Dear Stressful Teachers,
This past week has been crazy at 123 Elementary! Everyone has been so busy teaching and planning for the state standardized tests. As a student, I never realized what all teachers and administrators have to do for the best tests at the end of the school year. This week I attended a training to be an administer/proctor for testing. I understood the rules in place, but it was A LOT. I never thought teachers would have to cover up classroom posters! That is how I spent my Thursday afternoon. I had to cover/take down anchor charts that would benefit students on the tests. For example, the number line had to be covered. Overall, this week has been a great learning experience and I am reading for testing next week! Stressed teachers, worry no more all of your hard work will show from your class's results!
There is no time for stress,
Miss Hester
Sunday, March 30, 2014
Monday, March 24, 2014
Reflect & Connect 3/16
Dear Reader,
Sorry I have not blogged recently! My brain has yet to leave spring break. The past couple of weeks, besides spring break, I have been working hard in my Instructional Planning class creating my first lesson plan unit. As of today I have completed Stage 1 and Stage 2. I like how this concept of planning has me look to the big idea of what I want my students to learn. First I started by planning what CCSS to use, man in goals, my essential questions, and what students will know/be able to. Next, I complete Stage 2 by planning how I will assess my students to one of my essential questions. At first this was tricky for me because I like planning step by step, in order. Now I have learned the big picture I want my students to understand. All of the details will be planned in Stage 3, but for now I know how I want to teach and ways I will assess my students. After learning about lesson planning, and seeing it in action in the classroom, I have a new love for creating essential questions. They are so important for students to understand the purpose of what they are learning and what their goal for the lesson should be. As a teacher I love essential questions from how they benefit students and how it is the big picture of lessons.
In my gallery there is pictures of my unit plan in action!
Thanks for keeping up with my process of becoming an effective teacher. Hope you like my unit plan!
-Miss Hester
Sorry I have not blogged recently! My brain has yet to leave spring break. The past couple of weeks, besides spring break, I have been working hard in my Instructional Planning class creating my first lesson plan unit. As of today I have completed Stage 1 and Stage 2. I like how this concept of planning has me look to the big idea of what I want my students to learn. First I started by planning what CCSS to use, man in goals, my essential questions, and what students will know/be able to. Next, I complete Stage 2 by planning how I will assess my students to one of my essential questions. At first this was tricky for me because I like planning step by step, in order. Now I have learned the big picture I want my students to understand. All of the details will be planned in Stage 3, but for now I know how I want to teach and ways I will assess my students. After learning about lesson planning, and seeing it in action in the classroom, I have a new love for creating essential questions. They are so important for students to understand the purpose of what they are learning and what their goal for the lesson should be. As a teacher I love essential questions from how they benefit students and how it is the big picture of lessons.
In my gallery there is pictures of my unit plan in action!
Thanks for keeping up with my process of becoming an effective teacher. Hope you like my unit plan!
-Miss Hester
Sunday, March 2, 2014
Reflect & Connect 3/2
Dear People Who Know How to Garden,
This week I found a new weakness of mine, gardening. I never thought it would be hard. Actually, I looked forward to growing flowers and vegetables at my future house, but no, not anymore. My collaborating teacher got a grant to build an organic, hydrogarden. I thought it would be so simple to set up and let the kids explore, but once again I was wrong. My CT and I had to build the garden from scratch. We assembled the equipment, which had way too many steps, then got to the dirty work. We had to wash off pebbles, then break apart bricks of hard soil once they were in water. Next, we had to mix up all of the soil with more pebbles. The sun was beating on us and this was only the beginning! Tomorrow during planning period, we will be adding chemicals to see the waters acidity to see if our plants can grow. If the pass tests, then we will start planting but out students will not be able to because of the risk from the acid. I wish they could be more involved instead of just observing!
As much as I am not of fan of gardening, I am a fan of science. I cannot wait until fall semester when I get to take Teaching K-6 Science. But for now I am on my own, using my prior knowledge and following my CT.
Please keep your fingers crossed plant grow! I will keep my blog updated when there is excitement in the garden. As for now, please comment or like the gardening picture under the gallery tab!
