Placement Day One (October 31)

Pintrest Activity / Projects

Today in class we read for SSR, then when the bell rang we wrote pot notes. After that, we worked on our Pintrest activity by repinning 3 things we thought that we could do with our class. For example, I chose two games and a quote that I thought would be entertaining and interesting for the class. Next, we worked on our timeline projects and had some awesome cookies and cupcakes for ours last day before we went off in to our placements 

Observation Day!!

Today we went to our placements to observe because Mrs. Sutusky is still attending a conference. I enjoyed getting to work with Mr. Leininger. His sense of energy and enthusiasm are amazing. He is an amazing teacher and I am looking forward to getting to work with him for the next six weeks. I know I am going to have an amazing time and hopefully make an impact on some students.

Observations Day Three

Observations Day Two

Observations Day One

Our Visit to Camden Elementary!

Today we made a visit to Camden Elementary to spend some time in their special education classes. When we first arrived we were spilt into groups and sent into the mild and moderate classes. These classes had students with Autism and Down Syndrome in them. These students were so sweet and mostly happy all the time. To me it was really eye opening to see how happy these student were who were suffering and realize how grumpy people who have nothing going on can be. There was this one little girl who kept taking peoples hands a placing them where she wanted them to be. We also watched a little kid be fed through a feeding tube. After we spent some time with them we then visited the severe class where the students suffered from things like TBI's and serious medical impairments. Watching and helping these students was very heart breaking but yet humbling at the same time. I worked with a girl that liked to ring her hands and some other fourth graders came in and helped me paper Mache with her. the other students did the same thing but with their own child they worked with. The teacher then told us all about her class and what they do to try and help them. She told us all the needs that they have to assist them with and provide for them. After she explained that the day was over and we all left and came back to school. Today was so amazing and I absolutely LOVED working with these kids and I hope I get to go back and visit them and maybe one day even work in that field.  

Final day of Mini Lessons

After SSR and Pot Notes, the remainder of students who needed to teach their mini lesson presented to the class. Hailey taught how to wrap an ankle, Jacob taught how to throw a football, Christian taught how to hit and serve a tennis ball, Courtney taught us how to do a cartwheel and round-off, William taught us how to shoot a basketball, and finally Summer taught us how to improv. It was great to learn from the other students in our class.

No School

We didn't have school today! Wah hoooo

Reading Day at NCMS

Today all of the Teacher Cadets met at the middle school. It was the middle schools reading day, and the reason we went to it was to talk about the importance of reading and to read to the students. It was a lot of fun. I went to a class who had read the book called "The Underdog." Listening to them explain it, they said it was about a football team who were the underdog's but raised up to become better. They began to do activities that went along with their book. I went and visited other groups to see all of their books and activities. Also, before my group went to do activates I was able to go and talk to them and read them a book. I talked to them about the importance of reading and I really hope I made an impact.

Mini Lesson Day!

Today we began class with SSR and pot notes. We then began teaching our mini lessons. The lessons we taught to the class was by our choice. I taught the class how to draw Mickey Mouse. Some of the other lessons were about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, French braiding hair, making cupcakes,  serving a volleyball, and tying shoes. Everybody did not get to go today because we ran out of time.

Mini Lesson

Today in teacher cadet we began by reading silently for ten minutes with the book of our choice. Then we did pot notes which is when we write each other compliments to start off our day. For the rest of the class we worked on our student centered lesson plans. The lesson plans and mini project is due tomorrow so when we finished we worked on the mini project. Everybody ended up finishing their lesson plans for the most part.

Lesson Plans

After the normal SSR and Pot Notes, Mrs. Sutusky introduced lesson plans. She started off the lesson by asking us the importance of lesson plans. Some people agreed that lesson plans were important when some agreed that they were pointless and a waste of paper. Sutusky informed us that she thinks lesson plans are extremely important because it gives her the opportunity to reflect on what worked and what didn't work. Mrs. Sutusky modeled her personal lesson plans alogn with modeling our lesson plan format. I didn't realize how much went into actually planning a lesson. A teacher has to have an objective, the standards they are addressing, assessment....everything on a lesson plan! Our assignment for this lesson is to - well create our own lesson plan. Not just one, but two lesson plans. We get to create/present one lesson plan on whatever we want. Mrs. Sutusky said presenting something we know well will help get rid of the jitters before we head into our placement. Our second lesson plans has to be created around our placement. I am going to teach the class how to hit and serve a tennis ball for my personal lesson plan, and I will be creating a third grade lesson plan for my placement centered plan.

