Intern Year: Spring 2014: Week 6

The state department came to monitor our school last week in regards to special education.  This was because they were held accountable for something.  However, something happened that shocked me.  The school was allowed to pick the IEPs that were going to be reviewed, the teachers who were going to be interviewed, and the classrooms that were going to be observed.  Also, they were given the interview questions and acceptable answers.  I believe that the visit from the state department did not demonstrate or show anything.  They did not get a real feel of the school or the different parts of the school.  It was like a show almost.  How are we fixing schools that are not in compliance if they are putting on a show, because they know what is going to happen or what is expected of them.  To me, this seems like the biggest problem in schools, because the state department should be monitoring and fixing what is wrong.  But they cannot fix what is wrong if a show is being put on and they tell the schools what they will be looking for.

This week, I noticed that one of my students came into school with a black eye.  This student lives at the mission and his mother is an addict.  When the student came up to ask about using the restroom, I asked about what happened to his eye.  He explained that he walked into a door and was completely closed off and not looking at me.  It gave me a very uneasy feeling in my stomach.  Something did not feel right.  I told my mentor teacher about what happened, and she then casually approached the student and asked what happened.  He explained that him and his brother got into a fight.  My mentor teacher then addressed that issue that his explanations did not match up, and she wanted him to feel safe and that he could talk to us about anything.  He finally explained that his mom got mad at him in the morning because he was not ready for school.  She then took a glass and hit him.  I had never felt so upset or heartbroken or helpless.  I wanted to do so much for this student, but there was nothing we could do except call Child Protective Services, and after that it was out of our hands.  I feel like there was was something more I needed to do; I did not want this student to go back into such a hostel environment.  However, after we called CPS, we could just try to make the student feel as safe and comfortable as possible when he was in school.  I don't think I will ever get used to seeing a student being hurt physically or emotionally by someone who is supposed to take care of them and protect and guide them.  However, I know I cannot stop this from ever happening, but I hope to make my students feel as safe as possible while they are in my classroom.

Today in my sixth grade English co-teach class, the general educator was going over parts of speech and sentence structure that she taught earlier in the week.  However, the students were not able to apply what they learned.  The teacher was easily frustrated and was taking it out on the students.  She put them on the spot and embarrassed some of the students who did not know the answers.  Instead of looking at her own teaching, she was blaming the students for not understanding what she taught.  I feel like she should have evaluated how she taught the students and maybe use a different strategy.  To me, if my students do not understand the content, it is because of how I taught it.  I do not think the students should ever be blamed for not understanding the content.  It is the teacher's instruction that was not effective for the students.

Intern Year: Spring 2014: Week 5

This semester is flying by!  The middle school placement has given me great experiences and has really demonstrated as to what I do and do not want to do.  I really am struggling with the co-teaching setting.  I feel as if I am just a glorified aide in the classroom.  There are no shared planning periods, and the teachers do not really collaborate to create lessons.  My mentor teacher just fills in her lessons after the class is completed.  I think co-teaching could be a great strategy used to meet the needs of all students, but if it is not implemented correctly and given the needed parts, then it is very in effective.  However, I have gotten to take over a sixth grade reading inclusion class and teach that independently.  I honestly  truly enjoy the middle school students and teaching them.  They have really great ideas and are ready to apply their knowledge.  I feel that I can be very honest with them, and I share what I expect from them daily.  I never dreamed that I would ever enjoy teaching middle school, but now I am thinking it might be my first choice.  I would want to co-teach in a middle school, but I would like to co-teach the right way.  If it was not implemented correctly, I feel that I would try to create an environment and teach my colleagues how it could be implemented effectively.
I am wondering how you can have a happy medium with classroom management in the middle school classes.  In some cases, they take you too much as a friend, and in others, you feel as if you are being a dictator.  I am struggling with how to be a little of both.  I want the students to feel comfortable with me and that they enjoy and are engaged in what I am teaching, but I also want them to respect me enough that they are completing their work and meeting the expectations that I set.
A problem that I have noticed is how some teachers are focused so much on the social life and community in schools.  I feel that instead of focusing on teaching and meeting the student's needs, they are focused on the gossip and social life in the school.  To me, it seems as if it is a social event instead of school, and that some teachers are always involved in drama.  It consumes their day, and it takes away from their teaching.  I am wondering why some teachers get involved in it and why others do not stand up to it?

