Student Teaching Weekly Log

Name: Ellen Calder Week: 9/1-9/5

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?

This week at Crestview Tiger cub preschool was our students first week! It went
fantastic. Our first week we spent large group time with music, stories about going to school,
and reviewing/learning classroom expectations and routines. The students caught on quickly.
Our daily routine is always the same, which is a nice change and works very well! After our
morning group of signing in, jobs, and reviewing classroom rules, the students were broken
into small groups and the aides, Sandy, and myself led small groups with activities with
shape recognition. It felt great to lead my own small group activities. After small group
activities students wash hands and then move into an hour of center play. During this time I
completed documentation and observations. I also played with the children to build stronger
relationships.

This week I was able to lead small groups, work with students on IEPs one-on-one, lead
indoor recess, which consisted of songs and music as a large group, and took observations.


2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
My most satisfying experiences were seeing the students warm up to me and really want to
engage and play with me. Another extremely satisfying experience, which is very rare but
extremely rewarding, is when I was able to break through to my autistic students during their
meltdowns or moments of extreme- un-regulation.

My most challenging experiences this week was with one of my students who is a level three
sped student. He flees the room, takes four adults to contain, and has violent outbursts. On the
other-end he can be extremely sweet and loving. What was so challenging about this was seeing
how frustrated and worked up my teacher got over this particular student, whereas I am used to
being a Paraprofessional and dividing all my attention to a particular student in need. I think I
need to find a fair balance of helping this student while still lead teaching all of my other
students.

3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

Next week Sandy still primarily wants to lead and gradually hand more responsibility over to me.
We will be doing small groups with journal documentation, we will be taking more observations,
as well as reviewing class expectations, procedures, and rules.

Supervisor Feedback: A really good reflection. Very specific. I'm smiling because I
think you learned a lot from the other experience, but this one will give you a lot of different
learnings. Things that will be very important as you interview for your first job. I love people
who like to work with kids with serious problems and it sounds like you have a few. You have
the power to make a difference!



Student Teaching Weekly Log

Name: Ellen Calder Week: 9/8-9/12

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?

This week I helped lead small groups working on shape recognition and patterning. I also
helped with formal and informal assessments and assisted with logging that data into
Golds assessment. I spent more time this week making connections with students and
interacting with them during centers. I also was able to sit in on an AEA meeting with the
director special education and other members of Crestviews AEA team. The director of
special education has offered me the opportunity to take an MANDT course for free!


2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
Slowly beginning to take over has been very satisfying and overwhelming. I hadnt anticipated
being as nervous as I was slowly taking over but its just like riding a bike I just have to get back
on and keep pressing forward. I am excited to fully take over and see what I learn from this
experience.

The most challenging experience was working with my mentor teacher with one of our level
three students. Our AEA meeting was held for this student to create a plan that would hopefully
assist in eliminating his behaviors. The first day our intervention plan went wonderfully but then
the next day the student had 9 Time outs. I think pin pointing why some days his behaviors flair
up and other days hes an angle is most challenging for Sandy and I.



3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

For this week I am slowly beginning to take over a complete our second group meetings where a
read aloud is completed and we introduce a word to our word wall and teach a letter sound to
students. The following week I will fully take over and will fully dive into teaching into about
the season Fall with students.


Supervisor Feedback: I enjoyed reading it and I'm looking forward to coming. I'm
interested in the decisions made regarding the behavior plans, difficult kids! Do remember, it is
not uncommon for the first few days for a behavior plan to work, and then for a student to have
big problems. It is part of the child testing to see if the limits really exist and if adults will really
do what they say. (Kids are used to rules changing all of the time and inconsistency, and they
need to decide what realty is.)
Offering you the Mandt training was a very professional thing for them to do! I hope it works out
for you.
See you Friday!




