Week of Reflection: 10/14/16

I rate this week a 3. It has been kinda an 'eh' week. I have really been struggling with all of the responsibilities. I feel like I am barely hanging on and I hate that feeling. All of these things I am responsible for at school are happening because of marching band. But I am conflicted because I still am a student and have all of these assignments. Just where is the balance? because right now I don't have any. The best part of this week was me talking to all the flutes and we are going to have a flute choir. This will be a flute choir of 12 people including myself! Non of the flute students have ever played on the bigger flutes before so I am excited to be able to give them this opportunity! This week I conducted more in front of the wind ensemble and I continue to gain more confidence. My biggest issue still deals with trust, the seniors of this program have a lot of ownership because they have built this program up. They were the first freshmen of the band and have been here all 4 years, so most of the seniors don't really trust me. That is where I have apprehension because the seniors act like I do things so wrong when I come up on the podium. I am hesitant in correcting seniors specifically because I always feel tension. If anyone has suggestions for that please let me know??!?!? One of my PDP goals is to gain more instructional technique for brass instruments and I found an article discussing how to help brass players move air. Which is what really controls most issues with brass instruments. I found the article very helpful and I took some of the info into mind for my next lesson. This week I used all my time wisely in one way another. What it boils down to is, should I sacrifice basic needs, like laundry, making food, and sleep. I rarely take time for myself soI am struggling in that aspect as well. Next week I must finish EdTPA. For data this week, I have really focused in on my freshman band and how they struggle reading music. So next week I am going to have a class period dedicated to working on sight-reading. Fellow student teachers, only advice I have taking away from this week is make sure you keep your laptop charged cause I forgot to charge it and it cutout on me during class one day this week. 

NCTCS:

1) This week I really felt like I got to demonstrate leadership because I ran the entire marching band rehearsal during class on Tuesday. 

2c) We have a string bass player who often feels let out because we don't really focus on him a lot since he isn't a "typical concert band" instrument. So I really wanted to make sure he knew his worth in this band and I made an effort to get him actual bass parts to all his music (instead of baritone) and I also got him music to audition for all-district and the south-central orchestra. 

3b) I am focused on getting techniques to help brass. That is a priority for me right now. 

4e) The bands only pit player in the marching band was having trouble identifying wrong notes when he played. So I worked with him separately and asked posing questions to get him to come to his own conclusions about what was wrong.

5) I am still doing my weekly KWL charts and I love reading what I have written week to week. 

Most of my focus is still on EdTPA. My CE is doing fine. I just am looking forward to Monday when we all meet at Dr. Soja's home. 

Weekly Reflection: 10/07/16

This week I rate a 4. I had a pretty awesome week! The only reason it isn't a 5 is because Friday all day in school was just a nightmare. The hurricane caused a lot of rain predicted for Friday so they moved our homecoming game to Thursday. (Thursday games are the worst.) This week was my schools homecoming, so we had spirit week and the pep rally. I had my first observation this week and it went really well!! That made my week because I had been feeling very lost in this process. I know I still have lots to do, but at least now I know everything I have been doing is right on target. Everything from this past week has gotten me excited to teach more for sure! The kids are really starting to trust me more. They are becoming more vulnerable with me and we are making music. I have finished my professional development plan and am getting it all signed. This week I spent a lot of time focused on getting ready for my observation and EdTPA, so the portfolio has taken the back burner for sure. I'm hoping it doesn't stay there until the very end... I know one thing I could have spent less time doing is watching tv. (I had to get caught up on walking dead, having some regrets now lol) My biggest apprehension this week was giving suggestions for improvement for our guard. We don't have an instructor who comes regularly, I have gotten a few people o come in and help when they can. But I had 2 freshmen guard members come and ask me about a toss and I simply didn't know what to say. Next week I need to get the mental clutter of everything out except EdTPA. I HAVE TO FINISH THAT. In freshman band I ran over the song we were playing for homecoming, and I noticed that our mellophone player has terrible habits. So I want to take it upon myself to try and learn more about brass and how to better help him. You guys can you believe we are almost halfway done with student teaching???? I am shocked that it's October, but honestly ready to get my diploma. 

