During field experience today, my class was in the computer lab. The students were playing map games on the website www.sheppardsoftware.com. Remember this website! It was an awesome website and has so many very educational games for the students! The students were learning about European countries and their capitals. I honestly learned a lot just by watching the students play the games so many times. The students loved these games and really got a lot out of them. This will definitely be a website I will be using in my future classroom!
The students also got an extra recess today. Which was very fun. It was nice just to be able to hang out with the students and see how the interact during social situations. The teachers were also hanging out and talking with their students which I thought was cool becuase I really want my students to see me not only as a teacher but a friend as well.
During E339 today, we talked more about our seed ideas for our final published piece. I haven't decided if I am going to write a few short poems or one longer one. I also need to figure out how I am going to make my piece "look nice." I am very eager to see what ideas everyone has come up with! I think all of the final products will look great!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Week 11
Last week during field experience my class unfortunately had a substitute for the day so most of the time was spent on busy work for the students. The substitute was told to have the students do map stations for most of the morning. The students had dry erase maps at each of their desks as well as a folder that was a "station." The folder had specific instructions for the students to follow and sometimes a worksheet for them to fill out as well. I think our teacher did a great job of preparing the sub for the day and the students seemed to enjoy the map activities as well.
One of the parents from the classroom also took out small groups one at a time to work on the school garden. I thought this was a great activity for the students to be able to work outside and learn a new skill. Some of the students didn't take the activity very seriously though and I think this had a lot to do with the fact that their normal teacher wasn't there. I think it was great for the students to be learning this new skill.
During E339 class, we had peer conferences about our seed idea for our published piece. My partner is making a children's book about one of her vacations and I am going to make a collections of poems as of now. I am excited to see what other pieces people choose to create.
Also during class we performed our writing analysis. I think this was a great idea to really look deeper into one of my student's writings and look for very small details that I wouldn't normally notice.
The last thing we did in class was reading photographs. I thought this was a great activity because a photograph can really be interpreted in so many different ways. It was interesting to see what people thought of the picture that Linda brought in. It could have meant so many different things. I think this would be a great activity in my future classroom.
One of the parents from the classroom also took out small groups one at a time to work on the school garden. I thought this was a great activity for the students to be able to work outside and learn a new skill. Some of the students didn't take the activity very seriously though and I think this had a lot to do with the fact that their normal teacher wasn't there. I think it was great for the students to be learning this new skill.
During E339 class, we had peer conferences about our seed idea for our published piece. My partner is making a children's book about one of her vacations and I am going to make a collections of poems as of now. I am excited to see what other pieces people choose to create.
Also during class we performed our writing analysis. I think this was a great idea to really look deeper into one of my student's writings and look for very small details that I wouldn't normally notice.
The last thing we did in class was reading photographs. I thought this was a great activity because a photograph can really be interpreted in so many different ways. It was interesting to see what people thought of the picture that Linda brought in. It could have meant so many different things. I think this would be a great activity in my future classroom.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Week 10
In my field experience last week my teacher did a different kind of lesson. She played the song "Image" by John Lennon. A few of the lines in the song "Imagine there are no countries" and "Imagine there are no possessions." The teacher played the song for her class twice and had them think about all of the lines in the song. After the students listened to the song the teacher had the students focus on these two lines in the song. They had a whole group discussion about it and it was very interesting to see what some of the students had to say. I think this type of lesson would be great to have in my future classroom if I were in a 5th or 6th grade classroom.
The class then focused on the book "Echoes from Mount Olympus." The teacher read aloud two chapters in the book and then had an open group discussion about each of these chapters. Then the class compared and contrasted each of these chapters.
In E339 class, we presented our MGRP. I think it was great to see everyone's topics and to see what genres everyone made. I think doing something like this is one of my future classrooms would be a great idea. This would give students freedom and choice in which topics they would like to research. Students would also be able to show their creativity through the genre pieces that they selected.
The class then focused on the book "Echoes from Mount Olympus." The teacher read aloud two chapters in the book and then had an open group discussion about each of these chapters. Then the class compared and contrasted each of these chapters.
