Student Teaching Journal |
These last three weeks have been my first few weeks at my second placement at Westerly Creek Elementary. It is quite the change from my previous placement in multiple ways. The obvious way, is that elementary is much different than even middle school. Through my practicum at CSU, I did not do any work with elementary, so this is a whole new experience fro me. One of the biggest ways this is so different however, is because I am back to being fully remote. Although the elementary school is in person, specials are still remote and at the end of the day. My schedule is pretty unique at this placement. From 11:45am to 12:15pm, my mentor teacher and I teach a remote adaptive specials class to about 10 students in the autism center at the school. This consists of P.E, music, art and drama all within 30 minute classes through a computer screen. The students are in person with the paras and autism teachers, so they have help with the lessons, however it is still extremely difficult to see what the students are doing and engage with them. Then, from 1pm-3pm, my mentor teacher, a part time art teacher and I teach math, science and social studies to 3rd graders who have opted to be fully remote. The school did not was to make the homeroom teachers balance both the in person and online kids, so since all specials teachers are remote, they decided to have them take over teaching the core content to the remote classes. This obviously raises some questions, and quite honestly, the remote students are not getting them same quality of education as in person. The homeroom teachers give the specials teachers the lesson plans, however, it is difficult for art teachers to know the answer to any question a student may ask, or even know the proper language to use for the content at that grade level. Then, from 3:00pm-3:30pm and 3:30pm-4:00pm, my mentor teacher and I teach two 30 minute specials choice classes to one grade level a week. Specials choice means that we introduce the lesson, but the students get to choose how they will do it (art, music, dance, drama, etc.). My first week was 1st grade, so for those two 30minute time periods, we taught a lesson connection to a general idea to up to 60 1st graders at a time. They then log off after the 30 minute, and complete their own activity in Seesaw on their own time. My second week was 2nd grade, and my third week was 3rd grade. I am now on Spring Break, but when I return, it will be 4th grade and I will be teaching my first full lesson. To be entirely transparent, I am a bit disappointed with how this works out. Only seeing one grade level per week, means that for most of the grades I will only see them for one week out of my full time at this placement. Also, with there being up to 60 students per class, it is extremely difficult to get to know them, learn names and build a relationship, especially because they are all online and muted and can’t use the chat being it would be distracting with so many students. I am trying to stay positive about the whole thing, and realize that I am learning good technology skills and adaptive skills through this, however I don’t feel as though I am getting the practice that will have the strongest benefit for me in the future. I am staying open minded and positive about the whole thing, but this is definitely a unique situation.
0 Comments
3/29/2021 0 Comments 3/1/2021 Weeks 7 & 8 My final two week sat McAuliffe Middle School were filled with many successes and emotions. In the last two weeks I finally felt as though I had built relationships with each student as individuals and felt more confident in my relationship with them as a teacher. I felt as though I was finally mastering some of the goals I had set for myself. By the last two weeks, my pacing for lessons was effective and on time, I was keeping instruction concise and clear, and I was able to step into a more authoritative role. During the last two weeks, I spent a lot of time reflecting on my experience as a whole. I realized my strengths in being able to adapt and learn quickly. In just 8 weeks I felt like I grew tremendously. I also realized that I am going into the right field for me. I was able to have a very positive experience at McAuliffe. A big part of the reason why my experience was so positive is because of the school’s general climate and future. McAu;iffe holds their students to high standards, and have structures in place throughout the entire curriculum that help students take responsibility for their own learning. The also have a super supportive staff that works together as a team, and my mentor teacher effectively balanced helping me to ease into it, but also pushing me to try hard things and challenge myself. I know that McAuliffe is unique in its school climate and culture, and that not all of my future experiences will run as smoothly and will challenge me in new ways. However, I am extremely grateful that this was my first experience because it showed me what is possible and make me excited and motivated for the future. The most impactful part for me was my relationships with the students. In just 8 weeks I felt as though I had built an individual relationship with 300 students both online and in person. My last day was super special as I got to hear from the students that I impacted them too. I will never forget those students or my time at McAuliffe. I now understand why teachers do what they do, and how students can change teachers’ lives just as much as the teachers change the students’. I look forward to taking my new knowledge onto my next placement and everything in the future.
|
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. Archives
May 2021
Categories |