Life After the Visit
I so enjoyed being in each of your classrooms and the time we all spent together. I hope it was productive for you. I just read your earlier blog postings and feel like the areas each of you wanted me to observe have been addressed. Classroom management is coming right along and from my observations you are comfortable in your surroundings and have good relationships with your students and cooperating teachers. Keep up the good work!
Speaking of work, share your progress with the edTPa and what has gone on in your classrooms for the past week and a half. As you reflect on the goals you and your CT set for you, how are you doing? Have you thought of additional areas you want to address?
Bring me up to date on your travels last weekend and this. I'm thinking about each of you and hope all is well.
My warmest wishes,
Chris
posted by Chris @ 9:52 PM
5 comments
5 Comments:
I uploaded Tasks 1 and 2 to the Pearson website. I have proofread and cross checked the commentaries with the rubrics, so I think they are both ready to go. I completed most of the Task 3 commentary -- I believe I have two more prompts to address. My goal is have the commentary completed by Thursday, and to have it proofread and uploaded over the weekend. I want to submit the edTPA on Monday at the latest.
I have continued to take on more responsibilities in the classroom. I am continuing to plan all subject areas. Carol lets me use her stash of materials that she's collected over her teaching career. This week, I started assessing the students in math since we have reached the end of the unit -- I have been administering the tests individually or in small groups. I would have to administer the tests with larger grouping.
I think my time management in class has improved. I am constantly aware of the clocks, and I try to allot the kids with 5-8 minutes of transitional/clean-up time. My concern now is with the assessments. The assessments that is a part of the math curriculum do not seem valid and appropriate. I found some of the questions confusing -- so did some of the students. We, however, have to use these assessments and lign them with the standards. Because the curriculum jumps around so much, it has been time-consuming to check off the standards we have addressed. The standards address the concepts and skills in a more sequential matter. I also think the unit assessments are an inaccurate reprensentation of what the students know. I am considering developing my own summative assessment for the end of our next unit (if I am allowed to by the administration).
Last weekend, I traveled to Rothenburg ob der Tauber by myself. I caught the train on Friday after school, and I returned on Sunday a little after noon. I LOVED Rothenburg. So much history and beautiful archtecture. I was fortunate to see sun and blue skies on Saturday as well despite the rainy forecast. This weekend, we are all going to Munich! I am most looking forward to the BMW museum. I usually go to car shows with my parents at home, but have missed the past several years since I've been at WSU. This weekend, my parents are going to a car show at home, and I will be able to have my car fixture in Munich!
I loved Rothenburg and bought lots of cool things there. I was there in November and it was the first time I had glu'vine (spelled incorrectly!) but spelling or not it was delicious--hot spiced wine. Maybe because it was snowing it tasted even better!
Oct. 2011 I went to Munich for the weekend and stayed with a friend of my son--we went to a market and then drove to Newschwanstein (also misspelled!). Anyway, I hope it was also a fun weekend.
I'm glad to hear you are thinking seriously about assessments. You may have to follow the math program but I think it is healthy to discuss with Carol that you feel it is an inaccurate assessment of what students know. Keep up the good work with time management and transitions!
Sorry this is so late! Too busy teaching and having fun, time has seriously flown since you've been here Chris!
I have worked more on my classroom management since you left, and Mary and I have worked on my assigning her jobs to do that help me to teach and get work done, but leave me in charge. This has been great for us, and I still enjoy working with her so much!
I had Allison observe me today, and it went very well considering we had a big schedule change today so we had to roll with the punches. I thought this was a great test to how I will be able to think and teach on my feet in the future, and Mary and I were both pleased with how the day went! I also had a chance to teach solo yesterday as Mary was gone, and the day went beautifully!
My TPA is officially submitted :) I've been done for a week or two, but have been slowly editing and revising to hopefully get the good news that I've passed! Feels great to be done!
Scotland and Munich were both amazing, fairly laid back weekends. We learned some amazing history and saw beautiful places so it was two great weekends!
It's weird that after spring break, it'll be time for our CTs to start taking over again for the class to ease back into another lead teacher. I'm not ready to be done!
My apologies for the late post! Not sure why I haven't posted until now, I guess the TPA has just taken over my memory! Which, I have finally submitted! When you had originally asked us to post, I was on the final editing stages of task three, just doing last minute changes to perfect my assessment commentary. Now that it is turned in, I feel very relieved, I know that I will feel even more relieved once I receive my scores!
Since you've left, I feel like I have become even stronger in my confidence and teaching. My "teaching voice" has come along and the kids really respond to that. I feel even more confident about my classroom management. Also, I have been doing pretty much all of the planning. I've planned out all the weeks since you've been here with only minor changes that Monica has suggested for me. I've taken on math planning as well. Math is something that I have never been very strong at but I am still improving every day! I can't believe we are down to our final weeks! The time has really flown!
Our most recent travels include Edinburgh, Scotland (for me and Madelyne) and Munich this past weekend for the three of us. I loved both cities very much! Would have loved them even more if it were warmer! Luckily, Athens is just around the corner and right now the forecast says high 60's! This weekend we are all three staying in Heidelberg. We plan to go on a boat ride on the river on Saturday and then on Sunday Monica has invited us to Easter Dinner at her place. It should be a nice calm weekend :)
I am so proud of each of you. Planning and management seem to be areas of focus as you all are the lead teacher in your rooms. Continue strong!
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