Meeting The Cooperating Teacher

Happy Tuesday! 

I'm sorry for the delayed post, but due to illness I will be getting back on schedule this week!

This is a typical work outfit for me. I like to wear a nice blouse,
dress pants, and a cardigan on my first day. It is best to over
dress on the first day! Also, ALWAYS wear identification badge!

So... I've completed over 100 clinical hours in grades second- fourth and now I have found out that my student teaching will take place in a fifth grade classroom, which means, I have met with four different teachers over the course of a year and each meeting has been completely different!

Today I am going to write about my first two clinical experiences, specifically meeting the teacher for the first time and how that teacher/ student relationship evolved over the course of the clinical.

I started all my clinicals with a similar email to the one I posted in Tuesday's, "Preparing for Student Teaching (Part 1)."

My first clinical was very short and only consisted of 10 hours in a third grade ELA/ Social Studies class. At first, the participating teacher was a bit standoffish. It could be that during our original meeting she was stressed or maybe had a bad morning. Whatever it was, the teacher did a 180 and became completely accommodating and helpful during our next meeting. (I must say that I did not have a pre-meeting with this teacher. My school had scheduled us a meet up during the middle of the day). After the first day, the teacher allowed me to walk around the room and help students. She also provided feedback on Common Core expectations and the reality of the feared third grade. 

My second clinical meeting didn't go as suspected. 

As said, I started with an introductory email to the teacher. The teacher seemed nice and asked that I come at 8:00AM, the start of the school day. Upon entering her class, I intoduced myself and asked if she would like me to introduce myself to the class. 

*It is important to note that this was a 40 hour clinical that was supposed to be broken into observation time and one-on-one student time.* 

The teacher told me that I wasn't allowed in her class and that she had already planned for me to work with a particular student outside of the classroom. The whole interaction was a complete shocker and her rudeness made me uncomfortable. I got my professor involved, which was unsuccessful. I was then instructed to work with the student from the original teacher's class and then I was to report to another teacher and complete my observation hours.

After our original meeting, I never really spoke to the teacher. I would simply go to her class and pick up my student. The student and I would work together 2 hours, 3 times a week. 

The upside to the bad experience, was  the teacher that DID allow me into her classroom was fantastic! She was super friendly and a fellow alumni to my school. She allowed me to work with her students and have free range of who and how I worked with them. 

The clinical ended on a positive note and I did receive an complimentary email, from the original participating teacher, saying what a great job I did. (This can be seen on my website along with some sample lesson plans that I taught/ worked on with the participating student missturner01.weebly.com). 

Preparing For Student Teaching (Part 1)

Happy Tuesday!

I'm preparing to start student teaching next week. I'm super nervous about the whole thing, but I have met with my teacher and she seems like she is going to be super helpful and great to work with!! 

Here's what I have done to prepare so far...

1. Meet the teacher

-This is super important to do before you begin student teaching (really before you begin any clinical). I recommend sending a short email introducing yourself and scheduling a time to meet. 

**If you have a website, be sure to include that in your introductory email. The teacher can view your webpage for further information about you.

Sample email:

Hi,

I hope you are having a great afternoon! 

I am (your name), your student teacher from (your college). I am currently pursuing my Masters of Arts in Teaching. I graduated in 2008, with a Bachelor's Degree in Art, where I concentrated on history and art history. I have loved being in the classroom while at (school name) and I'm excited to start working with you and your students this semester.

At your earliest convenience, I would like to visit you to formally introduce myself, as well as, learn more about you and your class. Please let me know what day and time works best for you. I can come anytime next week. I will list my contact information below. 

I'm so thankful that you have offered to take me into your classroom. I'm excited to begin working with you and to learn new things that I can take with me in my future career.

Once again, thank you for this opportunity.

I look forward to your response.

(Signature)

(Attach contact info here!)

2. Meet the principal

-This meeting should be brief. Use a similar email to the one you sent to your participating teacher. You want the principal to be familiar with who you are.
**My principal complemented the professionalism of visiting prior to student teaching.

It's important to make a great first impression. Dress professionally!!! I also like to take a small token of appreciation. 

