Formal Observation #2

Today I was observed for the second time, but from a different advisor.  It was in a different class from what I was observed in last week.  It was the last period of the day, and I think there are things that I could improve on.  Overall, the class went more smoothly than usual.  We did our mental math warm-up for the day, and then we did some review from yesterday's work.

Anyhoo... Tonight there was an event at the middle school. Math & Science night.  I think I am going to start helping out the teacher next to my class on Wednesdays after school the week before Spring Break because they are planning to sell baked goods to fund their classes.  It is a cooking class, and they only get a small budget for the year.


It was quite the day.... I am super exhausted, and I am familiar with what I need to do to improve. Now I need some action plans/ steps to do it.

peace.

Observation #1

I am sorry Blog that I have been ignoring you. I think I bit off more than I can chew, and I may be choking a little... Figuratively speaking of course. :)

I have been overwhelmed with teaching three classes, taking two online classes, and taking in person classes on Monday nights. I need to write a cover letter and spruce up my resume as well. Anyhoo... That is what my life revolves around right now. Go go go. I do try to do things to take care of myself to stay sane. Haha. Okay where was I? Oh, today was my first observation for the semester by my university supervisor. Yes.

It was a hectic day. Well the period after lunch does get out of control. I have moved students. I will need to move more tomorrow. I think I will need to send out a couple who were not working today... I like the students, and I am struggling with disciplining the in this period that I was observed in. I know I am doing them a disservice and I need to get it together so that I can get them following along to learn the material... Tomorrow is another day!!! Let the good times continue. :)

The Week of Valentines...

What a week!

Even though it was a short week I am exhausted! Everyday I would come home and pass out. I think I am getting used to teaching three class periods though. :)  It was Valentine's Day on Tuesday, and since we did not have school on Monday (Furlough Day) we got to start the week on a sweet note. :)  The students were excited to get their Val-o-grams.  I did not pass it out until the end of class. Last Friday was a bit hectic as well because they had the Valentine's Dance on Friday! All the students could not stop talking about going to the dance.... These holidays and breaks is something that I did not quite think about before.  I wish I could go back to my middle school self and remember what it was like for me as a middle schooler. Unfortunately, my brain has a hard time remembering those days... or I must have done a good job of blocking those memories out. haha.  Anyhoo... On Wednesday they were all tired.  My usual chatty 5th period were quiet and unresponsive! I even mentioned to them that I was surprised how quiet they are and if was because of all the sugar they had the day before.  Most said yes. haha.

Anyhoo... it wasn't a bad week. I think they are getting used to me being their teacher.  I think some did not realize that I was their new teacher! One student asked me today... if my mentor teacher retired. haha. No, he did not. He is still around the school, and I am just a student teacher. Oh... good times! :)

Hump\\Day

Today I was able to use the Salem-Keizer wifi at Waldo.  It was very beneficial to be able to have some time to do my homework, which jump started some ideas of activities that I would like to do in some of my lessons.  I was in Period 3 with my ESL II kids, and it might turn into a Social Studies ESL class next semester.  Which is fine because we will still use ELL writing, reading, speaking, and listening strategies to support their strengths and needs.  I just wonder what we need to cover.  I will meet with my ESOL cooperating teacher tomorrow after school before our School Partner Workshop at 4:30pm at Willamette.  Today I recorded my 5th Period Math warm-up, but I haven't looked at it yet.  I will do that later this evening.  I will need to figure out how to upload it from my phone, which I think won't be too hard. I hope...  6th Period Math was a bit rougher.  Some of the students are just chatter boxes. I moved one, and had to redirect a three.  Overall they are not a bad group, but they were particularly chatty after my cooperating teacher left.  I also think that I went over the warm-up too quickly, so some of them could have been frustrated from that.  They were working fine on the warm-up, it was when we reviewed it that was a bit of a struggle.  Yesterday, was about the same as well.  I need to figure out a different strategy to try to get more students to participate and come up to the Smart Board! Tomorrow is another day that I can try something different with them. There is a Literacy Night at Waldo tonight, but I won't make it... I have a meeting with my Teacher Research Critical Friend's Group at 6pm! Meeting online. haha. We'll see how that goes... or if anyone remembers? haha.

More Practice Teaching

Today I taught for almost half the class period in both my math classes.  Teaching is hard work! I tried recording myself go through the warm-up, but the memory became full. I need to record myself teaching a warm-up for my Math Methods class.  Eventually I will record myself teaching for a whole class period. Even though it is an assignment for my Graduate Seminar class,  I think it will be very beneficial.  It will be painful to watch too! haha.

