My glass is very much half-full! As I'm typing this, my students are watching CNN student news after finishing their summative for my ten-day unit. So I'm done with that, and I got done filming for EdTPA yesterday. Putnam will also be on break Friday through Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to actually getting some relaxation in over the break.
Actually I'll be doing work over the break, but I'm thankful I have accomplished as much as I have and that I seem to be pacing myself better than last semester.
I guess if there's anything "negative" I could report on it's that I'm really exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. I just feel like I've been giving and giving and giving and giving toward becoming a teacher; not just in this program but for years. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I'm ready to get something. I'm ready to stop saying "When I get my own classroom" and actually having a classroom. It's just becoming really tough to keep pressing forward.
But I'm still hanging tough and I am still fighting :)
I totally feel you on being exhausted on all levels. I will always argue that being a student teacher is just as challenging as being an "actual" teacher. It is difficult in different ways but there's something to be said about having your own classroom, your own set of rules, expectations, etc. That day will come soon enough. On our worst days, it will be nice to look back and remind ourselves just how much we fought to become teachers.
P.S. You really shouldn't let your students watch fake news ;)
I know the feeling. I cannot wait to be a teacher and finally reap the rewards of my struggles, passion, and work. I have been a student for SOOO LONG. I'm anxious to not only to finish this chapter in my life, but begin the next book.
I can relate to wanting to be done with student teaching. I went to lunch with a small group of teachers last week and they were very sympathetic with us about how much extra work we have on top of student teaching. Every teacher i've talked to has told me that it gets so much better and it really isn't as difficult as it seems once you have had your own classroom for a couple of years. That gives me hope!
It's tough to say. I am starting to recover from my mental break down from last week. I am still anxious about EdTPA, which I begin next week. I think I am going to feel very relieved after March 15th.
I spoke to my favorite teacher from high school this week and he gave me some much needed solace. Hearing from him was encouraging and made me realize how much different things will be when I actually get a job.
I feel your pain and anxiety completely when it comes to EdTPA. I just finished earlier today and with that being said, the waiting is the worst part. Once you start your lessons, the relief comes more and more each passing day to the point where the last day is just another day at the office. With each passing day, you can definitely review and reflect about what went well and what you need to make sure to include the next day of filming. I've learned that I had to improvise and revise from my original plan many a times during this week so my best advice is to just take it day by day; thinking of the whole week at once will drive you insane. Good luck brother and you got this!
I am most definitely looking forward to March 15th. Just think about that date and know that it will all be over with soon despite how frustrating it is right now.
Honestly my glass is looking pretty shattered at the moment . This entire week I have been dealing with feelings of unsureness.
I feel like I'm super far behind everyone else with my timeline (I just started my ten day on Monday). You guys that are finished are the real MVP's.
My unit itself is going well, my students are responding great to everything! I incorporated inquiry activities for almost every day, and the students love it. They come in each day asking "what are we experimenting with today, Ms. Cooper?!"
While I feel like I'm doing well as a teacher in the classroom, I feel like I'm sucking as a student in the program. I'm continuously feeling unsure about my plans and whether or not I have everything I need for Dr. J and edTPA. I constantly feel like I'm forgetting something. Or that when I start writing papers and commentary I'll realize I left out something major and I'll be screwed.
I just want to be a teacher so bad and I feel like there are a hundred barriers I have to jump through to get there.
Macey I feel your pain completely with all the barriers; It's started to drive me insane with how many obstacles we have to encounter just to prove that we would be decent teachers (even though we all already are more prepared and qualified than most teachers in the educational system already). Don't worry about being behind because I feel like you are definitely not alone on that and that fact that students are responding positively to your lesson/activities already will make the time and stress fly by even faster! I agree with you that I feel like a pretty decent teacher, but like a terrible student whenever we have classes in Milledgeville. We got this and just gotta keep moving forward! Stay positive!
Macey, I understand your feelings all too well. I have been fighting breakdowns all week. I second guess myself more than I ever have, the constant worry that I will miss something and then all my work will be for nothing. We can't let ourselves think that way. It has taken an incredible amount of work to get here, and the finish line is just around the corner. You can do this. We can do this. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
I can almost promise you that you aren't behind, I think everyone's feeling that a bit. I just started my ten day unit as well. I do understand the feeling of trying to balance being a teacher and a student right now, and honestly my advice is to focus on your students. That is the important thing. Creating awesome lessons for them is what I'm focusing on. My next priority is job hunting, and then my last priority is school. I'm doing as much as I can in terms of school work, but our students need to come first, especially while we're doing out two week units.
I definitely feel behind on some things as well but I don't think you're really that far behind because we have a lot of time before the 10-day unit is due. I am personally focusing on edtpa before the 10-day unit. We will be teachers without classes soon enough so hang in there!
