Reflection 6

I enjoyed my field experience and I’m thankful for all that I got to observe and demonstrate. However, I still feel like there is so much more to learn. I wish TCAP had not been the classroom’s main focus. That really changed things up-in a crazy kind of way. I so enjoyed all the off the wall lessons that Ashley did do while I was there, but wish I could have seen more of the everyday classroom environment. Although, I still feel like I got an idea of what type of stress level the TCAP put on the teachers and students. I am not one hundred percent confident in my abilities to teach reading to beginning readers.  But, the thought of teaching writing, at any level, does not bother me.

Reflection 5

I’m enjoying my field experience. I have become so attached to Ashley’s first graders. She is a great teacher and a great person.  I think I have gained much more from my first grade field experience than I did in last semester’s fifth grade practicum.  Even though this semester’s field experience is mostly focusing on TCAP, I still have a nice perspective of the first grade classroom and its content.  Out of the three read-aloud lessons and the creative writing lesson, I most enjoyed my creative writing lesson.  Again, I think I have gained the most knowledge about the educational field during this semester and this semester’s practicum.   Although at this point of this semester, I feel like I am running wide open. The end is near, and I can’t believe it, we will be seniors. YEH!!!

Reflection 4

Spring Break was not long enough or maybe I just did not rest enough. However, I am so relieved to have the Praxis/Content Knowledge behind me. I still love this semester and the entire curriculum that we are covering. I am excited to look at the “Informal Reading Inventory” text, and to gain knowledge about measuring students’ performances against established criteria.

I also am excited about the practicum, and pleased to be in a first grade classroom.  This is where the main part of the reading and writing foundations begin. Observing the beginning processes of reading and writing will provide me with helpful information to build on, especially if I were to go into a second or third grade classroom.   I only wish it were in the beginning of the school year, when all of the groundwork is laid for beginning readers and writers rather than know where TCAP is the primary focus. Although, the TCAP prep is something that we will do ourselves someday, and so becoming familiar with the process will only be beneficial.  

Reflection 3

I feel loaded down by all of the upcoming assignments’ due dates. The burden of them is partly my fault because I tend to procrastinate and put assignments off until their due dates approach.  I will need to work diligently everyday in order to get all of my assignments done on time. Hopefully, Spring break will be here before I realize it. Then I can stress over the Praxis exam that I am taking on March 12. Anyways, with every late night and completed assignment and finished semester, I get closer to becoming a teacher. That is what keeps me driving on, when times get tough.

Unlike the beginning of the semester, I am now understanding and enjoying the ESL class. In the SIOP book, we are covering more relatable classroom topics that are similar to what I imagine a classroom to be like with ELL students, and it seems to be easier for discussion. However, I am very nervous about addressing the Multiple Intelligences Lesson Plan, and meeting all of its requirements, especially the accommodations for the English language learners. I am sure, as with all of the other completed lessons, I will complete the Multiple Intelligences Lesson Plan, while learning a lot of information that will be resourceful to me in the classroom, someday.  

 I also want to add, as before, I love the read alouds, and I look forward to hearing everyone’s selections next week.

Reflections on Reading and Writing 2

I love this semester, and I love how much understanding I am getting out of it. As each week passes, my confidence level in my abilities to teach reading and writing rises. Most of this semester’ discussions/topics are personally relatable for me because I have three children whom I currently and in the past have helped become readers, and I also have helped my oldest child with writing. I probably will not become 100% confident in my abilities to teach my own students to read and write, until I have a couple of successful teaching years under my belt. So far, this is my favorite semester. This is bizarre considering that reading and writing are my weakest and lest liked subjects. Perhaps I like the fact that I am learning about how to overcome some of my weaknesses.  

Reflection 1

My biggest fear is the challenges of teaching reading and writing to a delayed or struggling student. I also worry about teaching reading because it was never my best or easiest subject, in grade school. I use to have problems with staying focused on what I was reading and with the reading comprehension process. I was such a pore reader that my thoughts focused on sounding out each word instead of the overall story.  I would read word for word, not sentences or pages. I do not remember having a teacher that helped me to overcome my low reading skills. However, I let the embarrassment of my reading abilities drive me to do better. I pushed myself until I became a better reader.   Now I am a good reader and enjot it, but I still consider myself a slow reader.  It breaks my heart, when I hear a reader struggling in such a way that I once did. Those are the students I can relate with, and most desire to teach. I only hope to have the abilities to help them overcome reading challenges.

I am good at writing, but the process takes me longer than the average person. Instead of waiting until I reach the revision process, I try to prefect my writing while I am still in the writing process. I think this is why the writing process is so time consuming for myself. I completely understand the writing processes, and I do not have much doubt in my abilities to teach the subject. I love creative, descriptive and persuasive writing. Using correct grammar is a fault I have. I tend to write like I talk, and this creates errors in my writing.  

Chapter 11, Closing, and the Appendix of Ron Clark’s “The Excellent 11”

Clark is right, raising children is the greatest job a parent will ever have. Like parenthood, I do not expect teaching to be a walk down easy street. I know that teaching profession is full of constant challenges, but I like challenges, they drive me. Clark mentions the enthusiasm that new teacher have and how their eagerness soon burns out.   I already have this enthusiasm and I am not a teacher yet. As a teacher, I hope to be enthusiastic about teaching, always.  I am sure teaching will be like everything else in life, you just have to look on the bright side of things and forget about the rest. After all, the children are the most important thing, and that is something no teacher should never forget.

I am so glad Clark included so many useful things in the Appendix section of this book. I really love the lyrics to “The Presidents Rap” and “The States Rap.”  I like how he incorporated some important facts about several of the presidents into the song. I also like his website recommendations.