So this week marks the end of the ISAT testing. Thank goodness. I don't know who hates it more-me or the students? The students were crazy as per usual during testing week. Not much changed on that front between third and sixth grade. We continued to work on our civil rights projects and work on TeenBiz. I've gotten so into the program and I'm hoping they will purchase it again for us as I really have seen a change in students.
We've had a lot of behavior problems this week. I'm having a hard time dealing with these behavior problems because I am having a hard time leading my team. I'm the oldest of the 3 of us but we're all within 3 years of age. I have more teaching experience which makes me the mentor. That was one of the parts that my principal entrusted to me when I accepted moving to sixth grade and I'm worried I'm failing. We have one student that's changing the environment for all students and I'm having a really hard time giving advice or guiding my team because yes, I have problems with the student but not as much as they do. It's not because I'm perfect-far from it-it's just that I'm much more strict and I don't put up with things. I don't allow students to walk around my class and I don't allow people to talk out without stopping instruction. I just don't. Never have, never will. I learned that from my cooperating teacher and it's the biggest thing that I've taken with me. I'm just feeling like a failure in leading them. Maybe it's been too much to be new to the grade level and also have a new team. Maybe it's been too much because of the age range. I don't know. I don't like feeling like a failure but I do. When i started teaching I had a great mentor that I could go to for anything and she told me the way it was. She was many more years into compared to me. I listened to her and did what she recommended. That's what I feel is missing. They don't want to hear it from me and I'm not sure why. I suggested a strategy that's working for me today and they just came back at me with what ifs. I'm not sure and it makes me crazy. I've tried so hard to be the leader and it just hasn't worked. I hate feeling like a failure but I do. I wish I knew if my principal felt the same. I'd like some input. I've tried very hard. Just frustrated that's all.
I've started reflecting on things that I would change about next year if I stay in sixth grade. I think I'm going to do a post about all the things I've thought of. I also don't know if I want to say I'll stay in sixth grade. I love love love teaching literacy only. I really need to list the pros and cons of each grade. There are things that I like and things that I don't like. I don't know if it's up to me actually. I just wish I knew where I stood. If my administration thinks I'm doing a good job or if they think I'm a failure as I'm kind of feeling. Not sure.
Friday, March 15, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
week 25 weekly reflection march 4-8
This was the first week of ISAT. We started testing on Wednesday with Math. This is the first time we've done this since I've been at this school. In the past, Reading was first. Of course this makes me more nervous because will it make a difference in my scores? Are students sick of testing? Will that show in the scores? I am just a nervous wreck!
During the week when we had class the kids either works on their culminating project for the Civil Rights unit, read to self, or worked on teenbiz. I've got the challenge up and going in the hallway and they're flying with it! They're so competitive and it just has made me realize that I need to do more of this. I need to push them more with competing against themselves. 2 of my students were the state top scorers during the week! I'm so proud!! I really do hope it's all it's cracked up to be and will help with their scores as much as the other schools that are using it.
Our schedule was pretty unpredictable which doesn't go very well with the group of students I teach. They don't like change and often get in trouble when change happens. We had a few behavior problems this week which is frustrating because some of them I feel are out of my control. So often I don't have huge problems with the kids that are having the most problems and I don't know why. I don't know how to tell my team that without sounding like I'm perfect which is totally not what I think I just think it's a matter of I am a little more strict and don't let certain things like walking around the classroom happen. I don't know. It's been such a struggle being the veteran teacher on the team when I'm still new to the grade level which is so different than the little guys I used to teach. I really love teaching reading and writing all the time. And, I do think I love the grade level. I have genuinely enjoyed it but I just don't know if it's been hard because both my teammates are new too and I'm supposed to be the veteran. I'm not sure.
Another great thing that happened this week was a card that I got from our sped provider. We had a rough start to the year basically because we have such different work ethic and I was used to one type of collaboration of doing things together and she was used to just getting everything provided for her. I was not always the most considerate or positive person but I was just learning verything myself and I felt attacked. Anyways this week she wrote me a card about how glad things have gone and she thinks a lot of it has to do with my hard work I've done this year. It was the perfect time to get it. I have been doubting myself so much lately and everyday I walk in and wonder what is going to go wrong. I'm always trying to stay a step ahead of everything and I feel like I've had no encouragement. I was so thankful that she gave me that. It's almost like she saw my need for it. I'm glad things have improved with us. I'm trying to be greatful for what I have and giving up on being defensive with her was one of the things I decided I would do as the new year started.