Another Manic Monday... not really.

  Today was a calm day.  I think this week will be calm in comparison to all the events that Mother Nature planned from last week.  I am taking on some more roles as the teacher. Today I led the warm-up and a quiz with the last two Math 3 periods.  I am getting a bit more comfortable with the classes.  It helps me remember students' names when I walk around helping students and when I am teaching.  This is the last week in the semester and grades are due next Monday.  There was a PLC meeting after school to discuss how the week will look like, and what next week will entail.  I should start teaching next week, but we'll see because there is some material to be covered before the students have the OAKS test (State Testing).  I think it will be better to take over after the OAKS, but I also think that by taking on more of the teaching helps me become more comfortable before I take over fully.   I was very sleepy this morning, and I wanted to find a hiding place to take a nap. Instead I was trying to stay awake, and was falling asleep in my chair.  Good times! I better go to sleep early tonight.  It is going to be a long week!!! >:D

hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, oh my!!!

Actually... there are no hurricanes or earthquakes... just flooding!!  Check out the photo above.  It has been week filled with peculiar weather.  Snow Monday night, leaving us with a 2 hour delay for school on Tuesday.  Pouring down rain yesterday and today... leaving us with insurmountable amount of water on the roads and grounds.  What a week!  The Salem-Keizer School District declared that :

It has been quite the week to be back at the Middle School! On another note I helped out in the ESL Newcomer class, and supported my ESOL cooperating teaching in the ESL II class.  The ESL class has been discussing natural disasters, and it was quite fitting for this weeks turn of events.  Most students wrote about flooding today! haha. 

 I also led the warm-ups for the last two periods of the day (The classes I will be taking over in two weeks!).  The first class had more students and were more willing to volunteer.  They stayed focused and quiet even when my cooperating teacher stepped out for a moment.  The other class had less students because most were picked up by their parents.  Even though it was smaller I had to pick on students to participate for the warm-up, and when my cooperating teacher stepped out they were more talkative.  I will get more classroom management practice with the three classes I will be teaching.  :) I feel that I am ready to start teaching, and I am looking forward to it.  Time to start planning lessons and getting organized with information, grading, papers, lessons, activities, etc.

Back @ Waldo!!!

Ahhhhh!!! I am back at Waldo!!! Now I will be here full-time until JUNE!! It was quite the day to be back at the middle school. We had a 2 hour delay because of the snow.  I was hoping that it would be a snow day, but it was still nice to get a few hours more to stay in because I had trouble sleeping the night before.  I do not think tomorrow will be a 2 hour delay because it is not cold enough for the snow to stick and it is more like slush than snow.  It is still very cold though!!

It was an interesting day because not many students showed up! We started school with 3rd period, and I was in the ESL II class that I will take over next semester.  There were only 3 students in the class.  Even though it is a small class... students slowly trickled in throughout the morning.  I like being at Waldo, and I like the students there.  I received the textbooks that I will need to start some of my planning for next semester.  I will start taking over some smaller roles to ease into transitioning my role as the teacher by 2nd semester.  I will let you know how it goes!! :)

Today there was a shortened staff meeting because of the weather.  Teachers shared their work with each other through a gallery display, and there were a few updates.  I think staff meetings reveal a lot about the teacher/admin relationship and culture.  I do enjoy observing how they all interact with each other. 

Hope for a 2 hour delay tomorrow. :)

The Week Before Winter Break

I meant to post about my time at Waldo the week before Winter Break, but I was so excited to be on Break that I just did not do it!  Here are a few photos that I want to share from my time at the middle school before they went on two weeks of Winter Break.

Winter Assembly in the Gym

Flock of Geese Being Chased by Students

Snowflakes

I was hoping to get more out of my time at the middle school during the week before break, but I was already in the mindset of having my 3 weeks off from school, Salem, responsibilities, etc. Overall, I got the vibe that everyone was ready for break!  It was still good to be back in the school and see all the students.  I wonder how the students will see me when I start teaching? I usually just sit in the back of the classroom observing, sometimes I will help a student if they ask, sometimes I walk around the room, but I do not want to butt in on the teacher teaching...  I thought it was nice to attend the assembly on Friday and see all the students who are involved in band, jazz band, choir, and orchestra.  When I am in the classroom I just see the student in class, and not get the opportunity to see what they do outside of the class... it was a nice reminder to see the students in a different role. :)

