Week Seventeen: Carl Sandburg

      

    At my student teaching placement I just finished my last week of teaching. It was a bittersweet feeling and I enjoyed making the plans for my teacher to finish the school year. I wrote plans so that she is able to use the lessons and units I created until it goes into finals for our students. This week was focused on finishing certain units and making sure that my students did not have any late work for me. I feel like I had one of the best experiences as a student teacher because of my cooperating teacher. Not only did she allow me to have full control of the classroom but she was still there when I needed support from her. I noticed that in the beginning, before I would carry forward with a lesson/unit, handling a behavior, or dealing with staff I would ask for her advice before I would implement it. I noticed that by the end of my experience that I would implement it myself and then ask her later on how she would handle the situation or what she would have done. It made me feel competent that I could handle myself as a professional and growing into the teacher that I am aiming to be. I was able to be a part of three IEP meeting this week. My teacher allowed me to make one of my students IEP's and then looked over it the day before the meeting. We used the program "Easy IEP," and it helped me not only to see the process but the interaction between, staff, parents and with the student. Out of the three meetings only one parent showed up, which happened to be the one that I was leading. Before the meeting I was very nervous, but once it was started I found it to go very smoothly. The other meetings had to be done over speaker phone and I was able to see the difference in communication from being face to face to over the speaker. I felt like the parents felt confused at some parts and also took ideas differently than they would in person. What I liked about these IEP meetings is that the student was in the room to be a part of the process and have their say in the matter.

 In Schmidt’s chapter 12 it enlightened me on how to be a lifelong learner. As teacher it is important for me to always be learning. This can mean from a class but also from my students. I hope one day to get my masters in Curriculum planning and reading. It is also important for me to attend professional developments through my school. During my Novice teaching, we were required to attend two professional developments. I found this very helpful and it gave me new insight on topics that I would never have thought of on my own.  

Week Sixteen

Wow, I can’t believe how far I have come already in student teaching. This week was very different from any other week so far at Carl Sandburg. I taught a full day on Monday and I was able to start a new unit on Life cycles for my science classes. My teacher brought us in fertilized eggs to take care of. I have never seen our students so excited. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the school had Plan test and the ACT testing. Since our students take the IAA, our students did not have to come to school on Wednesday. On Tuesday we met in the “Little Theater” and put on a movie for the students. While they were watching the movie, I would pull them out to test them on what they wanted to do with their futures. It was a test on what interests them. Also during this time, I was able to complete an IEP on my own, on the program Easy IEP. My teacher then looked over it and I will be presenting it on May 4^th.

On Wednesday, all the special education teachers met at Andrew high school to discuss the curriculum for the next school year. I was able to see this process for Science, between my cooperating teacher, a teacher from Stagg and the last from Andrew. This group completes the district for the special education teachers that teach a science class. They pulled up a layout and made sure that all of their objectives lined up with the state standards. I was able to be their scribe on the computer and to take part in this process.

On Thursday we took a Field Trip to the “Children’s Farm,” in Orland Park. We took this field trip to see the plant and animal life cycle in process. When we got there, we were given a hay ride and then we warmed up by the camp fire and ate s'mores. After that we were taken around the farm to look at plants in the farm’s gardens and to see the animals. The students were able to go into the barn and touch and feed a variety of animals. They were able to see chicks, ducklings and baby rabbits. It was great being in the outdoors with my students and to interact with them, other than in the classroom.

Next week is my last week of full time teaching. On Wednesday, I will be going into Elim to observe a classroom and to see if I want to take the offer of teaching there. It will only be part time but I think it will be a great step to my future as a special educator.

Week Fifteen: Carl Sandburg

I just completed my fifteenth week in my student teaching clinical. At the moment I am having the bitter-sweet feeling of almost completely my four years at Trinity Christian College. One thing that really hit me this week is that I could be teaching on my own in a matter of months. My teacher gave me many different responsibilities this week and there were some days I felt like it was too much to handle. What always calms me down is that I was put into a placement that was already half way done with its school year so certain things are out of my control and I wasn’t able to be there for the beginning of the experiences.

