This week was the last week of my senior project and it was a really nice way to end the three weeks. While I was there they class was getting ready for their field trip to the ocean on Tuesday! What they did to prepare was make field guides of sea creatures. So what I would do is while they were reading about the animals is walk around to see if they understood what they were reading or help them sound out a word that they were not able to pronounce. This week I learned that while doing crafts that involves glue and scissors, you needed to be very patient, even more patient then when you are teaching something. I also learned about some things that I could do this summer that would involve working with younger kids or I could tutor kids in the library. I am in love with what I am doing; doing Senior Project convinced me even more that I want to be a teacher when I grow up. I really liked working with the kids, and just not only helping them out with their math problems, but also just being for them overall. I was asked by Ms. Wallace and Mr. Hubbard to help the kids with the cutting and gluing part of the field guide and I know they asked me to do this because they wanted to make the process of putting together the book go a little faster. Ms. Wallace also asked me to teach another Spanish lesson, she asked me that because it would give me another opportunity to teach the class and run a class. This week however was very busy for the third graders so I was not able to teach the class. Everything that has happened this week has happened for a reason, unlike last week there were no surprises and thankfully no one got hurt when I was on duty during recess. What I benefited from this week is, I got some ideas now of what to do this summer, and I think I am going to try and be both a tutor and a camp counselor so I can work with kids as much as I can.
Senior Project has been amazing, and I am going to miss working with the kids so much! They have actually inspired me to become a teacher even more.
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Last Day: Bittersweet memories!
Week Number Three
Day Number Five
Hours Worked: 10:15 - 3:00 (total: 4 hours 45 minutes)
Today was my last day of Senior Project and it was very depressing that I would not be coming back to work with these wonderful kids again. Walking into Ms. Wallace's classroom this morning the door between Ms. Wallace's and Mr. Hubbard's room was open, music was playing in each room, paper and scissors were all over the floor, I knew that they were putting the pages of their field guide of common tide pool creatures together, and they were! I walked around for a little bit to see the progression of each book from the kids, and then I helped some of them with a lot of gutting and gluing. I would also help them label pictures of the creatures so that they would know the body part of each one when they saw the creature in real life! During recess Ms. Wallace gave me some tips about what to do before becoming a full time teacher. She said to student teach a lot throughout college and she said to substitute any chance I could get. She also gave me some ideas about what to do during the summer that would involve little kids or involve me teaching. She said to be a camp counselor or and/or tutor elementary school kids or work at a summer school. Then we went into the faculty room and laminated all the students pages from their field guide and cut cut cut cut cut! The students only had half of their special because they had a performance to go to. The performance involved little parts from multiple pages of Shakespeare! I missed some of it because I helped put together the booklets, but when I saw the last part of the performance it was really fun, they even picked volunteers from the audience which was the highlight of the performance!
I am going to go back to the school on Wednesday because Ms. Wallace told me that some of the students did not remember that today was my last day, so I am going to go and visit to say my last goodbye to the kids!
Day Number Five
Hours Worked: 10:15 - 3:00 (total: 4 hours 45 minutes)
Today was my last day of Senior Project and it was very depressing that I would not be coming back to work with these wonderful kids again. Walking into Ms. Wallace's classroom this morning the door between Ms. Wallace's and Mr. Hubbard's room was open, music was playing in each room, paper and scissors were all over the floor, I knew that they were putting the pages of their field guide of common tide pool creatures together, and they were! I walked around for a little bit to see the progression of each book from the kids, and then I helped some of them with a lot of gutting and gluing. I would also help them label pictures of the creatures so that they would know the body part of each one when they saw the creature in real life! During recess Ms. Wallace gave me some tips about what to do before becoming a full time teacher. She said to student teach a lot throughout college and she said to substitute any chance I could get. She also gave me some ideas about what to do during the summer that would involve little kids or involve me teaching. She said to be a camp counselor or and/or tutor elementary school kids or work at a summer school. Then we went into the faculty room and laminated all the students pages from their field guide and cut cut cut cut cut! The students only had half of their special because they had a performance to go to. The performance involved little parts from multiple pages of Shakespeare! I missed some of it because I helped put together the booklets, but when I saw the last part of the performance it was really fun, they even picked volunteers from the audience which was the highlight of the performance!
I am going to go back to the school on Wednesday because Ms. Wallace told me that some of the students did not remember that today was my last day, so I am going to go and visit to say my last goodbye to the kids!