The glass has usually been half full most weeks but after this week, the glass has definitely been shaken. This week has been a little more chaotic than most at the good ole Academy for Classical Education (ACE). I continued my filming into this week to cover the last lesson in my 10-day unit plan and encountered a few obstacles that I did not account for, such as being sick and having to leave right after filming two days this week. Even though I was very diligent with being more prepared and organized this go around with how I decided to film, I learned that it was much different trying to film for a 5-day lesson plan instead of the previous 3-days and I also learned that it is very different filming a Middle school class compared to High school, or even us from the summer. I’m really thankful looking back on last week that I decided to film last week as well to make sure I had an ample amount of evidence to include into my EdTPA unit. While I think I and the students both succeeded with the lesson as well as I could have planned and expected, I still ran into issues such as having some days with not too much to film and record and some troubling students whose conversations overpowered some of my critiquing and feedback. It’s bound to happen in a studio art classroom that the majority of the time will be devoted to the actual production stage of creating the work and whenever I incorporated videos or worksheets for students to participate in, it creates more of a chance for the deadlines not to be met. It was a tricky balancing act trying to fulfill the standards of EdTPA during the time with also trying to have a completed lesson with completed works to show for it. But despite how troublesome it might have been for myself, the students really surprised me with being very diligent with their work and participating in all of the different activities throughout the week. The majority of the students completed their final Pop-Art project with the rest of the students not even farther than a day away from being finished. I am very proud of these students and appreciate how much effort and work they put in to meet the expectations I set. While this week was quite hectic with everything going on, I am still very much enjoying my time at ACE Academy and am really enjoying the range of grades (7th-10th) that I get to be a part of.
It sounds like you put a lot of time and preparation into you lesson plans. I'm sure you'll get great scores on your edTPA! That's awesome that you're getting to work with such a wide range of students on a regular basis
This week was an odd one. I finished my Unit last Friday and so this week started with a little review and the kids basically working on an Extreme Frayer Model (that's what I called it to make it exciting) in groups. They researched the four sections of their model: Problem, North's view, South's view, and Results and then used large sheets of paper to create a Frayer model they then presented to the class. I had to introduce ALL the compromises, acts, and Supreme Court decisions leading to the Civil War in 3 days and I found this to be an extremely effective way of doing it. I grouped the students in groups of four so there could be one student for each "corner" of the model, and I also placed them in groups based on ability. There were six topics and I assigned them based on the group's ability and the complexity of the topic. Differentiation, baby! It also worked out well because the teacher, parapro, and I could help the groups who needed it most while the others worked fairly independently. This project took three days for groups to finish and then present to the rest of the class...and then for me to clarify. ;) The high point of the week was today. There is a boy in one of my classess who has recently been abandoned by his mother ((after she got out of jail). She took his siblings but not him. This happened right after he was disqualified from school sports because of poor grades. Well Thursday he came in and his backpack had fallen apart! So today I brought him my old blue Jansport and had filled it with paper, pencils, and candy. I told him it was my old backpack and so there might be some stuff in it. He came back and gave me a hug!! It made me smile to see him wearing it and I hope it brought a little joy into his day. I didn't tell this story to toot m own horn, I told it because THIS is why I wanted to get into education and I'm afraid that eventually this is why I'll have to get out. My heart just bleeds for these kids and then they have to come to school and fail as well and sit in boring classes...it just breaks my heart. Otherwise my week felt very "teachery" and normal. I think since I'm done with edTpa filming I'm getting a better feel for the day to day business of teaching.
Thanks for sharing your story about your student. It was a great reminder of what being an educator truly means. Teachers are professionals first but we are also public servants. I think the second part too often gets forgotten. Teaching is a noble profession because it requires truly devoting your life to students. You share in their triumphs as well as their failures. Their good days as well as their bad. To me being a great teacher means never losing the piece of your heart that brings an old book bag for a student in need. I have the same fears of becoming too invested in the lives of my students and letting it completely consume me when there's only so much I can do for them. Obviously we have to find a balance to survive emotionally but caring too much sure as hell beats the alternative. Sorry for the long "Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul" reply but it seriously means a lot that you shared your story.
Thank you Bethanie for your story with your student! Like what Brittley said, this really drives home the reason most of us got into teaching and education. We're doing this for them.
My days have definitely been a combo of hall-full and half-empty days. Teaching itself continues to go well. I start filming for EdTPA next week so I'm working to finish up last minute details. Like most, the weight of the semester is starting to get heavy. I can't ever seem to get enough sleep...or enough caffeine. I've applied for a few jobs which was a motivational boost for me. It made all of this seem a little more real. That being said, the stress of "Where do I want to work? Would I really want to live in that area?....Is this really where I belong as teacher?" The questions multiply daily. As someone who made a major career change just a year ago, it can be daunting to make yet another big choice. However, it will all be worth it at the end of the day. We just have to keep telling ourselves that. March 15th can't arrive fast enough. Next week in psychology I am doing a 10 day unit on stress so hopefully I will gain just as much as the students.
Those are definitely heavily weighted questions you're dealing with. I couldn't imagine dealing with the stress of applying for jobs AND the stress of edTPA. But you're right, it will all be worth it in the end. Just keep being awesome!
I definitely feel the stress of job hunting. Most of my stress has come from not having the time I really need to job hunt. I'm hoping that once my edTPA is submitted I will really have a lot of time to apply for jobs.