Thank you Gardeners,
Miss Hester
This week I found a new weakness of mine, gardening. I never thought it would be hard. Actually, I looked forward to growing flowers and vegetables at my future house, but no, not anymore. My collaborating teacher got a grant to build an organic, hydrogarden. I thought it would be so simple to set up and let the kids explore, but once again I was wrong. My CT and I had to build the garden from scratch. We assembled the equipment, which had way too many steps, then got to the dirty work. We had to wash off pebbles, then break apart bricks of hard soil once they were in water. Next, we had to mix up all of the soil with more pebbles. The sun was beating on us and this was only the beginning! Tomorrow during planning period, we will be adding chemicals to see the waters acidity to see if our plants can grow. If the pass tests, then we will start planting but out students will not be able to because of the risk from the acid. I wish they could be more involved instead of just observing!
As much as I am not of fan of gardening, I am a fan of science. I cannot wait until fall semester when I get to take Teaching K-6 Science. But for now I am on my own, using my prior knowledge and following my CT.
Please keep your fingers crossed plant grow! I will keep my blog updated when there is excitement in the garden. As for now, please comment or like the gardening picture under the gallery tab!
Thank you Gardeners,
Miss Hester
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Reflect & Connect 2/23
Dear Parents,
During my student internship at 123 Elementary, I have learned how to prepare for conferences with parents. Administration prepared teachers during a faculty meeting by going over important conversations topics and a academic plan. The academic plan listed expectations students needed to meet to move on to the next grade. This plan consisted of test scores in all subjects. I was surprised that just a few tests for second graders determined if they were going to be third graders next year. I am worried for a few of my students because I know taking tests is very hard for them.
Teachers prepared me for parent teacher conferences in many different ways. My second grade collaborating teacher organized all of the most important data for her students, included with information of how to help them at home (examples are worksheets and online resources). My fifth grade collaborating teacher taught me how give a DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). She showed me the running record symbols to use as the student is reading and how to add up the symbols to give an accurate score. Then students took back to their seats and reflection and writing piece. I love how they we not just assessed orally but also on paper. It really shows the students talent by reading their writing. I got to experience a students score go from a level 40 in the beginning in the year to a 60 by last Wednesday. This is great data to show parents so they can see where there students academic level increasing.
I am a very fortunate student intern to have such an amazing faculty and two collaborating teacher teach me all about parent conferences. I feel very prepared for my own, which is just a year and a half away!
Sincerely,
Miss Hester
During my student internship at 123 Elementary, I have learned how to prepare for conferences with parents. Administration prepared teachers during a faculty meeting by going over important conversations topics and a academic plan. The academic plan listed expectations students needed to meet to move on to the next grade. This plan consisted of test scores in all subjects. I was surprised that just a few tests for second graders determined if they were going to be third graders next year. I am worried for a few of my students because I know taking tests is very hard for them.
Teachers prepared me for parent teacher conferences in many different ways. My second grade collaborating teacher organized all of the most important data for her students, included with information of how to help them at home (examples are worksheets and online resources). My fifth grade collaborating teacher taught me how give a DRA (Developmental Reading Assessment). She showed me the running record symbols to use as the student is reading and how to add up the symbols to give an accurate score. Then students took back to their seats and reflection and writing piece. I love how they we not just assessed orally but also on paper. It really shows the students talent by reading their writing. I got to experience a students score go from a level 40 in the beginning in the year to a 60 by last Wednesday. This is great data to show parents so they can see where there students academic level increasing.
I am a very fortunate student intern to have such an amazing faculty and two collaborating teacher teach me all about parent conferences. I feel very prepared for my own, which is just a year and a half away!
Sincerely,
Miss Hester
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Reflect & Connect 2/9
Dear Center Lovers,
During our Teaching K-6 Math class last Thursday, residents got together in groups and created math stations for learning numbers 1-20. Once we completed making a chart that had directions for our center, our professor then had us do a gallery walk. For those who do not know, a gallery walk is when you walk around the classroom looking at projects/pictures. It was really cool seeing how creative my classmates are. I would love to use math centers in my second grade classroom. I think this could really benefit student's learning because they would learn in their math-level groups, work collaboratively, and focus on what they need. I wonder how this could happen though because I feel like there would not be enough time during our math block. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Miss Hester
During our Teaching K-6 Math class last Thursday, residents got together in groups and created math stations for learning numbers 1-20. Once we completed making a chart that had directions for our center, our professor then had us do a gallery walk. For those who do not know, a gallery walk is when you walk around the classroom looking at projects/pictures. It was really cool seeing how creative my classmates are. I would love to use math centers in my second grade classroom. I think this could really benefit student's learning because they would learn in their math-level groups, work collaboratively, and focus on what they need. I wonder how this could happen though because I feel like there would not be enough time during our math block. Please feel free to comment with any suggestions! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Miss Hester
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Reflect & Connect 2/2
Dear Questioners,
I am very excited to inform you that I will be making a lesson plan for my Instructional Planning class and a unit plan in Teaching K-6 Social Studies class. I have chosen the CCSS, "SS.2.G.1.2
Using maps and globes, locate the student's hometown, Florida, and North America, and locate the state capital and the national capital," for my Instruction Planning class. I chose this standard because I want to create lesson plans for my internship I have with second grade. It is a social studies standard because I only get one K-6 Social Studies class while I am earning my Elementary Education degree at USF. So far it has been difficult for me to create essential questions for my lesson and connect them to the six facets of understanding. The six facets of understanding include, explanation, interpretation, application, perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge. As I continue to learn from my professor and intern experience I hope to be the best at creating essential questions for my lessons. I feel as if they are the heart of the lesson because it shows the class the lesson purpose. I want to be able to connect my essential questions to their life outside of school.