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Special Memories
Week Number Three
Day Number Four
Hours worked: 7:20-9:45, 11:00-1:00, 2:40-3:30
As today was my second to last day of Senior Project, I thought that I should be at the school as much as possible. So I went in at my usual time this morning. Ms. Wallace informed me that today was going to be a little messed up because she had a literacy workshop so she could learn how to teach English and reading better. So today's schedule was a little messed up. Instead of math first thing, we worked more on our sea filed guides in preparation for their field trip. We did that until snack time and then kept working on it until lunch. Then during lunch, Ms. Wallace and Mr. Hubbard had to leave for their workshop and there were substitutes for both classes. I attended lunch with the kids again, and I went to recess. Today Brandon brought in his eight week old puppies to show off, and they were very cute.
After recess I read three mini stories to the class before their special. They tried to give me a hard time for a little bit. Instead of reading out loud they wanted to play games, but I told them that this is what Ms. Wallace told me to do, and i am going to do it. After telling them that a couple of times they calmed down, and i was able to read them the stories. It was nice being the "teacher" for that part because I was able to show myself that even when the kids are saying something different that the teacher lets them do, I knew in my gut that it was not true. Afterward I told Ms. Wallace that and she was very proud of me. :)
Then at 2:40, I went back for a faculty meeting. During that meeting the teachers were working on their workshop still, but there was a leader telling the teachers how to make lists of what they should do when they teach, and then each teacher from a specific grade got together in groups and made their lists.
Overall it was a good day! It was a little crazy going back and forth from Proctor to the elementary school but I had a lot new experiences that I will keep with me for a life time!
Day Number Four
Hours worked: 7:20-9:45, 11:00-1:00, 2:40-3:30
As today was my second to last day of Senior Project, I thought that I should be at the school as much as possible. So I went in at my usual time this morning. Ms. Wallace informed me that today was going to be a little messed up because she had a literacy workshop so she could learn how to teach English and reading better. So today's schedule was a little messed up. Instead of math first thing, we worked more on our sea filed guides in preparation for their field trip. We did that until snack time and then kept working on it until lunch. Then during lunch, Ms. Wallace and Mr. Hubbard had to leave for their workshop and there were substitutes for both classes. I attended lunch with the kids again, and I went to recess. Today Brandon brought in his eight week old puppies to show off, and they were very cute.
After recess I read three mini stories to the class before their special. They tried to give me a hard time for a little bit. Instead of reading out loud they wanted to play games, but I told them that this is what Ms. Wallace told me to do, and i am going to do it. After telling them that a couple of times they calmed down, and i was able to read them the stories. It was nice being the "teacher" for that part because I was able to show myself that even when the kids are saying something different that the teacher lets them do, I knew in my gut that it was not true. Afterward I told Ms. Wallace that and she was very proud of me. :)
Then at 2:40, I went back for a faculty meeting. During that meeting the teachers were working on their workshop still, but there was a leader telling the teachers how to make lists of what they should do when they teach, and then each teacher from a specific grade got together in groups and made their lists.
Overall it was a good day! It was a little crazy going back and forth from Proctor to the elementary school but I had a lot new experiences that I will keep with me for a life time!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Day of Reflection
Week Number Three
Day Number Three
Today is the day that I do not go over to the elementary school. So instead I went to my Themes class and worked on my final, which was writing a short story. Then I went over to the bookstore to talk to my mentor Alex. We talked about how my week was going so far, and I told her about the issue that Ms. Wallace and I have about giving me the opportunity to teach. Then I told her what my display board is going to look like for my presentation. After we talked about my self reflection paper and things that I should include in it, and she told me that she would be happy to look it over before I hand it in. At the end of our meeting I told Alex how upset I was that I only have two more days left at the Elementary School, the kids have grown on me so much that I know leaving on Friday is going to be very hard. I hope that someday I will have a classroom filled like kids in Ms. Wallace's class.
Day Number Three
Today is the day that I do not go over to the elementary school. So instead I went to my Themes class and worked on my final, which was writing a short story. Then I went over to the bookstore to talk to my mentor Alex. We talked about how my week was going so far, and I told her about the issue that Ms. Wallace and I have about giving me the opportunity to teach. Then I told her what my display board is going to look like for my presentation. After we talked about my self reflection paper and things that I should include in it, and she told me that she would be happy to look it over before I hand it in. At the end of our meeting I told Alex how upset I was that I only have two more days left at the Elementary School, the kids have grown on me so much that I know leaving on Friday is going to be very hard. I hope that someday I will have a classroom filled like kids in Ms. Wallace's class.