Half full or half empty? Well, I have cried so much in the last week that it is hard to know. I think I have gone back and forth over whether I was actually going to succeed or fall so hard there was no coming back from it. I don't get stressed easily. I find out what needs to be done and do it. Part of that has come from wrangling 4 kids with a husband who was gone on military TDY's and I had no choice. If I am going to fall apart, it usually happens after everything is over, and then I have a nice breakdown all by myself. I don't often ask for help, because I figure I can handle what I need to. Besides, someone else might not do it the way that I would.... Definition, it don't trust other people's way of doing things will get me the desired result.
My lesson this week: Ask for help when you need it!
I have been so stressed over finishing the lesson plans for my 10 day unit in addition to trying to keep up with the teaching I am doing everyday, plus the work for our other classes that I let myself get totally overwhelmed. I have stayed up til 1,2, and 3 AM trying to get the work done, and kept hitting a brick wall on the 10 day unit. I got half of it done and just couldn't even look at it without crying. I had nothing! There was a lot of information and several ways to present it, but I had nothing. My host teacher is great. She knew I was struggling and had offered to help me, but I really didn't want to be a bother. (Note to self - getting help from your host teacher when they are offerig is not a bother) Thursday she stayed at the school with me til almost 5 o'clock going through what I had and making suggestions of what to do next. She helped me break through the brick wall on my unit. When I went home, my oldest daughter sat with me til after 10 while I worked on in and brought me so much coffee that I shoulid have floated away. Everytime I started to feel like I just was too tired or unsure what to do next, Mrs. Johnson's voice in my head telling me it was there already kept me going. There was no way I was going to school on Friday without it being done. At 3:15 AM, I turned my unit in to Dr. Jordan.
The thing is, Mrs. Johnson was willing to help me all along. Time would still have been an issue, but I lost a lot of time staring at a screen and a textbook too overwhelmed to be productive when I didn't have to.
The lesson I have learned from this week, don't wait to ask for help if you need it. We have host teachers for more than just letting us in their classrooms. Someone else won't get overwhelmed over your assignment the way that you do. They can look at it more objectively and be able to steer you in the right direction when you don't know where to go next. The reason they are our host teachers is because they have experience that we can learn from. I let one assignment (Granted, it was a major one)become so big that I couldn't see past it. She helped me do that. Next time, I won't wait so long to ask.
All I can say is I have water in the glass. However, I seem to have a leaky glass, so it goes up and down. Placement is great. I love everything about it: the kids, host teacher, school, teaching, etc... I begin my 10 day/edtpa this week when we get back from break. I am really excited....to get it over with! Honestly, this program has me feeling like I'm stuck in quicksand. I have all this stuff to do/get done (and it all has to be done in a certain way), but with every movement I sink further faster. The rope (May 5th) is so close but so far (and covered in thorns-or worse). Plus weighed down by all these major life decisions and responsibilities. Then you have people and teachers surrounding you with advice, direction, instruction, and no one is on the same page. It's like they've given us a map and a compass, but the map is all scribbles and the N,S,E,W have been removed from the compass. The things that keep me going are the things I'm going to accomplish (and will have accomplished) when this is all over. All the plans I will finally be able to put in action, my family, and of course you all. Knowing I'm not alone in this struggle.
I feel you with the stuck in quicksand feeling. I feel the same way! Like you, I'm taking it one day at a time and finding enjoyment in the work I'm doing with my students!
I think my week was a glass is half-full kind of week. I finished my filming for EdTPA on Friday (thank goodness!) and am going into my second week of my 10-day unit. Next week, I take on another class and am working on a unit plan for them. Placement is going well, I'm simply having trouble staying afloat with all the extra bookwork I have to do. I know most of us are having similar problems, but I am simply relieved to have filming out of the way. Now, I just need to catch up on my homework and make sure all of the assignments my students have handed in get feedback written on them at some point!
It's half-full. I finished my edTPA filming this week, which is a huge weight off of my shoulders. Overall I feel it went very well and I definitely have two good ten minute clips. I'm halfway done with my ten day unit, and the past week has really taught me what it feels like to have a full-time teaching schedule. I actually enjoyed being in charge of the classroom very much. I definitely have learned a few things about the difficulties of organization, whether it be trying to keep everything for my lessons and lesson plans in order or just trying to keep track of the stacks of student papers that need to be graded.
My only struggle this week has been making sure students have read. I'm doing my unit on The Great Gatsby, and one day as we were having a discussion over the chapter, I realized that almost no one in the class had read. There was no genuine discussion and I felt as if I was the only one talking. I did assign a lot of reading this week and I can sympathize with the students, but I was still disappointed that a few of my classes had not read at all. They have a four day weekend this weekend, so I told everyone to catch up over the weekend. Also, I'm lightening the reading load a bit over the next couple of weeks. I am giving them a pop-quiz on Thursday as well, so hopefully everyone catches up by then.