In E339 class, we presented our MGRP. I think it was great to see everyone's topics and to see what genres everyone made. I think doing something like this is one of my future classrooms would be a great idea. This would give students freedom and choice in which topics they would like to research. Students would also be able to show their creativity through the genre pieces that they selected.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Week 9
Last week during my field experience my students were learning about soft and hard ending words, particularly in poetry. After the lesson the students then made up their own Halloween themed poem using either hard or soft words. In the middle of this lesson however we had to go into a code red for about 15 minutes because it was national safety week at the schools. After the code red we had a code green which meant we had to evacuate the building. All of this probably lasted over 30 minutes. Once we got back into the building, it was time for our class to go into the other classroom for their Halloween celebration. The students got Halloween goodies and we watched the movie Up. I didn't really get to do a whole lot of observing that day because of the hectic schedule. but it was still a fun day overall.
In E339 last week, we read Voices in the Park which told the same story from four different view points. We then created extensions of these voices in the story. I think this would be a great activity for elementary children.
We finished the class by talking about out MGRP paper. I am excited to see what everyone's will look like tomorrow!
In E339 last week, we read Voices in the Park which told the same story from four different view points. We then created extensions of these voices in the story. I think this would be a great activity for elementary children.
We finished the class by talking about out MGRP paper. I am excited to see what everyone's will look like tomorrow!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Week 8
Unfortunately I was sick last Wednesday morning and I was not able to attend my field experience. I heard that the students showed their completed inventions and their invention convention and I was sad I missed this. I am curious to see what the new unit will be when I return tomorrow!
I was feeling better by the time E339 started so I was able to attend class. We went through stations that dealt with poetry. There were many different stations that involved making your own poem, interpreting a poem through art and music, and writing a poem about a simple object such as a shell, button, or penny. The stations were fun and I think these would be great to use in my future classroom.
The MGRP was pushed back by one week, so now it is not due until the next Wednesday which I was very excited about. Thanks!
I was feeling better by the time E339 started so I was able to attend class. We went through stations that dealt with poetry. There were many different stations that involved making your own poem, interpreting a poem through art and music, and writing a poem about a simple object such as a shell, button, or penny. The stations were fun and I think these would be great to use in my future classroom.
The MGRP was pushed back by one week, so now it is not due until the next Wednesday which I was very excited about. Thanks!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Week 7
During my last field experience I was first in the 6th grade classroom. All of the 5th graders were gone on their trip to Bradford woods, which I think sounds like a great experience! My elementary school never went on a trip like that!
After we arrived to the classroom, we found out that the students were studying Greek characters as well as Eric Carle's art. The students learned that Carle creates his illustrations using tissue paper he has painted and then cuts them out to form his characters. So the class project for these two units was to paint the tissue paper and then later they will cut out the different patterns and colors to form one of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, or monsters they have been studying.
We all went outside to begin painting! This was actually really fun and it was cool to see how creative the students were! The teacher also seemed like she really needed out help since there were so many students and so many supplies to distribute. We hung up the student's art work on the fence when they were done and they all looked great! We went back inside after everyone had painted 2 or 3. There was a little problem with this project. A lot of the student's papers kept ripping when they painted them because the tissue paper was so thin. This is just something to keep in mind inc case I ever decide to do a project like this. I hope to see the finished projects next week!
After we went back inside, the teacher had the students read silently to calm them down from the excitement of being outside. After everyone was settled, the teacher started a PowerPoint on Eric Carle and some of his paintings. She would have students talk in pairs about their feelings for each of the painting that she posted and there was also a short class discussion.
Then it was time to go observe the writers workshop! We all went into the 4th grade classroom and paired up with a student. My student was very shy. I would be interested in finding out more about her. We talked about the first time she remembered doing something and the last time she remembered doing something. She came up with some good answers and she wrote them down in her writers notebook. The teachers also had a mini-lecture/lesson to help guide the students with their writing. It was cool to be able to see how the writers workshop was run and to interact one on one with another student.
After we arrived to the classroom, we found out that the students were studying Greek characters as well as Eric Carle's art. The students learned that Carle creates his illustrations using tissue paper he has painted and then cuts them out to form his characters. So the class project for these two units was to paint the tissue paper and then later they will cut out the different patterns and colors to form one of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, or monsters they have been studying.
We all went outside to begin painting! This was actually really fun and it was cool to see how creative the students were! The teacher also seemed like she really needed out help since there were so many students and so many supplies to distribute. We hung up the student's art work on the fence when they were done and they all looked great! We went back inside after everyone had painted 2 or 3. There was a little problem with this project. A lot of the student's papers kept ripping when they painted them because the tissue paper was so thin. This is just something to keep in mind inc case I ever decide to do a project like this. I hope to see the finished projects next week!
