Wrapping it all up

Well I just finished my last day of full-time teaching. Of course on my final day I get sick! I managed to pull through, but it was probably the roughest day I've had. I get to spend this weekend writing my version of the narrative. I like the idea of writing my own narrative for my CTs to read and perhaps use parts for the final narrative. This allows me to say things that I want to make sure is mentioned in my narrative. Now if I can only feel better to write this narrative! These next two weeks I am going to take full advantage of my time. I am planning on visiting other grades to see what it might look like in Kindergarten and in 5th grade. By seeing the different grades, I am hoping to have a better understanding of the spectrum of learning which takes place K-5. This will also provide with me a chance to ask the "silly" questions like how to address the students. Alright, I better get started on my narrative! Good luck to everyone else who is finishing up!

Pedagogy Answer!

Well, in response to my own previous blog about my pedagogy lessons and perspectives, I happened to be talking to the librarian and she found some great resources for me! There are books that have two stories in it with different perspectives. It takes known stories (The Little Red Hen, Billy Goat Gruffs, etc.) and tells the story with someone else's perspective! I was so excited when she told me about these. We have I think 4 or 5 books, so I am going to do a small mini-unit about perspectives! These will be great read-alouds during the short half days due to conferences. It pays to mention the right thing at the right time to the right person!

Full-Time Planning

I apologize to everyone for missing the meeting yesterday. I was so wrapped up in planning for my full-time teaching, that I completely forgot about the meeting. I hadn't even realized I missed it until the following day when I was asked where I was. So sorry about that!

In regards to planning, I am getting ready for full-time teaching next week. Right now I am trying to stay on top of things and plan for next week. I am working with my cooperating teachers to get some of the DRAs complete this week as they need to be ready for report cards and conferences.

I am very excited about full-time teaching even though I more or less have been solo-teaching this week as well. It is nice to take things in to my own hands, but at the same time I need to make sure I am covering all of my bases. I think the number one thing I worry about it, is teaching during conference time. Since I will have been with the students more recently than my cooperating teachers have been, I might have more insight to how the students may change during the next 3-4 weeks. However, this just pushes me to ensure that I have evidence to show the students' progress over the next several weeks.

Well, I better get back to planning before other day is over.

Science- Pebbles, Silt, and Sand

Since the beginning of the school year my second graders and I have been learning all about rocks. After putting science off for over a week, we finally got back to it today. The lesson today was to examine various types of sandpaper and discuss how rocks are used in everyday life. Since we had put off science for such a long period of time, I asked the students to review the types of rocks which we have previously studied. This was a great assessment of my students. Luckily the students were able to tell me all the rocks we have looked at and in order of size. I was very happy with what I heard! YAY! It is always nice to notice when the students have retain information which you have taught! This also reiterates the importance of activating prior knowledge on a consistent basis to have an ongoing assessment of the students.

Follow up to previous post

In response to my previous post, I didn't intend for it to sound like you have to be of a different ethnicity to have a different view point. I just re-read what I wrote and got that impression. So, I just wanted to let everyone know that it was not my intentions.

Pedagogy Lessons

Well I have been sitting here trying to pick my brain and figure out a good lesson that would provide my students with an opportunity to see different perspectives/view points. I am thinking of doing a read-aloud of one of Eve Buntings' books. She writes many different controversial stories that I think for second grade would be grade level appropriate.

With such young students, I want to hit something that is meaningful but not too complex. All of my students are Caucasian, with one Chinese student who was adopted in to a white family as an infant. I don't know. Things are still up in the air, just trying to brainstorm something that can hit multiple of the complex sections of the pedagogy.

Anyone have any suggestions?