Intern Year: Spring 2014: Week 4

This week has been a very interesting week so far.  I have really enjoyed teaching middle school.  The students have really opened up to me and have given me an opportunity to learn from them.  I never thought I would enjoy teaching middle school, but I feel like my expectations and classroom management techniques really agree with middle school students.

One of the students who is on the APTA grading scale was supposed to be in the library this morning.  However, the librarian could not find her.  It was a mad search to find the student.  In the end, she had let to go to the gym to see her boyfriend.  She was very upset when she got in trouble, and the self-contained classroom teacher was very hard on her.  The student cried for the majority of the class period.  I understand that what she did was wrong, but I thought it could of been handled in a way that would have been more effective for the student.

When I was teaching Read 180 in the general education classroom today, we were developing activities on expository writing.  However, some students did not want to participate and complete the activities.  I explained to them that I at least wanted them to try and put in some effort for the activity.  I also explained that I understand this was not the most fun thing to do, but it was something we had to work on to become a better writer.  Even then some students would not participate.  So, I decided to take a participate grade for the activity.  I walked around the room and observed what each student was completing independently.  I did not think it was fair for  them to discuss and share their answers if the other students were not even attempting the activity.  Some students did get a very low participation grade, so I am hoping this will encourage the students to be a part of the class and be engaged in the lesson.

I have really noticed the struggle to get some students, special ed. and general ed., motivated to complete work and participate.  Some students will not even follow along in class, and it seems they do not care at all about their grades.  This is very surprising to me, and I am also surprised at the lack of the teacher's involvement to get these students motivated and on the right track to be developing and learning.  I feel as the students are just there,and the teachers just let them go because of all the students they have throughout the day.  When I was looking at grades, it did not shock me to see the students who were failing with a D or F.  I feel like those are the students that I am constantly tracking down for homework or assignment or assigning them to think room or lunch detention, because they will not complete their work.  In class, I am constantly prompting and observing the same students repeating the same behavior of just sitting there and not caring about the assignments or learning.  I feel like this is a major problem, and the schools are failing some students in not being their to push them and hold them accountable.  In my future classroom, I hope that I am the type of teacher that is aware of the students and their motivation and grades and is able to play a role in making sure the students succeed and are held accountable for their actions.

Intern Year: Spring 2014: Week 2 and 3

This semester has definitely been a difficult semester in terms of weather.  I can also see how difficult it has been on the teachers and students.  The teachers provide instruction on content, but then there are 3 or 4 snow days and delays.  The students forget what they were taught and the teachers have to reteach; it is a vicious cycle.  They seem to be not moving forward much with instruction, and I feel that the class days seem unorganized.  The teachers are now worrying about meeting goals, IEP meetings, and testing.  Through this experience during my internship, I now see why year-long school might be a beneficial option.  During the winter, instead of having snow day after snow day, the students get a "winter break" to combat the possible winter weather.  Also, schools are not losing instructional days and having to make up in other places.  At first, I was very against year-long school, but now I am thinking it would be more beneficial all around for the students, teachers, and schools.

My first opinion of the middle school age school was not a very pleasant one.  However, over the past week that I have been here, I have really developed to enjoy teaching the middle school age.  They really have great ideas and are willing to explain.  I feel like my classroom management techniques and my teaching strategies fit well with the middle school.  I can see the problem with students wanting to be your friend.  I have had to establish that I am their teacher and I am responsible for their learning and development and their behavior.  However, I do find it important to establish a relationship with middle school students were they feel comfortable around you to share and trust you.  Also, I feel like creating a relationship like that will allow them to feel as if they can learn and give their ideas during instruction.  To me, the most important thing I have learned so far was establish yourself as the teacher with classroom and behavior management techniques, then allow yourself to form a personal relationship with the students were they feel comfortable enough and trust you, but do not see you as a "friend".

I get to teach a reading and science APTA class at the middle school.  At first, I was very nervous, because I have only worked with students with mild disabilities.  The students in my APTA class are identified with Down's Syndrome, and I did not feel comfortable at first.  However, they have become my favorite class to teach.  They are very open to learning and so expressive.  I feel that when I give them learning opportunities and set expectations, they always rise to the occasion and meet them.  I am interested in working more with students with severe disabilities and this experiences has definitely given me my start!

The weather that we have been dealing with is making me very anxious with my classes and projects for them.  I feel like I am struggling to complete assignments that require me to be in the classroom.  I am also worried about completing my contract hours once my internship is complete.  The weather is out of my hands, but it still causes some concern for my completion of the program.