NCTS: 

1) I participated in spirit week and prepared the music for the pep rally at school this week.

2c) We have one student who is really into tv shows, and she always comes to tell us about her shows she has been watching. So this week I told her about a show I watch, (which she also watches) and I just felt like we bonded talking about that show. 

3a) While writing my EdTPA plans I have found specific standards that work for each lesson. 

4d) I have a student in my freshmen band who struggles with reading notes, so I asked my CT if we could bring the chrome book charts down and work for 20 mins or so everyone on some note identification. 

5b) I wrote a section in my PDP about strengthen this standard in particular. I don't just want to go to professional development because I half to. I want to make sure I gain something from the experience. 

As I mentioned above, I have mainly focused on this weeks observation and EdTPA. We both are fine and I am looking forward to Monday's seminar class.

Week of Refelction: 09/30/16

This week I rate a 4. 

Thursday I introduced my concert band piece to the wind ensemble. We warmed-up and sightread Cajun Folk Songs. (I'm really upset because I had everything set up to record and when I went to watch the video afterwards it didn't record!!! :((((( ) but I have made my reflections for this lesson and I overall was not that please with it. My CT has an extremely hard time with letting go of control. So all during my lesson he kept interjecting and it felt like he wasn't giving me any opportunities to fail or even succeed. Afterwards my CT and I talked and I told him that I am never going to feel comfortable with this band if he doesn't let go some and give me a chance. He said he was just so worried and nervous about me messing up, he didn't want me to fail. I just encouraged him to let me do it and him give comments afterwards because I have to see what it feels like as the teacher, rather than the student teacher who is always under his wing. So Friday he gave me the whole freshmen band class period and it went so well! I really began connecting with the students and they were seeing more as the teacher. After this my CT gave me comments and it just overall was so much better. This past week I just spent a lot of time preparing for class time and I haven't had chances to work on any portfolio material. It is really starting to be crunch time and I wonder how I am supposed to play for classes, do portfolio requirements, and plan EdTPA all at the same time. I have to have time to sleep and eat! haha I didn't have any moments this week where I didn't have confidence. However; when teaching I told myself to just have confidence because my last time in front of the freshman band it wasn't that good. I just told myself "you do know what you're talking about and you are their teacher" this made me feel so much better being in front of them this time. Next week it is my goal to have everything completed for my EdTPA lesson plans. I'm worried about getting this part of student teaching complete because it is a lot to tackle. In wind ensemble we sightread my piece and I discovered this band doesn't sightread well, so I want to try and incorporate that into some of my instruction. Fellow student teachers, no advice really, just can you believe we are almost half way done????

NCTCS:

1a) I felt like I really had command of the classroom this past week in wind ensemble/freshmen band and I was leading them to getting ready for middle school band night.

2a) Indoor drumline season is about to start and I did some research to get info for auditioning for the limestone saints indoor percussion. This is because we have two percussionists who aren't challenged enough in our class, so I wanted to give them an opportunity to be in another environment to learn.

3d) This was something silly and simple; but in freshman band we have a stands tune where you have to say HUH! at the end of it and non of the students were doing it because they thought it was lame. So when we were playing it and we got to the part I "dabbed" and all the students laughed and they began saying the HUH! and dabbing lol

4g) This week my CT and I have had countless conversations trying to get on the same page when I am in front of the class. Slowly but surely we are getting there.

5) My video camera did not record my lessons, something is up with it. So directly after my lessonI went and wrote down everything that happened so I would have it and I reflected.

I didn't really do much with the portfolio this week. My CT and I are okay. Just whenever Dr. Soja you come out for my first observation just let me know! I hope everyone had a good week!

