Internship Week 2 (4)

Although I was only at the high school for three days (two of them being half days), I learned so much! My mentor taught me a lot about the legalities as well as technological advances in special education.  I was walked through the process of Medicaid- how to fill it out, how often to fill it out, when to turn it in, etc.  This week, I have also navigated through the online IEP writing system with my mentor to see what it was all about and how to maneuver through it.  I am also learning about accommodations made for the WestTest as well as how to notify general educators of accommodations of the students.  All in all, this week has motivated me to be organized! The importance of having an agenda and a well-organized classroom and work ethic really stood out to me.  I have certainly found ideas that I plan to 'adopt' for my own future classroom!
I was only able to work with students for two of the three days, but I feel that I am developing a rapport with some of them.  As I continue to be enthusiastic, I find it hard for me to turn off that elementary teacher deep inside of me.  I am really enjoying being in an atmosphere with older students, but there are certain cases while I am in the resource room where I feel that my positivity might be 'too positive' for my students.  I am trying to tone it down a bit, but I will not stop being enthusiastic about my job! I am hoping that the students that are a bit resilient to opening up to me will be more accepting to my offerings of help.  I would like to point out they are not doing this to be rude, nor are they being rude at all.  I feel that the actions portrayed by some of the students come from the age of wanting to be cool.  My students, however, are all wonderful! I am truly enjoying this placement.  I'm looking forward to next week, as I begin teaching English 9.

Secondary Internship Week 1

Wow! What a difference I have seen between Elementary and Secondary students this week! I'm not only talking about the students, but how I conduct myself around my students.  My last placement, I would always walk in very cheerful and positive- high pitch voice, smiles all around, etc.  In high school, I still walk in positive, yet a bit more refined, but sometimes get sleepy stares in return. Although the atmosphere is very different, I truly enjoy being with students of the high school age.  I have only observed this week, but I have really enjoyed what the position presents.

I like that I have seen a lot of discussion in the classes I have been in.  The students seem to take the lead in the collaborative classes, and this is an approach I am familiar with in the college setting as a student myself.  The high school seniors really contribute a lot to class.  Even if the contribution consists of comments to get a laugh out of other students, what the students bring to the table is extremely valuable and allows me to get to know each student's personality.  This week has been used to get to know my students through observation and conversation.  I feel that it is just as important to know your students as it is to know your content.  I felt a bit like a fly on the wall this week as I took in each class and what it has to offer.

The organization skills of my mentor and the collaborative teachers is remarkable and something I wish to learn from.  As I am now entering the 'transition phase' of a student's life, I am learning that there are many options and laws in which I must explore and understand in full in order to serve my students.  From this, I am learning about the importance of organization, especially in special education.  My mentor teacher has already shown me so much.  She takes time each Friday to conduct paperwork, observation, and many other things on each student on her caseload in order to keep up with the requirements for their IEPs.  She plans a week ahead of time.  She is very up-to-date on the medical files of each student and talks greatly with each general education teacher that her students might encounter.  Her routine schedule proves to be very effective and is something that I look forward to adopting into my own practice.  I feel that this placement is going to be one in which I will learn greatly from and extremely enjoy!

Final Reflection

The last week of my internship made me step back and realize how lucky I was to be apart of this classroom.  Since I observed and assisted this week, I had a lot of time to watch my students be engaged in their work.  I did not realize how much my students grew over the sixteen weeks I had been there.  I noticed such a change from the initial time we met that I could not believe how far they had come.  I realize that this is what teaching is all about.  This is the part that is so incredibly rewarding.  Even when students struggle, it is rewarding to see them try so hard.
This internship has certainly been one of the most rewarding times of my life.  Watching the students grow was wonderful, but I also enjoyed watching myself grow as a teacher.  I have verified how I want to teach.  I love to watch the students figure many things out for themselves.  I have gained more of an effective wait time and allowed the students to take the necessary steps to "connect the dots" and figure out exactly what is causing misconceptions.  I enjoyed seeing the students retrace their steps to see how they might approach something differently.
Using practical life activities and lessons is something I thoroughly enjoyed in this classroom, as well.  Having students tell time, count money, check thermometers, and add and subtract daily showed the importance of what they will encounter in the real world.  In this setting, I was able to have one on one time with each student to see where they needed strengthening to succeed in life, as well as find their strengths and encourage them.
I am so proud of my class and could not think of a better way to spend 16 weeks.  They have showed me the importance of school.  They have showed me how to make learning fun.  They have brought me to be the teacher I want to be.