Happy Homecoming

Happy Homecoming! I am so proud that every female student in my Teacher Cadet class is on the 2013 Homecoming Court. Courtney Payne, a senior and cadet, was crowned as homecoming queen. This is the second year a cadet has been crowned homecoming queen. So proud of y'all!

Projects

Today in Teacher Cadet we finished up our schools. Madison, Jacob, and I named our school Palmetto Elementary. After finishing up our schools, everyone finished up their Classroom Procedures.

Classroom Management/Procedures Plan

Today in Teacher Cadet, we began class with 10 minutes of silent reading. We then did our usual pot notes. After that we started working on our classroom procedure and management projects. Then Mrs. Sutusky gave us the option to work on our elementary school project.

Classroom Procedures

Today after silent sustained reading, we immediately went to pot notes. Afterwards, we were assigned partners. After a brief discussion about classroom management and procedures, we started on our worksheets. We had to answer questions about classroom management, along with procedures.  After answering the questions with our partners, we had a group discussion about our answers. Following this we were given a folder, with a student who has issues in the classroom. The goal was to come up with the best way to accommodate this student. Whether it be disciplining or finding a way to help them. We were then assigned a mini project, consisting of making our own procedures, and class room management examples. We worked on this assignment until the end of class. 

Summative vs Formative

When we got to class we read for SSR, then wrote our daily pot notes. Today in class we learned about the two different types of assessments: summative and  formative. The summative assessment is used to gather feedback from the students and to somewhat review. While formative assessments are used to see what the students have picked up about a subject. We then had to make up test that was considered a summative assessment.  At the end of class, we had a little bit of extra time to work on our projects.

Teaching Methods

Today in Teacher Cadet, we began Theme III. I didn't know what that was, but you know Mrs. Sutusky gave us all the details. She told us that Theme III is all about different kinds of instructional methods, lesson plans, and mini lessons. We started our class by the usual SSR and Pot Notes. I am going to miss Pot Notes during my placement. We did an activity called "Silent Graffiti." We had several different instructional methods listed on a long piece of poster paper, and we had to identify the advantages and disadvantages of both. Some of the items on the list were: textbooks, technology, worksheets, and many others. We discussed what we thought about each method as a class, and Mrs. Sutusky told us how she uses these methods in her classroom. After that, we learned about Bloom's Taxonomy. We discussed each level and the verbs you can use for them. Mrs. Sutusky told us the best way to remember the different levels were to break them up into HOTS (higher order thinking skills) and LOTS (lower order thinking skills). Once we discussed each level, we made two questions and one objective for each level. I didn't know so much went into assessing students knowledge. I thought teachers just made up questions to ask students.

Project Day

Today, we started off class with pot notes. Everyone seems to always enjoy pot notes. Then we had class time to work on our projects. We are working with a group to create our own elementary schools. We have to create floor plans, schedules, mascots, recruitment letters, and anything else that is associated with founding a school. Every group's project seems to be coming along nicely as they should be since they are due next Friday.

Teacher Qualities

Today in Teacher Cadet, we first wrote Pot Notes and then we got to finish our discussions from yesterday. We debated on topics like secret drug agents in schools and academic requirements for sports. After we completed our discussion, we remained in our groups and wrote down three good qualities and three bad qualities of teachers we have had (without mentioning names). That activity was very enjoyable and informative. It was great to hear what all of the Cadets thought of teaching habits they have experienced. We then had to write down the good and bad qualities we wish to possess as we go into our placements. He last thing we did in class today was play a game of Four Corners. Mrs. Sutusky would read a statement and the students would walk to the "Agree" corner or the "Disagree" corner. Some of the statements included, "Tattoos and piercings distract from learning," and, "Male teachers should be required to wear a tie to work." Today was a very productive day.

History of Education

After an every morning activity of SSR followed by pot notes, which is one of our favorite, class begun. To start with, we went over our important due dates of this month. Mrs. Sutusky made each student a check list of important due dates because we have several important assignments during the month of October. After discussing the due dates, we got into groups and decided on who we thought was in charge of what decisions in academics and schools. We had to answer several questions like: who decides on a snow day, who is in charge of picking the academic books, and even coaching decisions. I didn't realize how much decision making was involved in education. Then, we had a PowerPoint discussing the History of Education. We discussed everything from Brown vs. Board to homeschooling. After discussing the history of education, the rest of class time went toward debating current topics on education.