Week 14

This week I worked with my student on writing. One of the really cool things we did as a team was allow the students to research on their own. The student were given a fact card for four animals, each day last week and this week we had them copy facts they felt answered the question about the animal's habitat, diet, adaptations, and fun facts. Then the students will were able to go onto San Diego Zoo and find their own research to add to make sure the student had more than one fact for each category. The end task was to transfer one animal to a self-written book. To begin, the students were able see the rubric we would be grading and work to get the grade they wanted to achieve. The students were independant and worked hard to get facts. Students at all levels, from my struggling students to the excelling students, were so successful. It made me really proud to see each of the student work hard for to accomplish the best book they could create. It was really helpful to have the students work toward a goal. The students were able to self edit and recheck their work with the rubric provided. We kept it simple, a 4 for 4 details, 3 for 3 details, etc. and points for full sentences, spacing, and capitals.

This week is one of the last full weeks that I have the students. It has really made me aware of the connections that I want to build with them. I can see the bond that I have with the students. I also see the example of a love of learning that I have modeled for the students as well. The impact that I have, whether the lesson was successful or not, is not the what the students cared about. The students noticed the attitude that I had toward learning and toward the other students. They encouraged each other as I have in class. I also noticed that if I lost patience or let things get me frazzled the students noticed. One day after a long personal night, I came in feeling drained and unmotivated. Within minutes, one of my quieter student came up to me, and asked me why I was sad. I had to check my approach for the day, and tell her I wasn't said I just need a warm up, we did a stretch as a class, and I told that they brightened my day and now I was ready to get going with reading. It is important to leave my personal things at the door, so that the students are not affected negatively.

This week I want to focus on making meaningful connection with the students as I start to transition my CT back in charge. As emotional as I will be during this time, the students do not want to lose me either. I want to make sure that every student feels like the CT is their champion as I am. I also want them to know they will be successful in their future. I want to make sure that I transition smoothly out of the classroom, even though I don't want to go.

In chapter seven, Schmitt talks about eight reasons why community-based learning is essential. Number two says community based projects are academically and socially rigorous. One of the things I really liked that we did; was a community based research project on the Schaumburg Library. The students are able to engage in the online library and this really encouraged to students to go to library outside of school time. After doing researching the library and writing about it, The students made a brochure for the library with all information they learned.Weeks after the brochure was finished students were still talking about the Schaumburg Library and all of its activities. It was very cool to see second graders so engaged in their community.

Week 11

This week was a good week. We had a lot of Halloween activities planned. Despite all the fun the students were still really focused. It was really fun to hear the students talk about how they have fun all day and didn't do any learning. While we are doing the same lesson just tailored to a fun way. This was encouraging that if I can have more lessons that are "not learning" but just fun. I graded my first set of papers this week. It was good to see how other teacher grade. One of the things that I wanted to make sure I do in my own classroom is having the students come up with a rubric on their own. One challenged that I face is grading for parents. There was a student that did not fit the criteria for meeting grade level expectations. He is a student that scored the highest reading and writing scores in our class. He gives about 75% effort throughout the day. When he flunks a test because he did not try, he is allowed to retake the test. For our writing assignment this week. I would have given any other student a 2 (below grade level) for the work he submitted. However, my teacher said that he worked independently so he earned a 3. If I gave my students, who were supported, a 3 for meeting all the correct aspects, I should give him a 3 as well. She mentioned that the parents would be upset.  This is something that I did not anticipate. I have always thought of keeping myself unbiased by grading. However I do have to reflect on how I will use this input going forward.

In Chapter 11, Schmidt talks about the importance of communication. I agree that the frequent and positive interaction is key. I would like to send home weekly how I did this weeks home for the students and give credit for when they return them on Monday. I also think it is important to understand the cultural background of the families. While I was observing our parent teacher conferences, I witnessed multiple things I took away. First, it needs to be communication, not a monologue. Listening and taking the parents part of the conversation, and having the student be a big part of the conversation. I also want to make sure that if I have a translator working with the translator to make sure that all the information is being received. I want to make sure that I make it a warm and welcoming to input.

Lastly, science was great this week. The students were engaged in our experiments and they are really engaged and their assessments show that the students are learning and growing. It is important for me because of the lack of engage on the team side for science. This engagement is really encouraging for me and the class and my CT is really impressed as well.