Week 16 Reflection

I have waited to write my reflection for last week to look at my weekly evaluation for suggestions.  After 6 weeks of full time teaching, it was time for me to give back the subjects to my teacher.   While doing this, I realized that I was not as organized throughout the semester as I thought I had been! My mentor teacher gave me the papers the students had stored inside of their desks while I was full time teaching and I did not realize all of the work that they started and did not complete.  I made sure my students were working and not just sitting there, although there were times they were off task.  However, what I did not enforce or make sure of was finishing what they started.  I feel that if something became too difficult or they became bored of it, it was tossed aside in their desks.  Who can blame them? Because of my disorganization, they were able to do this.  In the future, when I chose to incorporate stations, I will be sure to start out with "Finish what is in your desk first!" I feel that I will also incorporate a folder to turn everything that students have worked on at the end of the week to be able to start a fresh new week on Mondays.  Although I was disappointed that I let this slide, there was something to be learned from.  I tried my best, so I was not disappointed in that aspect, but I learned from this experience.  I learned that even if I feel I have accomplished something, there is always room for improvement.  Organization is a skill of mine that needs to be built upon, and I plan to do this.

Internship Week 15 Reflection

Today was one of those days where I reflected on the semester.  There are SO many things I would have changed, but it made me realize how much I have learned in such a short amount of time.  There are so many ways I would have changed my demeanor.  The student that gave me the hardest times, I realized if I would have just walked about and given her a couple minutes to cool off, she would have been fine.  The student that I allowed to whine, I should have immediately addressed because now I have to be much more stern with her and she is complaining even more because she is not used to me addressing this.  I should have found more ways to address the issue and encourage her to do her best and be positive.  Perhaps rewards would have worked, and that is something I am going to try these next two weeks with my students.  I have realized that I started the year more lenient than what I wish I would have, but I know you live and you learn.  If there is one thing I have learned, it is that you grow as a teacher through all of these experiences.  I am very grateful that my mentor allowed me to figure my teaching style out on my own.  She gave me feedback and encouragement all the time, but never once told me what to do.  I feel that because of that, I was able to grow as a teacher and learn how I want to be as well as what I will change for future implications. 

In my future classroom, I will establish the rules and go over them daily for at least the first month so the students get well accommodated to them.  I have noticed in my videotapes the students are constantly shouting out my name rather than raising their hand.  Now, this isn’t to say that I am not okay with them talking, but when they are interrupting others and it is independent work time, they need to be respectful of their peers.  Perhaps this is something I did not stress enough at the beginning of the semester.  We were taught by one of our teachers that she takes the first 6 weeks of school to get her students adjusted to the rules and the routine.  I remember thinking- 6 weeks! That’s crazy.  However, I retract that statement.  The importance of a routine in Elementary classrooms is so great that the year will not go smoothly unless all students adopt it.  One thing I must remember- patience is key. 

Internship Week 14 Reflection

Today, I experienced a true loss for one of my students.  I was sad to learn his grandfather passed away and he was extremely close to him.  This was very unexpected, as his grandfather passed away in his sleep.  I just told him how sorry I was and if he needed to talk throughout the day I was there for him.  He turned to my mentor and told her what had happened and she told him how sorry she was and how he can find comfort in the fact that he went peacefully.  My mentor teacher has a way of making you feel very loved and comforted.  I could tell she calmed the student down and was able to help him feel better.  It is this quality that I want to possess.  

I want my students to feel secure and to feel that they can tell me anything.  She has the maternal instinct that I long for, which I’m sure comes from being a mother herself.  Her caring actions are reflected in every aspect of her classroom.  The students come to her for good news, bad news, and news that they might not tell others.  This leads me to my point- teachers are not there solely to teach.   Teachers are there to provide support to our students, be mindful of what is going on at home, and make our classroom inviting, so that students feel comfortable.  Comfort makes us open to many things- students need to feel comfortable in order to learn and function in our classroom.  It is up to use to provide this environment and always be there for our students to feel that way.  The last three weeks of my teaching, I will make it my goal to show my support to students.  

Internship Week 13 Reflection

Practice makes perfect.  That's what they always say! This is something that I have learned throughout the internship, but this is something I would like to reflect on in particular this week.  I admire my mentor teacher for the routine she has created within her classroom.  I can't help but wonder how long it will take me to establish my own classroom routine.

Each day at my internship, the students work on individual work stations for reading.  I really love this idea, but I find myself struggling to balance my time in between all of my students.  All students are on a different level and I feel that individual work is extremely important, so I have tried to accommodate all learner needs.  I feel that the further along I have taught, the better I have become at balancing my time.  However, I think that when I get my own classroom, I will have to start out by doing a lot of the group work with accommodations and modifications initially because I will not have anyone there to help me ease into it. Once my students and I have adapted to the classroom atmosphere and schedule, then I can go to individual station work.

Creating a routine is something that must be practiced constantly.  As I observed my classroom teachers in the early weeks of the semester, I saw how well the students responded to her and everything was so organized.  I want that to be reflected in my student teaching, as well.  The only way that will happen is for me to continue practicing dividing my time where needed and enforcing a set schedule and routine for the students to abide by.  This will be something I will strive for in order to make my classroom an effective learning environment.