Volley.Ball

Waldo Middle School on the Left

Waldo vs. Parrish

On Thursday, I stopped by at Waldo to support the girls volleyball team! They were amazing!!!  It was fun to be back at the school and support the various sports teams.  There was a lot going on that day. There was JV Volleyball in the other gym, and JV football on the field.  There were students and parents all over the school. It was a different environment compared to the usual grind of the school day.  It was nice to interact and see students outside of the classroom.

inter.VIEW

Yes, I had an interview today for a tutoring position. It was a group interview, and it went pretty quick! The organization that I interviewed with came about after the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) Act.  It's designed to raise math & reading levels in Title 1 schools who did not raise the scores that met adequate yearly progress scores. Oh yeah~ there's an incentive for students who participate in the program... a free iPod Touch. Lucky lucky!

Cooperating Teacher Notes for ME!

Today I was feeling a bit sluggish... even with the FRS energy chews! I stayed up last night playing Angry Birds. haha. :) That was my choice... Anyhoo... today in one class period a lot of the students reminded me of some Step Up students I know!! AND I received a message from a student today inviting me to visit the school the student is currently at! What a coincidence!!!  I led two warm-ups today for Math 3. My cooperating teacher gave me some notes from observing me yesterday... here it is.


I also went to the 2nd Period 6th Grade ESL Language Arts class to observe a bit and help out a bit here and there.  There is one student who asked me last week... "Are you Asian?" I said, "Yes!"  He replied, "What kind are you?" haha. He's Asian too, and when I was in the room again today I noticed he is more physical with the other boys and verbally aggressive... AND as he was telling me about his parents and grandparents he was calmer and focused.  Randomly when the teacher was talking he turned around and looked at me and asked, "How old are you?" 


I have just started getting to know the students better and knowing their names!! It'll be hard to fathom that I won't be back in their classes until DECEMBER??? eeeeeesh... There is a volleyball game and football game next week that I will go to. Hopefully, I can stay connected through going to games and tutoring. 

Warm-Ups

Sunflowers!

It was a bit gloomy and rain-Y the past few days... Thank God the sun came back out... because I was certainly feeling the SADness coming into my life.  I don't want that right now.  There is a garden full of sunflowers at Waldo. They are soooo tall and lovely! You just can't help but smile. :)


Today I was able to lead the warm-ups for the four Math 3 classes! It was quite the experience.  I need more practice facilitating the classroom, and I need more time to get to know the students' names. I hope tomorrow goes better, but you just never know what could happen.  Some students could be having a good day today, and then a bad day tomorrow or their mood could vary between periods.  Even though I was in my Cooperating Teacher's class the whole day it went by quick since I was able to lead the warm-ups in the beginning and help circulate around the classroom.  It will be interesting to see how tomorrow goes... stay tuned!

The Door (View from Inside the Classroom)

This picture is just the picture of the door as you leave the classroom. Above the door it says "Working Together, Making Connections, Realizing Dreams."  That's their school motto.  You see it when you enter the front doors to the school.


I got a call today to interview for a tutoring position. I applied somewhat randomly to see what would happen... I am not sure how I will find the time to tutor, and it is something that I really want to do.  I'm sure I mentioned it somewhere in a previous post.  Well, I'll go to the interview tomorrow and see how it goes. I would ideally want to tutor at Waldo, so I hope that works out. :) OH!!! UPDATE: It looks like it's a go for being in the ESL Language Arts class for one period for my Student Teaching experience. I'll have to chat with my Cooperating Teacher what periods he's thinking about having me take over... Things are coming along. alhamdullilah

Elvis MATH

I was at my Pre-Student Teaching Site today, and after school I went to hang out with a friend in my cohort. I returned home around 6, and decided to take a nap... and I woke up at midnight!!! OH MY...


EARLIEEEERRR Today... I met the ESL/ELD Teacher and helped/ observed his 3rd period ESL Language Arts class that I could take over next semester.  They were an active group of 6th graders, and it was fun to observe and help a bit.  I also observed another teacher's Math 3 class, and a Math INTENSE (I Need To Employ New Skills Everyday) class.  The day goes by quickly, and there are moments when it goes by slooooowwwly...


In my cooperating teacher's class we did the warm-up, went over some homework, and did Elvis math.  Almost every student asked, "What is Elvis Math??" There were 8 stations around the perimeter of the classroom, and you get one Elvis song at each station to work on the problem.  It was a moving around activity that I think everyone appreciated on a Friday.