Week of Reflection: 09/23/16

This week was a 5 for me because this week was so much better than last. This week wasn't perfect but overall it just was a great week. I really didn't do much with the classes this week, my CT has been really focused on getting the band ready for our first competition this Saturday. But I have been able to get some work completed on my portfolio and EdTPA. That is slowly working, I am having a hard time with deciding on what to do lesson wise on that. This week has also been nice because we haven't had as many commitments. Just after school rehearsals where I felt like I have been contributing in a good way. My CT and I have devised a way for me to commentate and the students will actually listen to me. Rather than me just making comments and they not listening or whatever. But he will say, "Ms. Duncan what did you think of that? or Ms. Duncan any comments?" So he sets the stage for me to be able to make suggestions and comments and me practice hearing other things that I am not used to. He encourages me to listen to brass more. I usually try to post my blog up before Sunday so I have more time for other things on Sunday, but I have had a busy Friday and Saturday. As I mentioned before, We took the band to their first competition at Enka High School Saturday and we got 2nd in class 2AA out out 5 bands. So I am proud of the students for all of their hard work. With getting my first band competition under my belt now I need to focus heavily on EdTPA. This past week I have been struggling with my eyes, terrible headaches so I have spent most of my free time sleeping than doing work. I have schedule an eye exam this next week so I am hoping I will feel better to do more work. This past week I have really been feeling like I don't know what I am doing with this whole student teaching requirements. I am terrified that I am forgetting something important or that I haven't been doing enough. My situation just makes it so that I don't get much control of the class so I don't feel like I am doing what I need to. Not sure if anyone else is feeling like this? But next week I will be getting some class time which I am excited but very nervous about. I will be starting my concert band piece. Fellow student teachers, I took the time this past week to talk to the chorus teacher of my school and I got a new friend as well as some good advice. I encourage those of you who have that counterpart to introduce yourself! If anything you will have another friendly face around the school. 

NCTCS:

1) At the competition my CT put me in charge of the kids for getting them dressed and ready for warm-up. I really had o use leadership for this to make sure everyone was ready to go and where they were supposed to be. 

2e) This past week at our evening rehearsal I was with my CT when he was talking to the band parents who help with the pit crew. It was a good experience for me to be there to see all of the parent involvement needed for things like that and also finding parents to pull the band trailer and help out. 

3) I didn't really do much with this standard this past week. Although, I did help our new bass clarinet player with  some wrong notes in his part. 

4f) This week for our playing exams, I gave my CT the idea to have the students work in teams creating quartets/quintets to play for us so everyones part was exposed. This actually went very well.

5c) At the competition, I met a lot of other band directors and got to talk with them professionally. I feel like this fit for 5c because there was a lot going on at the competition. 

For the most part I have started every piece of the portfolio but haven't finished all of it.My CT and I seem to be doing okay wit everything. I honestly just need a one on one with Dr. Soja to make sure I am on track. I believe I am being observed this coming week so that will make a good opportunity for that. 

Week of Reflection: 09/16/16

This week was a tough week so I have to give it a 2. This week I taught my first mini lesson to my 2nd period class, which is the freshmen band. I felt like some of them responded well to me and others didn't even blink an eye. After teaching this lesson, (I still need to finish watching the video for this lesson) but I am getting a better feel for this class and I know some things that I want to focus on for the next time I am in front of them. This week has been hard on really everyone in the band, and my CT. It seems like nothing is going right. We have had 3 band members get suspensions with school and my CT's car got broken into and his laptop was stolen. All of this has really taken a tole on everyone and you can see that in class and rehearsals. So I am hoping going into next week we can get back on track because our first competition of the season is next Saturday for the Enka Marching competition. So to be completely honest I feel like most of my time this week was spent going to meetings. I had a full day Monday,Tuesday, and Wednesday it went: School, Practice, and then a meeting/sports duty. I get why we need to go to these things because we need to see what it is like being a band director, however; one added element we have that our CT's don't is our portfolio and class assignments. Maybe I am complaining right now, but I feel like I haven't had time to work on any assignments this week because I have been doing ll this extra stuff. Something has got to give with this? Do we have to go to EVERYTHING? This has just made my week frustrating for me. This weeks apprehension has definitely been in making comments on the music. Early in the week I was helping and trying t make comments and suggestions but none of the students listened to me, so I had a moment of "why am I even here then???" So because of these actions from the students I just stopped giving comments and just sat on the side. I later talked to my CT about my frustrations and he basically told me if no one listened to me again we all would just have a pow-wow with the particular students. Next week I definitely want to go into it without all the baggage of this tough week. Some data I looked at from the freshmen band is going to help me with their future lessons. Small things such as, one clarinet player is extremely shy, so discussion based is hard for her. I need to make sure I incorporate a chance for her to write down rather than speak our to the class. Fellow student teachers, I want you you all to know that you know a lot more than you think. You will surprise yourself with what you do know. We have been trained well at GWU.