Lastly, I tried something on Friday that I thought worked very well. All day the student had been complaining about very difficult Chemistry and Math tests that they had been taking. By the time fifth period rolled around, pretty much everyone had taken one of the two tests. I walked into the room and could tell something was off. Everyone was very quiet, and after a few minutes on girl had even begun crying. As students tried to console her, I asked anyone who was frustrated or tired to raise their hand, and in response every hand flew into the air. So, instead of beginning my lesson, I had everyone take out a sheet of paper and, for five minutes, write down whatever it was that was frustrating them. Each of them wrote for the entire five minutes. Once the five minutes were up, I had everyone walk to the trashcan and destroy the piece of paper. Afterwards, I could tell the mood was a bit lighter and I think it really helped the students focus on the lesson. This could be a good idea for you to use if you ever have an entire class that is visibly frustrated and upset.
I am definitely starting to get to the point in the semester where I am overwhelmed with work: especially from classes. I think that I am doing a good job teaching and getting to know my students but it is tough to keep up with edtpa and classwork at the same time. With winter break giving me a long weekend I am able to catch up on some sleep but it has thrown me off of work (hence why I am writing this so late). Unfortunately weekends and breaks during this program are not true breaks since there is always something to work on or catch up on. But I know that I am very blessed to have a job and be in a grad program that will prepare me for my career so overall there is nothing to complain about!
I am really getting to that point in the year where things start to get overwhelming. With everything going on in all areas of my life, I feel like I need to refocus my sights on my classes and student teaching. With all this sickness and the winter break at my placement it has been throwing off my momentum. I am really grateful to be allowed to sleep in for a change though. I just need to get back on that grind!
I am beginning to feel overwhelmed as well. I am in the midst of EDTPA and feel that I am extremely setback as far as looking for a job. Looking for a job and completing EDTPA are truly arduous tasks to have.
I just have so many questions all the time. I never really know what I am supposed to be doing. I have gotten to the point where I just do what I can on everything, and hope it's enough. This winter break has made me stress more, because I now have time to think about the things I have to do. I can't wait to get back to placement on Wednesday, so I can see my kids, and try to feel like I am doing something that I am supposed to.
I completely understand. Every time I feel a little more confident in one area, I remember that there are like 20 other different areas that I have to pay attention to. I feel like my memory is getting worse. I can barely remember to post on this blog, and when I do, it's days late and I feel terrible.
This past week I have been trying not to drown in the glass. I was doing well, ahead of the game with my teaching, but then I got stuck by everything that had to get done for the program and I topped it all off by getting sick. At first, I thought my cold would only be a problem for a day or two. But it knocked me out for a good five days. My teacher sent me home early Wednesday and I missed placement the next two days. On the bright side, I only missed professional development and have been given Monday and Tuesday to try and catch up with my work. Right now I am overwhelmed with grading my final assessment for EdTPA. It is counting as this 9 weeks’ performance task for my students. Like everyone else, I enjoy my placement and think I am doing well overall. It’s the class work load, applying for jobs, my grad assistantship, and EdTPA that is making me stress. But I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and in a few weeks hopefully I will actually be able to see it. I will leave you with an inspirational quote by a wise professor.
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light."- Albus Dumbledore
Though I have caught minor colds and illnesses, I have yet to experience a major physical setback like that and it simply reminds me of how difficult and dramatic a change is graduate students are making. The hardships you experience in this program can only mold you into a stronger and better teacher as you overcome them.
I think it has definitely been a glass half full week. I'm getting a lot better at thinking on my feet in terms of editing lesson plans on the fly and responding to the questions my students are asking, so I'm pretty happy about that. And my kids have been asking some really good questions about the content--which I love, and they are very good at keeping an intellectual discussion going. What's really stressing me out is the job-hunting ordeal. I'm caught between wanting to apply to everything immediately versus waiting until the edTPA madness is over and I can apply the focus to what is needed at the time. It's very frustrating. But knowing that there's a finish line eases the pain.
Teaching classes has given me a new appreciation for the education profession and my students. However, as EDTPA looms ever closer, my glass is starting to empty and realize that, in many aspects, this program is about overcoming a difficult obstacle that can make or break master teachers.
My glass is very much half-full! As I'm typing this, my students are watching CNN student news after finishing their summative for my ten-day unit. So I'm done with that, and I got done filming for EdTPA yesterday. Putnam will also be on break Friday through Tuesday, so I'm looking forward to actually getting some relaxation in over the break.
ReplyDeleteActually I'll be doing work over the break, but I'm thankful I have accomplished as much as I have and that I seem to be pacing myself better than last semester.
I guess if there's anything "negative" I could report on it's that I'm really exhausted. Not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. I just feel like I've been giving and giving and giving and giving toward becoming a teacher; not just in this program but for years. Maybe it's selfish of me, but I'm ready to get something. I'm ready to stop saying "When I get my own classroom" and actually having a classroom. It's just becoming really tough to keep pressing forward.
