Final Post :)!

Last week, I set a goal to increase some network opportunities and to begin to develop my professional letters that which will help me obtain my position. This past week I have been able to network out for more opportunities and have about three opportunities that I will be introduced to. It is amazing to me that I am finalizing these documents and am ready to begin my professional career. This week, I do have an opportunity to get formally evaluated and have a mock interview with my school. This opportunity will help me grow in my professional development especially with the population I serve currently.

As I complete this week, I want to stay focused on how lucky I have been to have had two wonderful placements that have taught me as much as I have learned throughout these sixteen weeks. I wanted to make sure that I have fun and focus on opportunities to reach out to students that I have not had before or interact to make sure my students understand that I am here for them. Today I can not thank God for giving me what I have and the excitement that it brings to my heart for these opportunities. I pray that God will find me a permanent placement in the future and continue to guide me as I teach to students.

 

This past week and over my teaching career, I have had many opportunities where I have had to enforce school policies. This past week out of all my weeks was a difficult one with behavioral situations that occurred in my gymnasium. I had four students who needed some extra support and it became such an issue that the principals have come down to remind me that these things happen and not to get discouraged for these students actions. When situations occur at our school it is my goal to make sure all my students are safe. A situation occurred when another student needed to reset, a place for them to relax and gather their thoughts. The student was eventually removed from class and it is part of the school policy that we must make sure that the student has an opportunity to relax before he is represented back into the classroom. I learned that some students need to actually remove themselves from the class completely and others just need a minute to gather their thoughts.

Another situation occurred where a student struck another student. It was here that I called for extra support and the student and I was able to follow up and continued with some disciplinary actions so that this particular situation would not occur again.

Throughout my time at Mill Street, I have contributed a lot to teaching and learning. I have been able to implement my own personal strategies that I feel are effective as a teacher and learn to make learning motivational for students and fun. I always try to think of new ways to present the information to the students to learn what works best for each class. it is interesting to find that I probably never teach the same way to each class that I see. The content is the same, but how I present it is always changing. I find that certain groups of students respond a lot better to the way I present the information to them.

 

One important thing I have learned this semester about choosing education is that I love what I do. I do it for the students and I love being a role model for the students. I feel that I have a gift and I need to passionally fill my dream to make sure others have opportunities and that able to inspire each individual in their own way. Over the past four years of my life, I have been searching for a reason, and throughout the sixteen weeks I found my reason in life and I hope to pursue this career with this level of motivation for a long time.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY!

Week 15

Last week I feel that I was able to achieve my goals. I was able to incorporate more technology, although it didn't always work, but I was able to utilize a wireless music components that my students loved. I found myself enjoying more of the day because I was able to be motivated and my students loved listening to the music as well. I found that the day went quicker and it minimized the loudness of noise in the gym which for some student is beneficial. 

Additionally, I was able to visit another school last week in which I had fun watching other points of view and then thinking how my actions are similar or different from the other teacher. When I was observing I found many good points and saw that how I teach was similar and felt confident in my work. I was pleased with what I saw and obtain some other good ideas for my future. This week I will be doing to another school and observing some other classes. 

This week my goals are to finish up my projects and begin to make some more network opportunities. I am hoping to obtain some more resources that will be beneficial for my future as well. I hope to adjust my resume, develop my teaching video, and to adjust my cover letter as opportunities will soon be posted.

 

Write one word that best describes your teaching experience this week. Resourceful

Reflection is vital throughout my time when teaching. I find that when teaching you are constantly reflect and if you are not then you are too comfortable in what you are doing. On a daily  basis and within each class, I am always trying to think of new ways to motivate students. Whether it taking a time out to begin a relay race or adjusting and having the student meet in the middle to re-explain some materials, we are always reflection. Without reflection, your classroom is at a standstill and there is no room for adjustment and if things decide to topple you need to reevaluate before chaos erupts.

At the beginning of my placement, we had planned on teaching team handball which for some students was simple and to others it was more difficult. In the past, Mr. Quaid taught that once you get tagged you stop in place and then you pass the ball to a teammate. In the game of handball, you are only to hold the ball for 3-5 seconds and only take 3 steps. When I was going to teach this I wanted my other students to play more according to the rules rather than them playing to a lower standard of waiting until they got tagged. I also noticed with this way of teaching the same students were handling the ball and other students were not having a chance to touch the ball by itself. I added in some rules like a girl just catch and pass it before their team can score or that they have to use 4 passes before they can score this way more students are involved with playing. What I realized is that these students were having such a difficult time with counting their steps and forgetting what they needed to do because I added so many rules that I decided to take out the amount of steps out of the rules and have the students concentrate more on the passing skills rather than how many steps they were taking because in essence everyone was moving. The students were happy with this result because the game increased more movement, more than what I thought it would and the students were able to incorporate more teamwork because they knew they needed to pass to their teammates and include others. It diminished the one person team player who always had the ball and because he was quick scored.

           For me working with kids with disabilities is something I have done for over 3 years. I feel that I understand Autism a lot and continue to make sure these students are able to follow directions and get their necessary breaks their body needs in addition to adding sensory options for my students. I continue to seek assistance from aids, find alternative options online, and to talk with the adaptive PE teacher for alternative options for my students to succeed. Overall, when talking with the adaptive PE teacher is has been pleased with my changes and aids are comfortable with the changes I make for my students with disabilities.

A couple of weeks ago, I emailed my prior PE teachers and told them where I am at in my teaching. I asked them that I was in need of some games that can be played indoors, in smaller spaces, and outside. I wanted these ideas because at the elementary level, we are constantly having to move. When asking for these resources I found a lot of useful information and was able to feel more confident if things were adjusted quickly.