Amy's Reading Corner
Writing Corner
Reading Workshop Bulletin Board--for Charts
Peace Corner (Missing the fountain--it was empty)
Friday, April 4, 2014
Books!
Rather than typing an email about my books for Reader's Workshop, I'll send you here instead:
http://perriensworkshop.blogspot.com/2013/08/read-alouds-first-few-days.html
It's a post I wrote about books I use for the first few days as well as novels I use in the fall.
I can also recommend, Donuthead (Sue Stauffacher), A Long Way from Chicago (Richard Peck), Love that Dog (Sharon Creech), and The Watsons Go to Birmingham (Christopher Paul Curtis). These are all excellent books to teach your workshop lessons.
This post has a list of books I've recommended for learning more about Reader's Workshop:
http://perriensworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-to-school-and-back-to-blogging.html
http://perriensworkshop.blogspot.com/2013/08/read-alouds-first-few-days.html
It's a post I wrote about books I use for the first few days as well as novels I use in the fall.
I can also recommend, Donuthead (Sue Stauffacher), A Long Way from Chicago (Richard Peck), Love that Dog (Sharon Creech), and The Watsons Go to Birmingham (Christopher Paul Curtis). These are all excellent books to teach your workshop lessons.
This post has a list of books I've recommended for learning more about Reader's Workshop:
http://perriensworkshop.blogspot.com/2012/08/back-to-school-and-back-to-blogging.html
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Maggie 3/23
As lead teaching comes to a close, I have been thinking ahead to next year. I have spent a lot of time (and will spend more, I'm sure) thinking about how I want to set up my classroom next year in order to be successful. I know that there isn't one "magic formula" for classroom management, but I know that there are definitely some techniques that work better than others.
I do know that I need to be fully prepared with what I want to do before going into my classroom on the first day of school. I am so excited to start visiting other schools and classrooms to see a wide variety of management systems, teaching styles, and ways of teaching content. I also hope to observe teachers/classrooms within Burton when I can, to see how things can differ within one school.
I too, am not looking forward to the end of our student teaching year, if just for the fact of leaving behind the students we have spent so much time and effort on this year. I have learned so much from them as students, but also as people. I have encountered difficult situations that have better prepared me to take on those situations on my own next year. It has been a long, difficult, but fulfilling year at Burton.
I do know that I need to be fully prepared with what I want to do before going into my classroom on the first day of school. I am so excited to start visiting other schools and classrooms to see a wide variety of management systems, teaching styles, and ways of teaching content. I also hope to observe teachers/classrooms within Burton when I can, to see how things can differ within one school.
I too, am not looking forward to the end of our student teaching year, if just for the fact of leaving behind the students we have spent so much time and effort on this year. I have learned so much from them as students, but also as people. I have encountered difficult situations that have better prepared me to take on those situations on my own next year. It has been a long, difficult, but fulfilling year at Burton.
Norah's 3/23 Reflection
This week had its ups and downs, but it ended on a good note. It feels so crazy that we are at the end of our lead teaching. I've learned so much during lead teaching that has changed me as a teacher and person. It has opened my mind to different ways of teaching, what works, what doesn't, and how I need to react to students to allow for the best situation. I've also learned that I can only do so much, to not always put the blame all on myself.
Overall classroom management has been going very well in my classroom. Until recently I've been having more frustrating moments. My students seem to be pushing their limits with me as their teacher. I've created great friendships with my students and they've let me into their families and experiences. I feel a great bond with many students in my class. Something happened this past week that impacted me more than the student will ever know. The student and I were having a conversation about his dad, that I had never met. I asked him numerous questions, and the student was very excited to share things about his dad. The next dad, his dad came to the school to meet me. His dad doesn't speak English, but I used as much Spanish as I know. This student's mom is very involved in the school, but the dad informed me that this was his first time coming to the school. He hasn't felt comfortable in the past. I told him that he is welcome to come in at any time and sit with his son in class. From this experience it reminded me why I became a teacher. I want to reach not only the students, but their families too.
Teaching a full science and social studies unit has been a very interesting experience. I planned great lesson with Maggie during our MSU classes and then when the unit began weeks later we felt unattached from those ideas. It was hard to switch back and forth between the two subjects. Towards the end of the unit I finally felt like I had gained understanding on how to maneuver between the two subjects. I also learned that not the teacher doesn't have to bring fireworks to every lesson, but if the teacher give ownership to the students they can be in charge of the fireworks!