My teacher is allowing me to write an IEP on one of my students and to be the speaker for the meeting on May 4, 2012. I am excited my teacher trusts me with something this important and that I will be able to get more experience with not only IEP’s themselves but also the program, “Easy IEP.” One thing that I am concerned with is finding the time to complete all that needs to be done. As much as I want the experience with the IEP and that one day it will be a big part of my career, I know that when I am teaching that I will have more time just to focus on my IEP’s. At this point in my college career I am winding down to the last assignments in my classes and finding it to be a challenge in order to complete it all. I just wished I could have worked on the IEP earlier so that I could focus on rather large projects on top of my planning for student teaching. I am feeling very overwhelmed at the moment but if I can make it through these last two weeks I believe I can handle any type of work or deadline as a professional.

This week, I was able to create my own assessments for many of my classes. In my instructional science I was able to take what we learned from our textbook (on level for high school) and adapt it for my students in order for them to succeed. I also found ways in order to help my students study. Instead of just living my students a study guide for them to study off of, I created a matching worksheet with all the key terms that they are expected to know on the test. Once they completed this independently (were able to use their books or notes) I explained to them that they would be able to use it on the test. I was able to see how my students learned and how they reacted to my test. It was great creating this type of assessment because I was given direct feedback from my students as well as their grades and scores.

Also this week we were given the opportunity to go to Sandburg’s art show. This was such a great experience because three of my students had art work in the show. Carl Sandburg is a very large school so it was a very special honor for a student’s work to be chosen in the show and then sent into different shows in Illinois to be graded. It was wonderful to see my student’s art and figure out what their thought process might have been or what motivated them. I was very proud of them and took all my students to go see the show to help support their peer. I loved the fact that both general and special education were in the show together and that both are capable of creating something so beautiful.

Schmidt Chapter Seven: Community in the Classroom

I love the idea that Schmidt relays on “Community in the Classroom.”  While reading chapter seven it explains ways to have community based learning in our classrooms. The author gives us eight ways in which community based learning has to offer our students. They are: Community-based projects put kids in the drivers seat, Community-based projects are academically and socially rigorous, Community-based learning requires different ways of knowing, Community-based learning is active, Teaching and learning are shared, Life and learning are fused, Student work has meaning in the world beyond, and Projects take on a life of their own. By having my students partake in community based learning they can take what they are learning in the classroom and infuse it into their everyday life. By having my students be part of the community it will create meaning in their learning that what they are doing is not only for the classroom but for what are outside the walls as well. This type of project also allows for students to be independent. “Our students will be co-teaching the curriculum as it evolves. With a bit of guidance, students organize themselves to work groups with a clear purpose, creating a pool of talent and drive.” (Schmidt, 142).

Being in Special Education, there are many opportunities for me to use Community-based learning. I am currently student teaching at Carl Sandburg high school in a multi-needs classroom. During my third hour I am teaching a class called “Daily Living Skills.” In this class we take the time to help our students to become citizens in the community and how we should act socially appropriate. Every Monday, the students and I decide on a recipe that we would like to make as a class. We also have a unit that we work on every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The unit we are currently working on is “How to run a household.” My students are learning how to cook, clean, handle money and to learn to live independently. Every Tuesday we create a grocery list and walk over to Jewel to pick up our supplies. Each student (with guidance if needed) will go off independently in source for their specific items. They have learned to look at the aisle signs or who to ask when they are having trouble find a certain food or supply.

Also during my sixth hour, I am teaching a vocational class. In this class we learn how to be good employees. They will do work around the classroom and school in order to work for “Sandburg dollars” that they can use to buy things from me (candy, chips, homework pass, movie day, ECT). After they finish working they then have to fill out a time sheet and have me sign it. This type of class prepares my students for when they have to hold a job outside school. Many of our students are then chosen to work through Sandburg at places around Sandburg like a bakery down the street or even at Palos Hospital. This type of learning helps my students to use what they are learning in school to their real life. Without this class many of our students would struggle in how to handle a job in the correct way.