After we went back inside, the teacher had the students read silently to calm them down from the excitement of being outside. After everyone was settled, the teacher started a PowerPoint on Eric Carle and some of his paintings. She would have students talk in pairs about their feelings for each of the painting that she posted and there was also a short class discussion.
Then it was time to go observe the writers workshop! We all went into the 4th grade classroom and paired up with a student. My student was very shy. I would be interested in finding out more about her. We talked about the first time she remembered doing something and the last time she remembered doing something. She came up with some good answers and she wrote them down in her writers notebook. The teachers also had a mini-lecture/lesson to help guide the students with their writing. It was cool to be able to see how the writers workshop was run and to interact one on one with another student.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Week 6
My field experience was a little bit different today. We learned before we got to the classroom that the 6th graders would be taking standardized tests, so since I am in the 5th/6th grade class I knew things could be a little hectic and different today. My co-teachers and I arrived to the classroom and our teacher said we would be taking a group of 5th graders to the computer lab to work on some activities. I was excited about this because this was the first time we were able to work with the kids without another teacher in the room! However, when we got to the lab another teacher got angry with us because apparently she had already reserved the lab. So we took the students to two other labs, but they were full also. We finally got the situation figured out, but it was a bit hectic!
While we were in the computer lab students worked on their Latin root words. They made a PowerPoint slide with the word done in word art and then wrote the definition and origin of the word. I actually learned how to put a picture into a word today on PowerPoint. It always amazes me how tech-savvy the students are. Sometimes I think they really know more than I do! Other students were playing games that helped them study the states and capitals. We just walked around and helped the students when they needed it.
When we returned to the classroom we sat in a circle on the floor and all had a piece of paper, r a writer's notebook, and we were instructed to write a sentence with exactly five words. We then passed our paper to the next person and they were instructed to write a sentence that went off our first sentence, but rhymed with the last word of the first sentence. We continued this for a few more rounds. Each time there was a new rule we had to follow when we wrote out sentence. After about 7 sentences were written each student then shared their completed story. Some of them were pretty funny! It was fun being able to do this activity with the students!
After this, the students got out large laminated maps. Every student got a dry erase marker and the teacher instructed them to find certain places on their map. I sat at a desk next to two students and just talked with them and helped them with the exercise.
Overall, I am very happy with my field placement and I am really getting more comfortable with the students and the teacher. I am really enjoying working with the 5th/6th grade class and I think this might be a grade I would like to teach in the future. It is hard for me to to say what I have learned about myself as a teacher of writing because we are never in the classroom when they are having writing or reading time. But I really liked the shared writing activity today. It was a good way to get students thinking while having a fun time writing.
In E339 class today we read The Important Book. She also showed us two books that her previous classes had made. I absolutely loved the books her students made and I would love to make these in my classroom. I had made these "books" in the past but they never actually looked like a real book, so I think it could really gets students exciting about reading a writing knowing that they would soon have their own "published" book.
We also talked a lot about our MGRP. I think I have a better sense of what the paper is asking for and what type of topic I would like. As of now, I'm thinking of doing my project on a country I would like to visit or someone famous that I admire. I am excited to start doing the research because it will be something I am actually interested in learning about!
While we were in the computer lab students worked on their Latin root words. They made a PowerPoint slide with the word done in word art and then wrote the definition and origin of the word. I actually learned how to put a picture into a word today on PowerPoint. It always amazes me how tech-savvy the students are. Sometimes I think they really know more than I do! Other students were playing games that helped them study the states and capitals. We just walked around and helped the students when they needed it.
When we returned to the classroom we sat in a circle on the floor and all had a piece of paper, r a writer's notebook, and we were instructed to write a sentence with exactly five words. We then passed our paper to the next person and they were instructed to write a sentence that went off our first sentence, but rhymed with the last word of the first sentence. We continued this for a few more rounds. Each time there was a new rule we had to follow when we wrote out sentence. After about 7 sentences were written each student then shared their completed story. Some of them were pretty funny! It was fun being able to do this activity with the students!
After this, the students got out large laminated maps. Every student got a dry erase marker and the teacher instructed them to find certain places on their map. I sat at a desk next to two students and just talked with them and helped them with the exercise.
