Document Collection and Reflection

Type of Document: Language Arts/Reading document Date: 03/12/14 What kind of document did you collect? I collected a document that the students are given at the first of every week. It is a reading contract.

Time: 8:00

What does this document show? It has nine objectives on it that the students can choose from. The students have to choose four out of the nine to complete for the week. One or two are mandatory and they get to choose the rest. As they complete the task they cross it out and put it in their reading folder to turn in at the end of the week.

Reflection: What are your thoughts/opinions about this document? I really loved this idea and thought the students are able to own it because they choose. It makes them more accountable. I don't know if I would have the mandatory items on it. I think I would try to include them into another area so that way the children have a choice in all of them. It makes them more accountable for their work if they choose what to do. Even though this is for a 3rd grade class, I think it could be implemented in other age groups or even other curriculum areas. This would be a good way to teach children what a contract is also, this would make a good social studies lesson. Maybe do it for math one week and reading the next to kind of give them variety and more choices. When a child has a choice they usually will work harder on it.

Interview Protocol
Teacher Interviewer: April Chavis Interviewee: CT Teacher AB Date: 03/03/14 Time: 3:00 (These are sample questions. Please add your own questions to learn more about your specific classroom. This interview should take place in your initial meeting, prior to the two week intensive). Planning Questions:

How do you write a typical lesson plan?

There is no particular structure this year. The layout includes the date, Common Core Objective, Learning Objective, Plan, Materials and Assessment.

What types of materials do you need available when you plan lessons?
Books, paper, internet, Common Core pacing guide for what needs to be taught still and refocused on. It could be different objectives for each group of students.

In what ways do you plan to accommodate individual differences in the classroom?

Small groups, partner low-medium or medium high, teamwork, and one-on-one progress monitored every day. Instructional Questions:

What are some of your instructional challenges as a teacher?

Making sure you are hitting the low enough for them to get it but rigorous enough to challenge them and hit 3rd grade objectives to cover EOG criteria.

What have been some of your instructional successes as a teacher?

Starting the year with no students on grade level but now I have 7 on grade level. Some went from K to 3rd grade level in one year. Seeing them have confidence in reading to a lower grade level child.

What do you consider essential characteristics for successful teaching?

Studying, teamwork and have strict expectations and discipline.

How often do your students receive social studies/science instruction?

hour a day every 2 weeks for science and then hour every day for two weeks in social studies, alternating.

Are you satisfied with the amount of time that you currently allot for social studies/science
instruction? Explain. Yes, I think the time is good and you can cover a lot in two weeks and you are not loading them down with two different subjects at the same time. Its good that it alternates.

What social studies and science topics/units will be studied during the second week of my
clinical experience? What are possible goals/objectives I could address for my lessons? Do you have any instructional resources that would support these goals/objectives? Social Studies will focus on people, places, ideas that change over time. But it ends the first week of your clinical and then science begins and focuses on earth, sun and moon. Some

resources are Pinterest, Lucy Calkins and Laura Candler sites and Common Core worksheets.

What does reading instruction look like in your classroom (e.g. readers workshop, basals, etc.)?

What reading topics will be studied during the 2nd week of my clinical experience? What are possible goals/objectives I could address for my reading lesson? Do you have any instructional resources that would support these goals/objectives? Reader's workshop and rotations. They will be working on compare and contrast, you can use a Venn diagram.

Classroom Management Questions:

What motivation tactics do you use to ensure a desire to learn?

Make it fun, pump it up, get them engaged, movement

Tell me about the classroom community.

What are the class rules? How is student behavior monitored? In what ways is positive behavior reinforced? In what ways are negative behaviors prevented? Tell me about the consequences for negative behavior. The class is set up into four tables with a couple of students desks pulled out for more one on one work. Respect yourself and others. Raise your hand if you have a question. Thumbs up or down when checking partners answers. Wait to be called on. The children have a treasure box and earn classroom extras when they are on point. Negative behaviors have to go to a time out table and write about what they did and reflect on it as well as write apologies to anyone that was involved whether it be a teacher or a student. aspects of timewait time, and time using teacher talk and student talk. What works well with your students? There is a student schedule for subjects that we try to stay on time with. The students all have time to work on guided or independent practice for each subject and time for teacher and student interaction. Students also have independent time at the end of the day to work on anything they were unable to complete.

Tell me about the pacing of lessons and interaction in the classroom- use of time- and other

Reflection: I really enjoyed meeting my Clinical Teacher. She is a 3rd year teacher with this being the first year teaching third grade. The classroom is clustered and she has EC and lower level students in her classroom. She was very helpful with ideas and resources to look at to get ideas for my lesson plans. She also told me what the class would be focusing on during the week I would be teaching my lessons. Even though the school did not have a specific structure to the lessons, she included what is typically used in a direct instruction lesson. She also was able to provided some document samples to help me with my lessons. Her room was covered with words and literacy guides to help the children with their writing and math skills. She was warm and welcoming and excited about being able to work with me.