Week Fourteen: Carl Sandburg

There are always many things that happen while student teaching. During this week, I video tapped myself teaching. There are many things I realized about my students, classroom and about my teaching by looking back at these videos. The room that I teach in is almost like the “head quarters” for the special education department. Both teachers and assistance will come in our room during the breaks and lunches.

Because of this there are so many distractions in our room that I sometimes over looked. In my first hour class there were seven aides in the back of the classroom talking and doing things on the computer. I also have trouble with one student on keeping his attention and now I can truly see why. With so much talking and movement its no wonder my students have a hard time paying attention to what I am teaching. I noticed the same thing during my third hour class. We were doing a cooking lesson and I had other aides walking through the video and doing things in the kitchen. This experience has showed me how to be flexible and how to lead my class even though there are things around me that I can’t control (It is not my place as a student teacher to change the situation of my classroom). What I learned is to more my class to a set part of the room while I am teaching or to do things that others will take notice on how the students need it quieter for them to learn. I have been teaching many things with Active Inspire that calls for the nights to be off or for students to be reading or interacting with the white board. By doing more interactive lessons, it proves to keep the learning in focus.

Week Thirteen: Carl Sandburg

There are many things that happened this week during my student teaching at Carl Sandburg High School. For the past year I have kept all my documents and lessons on my HP flash drive. On Monday, I left my flash drive in the computer and it was broken by one of my students. I lost everything I have done in my senior year including the week’s lessons, assessments, flipcharts and power points.

There were some positives from this experience. I learned how to literally think on my feet in putting together my week with my students. I am so happy that I had planned ahead to know what I expected and what I wanted to teach to my students. 

This also happened to be the week that I was being observed. Since I felt like I was constantly going, I completely forgot that she was coming in so she was able to see me off guard which ended up being a great thing. Professor Powell was able to see how I will be a teacher on a daily basis because there are going to be days where I don’t have much time to put into planning.

This week I was able to do record many videos of myself teaching. I think this is the best learning experience for me. It makes a huge difference when I watch myself to see both my positives and negatives. I noticed that in one lesson that I felt like I didn’t talk at my students level and that I had to raise or lower that in some areas. As for a positive I was happy to see how comfortable I look teaching my classes.  In Standard 10 it states that “The competent teacher is a reflective practitioner who continually evaluates how choices and actions affect students, parents, and other professionals in the learning community and actively seeks opportunities to grow professionally.” I have shown this my reflections on my lessons and how I would change or keep parts of it the same. I know that by watching the videos and even just reflecting on previous lessons that it will help me to grow professionally and be the teacher my student’s deserve.

This placement has shown me how I truly want to be a special education teacher. I have heard from other majors on how they are unsure of if this is what they can do for the rest of their life but I think I could be happy waking up everyday working with students like I have at Sandburg. I cannot wait to graduate and be a full time teacher with incredible staff, aides and students.

Week Twelve: Social Justice

“A general definition is Social justice is the view that everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights and opportunities.” This is so important to be aware of in the classroom. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly no matter what their ability or disability might be. As a teacher I am the leader who implements who the classroom will run and the flow of things. I need to be a role model for my class and show them how to treat each other. There are going to be days that are going to be harder than others but I need to make sure that each day I come with an open mind and a clean slate for each student.

Being in my student teaching placement, observing and doing novice teaching has really shown my how diverse my students might be in my future classroom. I need to recognize and understand my student’s backgrounds to better under my student’s as a person. In Standard two it states that the “The competent teacher understands how individuals grow, develop, and learn and provides learning opportunities that support the intellectual, social, and personal development of all students.” As their teacher I will be my student’s mentor and support system to help them to grow, develop, and to provide learning opportunities that every child can learn from.