Overall, I am very happy with my field placement and I am really getting more comfortable with the students and the teacher. I am really enjoying working with the 5th/6th grade class and I think this might be a grade I would like to teach in the future. It is hard for me to to say what I have learned about myself as a teacher of writing because we are never in the classroom when they are having writing or reading time. But I really liked the shared writing activity today. It was a good way to get students thinking while having a fun time writing.
In E339 class today we read The Important Book. She also showed us two books that her previous classes had made. I absolutely loved the books her students made and I would love to make these in my classroom. I had made these "books" in the past but they never actually looked like a real book, so I think it could really gets students exciting about reading a writing knowing that they would soon have their own "published" book.
We also talked a lot about our MGRP. I think I have a better sense of what the paper is asking for and what type of topic I would like. As of now, I'm thinking of doing my project on a country I would like to visit or someone famous that I admire. I am excited to start doing the research because it will be something I am actually interested in learning about!
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Week 5
This morning I had my third field experience. I think this was the best one yet! The past two times I went to the school we just worked with the students in the computer lab, but today I spent the entire time in the classroom. The first activity the teacher had the students do was an "invention in a bag." In this activity the teacher gave her students a baggie filled with four toothpicks, a plastic fork, two post-it notes, two paper clips, a rubber band, and a napkin. The students worked in pairs for 30 min to then invent something using ten of the items given to them. I thought this was a great activity because it had the students working together and being very creative. After they had made their invention, the students wrote a short paragraph about the invention and then presented it to the class. This activity involved creativity, reading, writing, and presenting. It was also a girl's birthday in our class today. Her mom came in and bought snacks for everyone. The teacher then let the girl choose what the class would do for the next ten minutes and they decided on free time. The students tried on dress-up clothes, read, did homework, and played on instruments. I thought this was a great time and it was fun to just mingle with the students. We switched classes at the end and learned that the other class was working on a short story assignment in the computer lab. I was very happy that things in my classroom had finally changed a bit! I am excited to see what next week brings!
In E339 today we talked about non-fiction books and what makes them non-fiction. I thought this was an interesting activity because there is such a large variety of non-fiction books. We also got our assignment for the Multi-Genre Research Paper. I am excited about this project because I am free to do the project on anything I want! I love having the freedom to choose my topic because this way I will be doing research on something I actually am interested in! This will be something to keep in mind when I am assigning research for my own students.
In E339 today we talked about non-fiction books and what makes them non-fiction. I thought this was an interesting activity because there is such a large variety of non-fiction books. We also got our assignment for the Multi-Genre Research Paper. I am excited about this project because I am free to do the project on anything I want! I love having the freedom to choose my topic because this way I will be doing research on something I actually am interested in! This will be something to keep in mind when I am assigning research for my own students.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Week 4
This morning I had my second field experience! I really like my teacher and my students and I think I will learn a lot from them! One thing that is kind of frustrating to me is the meetings before and after the field experience. I wish that this was time that I could be spending in the classroom instead of going over the syllabus, readings, and note taking. Maybe since it is only the second week of field experience, these meeting will get better as the weeks pass. Today in my classroom, the students continued their work for their "Invention Convention." The students perform research in the computer lab to find out more about an item we use in the present. The students then find out information on this items past and then they predict what the future of this item will be. I am in a 5th and 6th grade combined class and the knowledge that these students possess impress me every time I come in! I am excited to see what the next few weeks will bring.
In E339 today we first read Up, Up, Down by Robert Munsch. This was a great participatory book that had all of the students involved in the reading. I think this would be a good book for my future classroom. Also in class we did a punctuation mini lesson. It was good to see how the different punctuation was used in different books, but I felt like the activity was a little easy for me. I think this lesson could have been accomplished much faster with just a brief overview of punctuation.
In small groups we also presented our Craft Lessons lesson. It was good to hear what other people had come up with. One idea I particularly liked what the "grab bag" idea. In this activity students draw an object from a bag/box at random and then have to write about this object in creative ways. I thought this was a fun idea for students. My activity dealt with teaching students about dialogue and learning about speech bubbles. For this activity, I took a simple book that did not involve dialogue and put a post-it note by a person's mouth and then wrote a speech bubble and filled it with text that I thought the person might be saying. I thought this would be a great activity for younger children as well.
At the end of class we read Eat, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss. I found this book to be very comical. The author writes two sentences the exact same way, except the punctuation is changed so the meaning of the sentence is changed. This is something I would love to use in my punctuation unit with my class!
