By: Alexandra Slater
Tuesday, December 14th
Wow, I cannot believe this is my last day at Monee Elementary! I feel like time has flown by so quickly. It has been an eventful past couple of days. My teacher mentor tested positive for COVID so her and her classroom are quarantined until winter break is over. Im deeply sadden by this because I didn't have a chance to say goodbye to the students or to my teacher mentor. I was able to leave treats for the kids and a gift for my mentor when they return though. I wish I had the chance to wrap things up with them when they return from break but I will be student teaching then. Out of all that negativity, I was lucky enough to get a teacher to accept me into her room to finish my remaining hours and teach my last lesson. My last lesson, is a literacy lesson. I was excited and nervous because I was in a new classroom with new students for the last lesson but the teacher and students are very nice. It was also beneficial to see how someone else runs their classroom. From 1st grade to second grade was a big change in pace. Students are a lot more well behaved and have better listening skills.
- 2 strengths going into FE and now
1) Building relationships with students. I had no problem bonding and getting to know the students. Working with kids is something that has always come easy to me and why I wanted to become a teacher.
2) picking engaging materials, students always enjoyed what i use and brought into the classroom to teach my lessons. Going forward I don't think I will have any issues with that!
- 2 areas that you improved
1) Directions and procedures, i feel in the beginning of teaching my directions were a little rocky but I feel I have improved a ton in this area
2) classroom management, I know for sure I have improved in this area because in the beginning my lessons were taken over by me yelling and trying to get the students to listen but towards the end of the semester I had all the tricks, tips, and ways to handle the students under my belt.
- 2 areas that you still need to work on,
1) critical thinking questions, I definitely feel I can brainstorm more critical thinking questions moving forward for students.
2) providing accommodations for students / differentiation I noticed in my lesson plans these areas were still weak. So moving forward, this is something I need to pay close attention to.
- most fun experience
I think the most fun day was when the students earned a "fun day". Students were able to wear their pajamas to school and then they got to eat popcorn and watch a movie. It was so cute seeing how excited the students were for this day. Its also nice to see them outside of learning lessons and just relaxing and doing something non school related.
- most challenging experience
I think the most challenging experience were ones where students came up to me needing help and i wasn't exactly sure how to help them. For example, there was an incident where a student punched another. The student who had been punched came up to me for help instead of my teacher mentor. This was a scary moment, i was not sure how to handle it. I ended up just going to my mentor teacher about it and letting her handle it. I think this is something college can't and doesn't prepare you for are moments like these ones.
- best lesson taught and why
I feel that my best lessons taught was my literacy lesson on mental images. Students were extremely engaged throughout it and had a lot of fun while learning. I was able to assess students learning at the end and I noticed that they all took away the important information and major key points. It was a good feeling to know that you helped the students learn something new. This was also my highest grade out of all the lesson plans I taught.
- worst lesson taught and why
I feel my Science lesson as the worst lesson taught. I feel this way because students were talking the entire time and did not pay attention. This was also the first lesson I taught so I wasn't comfortable enough to yell at them yet. I didn't get too comfortable with the students yet till the second lesson. If I could go back in time I would redo how I taught the entire lesson.
- 3 things you learned specifically from your CT
1) classroom management - she taught me how to get the students to respect and listen to me.
2) being flexible- new things constantly popped up thou
3) time and pace of lesson
- 3 things you learned about yourself
1) During this time in field, I learned that this is really something I am passionate about and want to do for the rest of my life.
2) I learned im able to build great relationships with co workers, well in this case my teacher mentor :) We have gotten so close during this experience
3) I learned I have a lot of patience
- 3 things you learned about children.students
1) students try to make the best of every day and they depend on you to be happy and positive each day
2) students have other stuff going on outside of school that may impact their learning like sports, family issues, etc.
3) students trust their teachers to be their for them
- 3 things you learned about the education field
1) as an educator, you will have to keep update on all the new technologies, curriculum, etc.
2) building relationships with the students parents is crucial to help students succeed.
3) its good to have the principal on your side as well as coworkers
- what you wish you had done differently
There is nothing really I wish I had done differently besides being so shy the first couple of times in fields because the more I came out of my shell the more I bonded with the students and my mentor teacher
- what you are excited about in terms of student teaching
I am looking forward to taking over the class more and being in a district I've always dreamed of working in. I am also looking forward to meeting new students and my mentor teacher. I will be interesting to see how a different school runs and functions. I can't wait to learn new beneficial information, tips, advice that will help be become a better educator.
- what you are most anxious about in terms of student teaching
I am most anxious about getting in the groove of a new classroom in the middle of the year. I am also nervous to teach students materials I am shaky on. I have already build a good relationship with my MT so I hope it was ease my nerves .
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