I've made amazing friendships with my fellow interns and my students. I get very emotional thinking about leaving all of this in 5 weeks. The students at Burton have forever changed me and my outlook on life.
Overall classroom management has been going very well in my classroom. Until recently I've been having more frustrating moments. My students seem to be pushing their limits with me as their teacher. I've created great friendships with my students and they've let me into their families and experiences. I feel a great bond with many students in my class. Something happened this past week that impacted me more than the student will ever know. The student and I were having a conversation about his dad, that I had never met. I asked him numerous questions, and the student was very excited to share things about his dad. The next dad, his dad came to the school to meet me. His dad doesn't speak English, but I used as much Spanish as I know. This student's mom is very involved in the school, but the dad informed me that this was his first time coming to the school. He hasn't felt comfortable in the past. I told him that he is welcome to come in at any time and sit with his son in class. From this experience it reminded me why I became a teacher. I want to reach not only the students, but their families too.
Teaching a full science and social studies unit has been a very interesting experience. I planned great lesson with Maggie during our MSU classes and then when the unit began weeks later we felt unattached from those ideas. It was hard to switch back and forth between the two subjects. Towards the end of the unit I finally felt like I had gained understanding on how to maneuver between the two subjects. I also learned that not the teacher doesn't have to bring fireworks to every lesson, but if the teacher give ownership to the students they can be in charge of the fireworks!
I've made amazing friendships with my fellow interns and my students. I get very emotional thinking about leaving all of this in 5 weeks. The students at Burton have forever changed me and my outlook on life.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Sam Reflection 3/23
I can hardly believe that six weeks went so fast! I know looking back that I have grown a ton through this experience and feel a lot more confident in taking my own classroom next year. There were definitely big highs and big lows, but I think this lead teaching experience was essential in preparing me to be a prepared graduate.
This week was pretty successful overall. My Readers Workshop mini-unit and my Writer's Workshop unit came to an end; finality always feels good. The Reading Street test I don't think was an accurate assessment for how the Readers Workshop unit went; it didn't really have the kids applying the skills I taught them. I also think that a lot of changes throughout the year throws them off a little bit. I really want to come up with a plan about how I am going to do literacy instruction from the beginning of of the school year and set clear expectations, procedures, and lessons for that. It is crazy to be going from Reading Street to Daily 5 to Reader's Workshop. I also feel like all the curriculum took me farther away from the Common Core Standards than I would have liked to. In my creation of a curriculum map, I want to be looking at the standards, as well.
We had a Wax Museum for the final presentation for Writer's Workshop and my class got to share their Famous African American speeches with the other 5th grade class. It was so cool! I was so proud of my kids and they were proud of the work they had put into it, as well! It was a really great experience teaching two units of Writer's Workshop; I really have learned the value of an authentic audience and presentation!
I can hardly believe that we only have four more weeks; there is so much packed into those weeks! I am looking forward to observing other classrooms and finishing up grad school and the convocation video! Perseverance and endurance starts now!
This week was pretty successful overall. My Readers Workshop mini-unit and my Writer's Workshop unit came to an end; finality always feels good. The Reading Street test I don't think was an accurate assessment for how the Readers Workshop unit went; it didn't really have the kids applying the skills I taught them. I also think that a lot of changes throughout the year throws them off a little bit. I really want to come up with a plan about how I am going to do literacy instruction from the beginning of of the school year and set clear expectations, procedures, and lessons for that. It is crazy to be going from Reading Street to Daily 5 to Reader's Workshop. I also feel like all the curriculum took me farther away from the Common Core Standards than I would have liked to. In my creation of a curriculum map, I want to be looking at the standards, as well.
We had a Wax Museum for the final presentation for Writer's Workshop and my class got to share their Famous African American speeches with the other 5th grade class. It was so cool! I was so proud of my kids and they were proud of the work they had put into it, as well! It was a really great experience teaching two units of Writer's Workshop; I really have learned the value of an authentic audience and presentation!
I can hardly believe that we only have four more weeks; there is so much packed into those weeks! I am looking forward to observing other classrooms and finishing up grad school and the convocation video! Perseverance and endurance starts now!
Sunday, March 16, 2014
Norah's Reflection 3/16
This past week was probably the most stressful week yet as an intern. As the units come to an end I've been reflecting on my assessments throughout and the how my lessons played out over the weeks. A couple of my students have been giving me a hard time, and I broke up my first fight. It's been frustrating to see them act out for attention.
