Day 11

At last, a full day of school! Not only was it a full day of school but it was a school filled with determined teachers and three student teachers!

First period: All of out students came into the classroom to finish the social studies government unit test they did not finish last Friday. The period was a success, all of the students finish except for two. One was absent on Friday and the other needs double time in order to finish their test. 

 Second period: Mrs. Stern took it away today by teaching the students some economics terms. All of the students were disgruntled at first, but Mrs. Stern's energetic teaching style got them engaged. For homework they will have to make ten index cards with the meaning and the definition on the back in order to practice for the next test.

Third period used to be D.A.R.E., but now that all of our fabulous students have graduated from the program, it will be replaced by science. Now the students will have two science periods throughout the day instead of one. Good thing because they have a big classification test coming up on the 6th of February. The students used this period to study for their test with partners. It was truly effective and both the general education students and the special education students knew their material! I can smell fantastic grades on this upcoming science test.

Fourth period: This is our math block. The students watched a Math antics video on percents and fractions. The students were mind blown when they found out a percent is a fraction! We stopped the videos after about 30 seconds and discussed what was going on, talking about the denominator, numerator, and what those words really mean. After whaching those videos, the content seemed to be reinforced into the students a bit more. Math is a struggle for a lot of students, but we are trying our best to make it entertaining and easier to understand. 

Fifth period/sixth period: lunch and recess

Eleanor Roosevelt, what an inspiration!

 Seventh period: The continuation of my UDHR lesson! Last Friday we went over articles 1, 2, and 16. First things first we went over those three articles, and then we dove into articles 17, 23, 25, and 28. The students continued to watch the one minute videos with me, discuss the article, and then make up our own summary together that I would write on the board for everyone to see. Tuesday seemed to be a bit better than Friday because we got through 4 of the articled as opposed to 3. It also helped that we had three adults in the room: my cooperating teacher, a CTA, the writing teacher, and a sub. Each adult stood by a child who has trouble concentrating and the lesson moved along slowly. Tomorrow or Thursday depending on the snow, the students will complete a QR code adventure I designed for them, as well as the Engage New York Lesson 5 packet on the UDHR. Then on Thursday or Friday depending on snow, the students will write their essay on what Human Rights means to them and they must show examples. I believe in my students and my teaching, they will all succeed!

Eighth period: Half of the class went to band so we turned the class into a read aloud. I read the book, The Lotus Seed by Sherry Garland. I read this book during one of the C.I.R.C.L.E meetings at school and I feel in love with the deeper meaning and knew the students in this class would love it as well. After reading the book we all spoke about what their special good luck charm was or if they had a family heirloom that will be passed down to them. The students responded very positively to this book and really enjoyed the fact that it was a cultural book, they wanted to know more about the Vietnamese culture, so I told them as much as I could without straying away from the story. One of the students even raised their hand and said they thought the Lotus seed was a symbol of the grandmother in the book. This sign of higher thinking was amazing to witness. Once she said that it got the whole class thinking and they started piggy backing ideas off of each other. Needless to say I think the read aloud was very successful. Although next time I will read them a book on a higher reading level. 

After school I met with my Mount Saint Mary College Supervisor. Her name is Dr. Lewis and she will be observing me three times during my first student teaching experience. She came to Crompond School today to introduce herself to Ms. Barber and myself, and to plan for my first observation. My first observation will be Tuesday February 11, 2014. That day I will have to have a Mount Saint Mary Special Education Lesson Plan ready and a killer lesson just like every other time I teach. This seems a little intimidating, but I know everything will be just great! 
Teacher tips:
1) Never be the last one in the building in the morning!

2) Follow the rules of the school at all times. No ifs, ands, or buts.

Tomorrow
January 5, 2014
The forecast looks like a lot more snow coming our way. We may or may not have a snow day. For the sake of learning lets hope there is school tomorrow! 

Quote of the day:

"You're braver than you believe and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think." 
~Christopher Robin