Without using last names, which child do you think you influenced most this week? In what way (academic, social, emotional)?
There was one particular boy that I feel I have influenced greatly. This young man is a sixth grade student and at the beginning of the year had a very rough start. I later found out that his home life is very, very difficult. I felt a connection to this boy since the first couple weeks of school, and really made it my goal to help him and motivate him through his work. Since this was my last week, I really wanted to do something special for this young boy. My father use to own a grocery store in my hometown and he sold work boots, when he sold the store he had lots of left over boots so he decided to keep them and store them. So, I found out what size shoe this young boy wears and I brough him a brand new pair of brown leather and camo boots. The smile on his face stretched from ear to ear. I have not seen him smile the entire year, and to see his face light up when I brought him his boots was absolutely priceless. He kept repeating, "Thank you so much Ms. Heare! I love them! They're so comfortable and they fit just right! Thank you again Ms. Heare!" This is a moment that I will remember for my entire life!
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Week 15 Nov. 28th - Dec. 2nd
Reflect on a lesson that went well. What factors do you think led to its success?
One lesson that went extremely well was actually my Action Research lesson. The students would play the fly swatter game to study their spelling and vocabulary words. The fly swatter game consisted of splitting the class into two teams. One person from each team would come and stand in front of the board with a fly swatter in hand. On the board behind them, I wrote each spelling word on a post-it note and placed them randomly acorss the board. The students with the fly swatters will look at me while I read a definition to them. After I read the definition, the two students then turn around and who ever "swats" the correct word first their team gets a point. There were two rules: 1. You can only swat the board two times. If you swat it more than two times, then your team loses a point. and 2. You must repeat the correct definition back to me to earn the point. If they didn't get the correct definition the other team then had a chance to earn the point by saying the correct definition.
At the end of the semester I had the students complete a survey rating the game 1-5 on how well they thought the game helped them learn their spelling and vocabulary words. All the responses were a 3 or better. Not only did all the students really enjoy and actively participate in the game, but I had fun watching the smiles on their faces, oblivious to the fact that they were learning.
One lesson that went extremely well was actually my Action Research lesson. The students would play the fly swatter game to study their spelling and vocabulary words. The fly swatter game consisted of splitting the class into two teams. One person from each team would come and stand in front of the board with a fly swatter in hand. On the board behind them, I wrote each spelling word on a post-it note and placed them randomly acorss the board. The students with the fly swatters will look at me while I read a definition to them. After I read the definition, the two students then turn around and who ever "swats" the correct word first their team gets a point. There were two rules: 1. You can only swat the board two times. If you swat it more than two times, then your team loses a point. and 2. You must repeat the correct definition back to me to earn the point. If they didn't get the correct definition the other team then had a chance to earn the point by saying the correct definition.
At the end of the semester I had the students complete a survey rating the game 1-5 on how well they thought the game helped them learn their spelling and vocabulary words. All the responses were a 3 or better. Not only did all the students really enjoy and actively participate in the game, but I had fun watching the smiles on their faces, oblivious to the fact that they were learning.
Week 14 Nov. 21st - 25th
Reflect on your questioning techniques.
This is definitely an area in which I feel I need more experience. When I am going through the text I am able to ask questions based from that, however I would like to be able to ask questions about the information in a way so that they relate to their personal lives. When you create that personal connection, it is easier for the students to retain the information. I feel as though I just ask re-worded questions from the text and the students get bored. I need to make the information more relateable to them, as well as the questions I ask.
This is definitely an area in which I feel I need more experience. When I am going through the text I am able to ask questions based from that, however I would like to be able to ask questions about the information in a way so that they relate to their personal lives. When you create that personal connection, it is easier for the students to retain the information. I feel as though I just ask re-worded questions from the text and the students get bored. I need to make the information more relateable to them, as well as the questions I ask.
Week 13 Nov.14th - 18th
Reflect on what you believe your biggest strength is at the end of the internship and any area in which you may need additional time and practice.
