February 2012
42 posts
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TODAY:
Got ALL 3/3’s on my second observation!
Found out that I’m getting observed again on Wednesday….by the head of the teaching department at U.Hartford. NO BIG DEAL. Nervous already.
It’s Friday and both my roommates are gone for the weekend…hence, I will be dancing around in my underwear & baking cookies tonight, and raging hard tomorrow.
I LOVE TODAY!
Now that my 90 minute delay is up...
…I’m back to stressing out about today. Full takeover and an observation? Either way it goes, I’m gonna need a glass of wine (or three) tonight.
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90 MINUTE DELAY.
The one small joy in snow.
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Update:
I’m in the process of moving onto total takeover of my student teaching class- I’m teaching all day tomorrow!
I still am absolutely obsessed with my placement. I’m learning so much and I love the school so much- and am infinately less stressed than I was at my Practicum placement.
I have so many lessons to write tonight.
I’m getting observed doing a math lesson...
This is on my mind tonight:
ohmuffins:
I believe in education.
I believe in teachers.
I believe in teachers who are passionate and loving.
I believe in teachers who do their best every day.
I believe in a staff that supports their teachers.
I believe in a community that supports their teachers.
I believe in parents who support their children and teachers.
I do NOT believe in individuals who try and stand in the way...
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Frustrated.
My student that speaks absolutely no English that JUST moved here from Puerto Rico that I have been spending SO much one-on-one time with …….. transferred schools after being with me for two weeks.
Why.
hisnamewasbeanni asked: Re: fraction word problems? Don't know what you've used, but some constant staples are: Pieces of a pizza, portions of a pie/cake/lasagne, fractions of a jug of water/cola... As you can tell, food works well. ;) Also, fractions of a journey completed, splitting a bill at a restaurant (back to food lol), or even in this modern age, internet usage and phone bills (proportion of a download...
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I actually looked good today & didn't take a...
I’m furious.
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PLEASE DON'T MAKE ME WRITE FRACTION WORD PROBLEMS.
Seriously, there are only so many ways you can write fractions in a “realistic sounding” word problem. AND I HIT THAT LIMIT LAST WEEK.
Any suggestions? Wah. All aboard the complain train!
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life-and-light asked: The principal complimented you and talked about hiring you next year? That's excellent! Glad all went well for you. :)
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Why today was awesome:
Valentine’s Day! My students were so precious, and they brought me chocolate (:
My lesson on comparing & contrasting texts went REALLY well. Yay!
A PACK of Hartford principals came wandering in during the lesson…and I didn’t suck!
The principal of my school actually complimented me & said he heard “good things” and that I was “intelligent”!
...
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Forgot to take a picture of myself before I...
…and God knows I am NOT putting everything back on. Really blowing it with #fashionableteacher week.
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lifeofthestudentteacher asked: Just started following, but saw your entry about your half day literacy teaching / principle tour thing... Hope it went well!!!
pixieniffler127 asked: This is about your post on writing prompts. I received three reading tests last Friday and for the essay the students had written and I quote: "idk" and I'm pretty sure I let an "Are you serious?" slip. There was a nice lecture the next day of how unacceptable those kinds of answers are.
theworldinpink asked: Good luck tomorrow!
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Tomorrow:
Every single principal in the city of Hartford will be walking around my school and observing random classes as part of their principal’s meeting. This wouldn’t be an issue if:
Tomorrow wasn’t a half day, and half day means “Literacy all day”
I wasn’t the one teaching Literacy tomorrow
Hence: at any given moment tomorrow, any principal from the city of...
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Dear Team Teacher Buddy,
Please don’t hate me! I’m writing you a Valentine as we speak & will mail it tomorrow, I promise!
Sincerely,
Katherine
PS. Sorry I suck.
Things I need to get done today:
Plan literacy centers for tomorrow
Clean my DISASTER of a room so I don’t have to this week
Start my research paper for Intellectual Disabilities on a … condition I’ve literally never heard of (good start!)
Return all of the clothes I’ve borrowed from everyone in the past week
Hydrate.
Meanwhile I’m still in bed. Hmm.
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GOT ALL 3 OUT OF 3'S ON MY EVALUATION TODAY !!!!
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FIRST OBSERVATION AT MY NEW PLACEMENT TOMORROW.
aka I am FREAKING OUT. I’m teaching a small-group lesson on Author’s Purpose/Main Idea & Supporting Details.
Wish me luck!!
True life: I'm actually insane
Getting ready for teaching & finally finishing ‘The Kennedys’ mini series … and I just had to re-do my makeup because I cried too hard when JFK got shot. Such a nerd.
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Grading writing prompts.
One of my students consistantly used ‘ur’ instead of ‘your’ her entire paper.
Why.
EDIT: Another student just used ‘wanna’ instead of ‘want to’ HIS entire paper. FOR THE LOVE OF HUMANITY MAKE IT STOP.
pixieniffler127 asked: Why is it that colleges/universities give us templates that are nowhere near the type we will be using in real life? <_<
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The more I teach,
the more I realize that the lesson plan template the University of Hartford makes me use for observations is completely, 100% unrealistic and annoying.
Why. WHY.
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The day after the Superbowl should REALLY be a...
Am I right? After that BRUTAL loss I’m not ready to wake up early & teach children.
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I GOT A LETTER FROM MY TEAM TEACHING BUDDY (:
Hi, pixienifflers (: You made my horrible night class after a crazy day student teaching bearable and I love ya for it!
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It's not even 9pm...
I’m literally about to lie in bed and watch ‘The New Girl’ and ‘The Wonder Years’ til I fall asleep.
THE GLAMOROUS LIFE OF AN ED MAJOR.
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Any ELL tips?
I have two students in my class-both girls-that still speak Spanish as their main language. My cooperating teacher is Portugeuse, and (thankfully) is able to translate directions quickly for them when they need it. I, on the other hand, have high school Spanish class experience and that’s it.
Has anyone been in this situation before? I feel so guilty having to call my cooperating teacher...
sarah1223 asked: I just graduated and LOVED student teaching. Enjoy it while it lasts because you will remember those kids for the rest of your life. I really miss mine :( Good luck to you!!!
January 2012
41 posts
3 tags
Today keeps getting better!!
My cooperating teacher from my last placement AND the principal of the school that I did that placement at are BOTH writing me recommendation letters, and the principal said, and I quote, “I will keep your resume in the event that we have an opening.”
AAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!! :D :D :D
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I JUST HAD THE BEST DAY.
Today was honestly so good I am smiling in my room alone as I write this…awkward.
I was nervous, because I knew we were getting a new student today. Not any new student- a student from Puerto Rico, a student getting Special Education services, and a student that MIGHT have to take the CMT’s next month! SO.
But I sat down with her today and did as much as I could with the LIMITED...
kissingjae asked: Hi! Okay, I've got to say, I just "searched" for Student Teaching in tumblr tags because I just started my 12 week practicum last Monday. And I'm SO excited to follow your journey! Sorry if this is totally weird and/or creepy. :) Good luck!!
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My new class!
So I’ve officially been in my new placement for a week now & I can safely say that I’m in love with my new fifth graders, my cooperating teacher, and my school.
My students are little angels. Literally- so well-behaved, especially when you compare them to my students last semester. They’re also adorable & precious. The other day when I was walking them to the door to...
“Why is all of your skin so tan, Ms. Stearns? You’re only half white,...”
– One of my students asking why I’m so tan.
I am “all white”.