But I'm still hanging tough and I am still fighting :)
I totally feel you on being exhausted on all levels. I will always argue that being a student teacher is just as challenging as being an "actual" teacher. It is difficult in different ways but there's something to be said about having your own classroom, your own set of rules, expectations, etc. That day will come soon enough. On our worst days, it will be nice to look back and remind ourselves just how much we fought to become teachers.
DeleteP.S. You really shouldn't let your students watch fake news ;)
Dang, guess Breitbart really is a better option, isn't it? XD
DeleteI know the feeling. I cannot wait to be a teacher and finally reap the rewards of my struggles, passion, and work. I have been a student for SOOO LONG. I'm anxious to not only to finish this chapter in my life, but begin the next book.
DeleteI can relate to wanting to be done with student teaching. I went to lunch with a small group of teachers last week and they were very sympathetic with us about how much extra work we have on top of student teaching. Every teacher i've talked to has told me that it gets so much better and it really isn't as difficult as it seems once you have had your own classroom for a couple of years. That gives me hope!
DeleteI'm very jealous. I've heard CNN student news is a great resource to use.
DeleteIt's tough to say. I am starting to recover from my mental break down from last week. I am still anxious about EdTPA, which I begin next week. I think I am going to feel very relieved after March 15th.
ReplyDeleteI spoke to my favorite teacher from high school this week and he gave me some much needed solace. Hearing from him was encouraging and made me realize how much different things will be when I actually get a job.
I feel your pain and anxiety completely when it comes to EdTPA. I just finished earlier today and with that being said, the waiting is the worst part. Once you start your lessons, the relief comes more and more each passing day to the point where the last day is just another day at the office. With each passing day, you can definitely review and reflect about what went well and what you need to make sure to include the next day of filming. I've learned that I had to improvise and revise from my original plan many a times during this week so my best advice is to just take it day by day; thinking of the whole week at once will drive you insane. Good luck brother and you got this!
DeleteI am most definitely looking forward to March 15th. Just think about that date and know that it will all be over with soon despite how frustrating it is right now.
DeleteI am so glad you are feeling better. You will have to share your teacher's words with us, so we can all start to feel a little better too.
DeleteHonestly my glass is looking pretty shattered at the moment . This entire week I have been dealing with feelings of unsureness.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I'm super far behind everyone else with my timeline (I just started my ten day on Monday). You guys that are finished are the real MVP's.
My unit itself is going well, my students are responding great to everything! I incorporated inquiry activities for almost every day, and the students love it. They come in each day asking "what are we experimenting with today, Ms. Cooper?!"
While I feel like I'm doing well as a teacher in the classroom, I feel like I'm sucking as a student in the program. I'm continuously feeling unsure about my plans and whether or not I have everything I need for Dr. J and edTPA. I constantly feel like I'm forgetting something. Or that when I start writing papers and commentary I'll realize I left out something major and I'll be screwed.
I just want to be a teacher so bad and I feel like there are a hundred barriers I have to jump through to get there.
Macey I feel your pain completely with all the barriers; It's started to drive me insane with how many obstacles we have to encounter just to prove that we would be decent teachers (even though we all already are more prepared and qualified than most teachers in the educational system already). Don't worry about being behind because I feel like you are definitely not alone on that and that fact that students are responding positively to your lesson/activities already will make the time and stress fly by even faster! I agree with you that I feel like a pretty decent teacher, but like a terrible student whenever we have classes in Milledgeville. We got this and just gotta keep moving forward! Stay positive!
DeleteMacey, I understand your feelings all too well. I have been fighting breakdowns all week. I second guess myself more than I ever have, the constant worry that I will miss something and then all my work will be for nothing. We can't let ourselves think that way. It has taken an incredible amount of work to get here, and the finish line is just around the corner. You can do this. We can do this. Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.
DeleteRight there with you. This program feels like a game of Jumanji. Every roll of the dice comes a new nightmare under the guise of simplicity.
DeleteI can almost promise you that you aren't behind, I think everyone's feeling that a bit. I just started my ten day unit as well. I do understand the feeling of trying to balance being a teacher and a student right now, and honestly my advice is to focus on your students. That is the important thing. Creating awesome lessons for them is what I'm focusing on. My next priority is job hunting, and then my last priority is school. I'm doing as much as I can in terms of school work, but our students need to come first, especially while we're doing out two week units.
DeleteI definitely feel behind on some things as well but I don't think you're really that far behind because we have a lot of time before the 10-day unit is due. I am personally focusing on edtpa before the 10-day unit. We will be teachers without classes soon enough so hang in there!
DeleteI can relate. Hang in there. We are almost at the finish.