My biggest strength by the end of the internship would probably be my confidence as a teacher. Before this year, I was very shy and was afraid to yell or fuss at the students. However, I don't know what happened at the beginning of this year, but when I am in front of the classroom I have plenty of confidence that I can handle the class at hand. My weakness though, I feel, is that I do not feel this confident when I am in a high school setting. But after time, I'm sure I will be able to experience a high school setting and my confidence will eventually build for that as well.
My biggest strength by the end of the internship would probably be my confidence as a teacher. Before this year, I was very shy and was afraid to yell or fuss at the students. However, I don't know what happened at the beginning of this year, but when I am in front of the classroom I have plenty of confidence that I can handle the class at hand. My weakness though, I feel, is that I do not feel this confident when I am in a high school setting. But after time, I'm sure I will be able to experience a high school setting and my confidence will eventually build for that as well.
Week 12 Nov.7th - 11th
Reflect on what you know about the school community.
At the beginning of the semester, the school counselor took myself and 5 of the other interns around the community to show us where some of the students live and to just get familiar with the area. It was very surprising of how low the social economic status was for many of the students. When seeing where they live first hand, it's a real eye opener of the kind of situations these kids come from. Some of the students live in pop-up campers with multiple members of their family, some of them live in "lean-to" shed type homes; when seeing this it makes me wonder how they even make the effort to come to school. How are we to expect these students to preform at their top notch abilities when their living situations are as they are? I think it was an excellent idea to show us around the area so that we could see, first-hand, how these students are living and just what they have to deal with when they walk out that school door at 3:00.
At the beginning of the semester, the school counselor took myself and 5 of the other interns around the community to show us where some of the students live and to just get familiar with the area. It was very surprising of how low the social economic status was for many of the students. When seeing where they live first hand, it's a real eye opener of the kind of situations these kids come from. Some of the students live in pop-up campers with multiple members of their family, some of them live in "lean-to" shed type homes; when seeing this it makes me wonder how they even make the effort to come to school. How are we to expect these students to preform at their top notch abilities when their living situations are as they are? I think it was an excellent idea to show us around the area so that we could see, first-hand, how these students are living and just what they have to deal with when they walk out that school door at 3:00.
Week 11 Oct.31st - Nov. 4th
Reflect on your participation in a parent-teacher conference.
During my time at SHMS, I was able to participate in one parent-teacher conference. I learned from my mentor teacher that during this time the teacher must be brutally honest with the parents. If you are having problems with their child in class, the parents need to be aware because that is the only way the problem will be addressed. I was very nervous about this because I felt as though I would be attacked by the parents, however, I found that all of the parents were willing to work with me and try to prevent the current behavior of their child.
During my time at SHMS, I was able to participate in one parent-teacher conference. I learned from my mentor teacher that during this time the teacher must be brutally honest with the parents. If you are having problems with their child in class, the parents need to be aware because that is the only way the problem will be addressed. I was very nervous about this because I felt as though I would be attacked by the parents, however, I found that all of the parents were willing to work with me and try to prevent the current behavior of their child.
Week 10 Oct. 24th - 28th
Reflect on your professional relationships with school personnel other than your mentor teacher.
I have been extremely priveledged to work with this sixth grade team at South Harrison Middle School. They have really taken me under their wings and made me feel like part of the sixth grade family! If there was anything that I needed help with, I could go to any one of the team members and they would help me to the best of their abilities.
However, the niceness doesn't end at the sixth grade wing, but exceeds throughout the entire school. I have developed many friends with 7th and 8th grade teachers, as well as the librarian and art teacher. I plan to continue these friendships after my internship expires!
I have been extremely priveledged to work with this sixth grade team at South Harrison Middle School. They have really taken me under their wings and made me feel like part of the sixth grade family! If there was anything that I needed help with, I could go to any one of the team members and they would help me to the best of their abilities.
However, the niceness doesn't end at the sixth grade wing, but exceeds throughout the entire school. I have developed many friends with 7th and 8th grade teachers, as well as the librarian and art teacher. I plan to continue these friendships after my internship expires!
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