Blog 7

When working with ELD students, what are your challenges? Strengths? What could be done to increase your skills in this area?

I do not have any ELD students, but I imagine my main challenge would be simply put, communication.  I think it would be very difficult to teach something to someone who doesn't understand the language to begin with.  I can only relate it to my college algebra class that was taught by a Chinese man with a very thick accent.  Algebra is a whole new language let alone trying to decipher what he was saying.  

I think my strength would be creating a caring environment in which the student would know I am trying to help.  

Blog 6

When using technology with your students, what are your challenges? Strengths? What could be done to increase your usage of technology in the classroom?

I haven't really had challenges when using technology with my students.  They love when I go over a Power Point and use my tablet to lead it.  It seems to engage them a lot more.  

I would like to increase my technology usage.  I think when I am able to take more time planning lessons and not focus so much on being a student myself.  I can figure out how to incorporate it.  

Blog 5

How prepared do you feel in effectively teaching your students in reading? Is this one of your strengths? A weakness?

Have you started to plan the Common Core Standards? If you have, how is that going? If you haven’t, why not? What support do you need?

I feel I am effective in teaching my students in reading.  We read quite a bit in class (I read aloud, they read to themselves, or read to a partner) so I feel it helps to address their needs.  

I have started to plan the Common Core Standards.  It seems to be going well.  The students seem to enjoy the units we are going over and the standards they cover.  

Blog 4

Post a reflection to your blog based on your practice as it relates to what you learn from the article.  How effectively is your well classroom management system working at this point in the year?  What are your struggles?  What are your successes? 

My classroom management system works, but is inconsistent.  I need to focus on being more consistent in my words and actions.  To be honest, there are some days when I am so drained I find it very difficult.  My successes have been when I have an exciting lesson planned and well prepared for.  

Blog 3

Reflect on your use of assessment in the classroom.  On a scale of 1 – 10, ten being highest, how would you rate yourself.  What are your plans for becoming a “10” if you are not there already? How are you using assessment in the classroom to guide your instruction?  Describe how assessment results are used to differentiate instruction within your class.

I would rate myself an 8.  I use essays and tests as assessments of understanding and knowledge and so far it has worked quite well.  I use the results to know how fast I should cover content and if I need to slow down and be more thorough.  

I plan on continuing to learn more assessment types to become a 10 and not just rely on major essays or tests.  

Blog 2

Reflect on your time in the classroom to this point. How are you feeling emotionally, physically? Do you feel that you are getting through to your most difficult students? What strategies are working? What strategies are not? What are your next steps with student engagement within the classroom?

Honestly, I feel completely drained and exhausted.  I have a whole new respect for teachers of any grade level.  I am amazed at the constant effort it takes to be a teacher whether it be the teaching side or the behavior/classroom management side.  

I do feel like I am getting through to my most difficult students.  At the beginning of the year, I set a goal to show my students that they have someone in their life who cares about them.  I think they feel that from me and it has turned some of my most difficult students around.  I should clarify that when I say "difficult" I mean behavior wise.  It is a fun challenge to try to get them to turn around and respect those in authority positions, AKA, their teachers.  

My next steps are to continue to learn classroom management skills.  While I have been able to calm individuals it is still difficult to engage as a whole.  

Blog 1

What are you doing to meet the needs of your special education students?   If you do not have special education students, how are you meeting the needs of your low students?  Have you met with your school’s pre-referral group about these students?

To meet the needs of my low students I make sure everyone is on the same page.  I will lead a lesson and all throughout it I do "checks" to ensure everyone is following along.  I will then assign in-class work and will walk through the room to ensure everyone is getting it and I will help those (my low students) who aren't get started and stay on task.