DeleteThe glass has usually been half full most weeks but after this week, the glass has definitely been shaken. This week has been a little more chaotic than most at the good ole Academy for Classical Education (ACE). I continued my filming into this week to cover the last lesson in my 10-day unit plan and encountered a few obstacles that I did not account for, such as being sick and having to leave right after filming two days this week. Even though I was very diligent with being more prepared and organized this go around with how I decided to film, I learned that it was much different trying to film for a 5-day lesson plan instead of the previous 3-days and I also learned that it is very different filming a Middle school class compared to High school, or even us from the summer. I’m really thankful looking back on last week that I decided to film last week as well to make sure I had an ample amount of evidence to include into my EdTPA unit. While I think I and the students both succeeded with the lesson as well as I could have planned and expected, I still ran into issues such as having some days with not too much to film and record and some troubling students whose conversations overpowered some of my critiquing and feedback. It’s bound to happen in a studio art classroom that the majority of the time will be devoted to the actual production stage of creating the work and whenever I incorporated videos or worksheets for students to participate in, it creates more of a chance for the deadlines not to be met. It was a tricky balancing act trying to fulfill the standards of EdTPA during the time with also trying to have a completed lesson with completed works to show for it. But despite how troublesome it might have been for myself, the students really surprised me with being very diligent with their work and participating in all of the different activities throughout the week. The majority of the students completed their final Pop-Art project with the rest of the students not even farther than a day away from being finished. I am very proud of these students and appreciate how much effort and work they put in to meet the expectations I set. While this week was quite hectic with everything going on, I am still very much enjoying my time at ACE Academy and am really enjoying the range of grades (7th-10th) that I get to be a part of.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you put a lot of time and preparation into you lesson plans. I'm sure you'll get great scores on your edTPA! That's awesome that you're getting to work with such a wide range of students on a regular basis
DeleteThis week was an odd one. I finished my Unit last Friday and so this week started with a little review and the kids basically working on an Extreme Frayer Model (that's what I called it to make it exciting) in groups. They researched the four sections of their model: Problem, North's view, South's view, and Results and then used large sheets of paper to create a Frayer model they then presented to the class. I had to introduce ALL the compromises, acts, and Supreme Court decisions leading to the Civil War in 3 days and I found this to be an extremely effective way of doing it. I grouped the students in groups of four so there could be one student for each "corner" of the model, and I also placed them in groups based on ability. There were six topics and I assigned them based on the group's ability and the complexity of the topic. Differentiation, baby! It also worked out well because the teacher, parapro, and I could help the groups who needed it most while the others worked fairly independently. This project took three days for groups to finish and then present to the rest of the class...and then for me to clarify. ;)
ReplyDeleteThe high point of the week was today. There is a boy in one of my classess who has recently been abandoned by his mother ((after she got out of jail). She took his siblings but not him. This happened right after he was disqualified from school sports because of poor grades. Well Thursday he came in and his backpack had fallen apart! So today I brought him my old blue Jansport and had filled it with paper, pencils, and candy. I told him it was my old backpack and so there might be some stuff in it. He came back and gave me a hug!! It made me smile to see him wearing it and I hope it brought a little joy into his day. I didn't tell this story to toot m own horn, I told it because THIS is why I wanted to get into education and I'm afraid that eventually this is why I'll have to get out. My heart just bleeds for these kids and then they have to come to school and fail as well and sit in boring classes...it just breaks my heart.
Otherwise my week felt very "teachery" and normal. I think since I'm done with edTpa filming I'm getting a better feel for the day to day business of teaching.
Thanks for sharing your story about your student. It was a great reminder of what being an educator truly means. Teachers are professionals first but we are also public servants. I think the second part too often gets forgotten. Teaching is a noble profession because it requires truly devoting your life to students. You share in their triumphs as well as their failures. Their good days as well as their bad. To me being a great teacher means never losing the piece of your heart that brings an old book bag for a student in need. I have the same fears of becoming too invested in the lives of my students and letting it completely consume me when there's only so much I can do for them. Obviously we have to find a balance to survive emotionally but caring too much sure as hell beats the alternative. Sorry for the long "Chicken Soup for the Teacher's Soul" reply but it seriously means a lot that you shared your story.
DeleteBethanie you made the stupid onion-chopping ninja break into my apartment again. this is beautiful :')
DeleteAlright Bethanie, I was already emotional. This just tipped the scales again! I think Sam's onion ninja stopped by here!
DeleteThank you Bethanie for your story with your student! Like what Brittley said, this really drives home the reason most of us got into teaching and education. We're doing this for them.
DeleteMy days have definitely been a combo of hall-full and half-empty days. Teaching itself continues to go well. I start filming for EdTPA next week so I'm working to finish up last minute details. Like most, the weight of the semester is starting to get heavy. I can't ever seem to get enough sleep...or enough caffeine. I've applied for a few jobs which was a motivational boost for me. It made all of this seem a little more real. That being said, the stress of "Where do I want to work? Would I really want to live in that area?....Is this really where I belong as teacher?" The questions multiply daily. As someone who made a major career change just a year ago, it can be daunting to make yet another big choice. However, it will all be worth it at the end of the day. We just have to keep telling ourselves that. March 15th can't arrive fast enough. Next week in psychology I am doing a 10 day unit on stress so hopefully I will gain just as much as the students.
ReplyDeleteThose are definitely heavily weighted questions you're dealing with. I couldn't imagine dealing with the stress of applying for jobs AND the stress of edTPA. But you're right, it will all be worth it in the end. Just keep being awesome!
