Student Teaching Weekly Log

Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student
teaching supervisor by Sunday evening.

Name: Kevin Potts

Week: 8

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
* This week was relatively laid back. It was the week before spring break and there
were only three days of class time. Thursday was a day devoted to students learning
about classes in high school and developing their 4 year plans. On Monday through
Wednesday, students were allowed time to finish up their packets on the presidencies
of John Adams and Thomas Jefferson on Google Classroom. There was no direct
teaching to be done. Instead, my responsibility was to answer any questions that the
students had about the packets.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
* I really enjoyed seeing how students are now turning to me to ask questions and get
help. Before, they had been hesitant to approach me with questions, but now its
natural for them. So seeing that was a satisfying experience. The most challenging
experience was keeping students focused on their work.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
* The week after Spring Break, we will be conducting our assessments in the form of
oral interviews. We will also be watching a documentary on Lewis and Clark and the
Corps of Discovery.

Name: Kevin Potts

Week: 9

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
* During this 9th week of student teaching, I have finally taken on all the roles of a
teacher at Stilwell Junior High. I am teaching bell-to-bell and am truly loving it.
Throughout this week, I have been conducting oral assessments over the first 3
presidencies in the form of interviews with each and every student. I would take them
individually out in the hall and ask them a series of questions, and grade them based
on their responses and whether or not they fully grasped the material. On Thursday
and Friday, we did quite a bit of group reading, over Zebulon Pikes journey,
Tecumsehs speech, and James Madisons appeal to Congress for the purpose of war. I
also introduced a new assessment over the War of 1812 in the form of paintings and/or
visual documents that they will need to analyze in depth. I also had the opportunity to
co-teach a class with another student teacher in order to differentiate for students with
special needs.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
* The most satisfying experience this week was by far being able to take the reins, so
to speak. It was challenging however to teach classes when my mentor teacher was
out of the room.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
* Next week we are continuing with our visual assessments on the War of 1812. After
that, we will dive right into the presidencies of James Monroe and John Quincy
Adams.

Name: Kevin Potts

Week 10

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
* During this 10th week of student teaching, I have continued to teach full time in the
classroom. The last five days have been over the War of 1812 and the presidencies of
James Monroe and John Quincy Adams. For each lesson, I had significant time in
front of the class where I used interactive lecturing techniques along with video and
group reads. And to be honest, I got way more student participation than I expected. I
was also expected to prepare and grade assessments on the War of 1812, which proved
to work out well.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
* The most satisfying experience this week was the student participation I got from
interactive lectures. I could see that they were connecting with the material. Some of
them even had questions after class about the material that they stayed after the bell to
ask. That just warmed my heart. The most challenging experience was trying to keep
each class at the same relative pace. Some classes got ahead of others, and that proved
to be challenging.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
* Next week we are beginning our assessment on the Age of Jackson. The project will
be a political cartoon that each student will design on one aspect of his presidency.
There will also be Career Day on Tuesday.

Name: Kevin Potts

Week: 11

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
* During this 11th week of student teaching, I have continued to teach full time in the
classroom. The last five days have been interesting for sure. Tuesday was Stilwell
Junior Highs Career Day, so that Monday was devoted to preparation for it. My
mentor teacher showed a power point on the past Iowa governor, Chet Culver, who
would be speaking the next day. Students also had to conduct individual research on
his political career. So for that day, I basically just facilitated. On Career Day, I helped
direct students to their stations and take attendance at each step of the way. Then, on
Wednesday, I summed up where we left off the last week with Monroe and John
Quincy Adams, and then launched into the Age of Jackson. On that day, I assigned
their Jackson study guide and Jackson assessment, both due on Monday of the next
week. The assessment came in the form of a political cartoon covering one issue of
the Jackson administration. On Thursday, I had an external observation at Valley High
School. Then on Friday, I showed the second half of a video on Jackson, had an
interactive lecture, and then let students work on their assignments.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
* The most satisfying experience this week was helping out with Career Day. I got to
see students in a different setting and I was able to help facilitate what some of the

guest speakers wanted to get done in their various talks. Plus, I got to meet Governor
Chet Culver, which was pretty cool.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
* Next week we are finishing up the Age of Jackson and then preparing for the DBQ
on the war with Mexico. I am looking forward to teaching about DBQs and the
writing skills necessary for them.