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
More like a teacher everyday
Week Number Three
Day Number Two
Hours Worked- 7:30, 12:00 (Total Hours: 4 1/2)
Walking into Ms. Wallace's room at 7:20 in the morning was very early, but a nice early since I am loving every minute when I am at that school. We talked about and decided that I will have another opportunity to teach again! Our only problem is finding a time that works out for both of us for me to teach. (I would be teaching Spanish again)
Then, while the students were working I corrected their spelling tests that we took on Friday. Then it was time for their daily Mad Minute Math quiz, and this time only a few finished before the time was up. After the quiz they looked up when the sunrise and sunset yesterday, and our day was 14 hours and 15 minutes. Then the kids made many mistakes on their math tests so Ms. Wallace handed them back to give them a chance to look the test over again with a fresh mind. While they were working on that I wrote down for each student what words they have gotten wrong on their spelling test.
During math they started a new unit, which was measurement. They talked about the metric system and the US customary system. Ms. Wallace then made a chart so that it would be easier for the students to see the conversions. After math and snack time it was time for the kids to do their phonics, and while the kids were doing that, I took a girl out into the hall and gave her the spelling quiz that she missed on Friday, and I felt like an actual teacher, since not only was I doing the correcting and listening to the students read to me and have me evaluate their reading, but I WAS ACTUALLY GIVING A TEST!
Day Number Two
Hours Worked- 7:30, 12:00 (Total Hours: 4 1/2)
Walking into Ms. Wallace's room at 7:20 in the morning was very early, but a nice early since I am loving every minute when I am at that school. We talked about and decided that I will have another opportunity to teach again! Our only problem is finding a time that works out for both of us for me to teach. (I would be teaching Spanish again)
Then, while the students were working I corrected their spelling tests that we took on Friday. Then it was time for their daily Mad Minute Math quiz, and this time only a few finished before the time was up. After the quiz they looked up when the sunrise and sunset yesterday, and our day was 14 hours and 15 minutes. Then the kids made many mistakes on their math tests so Ms. Wallace handed them back to give them a chance to look the test over again with a fresh mind. While they were working on that I wrote down for each student what words they have gotten wrong on their spelling test.
During math they started a new unit, which was measurement. They talked about the metric system and the US customary system. Ms. Wallace then made a chart so that it would be easier for the students to see the conversions. After math and snack time it was time for the kids to do their phonics, and while the kids were doing that, I took a girl out into the hall and gave her the spelling quiz that she missed on Friday, and I felt like an actual teacher, since not only was I doing the correcting and listening to the students read to me and have me evaluate their reading, but I WAS ACTUALLY GIVING A TEST!
Monday, May 19, 2008
Share Day!
Week Number Three
Day Number One
Hours Worked: 10:00 - 2:45 (Total: 4 Hours 45 Minutes)
Here is a summary of what Share Day is, the students choose two workshops to be a part of, it could be either at the school or away from school. You could do workshops like painting flower pots and planting flowers, to digital recording!
Today was the much anticipated Share Day! I was really excited walking into the school because I was going to be working with the kindergartner's! It was nice to be working with a different age group because I was able to achieve one of my goals with out Ms. Wallace organizing it!
When I walked into the kindergarten room, they were sewing together felt puppets. I sat down on a table that came up to my shins, so it was a little painful, but I would cut out anything from the felt that the kids wanted. I cut out objects from simple eyes, nose, and mouth, and then I cut some crazy things like little ruffles for their puppets sleeves, and some of them even wanted CROWNS! I got to work with some of the faculty's children too! I worked with the youngest from the Walsh family, and I worked with Swaze's daughter HANNAH! She even drew me a very pretty picture!
After the morning group was finished, I stopped by Ms. Wallace's workshop and she was conducting camp songs. I knew none of them since I did not go to an overnight summer camp, but I did learn something about myself, that I actually have some what of a voice! :)
Then it was time for an afternoon of music! Keith Barrett's band the Longtail Monkey's played three songs, including Free Fallin' by Tom Petty. It was so amazing to watch kids at such a young age play the keyboard, drums, bass, and guitar so well! Then it was time for the main performance. THE RECYCLED PERCUSSION! They were really really good, they do not play on actual drums, they play on trash cans and recycled products! It was really cool to be able to watch this concert with the kids because I was able to be with them again in an atmosphere that is not a classroom.
Day Number One
Hours Worked: 10:00 - 2:45 (Total: 4 Hours 45 Minutes)
Here is a summary of what Share Day is, the students choose two workshops to be a part of, it could be either at the school or away from school. You could do workshops like painting flower pots and planting flowers, to digital recording!
Today was the much anticipated Share Day! I was really excited walking into the school because I was going to be working with the kindergartner's! It was nice to be working with a different age group because I was able to achieve one of my goals with out Ms. Wallace organizing it!
