February 3rd, 2017
Weekly Rating: 3.5, just because I haven't felt that great this week (health wise). Without health issues, I would give it a 4!
I wrote out a long, very detailed blog. I pressed "publish" and then it said error... so my hard work was in vain.
Therefore, to cut back on frustration, I am going to write an abbreviated blog giving the highlights of what I learned this week! I really, really wish my first draft hadn't vanished. It was a really good blog and now I am turning this work in that I am not pleased with. I just know I don't have the patience to rewrite it again.
I wrote out a long, very detailed blog. I pressed "publish" and then it said error... so my hard work was in vain.
Therefore, to cut back on frustration, I am going to write an abbreviated blog giving the highlights of what I learned this week! I really, really wish my first draft hadn't vanished. It was a really good blog and now I am turning this work in that I am not pleased with. I just know I don't have the patience to rewrite it again.
I would like to say that my stomach issues haven't affected my teaching, but I have been nauseated and anxious about what is going on. I don't think it has changed the way I have taught, I just know I have been preoccupied with being uncomfortable for most of the day.
Victories:
I taught a full week of classes!! It was great. I am happy with teaching and think I am doing well. It is a little difficult to adopt someone else's class for a few weeks and teach the way you want to. If it were my class, we would do more exploring of musical concepts, talking about pitches and solfa and things like that. But I am being flexible and adapting to what I've been given! My kids are amazing. I love them. I have begun to develop personal relationships with them, talking and asking about their days etc.
Third grade has always been a challenge for the "specials" teachers. I've talked about their challenging schedule before. However, this week we reviewed the C major scale and I decided to use Solfas and Hand signs! Well...
IT WAS AMAZING! The kids were engaged, they seemed so interested in using their hand signs and singing the C Major scale! I had hardly any issues with discipline in 3rd grade this week! I learned a very valuable lesson about keeping students interested and engaged! IT WORKS! Wahoo! I even had them play open 5ths in a simple rhythm pattern on xylophones while we sang a song from Japan (we sang the English lyrics, of course). It is moments like that when I realize that I LOVE what I'm doing because my students are doing it and enjoying it.
I met with our EC specialist about some accommodations I may need to adapt in my lesson plans for my edTPA unit. It was a great experience just to see into the students' challenges and issues, and thinking of creative ways to adapt to them so that I know they are getting what they need to learn.
I've been thinking about ways to help my students who are ADHD or having a tough time paying attention. There have been a few times we pick up the students and their teacher will tell me that a certain student is "off their meds" and I know they will have a difficult time learning anything that day.
I have looked up a device called "fidget box," a box that has manipulatives on its sides that you can twist, roll, click on/off, and it helps students concentrate because they are moving and manipulating something, rather than spinning around or kicking their legs on the risers making a ton of noise.
I am lucky to have a supportive family back home and church family here in Fallston. I was invited to the home of Ron and Terry to have a homemade lunch today (Sunday). It was so nice and relaxing to be in someone's home and to have a nice lunch and great conversation. That was a great step for recovery and preparation for this coming week!
Challenges:
I had to give out my first negative DoJo, and I think it hurt my feelings to give it more than it did the student who was making bad choices. He was talking the entire class period, and even being a little back-talky with me. I gave him every warning and opportunity in the world, but it was nearing the end of the class period and he was talking and not "taking care" of his text book like we know we are suppose to, and I gave him a negative DoJo. That seemed to help because he paid more attention and tried not to talk the rest of the period. He wasn't sitting next to people who would aid him in making good choices, so I made a note on our role about separating them next class period.
I still am unsure about how to engage and keep interested my 4th/5th graders.
I think I'll reach out to their teachers and try and get some tactics this week.
I also am questioning how I am adapting to my EC/Special Needs students. I'll have to elaborate in person.
I "wrote" my lesson plans this week, kind of. We mostly wrote Mrs. Fogleman's into my format. I'm excited to write my own LPs next week.
Again, I'm sorry that this doesn't follow the complete blog outline. I am benefitting from giving this condensed version, though.
I’m sorry that your work got erased. I have been there as well. I hate when that happens. You do what you’ve gotta do to get through!
ReplyDeleteIsn’t it the worst when you’re not feeling well? It’s one of the reasons that I am really at a point with my own personal health (physical and mental) where I take the days off if I need them. I know I’m not giving students my best. It’s like, “get in there, do what you need to do, get out of there and get well.”
Victories:
It’s so great when your students seem to be enjoying learning what you’re teaching! A really wise person said to me once that learning and fun are not mutually exclusive. I have always adopted that idea, and hoped that students were having fun while learning, but it’s great to see it in action and KNOW they’re really loving it!
One of the best resources that we’ll ever have are our EC teachers and Special Educators. They’re amazing folks. Parents of course, are great resources, but having someone who also understands the classroom and the constraints within which you have to work at school AND the student, their strengths and limitations is such a great person to have contact with. I know it’s going to help you out so much! Make sure to add all that beautiful info to your context for learning form in edTPA for the class that you choose to work with.
YES. The fidget cube. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET ONE. Because you’ve met me. This is something I would absolutely love to have. I can focus, but I’m always twirling something, clicking something, etc. I probably would have driven so few people nuts had I had one of these in school!
So cool! There are folks at your church family who do nothing but brag on you whenever I see them. ☺ You’re making a big impact with your presence there, and you are loved and appreciated!
Challenges:
Isn’t it the worst to have to give a negative consequence? You just wish you could make the good choices for them! I always felt the same way when I had to give lunch detention. I didn’t give a single one my last two years, but I gave A LOT before then. ☹ I cried a lot during those times! You’re encouraging positive behavior in your class. There are just some days when kids won’t take the right path no matter how much you show it to them and light it up for them etc. I think what has helped me the most is letting students know that EVERY TIME they come into my classroom, it’s a new chance to do well. Knowing that their bad choices don’t KEEP following them over and over again, means a lot to little people (and big people!)
Reaching out to the teachers for 4th and 5th is a great idea. Finding out what lights their fires and gets them going. Maybe some of it is still an adjustment period. Maybe some of it is just second semester 5th graders (when they’re the oldest kids in the school, they can have their, um....moments.)
I’m glad I got to read it! I actually was logged in to read your blog THIS week, because I hadn’t realized you’d written this one. I thought that the internet ate it, and I wasn’t going to get to read that week. I think I was just reading quickly when I saw your e-mail about it though, so I’m sorry that this is such a late response!