Describing Words

SALAMANDERS, SALAMANDERS, SALAMANDERS

It won't hurt my feelings if I don't ever see another salamander again.  We have been studying salamanders for our theme unit for a month.  The picture above is a salamander drawing covered with describing words.  We also learned action words, parts of a story, and observation skills during this unit.  The students especially liked having a real lizard in the room to observe.  I believe it helped fuel their interest and kept them engaged during the lessons.  We are changing the theme this week, and not a day too early.  I returned the pet salamander to its rightful owner today.

Salamander Unit

Day 1 Observation

We have been studying the habitat and life of the salamander.  I had a friend that has a gecko so we borrowed the gecko so the students could observe a lizard.  The gecko is a huge hit.  The students enjoy watching him and it helps to keep the students engaged in the lesson.  They have learned how to take scientific notes through observation.  They learned that you must be factual, detailed, and specific.  They have watched him stalk and eat crickets, sleep, climb, and eat the skin he sheds.  We have used this theme to teach the students about adjectives and verbs.  This theme has also taught them how to use a concept map and make number notes.  Next week we will begin the science portion on the life cycle of the salamander.

The Seasons

Is that you Mrs. Heather?

SUMMARY

Today was a fun day.  For bible class we ate manna that was spoiled (cotton candy with sour gummi worms).  The students loved it.  We practiced describing words with mini plastic flutes.  Every time they heard me say a describing word they played their flutes, if someone played it when I didn't use a describing word it was taken away.  The best part was when the students returned from library and saw me sitting in the front of the room in winter gear.  The first student to enter the classroom got scared and almost left.  I must admit, I had the scarf over most of my face and only my eyes were showing.  I didn't say a word when he said "Mrs. Heather?".  That was the moment he started backing up.  When the rest of the students arrived they thought it was very funny that I was dressed for winter.  

It was for a science lesson on the seasons.  I had on more jackets under this coat also.  As I took off a layer, they told me which season I was dressed for.  When we finished, the students completed a which they had to draw the clothing they are supposed to wear during the four different seasons.

Fun Day

SUMMARY
This week went by extremely fast.  Lots of things happened but I can't remember most of it.  The students and I made wind anonometers and they loved it.  We let them go outside to test them out and believe it or not, they worked!  Most of them anyway.  I continue to try to stretch the students learning a bit too far.  Next week I am going to dial it back a bit and create some lessons and activities they they will have no problem completing.  Mr. Pacer said the most important thing to keep in mind when teaching first grade is to teach them to read well, know their addition and subtraction well, and foster a love of school.  He said students learn best when they are playing games so I am going to try to incorporate some games in my lesson plan next week.

The first part of Student Teaching is complete!

SUMMARY
The first part of the Student Teaching experience is officially complete!  I must say that being accountable for writing papers and also writing lesson plans is not easy.  I have managed to make an A in every course I have taken over the last two years but this last A was the hardest to attain.  Even thought I have kept a 4.0 average, I have been extremely anxious about the B passing score for student teaching.  That doesn't allow much room for unforeseen mistakes.

I am nervous about the final course starting next week but I do feel a little more comfortable in the classroom.  I am getting better at watching the clock and knowing what is expected of me in Mr. Pacer's classroom.  Mr. Pacer will inform me if I am not doing the right thing when I teach and he keeps us on track for what is expected in the student teaching program so nothing is missed.  The difficult thing is writing the lesson plans.  It takes my entire Sunday to write lesson plans for a week.

INSIGHT
I have learned many things at this point in my student teaching experience.  I have learned that what the text says doesn't always work.  I have learned that students do not stop talking and causing distractions just because you ask (and sometimes tell) them to.  I have learned that students will surprise you in many ways, some good and some not so good.  My main concern is that I am unable to break through to three students that I believe have much potential.  They will avoid engaging in the lesson at all costs.

Mondays are the hardest.

Sorting student work

SUMMARY
Mondays are the hardest for me because I just spent all day Sunday writing lesson plans and I have a paper due Monday night for University of Phoenix.  I also have gymnastics on Mondays and once a month I have a school board meeting and marketing meeting on Monday.  Arriving at the school at 5:00am helps but I can't get everything completed in those two hours, but I am more productive the two hours before school than the two hours I stay after school.

INSIGHT
I love creating fun and engaging lessons that engage the students.  Right now it is hard to spend alot of time crafting the perfect lesson, but I think that once I complete my UoP course work and state certification tests I will have more time to devote to planning lessons.  Sometimes I wonder if I could keep up this pace for a year.  It helps me to see that Mr. Pacer has created a schedule that allows him to cover everything the students must know, deliver it in a fun way, and still have time for a life.  I think it is just going to take time and experience for me to get there.

FIELD TRIP!

Riding the train at Bottom View Farm in Portland

SUMMARY
Today was our field trip to Bottom View Farm.  The students jumped on a huge bubble, mined for gold in a cave, pet farm animals, went on a hayride, picked pumpkins, got lost in a hay bale maze, played on the playground, ate ice cream and so much more.  They had a blast.  Grades prek-2nd went on the field trip with two teachers (myself and the prek/k teacher) and alot of parents.  I was responsible for 22 students.  It's hard to enjoy the field trip when you have to make sure you know where every student is at any time.

I'm sure the kids thought I was a downer, but every opportunity I got I asked the students about their social studies and science vocabulary words when I saw a good real-life illustration - and there were plenty.  Their vocabulary words included, producer, consumer, crop, natural resource, map, etc.  I asked the students to point out these things as we were on the hay ride and riding the train.

The trip went very well.  Everyone had fun but it was exhausting.  By the time I got home I had a headache so bad I couldn't open my eyes.  I was soaked with sweat (not all my own) and dirt.  After I took a shower I went straight to bed.

INSIGHT
Now I know why Mr. Pacer wasn't too distressed to have to stay behind to perform principal duties.