January 12, 2015

January 13, 2015

January 14, 2015

January 15, 2015

January 16, 2015

I implemented a new behavioral chart this week

that corresponds to the card pull system. The
kids are crazy about it. They have the chance to
move up and down instead of having to remain on
a bad behavior card all day for one incident. I
am so happy about its success and Elisa has
plans to keep it for next year.
Today I taught two step math problems to the
students. I felt like I was describing the color
magenta to a blind man. No matter how I read the
problem, or drew it out, or used manipulatives,
only a few of my students understood it.
FRUSTRATED.
Today we played a math review game. I allowed
the class to work in teams, but if I called on them
they had to be able to explain how they got their
answer. It went really well and I think many more
students are grasping the concepts that I am
teaching.
This morning we had a faculty meeting. Although
I was exhausted, it finally made it click that we are
becoming real teachers. Elisa had meetings all
day so I was able to teach the entire class. The
class was very receptive to my teaching style
which I feel is becoming similar to Elisas.
I really enjoyed attending the professional
development on our students with behavioral
problems (executive functioning). I felt that I
learned the most about my own classroom in that
hours time than in any other professional
development I have attended. I plan on applying
knowledge gained from this meeting to next
weeks instructional time with my students.

January 20, 2015

Not feeling much like myself today and I am

hoping that my students dont pick up on it. I am
trying to force a smile and hoping that this day
goes quickly. The clip chart is going well but that
honestly feels like the only thing that I can list as a
positive. Hoping for more strength tomorrow.

January 21, 2015

One of my students came in late today. She

looked like she hadnt slept all night and she was
grasping her stomach she was so hungry. We
were able to get her some left over breakfast from
the cafeteria. It is times like these that my life is
put in perspective.

January 22, 2015

January 23, 2015

January 26, 2015

January 27, 2015

January 28, 2015

January 29, 2015

I was observed today and not quite satisfied with

how things went. I feel like no matter how many
times I am told to not talk over my kids I keep
doing it. I just remember growing up in the same
grade and I would have never talked over my
teacher. I need to find something that works.

We had another PLC today and discussed results

from the quarter 3 pretest and discussed
reviewing for the quarter 2 post test. I will be
creating information on contractions to be used for
the student review.

Today I was sick got diagnosed with bronchitis. I

made sure to email Elisa with sub plans and
spent the rest of the day prepping for the rest of
the week and drinking lots of liquids.

Today we started doing three digit subtraction.

The lesson could not have gone any better. The
entire class seemed to get it and I felt very
successful. I taught them that, if there is more on
the floor go next door and borrow ten more.
They all were chanting it when they came across
problems that they needed to regroup.
I HATE MUSIC CLASS. The music teacher
literally plays youtube videos of different songs
the entire class. I cant believe that she has a job.
I am ashamed that I am losing out on instructional
time to a woman that cant even create a lesson
plan to help further the knowledge of my students.

I am continuing a lesson on Native Americans that

I am using in art, social studies, writing and
reading. Today the students had to create a
paragraph telling me what Native American name
they would choose, 3 reasons why they chose the
name and a concluding statement. I am having
them complete two drafts and a final copy. They
are very excited about this assignment.

January 30, 2015

February 2, 2015

Fridays always put me in a good mood. I

administered a spelling test, vocabulary test, math
drill test, and comprehension test. I made sure all
the grading was completed. I feel more and more
like a successful teacher. Elisa has completely
given me the reins and is nearly never in the
classroom.
This week I am focusing on getting the students to
stay at a reasonable noise level during work and
instructional time. In stead of talking over them, I
turn towards the clock and watch it. They hush
each other because they know that means I am
taking time from a fun activity. It worked really
well today.

February 3, 2015

Today I was observed during writing. I was really

excited to introduce the topic of persuasive
writing. I read the story, My Lucky Day. I then
had the students write a persuasive paper to
convince me whether or not we should have a
Valentines Day party. It actually went way better
then expected. They loved the activity and were
super engaged the entire time.

February 4, 2015

Since we didnt have music this week, we were

able to use the computer lab during that time. We
administered the SAGE math test. They did pretty
well. Elisa was really nice to calm me because I
felt that this specific test was an evaluation of my
teaching ability since it was the first major test
since I took over the classroom. I feel more
confident each day.

February 5, 2015

I chose to administer the language arts

vocabulary and comprehension test a day early.
The kids have done a really good job with their
vocal cards and story maps so I knew they were
ready. I had nearly a 100 percent average on
vocabulary and 90 on comprehensions. I chose
to read the questions and record 2 students
answers since their writing is illegible.