<<<< For my teacher, I gave a gift similar to this. I gave the principle a box of Dunkin' Donuts Munchkins, this way he could share with the office admins!










3. Write a brief introductory paragraph about yourself
-You want to familiarize your new student's parents about yourself. I asked my teacher if she wanted me to send out a letter to the parents and she requested that I write up a short paragraph that she can include in her class newsletter that gets sent home at the end of every week. Ask your teacher what she would prefer you do.

Continue to stay in communication with your participating teacher. She/he is there to help you! Ask questions!!!

-CT

My Website!!

I have officially completed my website!

I have been working on my website for a couple of months now. There are some minor changes that I would like to complete, but for now I am pleased.

As I posted earlier, I went through the Weebly webpage builder to complete my site. I chose to opt out of my own personal domain for now.

While creating my website I wanted to keep things clean and classic. I wanted my site to be easy to maneuver and I wanted for the viewer to get an incite on my teaching experience. ( I recommend adding images of yourself and things that you like to do).

I chose to keep the background white and my headers simply worded. I made tabs for viewers to gain further information about my classroom experience. I also created contact buttons that are linked to all my social media pages.

I recommend adding quotes to your site. Pick your favorite inspirational or education related quotes and find them on Pinterest. You can simply drag the found image and add it to your page.

The most important thing for you to add to your website is your classroom experience!!! 
Future employers will want to see your experience. If you have any references, add them to your page!

Remember that your website is public! Use it responsibly it can become your future resume.

Check mine out... 

http://missturner01.weebly.com

(I must disclose that my site will continue to change over the course of my final semester of school. I am looking forward to student teaching and will be sure to keep you updated!)


-CT

Is the Renaissance Festival Educational?

In the processes of becoming a teacher I have developed "teacher brain." I am constantly thinking about what tools can be used in my classroom.

This past weekend I visited the Carolina Renaissance Festival in Charlotte, NC. While I was there I took a moment to ask myself, "Am I learning anything?" 

I remember going to the festival as a high schooler. I spent most of my time hanging out with my friends and laughing at the workers dressed in costume. (Unfortunately, I'm afraid I didn't learn much). 

As I wondered around the festival this time I really paid attention. Come to find out, who knew there were so many things to learn?! 

The festival was full of potential learning opportunities. 

The festival offered an array of skits and activities, people dressed in period costumes, a jousting contest fit for a king and queen, and music and food to correlate with the time period.

I do think the Carolina Renaissance Festival was a learning experience. I think elementary students would benefit/ enjoy it more then a group of high schoolers.

I recommend contacting your nearest festival to check out school visitation packs!

This particular show focused on falcons. This particular falcon, Jinx, flew to a series of post. The bird would fly so close over the audiences' heads, you could feel the breeze from it's flapping wings. 

While the bird flew around the crowd, the presenter would provide facts about the majestic bird.

"Falcons are raptures."

"They hunt in pairs."

"Falcons can see 4-8 times better than humans."

Dancers and musicians, like the one above, can be seen throughout the festival.

The festival has a small museum. The museum is a couple of extra dollars. It holds varying medieval "justice" devices. 

For an older crowd, a hypnotist is on-site!

 

Students can learn about what blacksmiths do and make.

I met a pirate!

Around the holidays the festival has Pirate Christmas! This was one pirate walking around the fair grounds. 

Wouldn't it be fun to have students dress up in Renaissance costume? 

I give a the Carolina Renaissance Festival a thumbs up on the education meter. Even if it's not 100% educational, it sure is fun!

Be sure to check out festival information online! http://www.royalfaires.com/carolina/

 

Creating a Website for Future Teachers

Hi everyone!

Today I have been working on building my personal website.

I am using the website as a resume for future job opportunities!

I worked through the site, www.weebly.com. Weebly is pretty self- explanatory and user friendly. My one recommendation would be to TAKE YOUR TIME!!! Try not to get frustrated while creating your own site. There were a few times that I wanted to give up, but I just kept trucking through and am pretty pleased with how it turned out.

I am still in the process of adding the final touches and am not quite ready to share my page. 
Instead, I am going to attach my professor's website, http://www.mrdearybury.com. 

Teachers/ future teachers, be sure to check it out!






I will check back in once my website has been completed!