My desk on the left... with Elvis behind me

Ms. Leung? Still getting used to that...

Observing.

Today I was back at Waldo, and I observed the same teachers as last week Wednesday.  It was interesting to see how they interacted with the students, especially now that a week has gone by.  I could definitely tell the change between the comfort level of some students in the class compared to last week.


I really enjoy being at the school, and I wish I could have more time there... If time allows I'm thinking about tutoring after school at Waldo.  When??? I'm not sure!!! 


Today I met another teacher where I might be able to teach one of his ELD Language Art classes.  I will talk to him more tomorrow about that... and I also went to talk to someone in the Literacy Center for ELL students.  There are some great resources at Waldo, which I am grateful to be a part of.


I explored the library after school today! It was not too small and not too big. It still had a great selection of books... I didn't browse too much because I didn't want to be a weird creepy adult in a middle school library without any reason. Even though that's probably what it seemed... oy... BUT I had a reason! I need to observe the resources available at the school for my Pre-Student Teaching Observations. :)

Waldo Library (Biblioteca)

First Day of School!!! Part 2

Second day of First Day of School with 6th, 7th, & 8th graders!!!
*School starts at 7:40 and ends at 2:20.

Period 1: Math 4 (8th Gr.) w/ W.

Period 2: 7th & 8th Grade Assembly in the gym 

Period 3: Math 3 (7th & 8th Gr.) w/ W.

Period 4: Language Arts (7th Gr.) w/ C.

LUNCH BREAK (~30 min.)

Period 5: Math 1 (6th Gr.) w/ S.

Period 6: Math 3 (7th & 8th Gr.) w/ W

Debrief from Classes - Observed 3 teachers (1 female, 2 males) in two subject areas (math 1, 3, 4 & Language Arts) differing in all grade levels (6-8th Grade).  Every teacher has his/her style of teaching, and his/her personality comes out in the teaching and classroom management.  Each room layout is completely different from each other.  My take away from the day is to do what fits me as a teacher, and don't be afraid to try new things out.  Learning to teach is a process, and it won't be perfect.

After school I went to the Salem-Keizer office, which wasn't too far from Waldo. And it turns out to be right next to McKay High School. Waldo feeds into McKay, and there are several people in my cohort placed at McKay.  Here's my fancy new badge:

I'm official now!

And of course I had to grab boba! My favorite bubble tea is Taro with Lychee jelly. yuuuummm!!! It hit the stop today, since it got up to 95˚F. 

TARO

Overall feelings... after the School Partner Workshop in the evening... I am feeling a bit more comfortable with the idea of Student-Teaching next February. I am planning to be out at the school as much as possible... depending on my schedule... so that the students are still familiar with me, and won't be in total shock when I go to teach the class!  The next day I'll be at Waldo will be NEXT Thursday! I may start leading the warm-up in some classes. :) I'm ready to go right now...

First Day of School!!!

Front of the Classroom (West Wall)

South Wall of the Classroom

My site supervisor does not have any 6th Graders in his classes, so I was able to transition a bit more with the 6th Graders! Today I helped students open lockers, locate their classes, played tether-ball with a student, observed Art & Math 1 classes, and finished setting up the room.  There was an assembly at the end of the day, and they had the pledge of allegiance and star spangled banner. I haven't done the pledge of allegiance since I was in middle school!! It brought back a flood of memories... 

Tomorrow the 7th & 8th Graders will arrive.  I plan to observe my site supervisor's 1st period, 2nd period there is an assembly, observe another math class, and observe a Language Arts class.  I am not feeling that nervous, but maybe tomorrow I will have different feelings.  Here is a recording of me and my classmate friend after we both finished our first day of school with the incoming class at our respective sites...

"Learning the Ropes"

My first day at Waldo!!!


5:00AM - Jumped out of bed and got ready for my first day at Waldo Middle School!!
6:45AM - Arrived at the school, and it was pretty much empty...
7:00AM - Met my Site Supervisor (Drew Withers) and walked to his room (Rm. 309)
7:30AM - All staff meeting in the Cafeteria
11:30AM - Staff meeting ended & then I helped set up the room
12:00PM - LUNCH at Red Robin's w/ Site Supervisor & 2 other teachers
13:00-15:00 - Continued setting up the room... then I walked around the school to get oriented better.


Overall feelings: 

"Done with Day one!"

• Enthusiastic
• Intimidated
• Optimistic
• Curious
• Eager

Main Entrance

Front Lobby