Filed under: Uncategorized
So I finally feel like I can breathe. I finished my artistic response for 311 and my literacy classroom plan for 373. I got a 17 out of 20 on my last stats quiz… so I’ll get at least a B for the semester(depending on how he weights things). I have forensics Wednesday but that leaves all day tomorrow and Wednesday to study. Thursday is finite, but that should be an hour of studying max. I should do fine. Overall its been a fairly easy semester. Its been nice.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Today was day one of the stress free zone and it was AMAZING. There was a pretty good turnout of people which was great. We had sand art, spin art frisbees or puzzles, decorating picture frames and Christmas ornaments, making stress balls and aromatherapy pillows, and of course, lots of snacks.
I had so much fun. I made a puzzle which I ended up using for my 311 artistic response project. I also made sand art which is always fun while you’re doing it and then after its like…. um okay what do I do with this plastic moon shaped bottle filled with sand. It was really easy to set up and less messy that I thought. I was trying to think of some creative lesson I could do using sand art. Maybe something with measuring… fill 1/4 of the bottle with red sand… etc.
I also made a wintery picture frame. Tomorrow I want to make more frames, some christmas ornaments, a frisbee for my brother, and who knows what else. Ahh so much fun.
Filed under: Uncategorized
Why does time go so fast? I thought I woke up at a reasonable hour, but I didn’t get home from brunch untill 1:15. And then I started my laundry… which always takes longer than I expect. I didn’t shower untill 3:15 and now my roomate’s parents are here to take us to dinner. I havent gotten any work done. My boyfriend wants to go shopping tonight, but I just don’t think I have time!
Filed under: education
Today I worked on my literacy classroom block. Its all I did during math class and then I worked on it more tonight. I could have just done something quickly but I really wanted it to make it something I would actually use. And now that I’m done, I’m crazy proud of it.
I had my first plan but I wanted to add in writing workshop and so I extended it to 2 hours instead of 90 minutes. I had problems fitting everything in and having it be organized (ex. starting guided reading about the same time everyday). 3 plans later, I found a way that works. I basically have 20 minute time blocks. 40 minutes every afternoon is writing workshop, because I felt like that was something that could stand completely on its own. I meet 2 or 3 guided reading groups Monday through Thursday. I meet with the low group 4 times a week, the middle group 3 times, and the high group 2 times. The last 20 morning minutes of language arts are spent in word study. Since I’ve never seen this in action I wasnt quite sure how to set it up. But I decided on 3 groups that meet on a rotating schedule (2 groups meet each day). Since groups would only meet 3 or 4 times a week I thought that was kind of fast for a quiz every week so I decided groups could be tested reguarly but as needed. I also have literature circles that meet Tues, Wed, and Thurs for 20 minutes. We do invitations for an hour on Fridays.
What I like most about my plan is what the rest of the class is doing when guided reading or word study groups are meeting. Their first priority is doing Literature Circle reading or assignments. This way this wont take up homework time outside school. Their next priority is centers. I would have 9 centers. Each student gets a grid with the 9 activities and has to do 3 a week (no repeats). Then they have more choice. They can read independently, work on writing from writing workshop, continue with an invitation, or do more centers. I like this because it has structure, but also allows for students to pursue individual interests.
Filed under: Uncategorized
I don’t spend enough time listening to music. I really love music. I would give up sight over hearing just so I could still listen to music, and yet I don’t spend nearly enough time listening to it.
Today I was listening to a Dar Williams song that I’ve heard hundreds of times and I realized… oh man there are violins in this song. I had never realized it before. And all of a suddent the violin line was powerful and told its own story.
amazing.
Filed under: practicum
So today was the last day of practicum. So sad. I really liked my class. Not that I’ve ever had a class I didn’t enjoy. They were 4th grade and I liked them because they were still young in spirit even though physically they were bigger. They didn’t really have attitudes yet and they always surprised me with their funny comments and by how smart they were.
I liked alot of the things my teacher did especially:
- Figuring out vocabulary with context clues in pairs
- Putting a powerpoint slide with the morning work up on the television
- Her energy and enthusiasm
Things I did not like:
- having the class work in pairs with someone they havent worked with yet… good in theory by two students were always left out.
- using the textbook so much! espcially for reading. She would complain about a story but still use it.
I’m not sure how I feel about how she did bathroom breaks instead of having students ask individually or having a pass they take. In some ways it worked well, they knew when they could go and didnt interrupt her. Also they had a chance to stretch. But it took alot of time and I think some students went just to fool around and talk to their friends.
It was a good experience overall.