February 6, 2015

I have been really good at speaking up during

PLCs and giving my input even though I am just
the student teacher. My input has been well
received and I have been able to give ideas to the
other second grade team teachers that they have
decided to implement into their own classrooms.

February 9, 2015

February 10, 2015

February 11, 2015

February 12, 2015

February 17, 2015

Ive been reading our text for class and I cant

help but feel like my life is going through the
firehouse effect. One area is in shambles so
everything else is firing on full cylinders.
Sometimes I feel like I am just managing the day
to day. My kids are still succeeding and I am
getting everything done. I just feel sometimes like
I am drowning.
Tuesdays are definitely my most productive days.
I am able to get most of my copies done for the
week and all the planning because they go
straight from recess to P.E. I have far more
energy on Tuesdays than any other day of the
week.

Another music day The music teacher thought

it would be a grand idea to play duck, duck, goose
in a small room of 50+ second graders. Kids were
sprinting, and fall and shoving and all the same
students were getting picked over and over. I
informed my kids that if they didn't play correctly
they wouldnt get to play at all. The music teacher
essentially over ruled my statement and acted like
I had no say in the situation. funny enough we
are required to stay in the music room with the
kids to help with classroom management. Go
figure.
I threw a small Valentines Day party for the kids
since they wrote persuasive papers that
convinced me to do so. They were very well
behaved and we were able to complete all the
testing we needed to do prior to thrown the party.
Most the students received 100 percent on their
double digit subtraction drills test.
I was really worried about being observed after a
long weekend. After all, this Tuesday seemed like
a Monday. The kids were really good, but less
engaged then usual. We are starting a new unit
for social studies and the kids are very excited. It
is going to take a lot of work but be well worth it in
the end.

February 18, 2015

This week I am choosing to focus on grit,

especially with my student Nycoles. Nycoles
struggles with writing and therefore doesnt even
attempt to complete his writing assignments.
Today, I chose to show him an old assignment he
had completed (basically illegible) and a newer
assignment. When I showed him his growth, he
was much more determined to continue his hard
work.

February 19, 2015

My anxiety has been very bad lately (related to

the divorce). I try my hardest to not let it affect my
teaching. When the kids were at recess today, I
spent 10 minutes just crying in the room.
Sometimes I feel like I am just barely getting by,
but the days that the students tell me that they
love me really help encourage me to keep my
head up.

February 20, 2015

I LOVE FRIDAYS. The kids were so well behaved

today. I had to administer 4 spelling tests and
wanted to allot more time for the students to
complete their word study packets. I chose to
administer the four tests all at once by calling a
colored group and then saying their word. I told
the kids it was a spelling test as well as a test of
their ability to pay attention. They loved it and it
went really well and saved me time.

February 23, 2015

Today was the best day yet. I was able to talk to

my kids about the importance of allowing me time
to instruct them and in return they get the fun
activities that I plan. They were on their best
behavior when Verneita came in and I was offered
an open contract. I rarely set goals for myself and
say them out loud, but my whole family was aware
of how much I wanted to be offered an open
contract and I made it happen.

February 24, 2015

The kids are really enjoying learning about money

and time. I love this unit because it is easy to
make it authentic and integrate it. The kids come
up to me all day just to let me know what time it is.
It makes me excited to see how excited they are
getting about being able to do something new and
challenging.

February 25, 2015

February 26, 2015

February 27, 2015

March 2, 2015

March 3, 2015

It was another music day, but not so bad. The

kids were taught a Chinese New Year song. As
long as they are enjoying the class and learning
something I guess I cant really complain about it
anymore. We started a new unit on gratitude
(Jesss idea). The kids are learning to appreciate
the small things around them

We are digging deeper into the wax museum unit.

This week they completed their webs and began
writing their scripts. The kids are so excited to
find out more and more about their individual.
They love looking at how the person dressed and
how they died. I cannot wait for the final
performance.

In celebration of my open contract I planned a

pizza party for the kids today. They were able to
stay focused through all of their work and were
even behaved during the party. I saw a lot of
growth in the students that I worked with
individually on their math test. I like knowing that I
am making progress both with my teaching and
with my students.
It feels weird to be giving back control of the
classroom. Elisa is teaching math which allows
me more time to finalize the wax museum. The
kids are transitioning well and Cody began the
week with a good contract which isn't typical for
him. I hope the good things keep rolling in.

I was really lucky to be present for an IEP meeting

today. It was great experience to see how an IEP
meeting goes and the data that is collected and
shared. The mother kept insisting that Elisa and I
were angels for the extra effort we have put into
her child. It always feels nice to have my work
recognized.

