plan; with that choice i had to find CSO's that related to my lesson. While research and typing up my unit plan for the book Speak I found that my lesson plan covered many CSO's. I found this project to be very beneficial. I was able to incorporate a book i enjoyed with many fun and student oriented activities that covered a wide range of CSO's. As a teacher I now know that one activity may be able to cover a few different CSO's. This will be important if I need to cover a certain amount throughout the school year.
My only concern is that I will not be able to come up with an activity that incorporates a state standard or CSO's. However,with the use of technology today I'm sure between internet and my cohort I will be able to find something that my student can do that they will find useful that incorporates a standard.
Does covering CSO's and state standards such as SAT's in a high school English classroom help students to do better in their high school classes as well as their state standards?
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