NCTS

1e) I had the misfortune to be in the "teachers lounge" when I overheard a group of teachers complaining about the administration. I was shocked to hear them talking about this at school. I didn't want to be a part of this, so I went to a different place to eat my lunch. I feel like me making the decision to leave was demonstrating high ethical standards. 

2) I still have not gotten 504/IEP information; however my CT and I have discussed a student in our class who was adopted from the Ukraine. He said she was extremely shy and had a hard time talking to others and making friends. Having this information I am going to make every effort going forward to treat her as an individual and make her feel welcome.

3d) I had a student ask me why we stand at attention for the national anthem, and that was one thing that helped spark me to do the lesson on the Star Spangled Banner that I did this week. So I felt like I was really making this relevant to the students. 

4d) I had a lot of fun this week researching technology tools to implement in the classroom. I finished up the technology evidences part of my portfolio. 

5b) Not sure if this counts, but us student teachers started a group chat and I am loving it. 

This week has been tough so I haven't gotten much done. My CT and I are doing pretty well right now just trying to move forward from this past week. It was good seeing you this past week Dr. Soja at Stuart Cramer, I hoped you liked the school! 

Week of Reflection 09/09/16

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! 

Week of Reflection: 09/02/16

My overall week I would have to give it a 4! I'd say it was a good week, getting to know my schedule as well as be in the classroom with the kids was very exciting for me. A very pleasant surprise for me was in my 1st period class, percussion. I was worried about being able to teach them so my CT and I had a discussion about how most of it was rhythm. So Thursday in class while my CT was working with them I actually assisted and felt confident in what I was saying. This week I really had to learn that even though I am the student teacher, my CT does want me to start making comments and assisting more. So that is something I want to aim for next week. Instead of just observing, I want to start helping sections at a time when needed. Also to not be afraid/nervous but have more confidence when speaking to the whole band. I don't have my SMART Goals or PDP created yet for goals. But that is something my CT and I have decided we are going to make ours similar because he has to have the same thing for his job. This week I have felt very productive! I have tried to make myself be pro-active with the student teaching experience. I really have no time to waste because I have stuff every evening dealing with the band, including some Saturdays. My biggest apprehensions thus far in the process would definitely have to be me stepping on my CT's toes. He is very particular with the way things are done. Him and I had a conversation about the fact he has to get used to me being around because he isn't used to having student teacher. So he said he would be conscious of me being here but I also have to step up and take initiative. Going into next week I really want to start hashing out some of the harder assignments in the portfolio. I want to have sort of a timeline for myself for these assignments. I have already started a lot of pieces of the portfolio and finished the things I could do now, such as the website, and leadership/collaboration project. Right now things are going pretty smoothly, I am still just trying to process everything and get used to being at the school like it's a full time job, rather than just classes. Also what would everyone thinking about all of us creating a PLC with a mission, vision, and some goals? I know this really helped me in Ed 316.

NCTCS:
Standard 1: This week I really was not heavily involved in the classroom. However; I felt like all times in front of the class I demonstrate high ethical standards at all time. 

Standard 2: I am beginning to get to know the students on an individual level. So I feel like this will help me in the future to treat them as individuals. 

Standard 3: I typed up a document with all of the NCTCS so I will have them by my desk. This will also help with adding pieces in my binder for these standards. 

Standard 4: This week I signed up to use plickers within my classroom. This will be an awesome technology tool to use within the classroom. 

Standard 5: I feel very accomplished ad excited for the NCMEA conference. This week I signed up to attend this awesome professional development!