DeleteI definitely feel the stress of job hunting. Most of my stress has come from not having the time I really need to job hunt. I'm hoping that once my edTPA is submitted I will really have a lot of time to apply for jobs.
DeleteHalf full or half empty? Well, I have cried so much in the last week that it is hard to know. I think I have gone back and forth over whether I was actually going to succeed or fall so hard there was no coming back from it.
ReplyDeleteI don't get stressed easily. I find out what needs to be done and do it. Part of that has come from wrangling 4 kids with a husband who was gone on military TDY's and I had no choice. If I am going to fall apart, it usually happens after everything is over, and then I have a nice breakdown all by myself. I don't often ask for help, because I figure I can handle what I need to. Besides, someone else might not do it the way that I would.... Definition, it don't trust other people's way of doing things will get me the desired result.
My lesson this week: Ask for help when you need it!
I have been so stressed over finishing the lesson plans for my 10 day unit in addition to trying to keep up with the teaching I am doing everyday, plus the work for our other classes that I let myself get totally overwhelmed. I have stayed up til 1,2, and 3 AM trying to get the work done, and kept hitting a brick wall on the 10 day unit. I got half of it done and just couldn't even look at it without crying. I had nothing! There was a lot of information and several ways to present it, but I had nothing. My host teacher is great. She knew I was struggling and had offered to help me, but I really didn't want to be a bother. (Note to self - getting help from your host teacher when they are offerig is not a bother) Thursday she stayed at the school with me til almost 5 o'clock going through what I had and making suggestions of what to do next. She helped me break through the brick wall on my unit. When I went home, my oldest daughter sat with me til after 10 while I worked on in and brought me so much coffee that I shoulid have floated away. Everytime I started to feel like I just was too tired or unsure what to do next, Mrs. Johnson's voice in my head telling me it was there already kept me going. There was no way I was going to school on Friday without it being done. At 3:15 AM, I turned my unit in to Dr. Jordan.
The thing is, Mrs. Johnson was willing to help me all along. Time would still have been an issue, but I lost a lot of time staring at a screen and a textbook too overwhelmed to be productive when I didn't have to.
The lesson I have learned from this week, don't wait to ask for help if you need it. We have host teachers for more than just letting us in their classrooms. Someone else won't get overwhelmed over your assignment the way that you do. They can look at it more objectively and be able to steer you in the right direction when you don't know where to go next. The reason they are our host teachers is because they have experience that we can learn from. I let one assignment (Granted, it was a major one)become so big that I couldn't see past it. She helped me do that. Next time, I won't wait so long to ask.
All I can say is I have water in the glass. However, I seem to have a leaky glass, so it goes up and down.
ReplyDeletePlacement is great. I love everything about it: the kids, host teacher, school, teaching, etc... I begin my 10 day/edtpa this week when we get back from break. I am really excited....to get it over with!
Honestly, this program has me feeling like I'm stuck in quicksand. I have all this stuff to do/get done (and it all has to be done in a certain way), but with every movement I sink further faster. The rope (May 5th) is so close but so far (and covered in thorns-or worse). Plus weighed down by all these major life decisions and responsibilities. Then you have people and teachers surrounding you with advice, direction, instruction, and no one is on the same page. It's like they've given us a map and a compass, but the map is all scribbles and the N,S,E,W have been removed from the compass.
The things that keep me going are the things I'm going to accomplish (and will have accomplished) when this is all over. All the plans I will finally be able to put in action, my family, and of course you all. Knowing I'm not alone in this struggle.
One day-one fight-one battle at a time.
You can do it Shannon. Just keep on putting one foot in front of the other. There is a light at the end, and we are almost there.
DeleteI feel you with the stuck in quicksand feeling. I feel the same way! Like you, I'm taking it one day at a time and finding enjoyment in the work I'm doing with my students!
DeleteThis is the perfect analogy for this program. At this point, I am just trying to maintain my sanity.
DeleteThis is exactly how I feel right now. Great analogy.
DeleteThis analogy is perfect. This is exactly how I feel.
DeleteI think my week was a glass is half-full kind of week. I finished my filming for EdTPA on Friday (thank goodness!) and am going into my second week of my 10-day unit. Next week, I take on another class and am working on a unit plan for them.
ReplyDeletePlacement is going well, I'm simply having trouble staying afloat with all the extra bookwork I have to do. I know most of us are having similar problems, but I am simply relieved to have filming out of the way. Now, I just need to catch up on my homework and make sure all of the assignments my students have handed in get feedback written on them at some point!
It's half-full. I finished my edTPA filming this week, which is a huge weight off of my shoulders. Overall I feel it went very well and I definitely have two good ten minute clips. I'm halfway done with my ten day unit, and the past week has really taught me what it feels like to have a full-time teaching schedule. I actually enjoyed being in charge of the classroom very much. I definitely have learned a few things about the difficulties of organization, whether it be trying to keep everything for my lessons and lesson plans in order or just trying to keep track of the stacks of student papers that need to be graded.