My social studies unit, has not gone as planned so I've felt guilty not giving my students lesson that engage and excite them. On friday my lesson went much better. For the lesson we started out in another review where I pulled sticks to have students participate. Overall students did a good job recalling information. We created a book in which each page is dedicated to a specific idea. Students were responsible to write the definition and an example for each word. Half way through the review I played an interactive video on supply and demand. To finish out the lesson I had coupons clippings, advertisements, and a receipt with a coupon to represent positive incentives. Students had a chance to share other incentives they've seen.
Science also went much better this week. Each student is creating a book in science with each page dedicated to the sun, moon, and or Earth. I went through the end of the unit test again, to reflect on the big ideas that the district wants students to know. It was good to see the type of wording students will see on the unit test. I started the lesson out with a student led discussion on what they've already learned about the moon. I wrote down what students said and everyone followed by writing it on their own book. I made sure that all the big ideas were written down. Next we reviewed the phases of the moon, drew it on the book and then students participated in small groups with a phases activity. In groups of four students created the phases with Oreos. They were very excited and engaged in the lesson. It was great to have a successful lesson.
I'm feel in frustrated with the
My social studies unit, has not gone as planned so I've felt guilty not giving my students lesson that engage and excite them. On friday my lesson went much better. For the lesson we started out in another review where I pulled sticks to have students participate. Overall students did a good job recalling information. We created a book in which each page is dedicated to a specific idea. Students were responsible to write the definition and an example for each word. Half way through the review I played an interactive video on supply and demand. To finish out the lesson I had coupons clippings, advertisements, and a receipt with a coupon to represent positive incentives. Students had a chance to share other incentives they've seen.
Science also went much better this week. Each student is creating a book in science with each page dedicated to the sun, moon, and or Earth. I went through the end of the unit test again, to reflect on the big ideas that the district wants students to know. It was good to see the type of wording students will see on the unit test. I started the lesson out with a student led discussion on what they've already learned about the moon. I wrote down what students said and everyone followed by writing it on their own book. I made sure that all the big ideas were written down. Next we reviewed the phases of the moon, drew it on the book and then students participated in small groups with a phases activity. In groups of four students created the phases with Oreos. They were very excited and engaged in the lesson. It was great to have a successful lesson.
I'm feel in frustrated with the
Maggie 3/16
WOW! Only one week of lead teaching left. It is really hard to believe how this year has gone by. I am seeing my units start to wind down as we approach unit tests and spring break.
As I have been running daily 5 by myself for the last few weeks, I have found more and more what I like and don't like about that system. I don't know if it is because we aren't really doing Daily 5, or something else, but I am starting to lean more towards using a different reading program next year in my own classroom. I find that often, the students are not fully engaged in the centers, (because it is centers, not really daily 5) and I have a lot of classroom management issues because of that. It is confusing for the students that it should be "very quiet to silent" in the room, when they are supposed to be working with a partner or a small group. When it isn't quiet though, students who are trying to read or listen can't do that without being interrupted.
I have found comfort and success in Writer's Workshop, and I would really like to try out reader's workshop next year, in place of Daily 5. Like Sam, I know I will be doing a lot of reading and researching this summer about different ways to teach reading and writing (and other subjects) in order to figure out which might work best for me.
I, too, am excited to get a lot of work done for 800 classes and to prepare for interviews by finishing my portfolio and applications.
As I have been running daily 5 by myself for the last few weeks, I have found more and more what I like and don't like about that system. I don't know if it is because we aren't really doing Daily 5, or something else, but I am starting to lean more towards using a different reading program next year in my own classroom. I find that often, the students are not fully engaged in the centers, (because it is centers, not really daily 5) and I have a lot of classroom management issues because of that. It is confusing for the students that it should be "very quiet to silent" in the room, when they are supposed to be working with a partner or a small group. When it isn't quiet though, students who are trying to read or listen can't do that without being interrupted.
I have found comfort and success in Writer's Workshop, and I would really like to try out reader's workshop next year, in place of Daily 5. Like Sam, I know I will be doing a lot of reading and researching this summer about different ways to teach reading and writing (and other subjects) in order to figure out which might work best for me.
I, too, am excited to get a lot of work done for 800 classes and to prepare for interviews by finishing my portfolio and applications.
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