Midterm... already?!

As I begin to reflect and write this entry, I cannot believe it is already reflection week, thus the midterm part of the semester. I looked over my first entry and it feels so long ago since I have written that.

I remember being so afraid and nervous of what the semester would have to offer. Now when I look back at the past few weeks, it went by so quickly! But, I have learned so much. My first rotation I was placed with a wonderful group of first graders. Specifically, I learned at that young age, it is so important to be stern and firm, but still loving with them. They are still craving that attention, however they need to reminded of their tasks as first graders. During class times, I often recorded notes, ideas, and advice my cooperating teacher had to offer me. She is so thoughtful and helped me realize how important a first grade teacher is. Being a first grade teacher is tough! There is so much pressure for the students to learn and for you as a teacher to teach them so much. I know that the students I have been with have learned from me simply because of the different assessments I have done with them. While teaching my lessons, I did my best to let the students' responses help guide the flow of the lesson. I learned that with first graders, you need to explain yourself very well and in parts. I think I may have given them too much at once to do, but I learned after some time that they're learning is best in parts. Also, simply working one on one with them, I practice scaffolding with them, allowing them to find the answer with the proper guidance. With the first graders, I think they sometimes expect answers and help to fall right into their laps, but I know I have helped them learn as young students because I did not give in and simply produce an answer. I sat with them and helped them to break down the question and helped guide them to the right answer.


It is a great grade to teach, but I think I may be a more effective teacher with older levels. I only say this because I don't think I want the pressure of teaching students how to write or the other very essential how to skills that is taught in first grade. For my second rotation, I will be with 5th grade. Wow, what a jump! Again, I have that nervous feeling. I am excited for the challenge, but I think I am lacking that confidence in working with older kids. Teaching younger kids, I feel the pressure of making sure they are all equipped with the vital basic skills of writing, reading, and math. Although the curriculum for higher level students does intimidate me a bit, I am looking forward to the challenge of working with the older students. I am interested in learning how classroom management is for them. For first graders, I felt I had to repeat myself over and over and it did get tiring. But I also learned so many fun and effective ways to help get their attention (different types of claps, rhymes, wiggle song). One of the biggest things I was worried about during this rotation was classroom management. It was hard for me at first to be tough with them, but I eventually got the hang of it. Instead of getting frustrated right away, I learned to model after my cooperating teacher and use the different claps and attention getters as well as incentives to help the students remain on task. I know that I learned this because once I started doing this with confidence, the students responded to me better. Also, when teaching one of my later lessons, I practiced better classroom management, the students were more engaged and on task. My cooperating teacher's comments on my observation forms were always positive and often said how I kept them engaged. My cooperating teacher always reassured me how developing classroom management is always a work in progress. I think in some of my lessons I could have gotten the students more involved instead of being afraid of handling their behavior if they got off task. But after this rotation, I definitely feel more confident in being firm with students. I learned that in holding back in correcting the students' behavior, the only thing that suffers is them. If the students are handled more properly and are reminded of what is expected of them, there can be more time for instruction, thus benefiting them as learners. I realized that you do not always have to be "the nice one" in order for students to listen and respect you. They will respect you if you do what is best for them. And doing what is best for them usually means having to get tough and being the not so nice one.

Thankfully, there has not been so many challenges within my cooperating teachers classroom. The students are so wonderful. They do drain you, simply because the day is non-stop. But I really loved it and am going to miss them. The challenges I mainly faced and still do is being able balance out everything. The work load added with the stress of everything often takes the energy right out of me. As I mentioned in my previous blog, a big vice of mine is time management and being punctual. This has been my big weakness so far in QUEST 2. I did not realize how much I would struggle with this. I think it has been very hard on my just getting used to the routine of everything. Although my tardiness has been many, it is a HUGE goal of mine for the rest of QUEST 2. I realized I need to take a more active and conscience effort in taking on my weaknesses. Half the battle is recognizing the problem, now I just need to push myself and take responsibility for what I need to do. At first, I let myself slip by. But I am learning quickly that in order to be an effective teacher, I need to give it my all. I learned that I won't be perfect and I will make mistakes. But I need to remember to be optimistic and to not let my weakness get the best of me, but rather acknowledge them and see how I can improve.
My goal is to no longer be tardy and to just take better care of myself (less late nights, more sleep, eating healthy) so that I can perform better as a teacher.

My personal goals are to take on my weaknesses head on instead of letting them defeat and get the best of me. Also, my personal goals are to get even more organized! I think my organization skills have gotten better, but I want to improve on them even more. So, another goal is to finish assignments a couple of days ahead of time instead of procrastination. Being in the school environment, I have also realized how much I love working with students one on one. I would eventually like to be a school counselor, but I put that in the back of my mind. The thought has come up more in my head and with talking with other teachers. So my other personal goal is to not go through the motions. I want to do something and know why I am doing it. If sometime does not feel right, I want to be okay and know I can explor my options. I know I want to teach, but something a couple of weeks ago was reminding me of being a counselor. I definitely want to make it a goal to take the time and look at the steps I need to take to help accomplish the goal of being a counselor. Another personal goal is to be more confident and put myself out there more. This goal applies to my PLC, my SBTE, and simply in class- whomever! I think I hold back sometimes when I teach because I am afraid if it is going to be effective or if is good enough. But, for the rest of QUEST 2, I hope to become more of my own as a teacher and to stop holding back!

Here's to the rest of QUEST 2! I'm taking ownership of what is to come!