Week Eight Post

The semester is flying by! Now that we have started working on our multi genre research papers I am beginning to realize how research papers can be more fun. The students in my 6th grade field placement class are writing research papers and they seem quite bored with them. I remember always being bored with research papers as well, but the idea of creating new genres of work make it way more exciting. I am not sure if I will end up teaching in a grade high enough to be working on research papers, but I think you could apply the idea of creating multiple genres from one type of work to things other than just research papers. Students could find a journal entry, or any type of paper they have written and create a new piece from it. I think when you take some time away from a piece of writing you've done and them come back and look at it, you always have a new perspective on it and new great ideas!

Week Seven Post

I was unable to attend my field placement this past week because I was sick, but even being gone one day I feel that I missed a lot. We are starting to work on our "kidwatching" assignments and are being assigned one student to watch and begin gathering information for. I have no met my student yet, but hopefully it will be one that I get along with and who feels comfortable talking and working with me.
I have noticed that when I walk around some of the students are more hesitant than others to talk much or continue working because they seem shy or embarrassed about me standing over their shoulder. I try and talk to these students about something other than what they're working on first so they get to feel a little more relaxed and comfortable. I remember being a student and always being a little on edge when someone new was in our classroom, I always felt like they were "studying" me and what I was doing like some sort of experiment so I try and ease the students worries as much as possible.
I am finding more and more that there are things that come up in the classroom that I all of a sudden remember doing or feeling when I was a student. I think it's important as a teacher to remember the experiences you had as a student and stick with what worked and what you liked but change the things that you didn't enjoy or that made you feel uncomfortable.
Overall, I just really can't wait till I have my own classroom!! I am learning so many things and I know I still have a lot to learn but I just want to jump right into it all right now. Every time I get a new field placement I get to experience something new and learn a new technique for handling situations so I know that once I am a teacher I will learn new things each year, each day actually.

Week Six Post

It is hard to reflect on myself as a teacher of writing because during my time in the classroom at University Elementary on Wednesday mornings I do not actually TEACH any writing, I am more of a supporter/facilitator. The students in my class are in the middle of a Ancient Greece unit and they are currently working on writing research papers. The students amaze me more and more every week with how intelligent they are, and only in sixth grade! So far, they have completed outlines with a topic, subtopics, and guiding questions. Now, they are starting their research using their outlines as a way to stay on track and be sure they are only researching relevant information that will pertain to their paper. As I walk around, I realize that when I am writing a paper I do not start with an outline and I end up researching any and every thing there is relating to my topic. It is interesting to see how I am learning from my students as well as them learning from me.
While I walk around and conference with the students I find myself trying to leave each group with a praise (something they are doing very well so far) and also a suggestion of something they need to work on. It seems to be working well so far, I will keep you all updated on how the projects are coming! I am anxious to actually read some of the papers!!

Week Five Post

During this post, we are supposed to reflect on your teaching field placement. I am working in a 6th grade gifted and talented classroom at University Elementary and so far I am really enjoying my experience. I had never worked in a classroom above third grade so this is definitely taking some getting used to, but I'm adjusting quickly. It is odd to be in a classroom where the teacher isn't constantly telling students to sit down, wipe their nose, stop talking, or finish their assignment; these students seem extremely mature and are capable to following instructions and taking care of themselves on their own.
It sounds weird, but I actually have a fear that some of the students are way smarter than me. The things they are learning about seem so advanced for 6th graders and just their everyday speech is extremely mature. So far, I've just been observing and walking around conferencing with small groups but next week I will be given an individual student to observe and follow. The teacher I am working with is wonderful and is offering a lot of great, helpful advice. I am nervous about the fact that it is our junior year and we have yet to get up in front of a full classroom and teach a lesson so I am hoping we get to do something close to that during this semester. It's so exciting!!