Overall Experience for the week was 4. This week I got to be in front of the band for a warm up. I felt like I did a really good job getting in front of the kids. It is so important to get in front of the kids now because when I start teaching even more they will be more comfortable with me. After seminar on Wednesday my CT and I started talking some more about the EdTPA and we both got a lot more comfortable with it. Next week I am going to continue working on the EDTPA as well as teaching my first lesson to my 2nd period class on Monday. From my last blog to now, I have gained a lot more confidence in front of the kids. I have done band warm-ups and have stepped in by making more comments. I also have been doing playing exams for the kids. I am really enjoying this because it allows me some individual time with the kids to get to know them and hear individual playing. Unfortunately this past weekend was labor day weekend, and I didn’t do a single thing. I now see I probably should have done something because this sunday I am going to be cramming a lot into that day. Which sucks because it is my only complete free day. As I mentioned before, this week I had a lot more confidence. However; I still was hesitant about stepping on my CT’s toes. Looking back I see more opportunities where I could have taken a larger role in the classroom, but I just let the drum majors do it or my CT. Going into next week I want the mental clutter of some personal issues gone as well as the EdTPA clutter. I feel a lot more confident about the planning part of EdTPA after the seminar on Wednesday. I am excited to teach my first mini lesson on Monday. After hearing the playing exams from the band, it has already started stirring ideas in my head for ways to help fix little things within rehearsal. I have been taking notecards and making comments for each student so I have them for the future. A piece of advice for fellow student teachers this week, is definitely do not forget to take some you time. It is very easy to be overtaken by all things school. (Especially those of us with high school marching bands).
NCTCS
Standard 1) This week I really felt like I led in the classroom. I was able to warm up the band a couple of times and write out exactly what I wanted to do during the warmup.
Standard 2) I attended my first booster board meeting this past Wednesday, and I was able to work collaboratively with some of my students parents. This was really cool for me, and they all liked one of my fundraising ideas.
Standard 3) Thursday during freshmen band I was watching my CT work with them on the show music and the saxophones were way out of tune. My CT made the comment, “I don’t know why you guys are so out of tune today.” So I replied back simply asking the students what reeds they were playing on? Turns out one sax was playing on a 3 reed and the other was on a two reed that he had just opened up. So I felt like I really knew my content because I was able to help solve the issue.
Standard 4) My CT and I have been having a little issue with communicating, just because I wasn’t sure his vision for me. So we sat down and talked some stuff out. It felt good being able to communicate effectively.
Standard 5) This week I have incorporated KWL charts into a weekly reflection for myself. This is going to be super helpful for reflecting on my practice.
This week I haven’t worked on my portfolio as much as EdTPA. I took the handbook and read through it several times, highlighting the important pieces to help me gain a better understanding of EdTPA. Now that I have this understanding I am ready to start in on some of those pieces of EdTPA. Lastly, I just want to give a huge THANK YOU to Dr. Soja. You’re so helpful and we couldn’t do this without you!
Katie,
ReplyDeleteIt's great you are establishing your presence in the classroom. This will build confidence for you and the students! Also, it is so true that it is important to have "you" time. Although our schedules are very busy, I find my productivity is higher when I take some personal time, even if it is for a short while.
Your idea of a PLC for our class was great. We can definitely encourage each other throughout this process.
I hope this week goes great for you!
Chrysalis
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI'm so excited that you've taken a bigger role and started getting in front of the kids. As you get more comfortable with them and listening, I'm sure you'll be able to tell their distinctive sound from others, which is an AWESOME trait. Its so cool when it happens too! :) It'll also help you get a bigger level of confidence and allow the students to trust you more! I'm excited you're getting to do stuff. I could definitely use some more explaining of the EdTPA stuff, so i'm sure we could make a trade off with something. Also, your school did great at Fanfare! I know you were super nervous and concerned about it, but you all did wonderful and I loved every inch of the color guard uniforms!
Have a good rest of your week!
-Heaven
DeleteWe can totally take some time to talk about EdTPA. I do feel a little more confident with it! Let me know!
Katie
Katie,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you're getting fully immersed at your school, and that's really exciting. You seemed to have some really good opportunities to get to know the kids, and their playing, some band parents, and also to show off your band "skillz" to the CT. That's so cool. Anyway, Labor day was nice to have off, but for me it threw a real wrench into my "normal schedule," whatever that is? And it seemed like it did for you too. I hope this week, we can get back into the swing of things. I'm glad you've spent some time getting started on EdTPA, that is something I should probably spend a little bit more time doing. Anyway, what was the fundraiser idea that you shared with the band parents?
-Adam
DeleteMy idea was that we could ask some staff members if they would be willing to be pied in the face. So at some sporting event people could put money in a jar that represented a teacher. The teacher whose jar had the most money would be pied in the face at the halftime of that game. They seemed to really like my idea! Thanks for asking!
Katie
Katie,
ReplyDeleteI read your blog on Wednesday, and thought that I had responded to you I'm sorry this response is happening so late! Seeing you on Thursday let me see a lot of the evidence that you're starting to collect for your binder, and also to see the context in which you're working. Getting to experience the school, see the layout of the band room, and meet your CT briefly lets me have a good idea of how the pieces you talk about on your blog fit into the whole.
The fundraising idea that you shared with Adam is actually something really similar to something we did at my high school growing up for the Muscular Dystrophy Association. We used to do "Kiss the Pig". There were buckets for each teacher, and the top three earners had to kiss a pig. There were also TONS and TONS of side bets among teachers, teachers and their classes, etc. to raise money for the cause. It was really awesome. Students in high school and teachers that have a great rapport LOVE to get into these types of contests, and they can be very lucrative. I think because the community at Stuart Cramer is all at this newer school, and there seems to be a lot of positive energy, that that could be really fantastic!
Since communication between CTs has been on my radar a lot lately, just remember to always be open, respectful, and honest, and you've done your part in maintaining the relationship in a positive light. Mentoring and being mentored is a really interesting, but ultimately, very rewarding relationship. But, especially when people haven't done it before, and during each new mentor/mentee relationship, you have to establish trust and communication procedures. I'm glad to hear that the situation feels better now!
Keep up the work. Do something you enjoy, but schedule your work so that you can enjoy the end of the semester!