I was not a huge fan of the presentation we

attended this morning. After talking with other in
the cohort it was determined that the information
shared had already been explained in previous
classes of our. I even worked as a therapeutic
recreational leader which allowed me even more
insight into working with students that have
autism, spina bifida, CP, behavioral and emotional
disturbance, etc. I was glad we got to get back in
the classroom that afternoon.

March 4, 2015

March 5, 2015

March 6, 2015

We spent a lot of time discussing final plans for

the wax museum. The kids are very excited and
even my students that struggle in writing are
putting their best effort into it. It is exciting to see
the progress being made. We discussed what we
want to do for our first moment of gratitude
tomorrow and it was decided that they would
clean up the playground to show how much they
appreciate that they are allowed to play on it.
We divided the class into two teams of trash
picker-uppers and headed out to clean the
playground. The kids ran around like crazy
people and actually gathered a lot of trash despite
it looking pretty pristine out there. After school we
had a PLC. We discussed getting a typing
program for our students to prepare them for
SAGE and so that they can begin using the
computers for research. Elisa came up to me to
let me know she greatly appreciates the high
expectations I set for our class. It seems that the
other second grade teachers go in with the mind
set of, the kids wont be able to do that and we
go in with the mindset, even if they just try they
are gaining the experience and can only improve.
We are continuing to progress into the final stages
of the wax museum. Speeches are being
memorized and we have begun to discuss
wardrobe options. Elisa is covering reading and
math while I continue to work on writing, science,
small groups and social studies. The time is
winding down quickly.

March 9, 2015

We are prepping the students for their upcoming

field trip. To incorporate an attitude of gratitude
the students wrote thank you letters to my mom
since she paid for our bus for the field trip.
March 10, 2015

Today we had an assembly, Carrie the

Cottonwood tree. The kids loved it and it turned
out to be very informative. They were well
behaved, which gives me hope for our upcoming
field trip.
March 11, 2015

March 12, 2015

March 13, 2015

March 16, 2015

We had a faculty meeting today in which we

discussed our projected enrollment for next year.
As it stand, we will have to surplus a teacher and
Elisa will most likely teach a split. It is interesting
to see the dynamics that go on outside of teaching
in the classroom.

Today was our usual Friday. We did a lot of

testing. The kids were well behaved and seem to
be transitioning well with Elisa back in the
classroom. We were able to do a fun experiment
with food coloring and white carnations. The kids
really enjoyed it and wrote up some great
summaries.
I feel like the kids can sense that its the beginning
of a short week, and surprisingly they are being
on their best behavior (not a typical Monday). I
am still teaching small groups and was able to
choose the way word study went this week since it
is a short week.

March 17, 2015

March 18, 2015

March 19, 2015

March 20, 2015

March 23, 2015

March 24, 2015

For St. Patricks day I taught a lesson about the

difference between chemical and physical
changes. I related it to the holiday and the kids
loved it. It was my most engaging lesson to date.

Today we took a field trip to the aquarium. It could

not have gone more smoothly. We had enough
parent chaperones to allow for Elisa and I to move
through with each group. My most engaged and
well behaved students were actually the ones that
struggle with their behavior in the classroom. I
was very thrilled with the outcome of the field trip.

Career Fair

Today was a SNAD. Each grade was put together

and given one of the three school rules to come
up with a lesson plan for. We were in charge of
staying on task and came up with a 4 day
procedure to teach it. I will be teaching it next
Thursday.

I cant believe it is our last Monday of student

teaching. The kids are very sad that I will be
leaving. I am finishing up work with each small
group and the classroom flow is slowly returning
to normal with Elisa as lead teacher.

We continued the typing program I introduced to

the class. They love it! There speed and
accuracy are improving which will also help them
with the SAGE test next year. I am glad that I had
confidence in my second graders being able to
complete the program.

March 25, 2015

March 26, 2015

March 27, 2015

Today I taught a lesson on the importance of

staying on task. I read a story aloud and then
broke the class up into 6 different groups. I
brought puppets so that they could perform a
readers theater. The activity was very engaging
and the kids performed well.

We were able to have an in-school field trip from

the aquarium. The aquarium brought in different
animals from different rainforests across the
world. The kids were very engaged and were
able to be on task and quiet enough to touch the
animals.

Today we did our culminating activity. The wax

museum went even better than expected. I had
the special education teacher in tears at how well
the kids performed. Only 2 students out of 24 did
not wear a costume and we quickly found props
that went along with their character. I could not
have asked for a better last day.