Wish me luck for testing next week! It's reading time! Like I told the kids remember-rethink, reread and rephrase! Hopefully I can sleep this weekend.
During the week when we had class the kids either works on their culminating project for the Civil Rights unit, read to self, or worked on teenbiz. I've got the challenge up and going in the hallway and they're flying with it! They're so competitive and it just has made me realize that I need to do more of this. I need to push them more with competing against themselves. 2 of my students were the state top scorers during the week! I'm so proud!! I really do hope it's all it's cracked up to be and will help with their scores as much as the other schools that are using it.
Our schedule was pretty unpredictable which doesn't go very well with the group of students I teach. They don't like change and often get in trouble when change happens. We had a few behavior problems this week which is frustrating because some of them I feel are out of my control. So often I don't have huge problems with the kids that are having the most problems and I don't know why. I don't know how to tell my team that without sounding like I'm perfect which is totally not what I think I just think it's a matter of I am a little more strict and don't let certain things like walking around the classroom happen. I don't know. It's been such a struggle being the veteran teacher on the team when I'm still new to the grade level which is so different than the little guys I used to teach. I really love teaching reading and writing all the time. And, I do think I love the grade level. I have genuinely enjoyed it but I just don't know if it's been hard because both my teammates are new too and I'm supposed to be the veteran. I'm not sure.
Another great thing that happened this week was a card that I got from our sped provider. We had a rough start to the year basically because we have such different work ethic and I was used to one type of collaboration of doing things together and she was used to just getting everything provided for her. I was not always the most considerate or positive person but I was just learning verything myself and I felt attacked. Anyways this week she wrote me a card about how glad things have gone and she thinks a lot of it has to do with my hard work I've done this year. It was the perfect time to get it. I have been doubting myself so much lately and everyday I walk in and wonder what is going to go wrong. I'm always trying to stay a step ahead of everything and I feel like I've had no encouragement. I was so thankful that she gave me that. It's almost like she saw my need for it. I'm glad things have improved with us. I'm trying to be greatful for what I have and giving up on being defensive with her was one of the things I decided I would do as the new year started.
Wish me luck for testing next week! It's reading time! Like I told the kids remember-rethink, reread and rephrase! Hopefully I can sleep this weekend.
Friday, March 1, 2013
week 24 weekly reflection feb 25-mar 1
Well I made it through week 24! It was a fun week even though we were prepping for the ISAT! I realized something huge this week. I have to have let them create more. And no, I don't just mean create with the bloom's folder. I mean actually create something a product that is their own that they are proud of.
In prepping for the ISAT I introduced the idea of a mnemonic device. I made up a song about figurative language to the tune of jingle bells. I was so proud of myself for getting through it. I was never embarrassed singing in front of my third graders because they didn't have opinions about me but I was so nervous in front of the sixth graders! They loved it though! So many of them really caught on and could identify the different elements of figurative language in my song! It made me os happy because i really love singing and dancing in my classroom and I just guess I have been nervous because I don't want them to think I'm too elementary? But many of the memories that i hear they have about me in third grade include singing and dancing and that's truly who i am as a teacher so I'm going to incorporate more of that. So anyways- then I had them create their own song/poem or mnemonic device to help them remember figurateive langauge. They were so into it! The most reluctant students got so into it and really made something they said they will remember. I was so proud of the work that they did. Not one single kid was bored. It was great. I have got to get more of this creating products going in the classroom.
Let's just hope it helps in the next couple of weeks. I HATE TESTING!!
In prepping for the ISAT I introduced the idea of a mnemonic device. I made up a song about figurative language to the tune of jingle bells. I was so proud of myself for getting through it. I was never embarrassed singing in front of my third graders because they didn't have opinions about me but I was so nervous in front of the sixth graders! They loved it though! So many of them really caught on and could identify the different elements of figurative language in my song! It made me os happy because i really love singing and dancing in my classroom and I just guess I have been nervous because I don't want them to think I'm too elementary? But many of the memories that i hear they have about me in third grade include singing and dancing and that's truly who i am as a teacher so I'm going to incorporate more of that. So anyways- then I had them create their own song/poem or mnemonic device to help them remember figurateive langauge. They were so into it! The most reluctant students got so into it and really made something they said they will remember. I was so proud of the work that they did. Not one single kid was bored. It was great. I have got to get more of this creating products going in the classroom.
Let's just hope it helps in the next couple of weeks. I HATE TESTING!!
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