Student Teaching Weekly Log

Name: Ellen Calder Week: 9/15-9/19

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
Our week started off with a district wide professional development. I was able to attend a
handful of useful courses on social apps for ipads, youtube, and google docs. I was able to
learn and collect a lot of valuable information. Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday the students
focused on learning about fall. I was able to lead some small groups and morning groups this
week. On Thursday Sandy, my mentor teacher was out for the day so I was the head teacher
all day, which was a great experience! On Wednesday Sandy and I spent time talking with
AEA about our students on IEPS behavior plans and then we lesson planned together.


2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
Thursday was a very gratifying to be able to teach and lead a classroom on my own! I felt
very proud of myself after that experience. My most challenging experiences this week
are remembering and properly implementing behavior plans for my IEP students. I find it
difficult to remember whose plan is for whom and all the small details can be challenging
to remember. I also found some challenge in making sure I feel comfortable and
confident in my teaching. I feel somewhat stressed in wanting to make sure I am doing a
good job teaching and I feel like I might be too critical on myself. I also think catching up
on sleep will help! ;)


3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
Next week is gradually for introducing leaves and what happens to leaves in fall. I will be
working with some recall during read alouds with students. For small groups we have
students working on number recognition, matching with numbers, and positional words
such as behind, in front of, and middle of.

Supervisor Feedback: Nice planning for your unit! It seems very specific and the
process of planning, as well as the writing product, should be a good resource.

Nice reflection. You are correct, you may be hard on yourself. You demonstrate in practice and
verbally a good understanding of the age group and instructional practices. You certainly
demonstrate good skills in connecting with students, working with a large group and
communication skills as well as management skills. The reason I suggested that you video
yourself and review it is that some of your important growth regarding interacting with children
will come from you making decisions about what you think would be good refinements for you.
I've had student teachers that I have had them write out their opening sentences and closing, plan
on giving a specific number of positive comments to students, or ask specific kinds of questions.
You do those things well and are at the point of practicing the skills you think are important to
you.






Student Teaching Weekly Log


Name: Ellen Calder Week: 9/22

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?

I taught bell to bell this week it went very well! We were still learning about the season fall.

2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?

My most satisfying experience this week was feeling more confident in my teaching and
allowing myself to open up and get in my element. My most challenging experiences this week
was still monitoring my IEP behavior students. Ensuring I implement their behavior plans
properly, recording the data, and differentiating their learning experiences is a lot of work but I
am learning a ton along the way!


3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
Next week marks my official take over. I have planned all of the weeks activities, centers, read
alouds, and small groups. I am excited to see how this week goes! The main focus of this week is
about leaves and the season fall.

Supervisor Feedback: Nice reflection. I appreciate your creativity with the Einstein
quote. At Crestview, you have demonstrated the ability to plan and implement lessons and
connect with your students. These are the critical skills. This has given you a view of a rather
typical setting. Congratulations on doing a great job.

See you Wednesday!




















Student Teaching Weekly Log


Name: Ellen Calder Week: October 13
th
-17
th


1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
It was my first week at greenwood so I spent this week getting to know the students and
their daily routine. I did some read alouds, circulated and assisted with independent work,
and pulled students for small group work. On Wednesday it was the first round of parent
conferences I was able to sit in on conferences and met parents. Next Wednesday is the
second round of conferences. Overall the week went well and my Kindergarteners and I
are making great relationships.


2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
My most satisfying experiences this week were making connections with my staff members and
students, and also feeling confident and happy about being in my Kindergarten placement. I was
very concerned leaving early childhood and entering Kindergarten but I am finding out how
much I really love it!

My most challenging experiences this week was starting over at a whole new school, that is
always overwhelming for me but I am already beginning to learn my way around and master my
students routines and schedules.

3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?

This next week I plan to continue to pull small groups, lead read alouds, help with planning, and
assist students with independent work. I am slowly starting to take over small responsibilities
such as attendance, lunch recording, and sorting out the plans for the day and week.



Supervisor Feedback: Here is what makes me feel good: feeling confident and
happy about being in my Kindergarten placement. Not surprised, but starting over is always
challenging.