As soon as I have my essential questions complete I will post them here for you all to see!
Feel free to leave comments. :)
Sincerely,
Miss Hester
I am very excited to inform you that I will be making a lesson plan for my Instructional Planning class and a unit plan in Teaching K-6 Social Studies class. I have chosen the CCSS, "SS.2.G.1.2
Using maps and globes, locate the student's hometown, Florida, and North America, and locate the state capital and the national capital," for my Instruction Planning class. I chose this standard because I want to create lesson plans for my internship I have with second grade. It is a social studies standard because I only get one K-6 Social Studies class while I am earning my Elementary Education degree at USF. So far it has been difficult for me to create essential questions for my lesson and connect them to the six facets of understanding. The six facets of understanding include, explanation, interpretation, application, perspective, empathy, and self-knowledge. As I continue to learn from my professor and intern experience I hope to be the best at creating essential questions for my lessons. I feel as if they are the heart of the lesson because it shows the class the lesson purpose. I want to be able to connect my essential questions to their life outside of school.
As soon as I have my essential questions complete I will post them here for you all to see!
Feel free to leave comments. :)
Sincerely,
Miss Hester
Sunday, February 2, 2014
Reflect & Connect 1/27
Dear Teachers who Teach for a Cause,
This past week I learned a lot about myself as a teacher. My internship consists in an urban school district. I have learned through my experience I want to teach in an urban setting when I graduate. I would like to do this for many reasons, but I learned my true passions during class. For my level II intern class we are learning about teacher inquiry and how to start our own inquiry. We looked at this by reading examples of passions teachers inquire. The passion I connected to the most was social justice. My passion for social justice is to understand how to meet every students needs when it comes to their culture. In my Teaching Exceptional Students class, we watched videos concerning African Americans versus Caucasians when it came to education in America. I learned our education system needs some changes when it comes to teaching minorities. Teachers need to learn how to teach different cultures with their learning styles. As a teacher, I want to be apart of my students community and show them everyday how much I care. I will support my students and set high expectations.
In my second grade classroom, I was struggling with the fact that I knew about how rough life is at home for most of my students and that there is not much I can do to change that. As a teacher I want to teach in urban schools to have my classroom be their safe, second home. I cannot wait to create a safe, fun, learning community environment in my class.
Growing as a Teacher,
Miss Hester
This past week I learned a lot about myself as a teacher. My internship consists in an urban school district. I have learned through my experience I want to teach in an urban setting when I graduate. I would like to do this for many reasons, but I learned my true passions during class. For my level II intern class we are learning about teacher inquiry and how to start our own inquiry. We looked at this by reading examples of passions teachers inquire. The passion I connected to the most was social justice. My passion for social justice is to understand how to meet every students needs when it comes to their culture. In my Teaching Exceptional Students class, we watched videos concerning African Americans versus Caucasians when it came to education in America. I learned our education system needs some changes when it comes to teaching minorities. Teachers need to learn how to teach different cultures with their learning styles. As a teacher, I want to be apart of my students community and show them everyday how much I care. I will support my students and set high expectations.
In my second grade classroom, I was struggling with the fact that I knew about how rough life is at home for most of my students and that there is not much I can do to change that. As a teacher I want to teach in urban schools to have my classroom be their safe, second home. I cannot wait to create a safe, fun, learning community environment in my class.
Growing as a Teacher,
Miss Hester
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