Week 2 :-)

Second Set of Questions to be answered at the end of your field experience:

1. Explain the most challenging part during your field experience.

I was going to say "last night" was the most challenging part of my day; but then I realized it needs to be about our actual time at the school. My response is still related to what I was going to say, though. Teaching is the funnest and also the most challenging part of my day. I am enjoying teaching thoroughly. It's just that I get very stressed about "doing it right"...as far as requirements from our Ed. Program go. The teaching itself is not the issue, so much. It's the preparation and organization. In fact, I'd LOVE to see a class on "teacher organization" in our Ed. Program! It seems all teachers could fit in one of two categories: organized and unorganized. I can see that it makes quite a difference to be able to maintain organization (in every aspect of teaching).

It's interesting, but the parts of the day that I'm most focused on are actually the times when classroom management is used. The reason for this is that...again, I don't think that the teaching part of my (future) day as a teacher will be the biggest challenge. I think it will be the things I do to "set up" a lesson and how to keep the class focused and engaged (particularly before and after lessons...or transitioning from one lesson to another). Although, a lot of that does have to do with the style of lesson and the way it is presented! I heard this phrase once; it goes, "What's the most important part of any job?" (--referring to children doing chores at home...but this can apply to any job, I believe.) Answer: "the last five minutes!" --meaning...the critical times in any job seem to be the "set up" and the "finishing up." I think it's the same with teaching. Preparing the lesson...beginning the lesson

So, today was my observation day...the second day that my teaching was observed by my UVU supervising professor. It went Great! ...even though I was up literally all night last night "finishing up" my prep for it. (I think my health is suffering. Maybe we should also have a class on "time management" and "most efficient ways to prepare lessons" in our Program, as well! :-)  

Other than actually "getting prepared to teach," I don't think there are any particularly challenging parts of my day. I love watching the teacher, and I especially love walking around the room, helping students learn material. Today I helped students find information about individual inventors as well as understanding the information they found. Yesterday I was happy to find that I was able to help a few students understand concept they were having trouble with.

2. Explain your greatest success during your field experience.

Today may have been one of my greater successes (along with the other lesson I taught). I was a little concerned about my teaching today, because this lesson took a lot of advanced preparation. I had to make a number of copies this morning and still had some work to do right before I was to teach. It must have been alright though, because after the lesson, my supervising professor gave me a lot of really great compliments on my teaching. Last time he came, he gave me a few helpful tips. This time he only gave compliments. I felt great about that!

I also enjoyed helping students understand math concepts they weren't "getting" as well as understand what they were reading, on inventors they had been assigned to write about. In addition, I had the privilege of working at the sign-in table at the school's Veterans' Day celebration and pinning red-white-and-blue ribbons on the lapels of the veterans who came. In the program, veterans were honored in several different ways; it was inspiring!

3. What recommendations would you make to others based on your field experience?

I would tell them to be aware of any ways you can be of help during the time you're there. For example, if the teacher has her hands full, getting materials out for a science lesson, just see what's needed and start doing it. My cooperating teacher's SMART Board has had a glitch here and there, and I've been able to help by sitting at the computer and forwarding the slides as he gave the lesson. When the class had their Veterans' Day in-class celebration, I was able to help the room mother set up for that. And, as I said above, I love helping students understand concepts they don't quite "get."

I'm not sure what this part is about: "Take time to add design, color, beauty and creativity." Talitha, would you let me know more about this?

Veterans' Day Celebration