ReplyDeleteMy only struggle this week has been making sure students have read. I'm doing my unit on The Great Gatsby, and one day as we were having a discussion over the chapter, I realized that almost no one in the class had read. There was no genuine discussion and I felt as if I was the only one talking. I did assign a lot of reading this week and I can sympathize with the students, but I was still disappointed that a few of my classes had not read at all. They have a four day weekend this weekend, so I told everyone to catch up over the weekend. Also, I'm lightening the reading load a bit over the next couple of weeks. I am giving them a pop-quiz on Thursday as well, so hopefully everyone catches up by then.
Lastly, I tried something on Friday that I thought worked very well. All day the student had been complaining about very difficult Chemistry and Math tests that they had been taking. By the time fifth period rolled around, pretty much everyone had taken one of the two tests. I walked into the room and could tell something was off. Everyone was very quiet, and after a few minutes on girl had even begun crying. As students tried to console her, I asked anyone who was frustrated or tired to raise their hand, and in response every hand flew into the air. So, instead of beginning my lesson, I had everyone take out a sheet of paper and, for five minutes, write down whatever it was that was frustrating them. Each of them wrote for the entire five minutes. Once the five minutes were up, I had everyone walk to the trashcan and destroy the piece of paper. Afterwards, I could tell the mood was a bit lighter and I think it really helped the students focus on the lesson. This could be a good idea for you to use if you ever have an entire class that is visibly frustrated and upset.
What a great idea to have them destroy their problems. They get to work on writing and it is therapeut.ic
DeleteI am definitely starting to get to the point in the semester where I am overwhelmed with work: especially from classes. I think that I am doing a good job teaching and getting to know my students but it is tough to keep up with edtpa and classwork at the same time. With winter break giving me a long weekend I am able to catch up on some sleep but it has thrown me off of work (hence why I am writing this so late). Unfortunately weekends and breaks during this program are not true breaks since there is always something to work on or catch up on. But I know that I am very blessed to have a job and be in a grad program that will prepare me for my career so overall there is nothing to complain about!
ReplyDeleteYou can do it Mike! We can all do it!
DeleteI think we all know how you feel. This has been an insane few weeks. I always feel like I am forgetting something.
DeleteI am really getting to that point in the year where things start to get overwhelming. With everything going on in all areas of my life, I feel like I need to refocus my sights on my classes and student teaching. With all this sickness and the winter break at my placement it has been throwing off my momentum. I am really grateful to be allowed to sleep in for a change though. I just need to get back on that grind!
ReplyDeleteI am beginning to feel overwhelmed as well. I am in the midst of EDTPA and feel that I am extremely setback as far as looking for a job. Looking for a job and completing EDTPA are truly arduous tasks to have.
DeleteI just have so many questions all the time. I never really know what I am supposed to be doing. I have gotten to the point where I just do what I can on everything, and hope it's enough. This winter break has made me stress more, because I now have time to think about the things I have to do. I can't wait to get back to placement on Wednesday, so I can see my kids, and try to feel like I am doing something that I am supposed to.
ReplyDeleteI completely understand. Every time I feel a little more confident in one area, I remember that there are like 20 other different areas that I have to pay attention to. I feel like my memory is getting worse. I can barely remember to post on this blog, and when I do, it's days late and I feel terrible.
DeleteThis past week I have been trying not to drown in the glass. I was doing well, ahead of the game with my teaching, but then I got stuck by everything that had to get done for the program and I topped it all off by getting sick. At first, I thought my cold would only be a problem for a day or two. But it knocked me out for a good five days. My teacher sent me home early Wednesday and I missed placement the next two days. On the bright side, I only missed professional development and have been given Monday and Tuesday to try and catch up with my work. Right now I am overwhelmed with grading my final assessment for EdTPA. It is counting as this 9 weeks’ performance task for my students. Like everyone else, I enjoy my placement and think I am doing well overall. It’s the class work load, applying for jobs, my grad assistantship, and EdTPA that is making me stress. But I know there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and in a few weeks hopefully I will actually be able to see it.
ReplyDeleteI will leave you with an inspirational quote by a wise professor.
"Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times. If one only remembers to turn on the light."- Albus Dumbledore
Though I have caught minor colds and illnesses, I have yet to experience a major physical setback like that and it simply reminds me of how difficult and dramatic a change is graduate students are making. The hardships you experience in this program can only mold you into a stronger and better teacher as you overcome them.
DeleteI think it has definitely been a glass half full week. I'm getting a lot better at thinking on my feet in terms of editing lesson plans on the fly and responding to the questions my students are asking, so I'm pretty happy about that. And my kids have been asking some really good questions about the content--which I love, and they are very good at keeping an intellectual discussion going. What's really stressing me out is the job-hunting ordeal. I'm caught between wanting to apply to everything immediately versus waiting until the edTPA madness is over and I can apply the focus to what is needed at the time. It's very frustrating. But knowing that there's a finish line eases the pain.
ReplyDeleteTeaching classes has given me a new appreciation for the education profession and my students. However, as EDTPA looms ever closer, my glass is starting to empty and realize that, in many aspects, this program is about overcoming a difficult obstacle that can make or break master teachers.
ReplyDelete