In E339 today we first read Up, Up, Down by Robert Munsch. This was a great participatory book that had all of the students involved in the reading. I think this would be a good book for my future classroom. Also in class we did a punctuation mini lesson. It was good to see how the different punctuation was used in different books, but I felt like the activity was a little easy for me. I think this lesson could have been accomplished much faster with just a brief overview of punctuation.
In small groups we also presented our Craft Lessons lesson. It was good to hear what other people had come up with. One idea I particularly liked what the "grab bag" idea. In this activity students draw an object from a bag/box at random and then have to write about this object in creative ways. I thought this was a fun idea for students. My activity dealt with teaching students about dialogue and learning about speech bubbles. For this activity, I took a simple book that did not involve dialogue and put a post-it note by a person's mouth and then wrote a speech bubble and filled it with text that I thought the person might be saying. I thought this would be a great activity for younger children as well.
At the end of class we read Eat, Shoots and Leaves by Lynn Truss. I found this book to be very comical. The author writes two sentences the exact same way, except the punctuation is changed so the meaning of the sentence is changed. This is something I would love to use in my punctuation unit with my class!
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Week 3
Last class we took a closer look at The Leaving Morning and The Relatives Came. We looked at these stories as if we were reading like a writer. This was a good activity because it made me look at the stories more in-depth and realize things in the story that I didn't see before. This also helped me because I think it will help me in my writing as well.
We also talked about how we will be having a writing partnership for our writer's notebook. I am excited about this because I think it will be good to see what another person thinks of my writing and I am curious to see what other people have written as well!
We also talked about how we will be having a writing partnership for our writer's notebook. I am excited about this because I think it will be good to see what another person thinks of my writing and I am curious to see what other people have written as well!
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Week 2
During the second week of class we learned many more things about our writer's notebook. I enjoyed reading the Fletcher book because it gave me a better understanding of what exactly I was supposed to write in my writer's notebook. I also enjoyed our class activity where we were able to decorate our writer's notebook. I think this activity made my writer's notebook feel more personable to me instead of just a plain blue spiral notebook.
In the next half of class we discussed some of the spelling articles that we read for homework. We talked about different techniques for teaching spelling to all different types of learners. We discussed that some students spell more visually and some students use more of a sounding it out strategy. I think this was a good in class activity because it is something that I think I will actually use in my future classroom.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
E339 Week 1
I was very excited to come to class last week because it was the start of my first cluster. I feel like these classes are the ones that really matter now. However, I was slightly worried that three hours in a classroom would be very painful. But, after the first class I realized it wouldn't be so bad after all.
Starting the class with The Relatives Came and The Leaving Morning was a great way to start the class. I am not the familiar with a lot of children's literature so I think being introduced to a book or two a week is a great way for me to gain more knowledge on the topic. I enjoyed both of these stories and I think there are great possibilities for them in my future classroom.
When we started to read an excerpt from The House on Mango Street I was very excited because in my summer literature class we also read from this book. I think this is a great book and I am excited to read more of it.
I am also very excited to start my Writer's Notebook. I think this will be a great way for me to write down important things in my life that I want to remember. It will be nice to have all of these thoughts and ideas written down in one place. I especially tend to forget things very easily so I will try to take full advantage of my Writer's Notebook in order for me to have a more successful future.
I cannot wait until next week when our field experience begins! I have heard many great things about University Elementary school and I am very eager to meet my new students. I hope that this semester will greatly improve my teaching skills and give me the confidence I need to become a great teacher!
Starting the class with The Relatives Came and The Leaving Morning was a great way to start the class. I am not the familiar with a lot of children's literature so I think being introduced to a book or two a week is a great way for me to gain more knowledge on the topic. I enjoyed both of these stories and I think there are great possibilities for them in my future classroom.
When we started to read an excerpt from The House on Mango Street I was very excited because in my summer literature class we also read from this book. I think this is a great book and I am excited to read more of it.
I am also very excited to start my Writer's Notebook. I think this will be a great way for me to write down important things in my life that I want to remember. It will be nice to have all of these thoughts and ideas written down in one place. I especially tend to forget things very easily so I will try to take full advantage of my Writer's Notebook in order for me to have a more successful future.
I cannot wait until next week when our field experience begins! I have heard many great things about University Elementary school and I am very eager to meet my new students. I hope that this semester will greatly improve my teaching skills and give me the confidence I need to become a great teacher!
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