When I walked into the kindergarten room, they were sewing together felt puppets. I sat down on a table that came up to my shins, so it was a little painful, but I would cut out anything from the felt that the kids wanted. I cut out objects from simple eyes, nose, and mouth, and then I cut some crazy things like little ruffles for their puppets sleeves, and some of them even wanted CROWNS! I got to work with some of the faculty's children too! I worked with the youngest from the Walsh family, and I worked with Swaze's daughter HANNAH! She even drew me a very pretty picture!
After the morning group was finished, I stopped by Ms. Wallace's workshop and she was conducting camp songs. I knew none of them since I did not go to an overnight summer camp, but I did learn something about myself, that I actually have some what of a voice! :)
Then it was time for an afternoon of music! Keith Barrett's band the Longtail Monkey's played three songs, including Free Fallin' by Tom Petty. It was so amazing to watch kids at such a young age play the keyboard, drums, bass, and guitar so well! Then it was time for the main performance. THE RECYCLED PERCUSSION! They were really really good, they do not play on actual drums, they play on trash cans and recycled products! It was really cool to be able to watch this concert with the kids because I was able to be with them again in an atmosphere that is not a classroom.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Weekly Reflection Number Two
This week has been amazing! I learned so much about teaching a classroom full of students that learn differently to how to act in a scary situation. At the beginning of the week I tough the class body parts in Spanish and I made them a slide show of the pictures that I took while in Spain. Then I got to sit in on the other third grade classroom and see the way another teacher would teach the class.
I learned that even the smallest classes, can have the most diverse students. Some of the students have ADD, some take a little while longer to learn, and some learn really fast and try to make sure that everything that they are doing is above and beyond. It was great to teach students of different learning styles, because it really does put you in the teacher’s shoes. You have to make sure that everyone in the class understands what you are talking about, and also make sure that you give everyone a chance to answer the questions that you ask. After sitting in on the other third grade class, I learned so much! I learned that not every teacher is the same. They all teach the same thing, but they do not all teach it the same way. Like I said in my earlier post about Ms. Wallace and Mr. Hubbard’s teaching styles of teaching math are different but both are very successful.
I still love what I chose to do for my Senior Project! I know that for sure I want to be in an Elementary school, I feel like the atmosphere of an elementary school is the best place for me. When I was asked to go sit in on Mr. Hubbard’s class I was not surprised since sitting in on another class was one of my goals, and Ms. Wallace made sure that I accomplished this goal. For most of the week everything that happened was expected. The only surprise for me was when I was on duty for recess on Friday a student who was not part of my class got seriously hurt! I had to go and find the nurse and I kept telling myself to stay calm, because if I am worked up about the situation, then the kids would start getting worried. It was really nice that I learned something about myself during that time, I could stay calm in a scary situation.
What I will benefit from this week is to stay calm in a scary situation that involves little kids that will always try and imitate their elders, so if I freaked, then they would freak as well. I also learned that teachers teach the same things but they all use their own style on how to teach a subject.
It is really depressing that Monday is my last week of Senior Project! I have so far loved it!
STAY TUNED! ☺
I learned that even the smallest classes, can have the most diverse students. Some of the students have ADD, some take a little while longer to learn, and some learn really fast and try to make sure that everything that they are doing is above and beyond. It was great to teach students of different learning styles, because it really does put you in the teacher’s shoes. You have to make sure that everyone in the class understands what you are talking about, and also make sure that you give everyone a chance to answer the questions that you ask. After sitting in on the other third grade class, I learned so much! I learned that not every teacher is the same. They all teach the same thing, but they do not all teach it the same way. Like I said in my earlier post about Ms. Wallace and Mr. Hubbard’s teaching styles of teaching math are different but both are very successful.
I still love what I chose to do for my Senior Project! I know that for sure I want to be in an Elementary school, I feel like the atmosphere of an elementary school is the best place for me. When I was asked to go sit in on Mr. Hubbard’s class I was not surprised since sitting in on another class was one of my goals, and Ms. Wallace made sure that I accomplished this goal. For most of the week everything that happened was expected. The only surprise for me was when I was on duty for recess on Friday a student who was not part of my class got seriously hurt! I had to go and find the nurse and I kept telling myself to stay calm, because if I am worked up about the situation, then the kids would start getting worried. It was really nice that I learned something about myself during that time, I could stay calm in a scary situation.
What I will benefit from this week is to stay calm in a scary situation that involves little kids that will always try and imitate their elders, so if I freaked, then they would freak as well. I also learned that teachers teach the same things but they all use their own style on how to teach a subject.
It is really depressing that Monday is my last week of Senior Project! I have so far loved it!
STAY TUNED! ☺
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