Week 11
Well, Week 11 is in the books!
I found myself battling frustration and anxiety this week. The unknown end of the CPS strike at the beginning of the week added a level of anxiety to edTPA submission week that gnawed me to the bones. I found myself experiencing increasing levels of anxiety that were unprecedented and affected my day to day life. In addition, my position over the past two weeks of observing rather than teaching became a source of additional anxiety. I just wanted to be in the classroom in the teacher role! I have calmed myself down enough to focus on the tasks ahead of me and curriculum requirements for graduation and will worry about the edTPA when it's time for the scores to be released. If I did not do well, I will do whatever I have to do to resubmit and pass. This is the only career that I want and it took me a VERY long time to figure out where I belong. My first placement was so incredibly kind to let me stay there, observe, and lend a hand when needed during the course of the strike. I will forever be grateful for their contribution, expertise, empathy, and the opportunities they offered me. That being said, I am SOOOOOOOOOOO ready to get back in the classroom and begin my second placement!
I am excited to meet my new students tomorrow, I am excited to plan with my cooperating teacher, and I am infinitely elated to get back to what I LOVE doing- TEACHING! This is what I am supposed to be doing in my life. This is the way I will serve others and my community. Being in an observation role instead of teaching solidified this for me! Please expect an insanely long post next week when I will have a better idea of what I will be teaching and the plan my cooperating teacher and I create this coming week. I understand the strike will have an effect on how much I will be able to teach, considering the amount of catch up work that will have to be completed, but I AM READY!!!! Before the strike, my cooperating teacher and I agreed for me to teach two units on ancient civilizations in World History: Greece and Rome. I am fairly certain there will only be enough time to teach one of those units. I will try my best to make it an incredible unit for the students! I already have a ton of ideas, and cannot wait to discuss those ideas with my cooperating teacher!
Schmidt Chapter 11
1. How did Schmidt's Chapter 11 inform your thinking about communication?
To be honest, this Chapter brought to light some issues and experiences that I experienced in my first placement. For example, frequency of communication. My cooperating teacher told me that because I taught so much, it gave her an opportunity to communicate more with parents. She reflected that the increase in communication had a positive effect on the relationship she built with parents as allies instead of people on opposite sides of a team.
I have always been of the mindset that frequent communication with parents is key to a good relationship with the parents of students and helps to build a bridge between school and home. No matter the age of the students, communication with parents and building a good relationship with them will help me to become a more effective teacher for their child. If there is positive interaction between teacher and parent, there is every opportunity for the child to benefit. For instance, if there is a good relationship, then parents will more freely express factors at home that may be contributing to success or needs in class from a particular student. Additionally, if the teacher has a good relationship with the parent, he/she may reach out more to discuss or problem-solve an issue pertaining to their child as a student.
This chapter also helped me realize that every class of parents will be different. Just as classes of students are different, so are the parents/guardians. I will be sure to keep that in mind in my future classes and try to build effective communication systems with the understanding that the same type of communication and interaction may not work for every class. Similarly to how we adjust lessons as teachers, we must also adjust communication for parents so that we do everything we can to build a positive, effective, and united relationship with them for the good of the students.
2. How will you be better prepared for the parent-teacher conference?
This chapter helped me to realize the subtle and obvious differences in cultural communication. Whether it be a language barrier or cultural variances, there are many factors to consider when meeting with parents. I think this chapter made me realize that understanding the personal and cultural backgrounds of my students is not only important in forming lessons but important in parent communication. I think keeping an open mind and a non-judgmental attitude will be one of the most important factors in parent-teacher conferences. Not one person desires to hear only negative feedback about their child. It is a parent's instinct to defend their child. Keeping this in mind and always starting on a positive note I think will help any parent-teacher conference be more effective.
Signing off 'til next week! I can't wait to let you all know how the first week of my second placement went!
Lisa P.
I found myself battling frustration and anxiety this week. The unknown end of the CPS strike at the beginning of the week added a level of anxiety to edTPA submission week that gnawed me to the bones. I found myself experiencing increasing levels of anxiety that were unprecedented and affected my day to day life. In addition, my position over the past two weeks of observing rather than teaching became a source of additional anxiety. I just wanted to be in the classroom in the teacher role! I have calmed myself down enough to focus on the tasks ahead of me and curriculum requirements for graduation and will worry about the edTPA when it's time for the scores to be released. If I did not do well, I will do whatever I have to do to resubmit and pass. This is the only career that I want and it took me a VERY long time to figure out where I belong. My first placement was so incredibly kind to let me stay there, observe, and lend a hand when needed during the course of the strike. I will forever be grateful for their contribution, expertise, empathy, and the opportunities they offered me. That being said, I am SOOOOOOOOOOO ready to get back in the classroom and begin my second placement!
I am excited to meet my new students tomorrow, I am excited to plan with my cooperating teacher, and I am infinitely elated to get back to what I LOVE doing- TEACHING! This is what I am supposed to be doing in my life. This is the way I will serve others and my community. Being in an observation role instead of teaching solidified this for me! Please expect an insanely long post next week when I will have a better idea of what I will be teaching and the plan my cooperating teacher and I create this coming week. I understand the strike will have an effect on how much I will be able to teach, considering the amount of catch up work that will have to be completed, but I AM READY!!!! Before the strike, my cooperating teacher and I agreed for me to teach two units on ancient civilizations in World History: Greece and Rome. I am fairly certain there will only be enough time to teach one of those units. I will try my best to make it an incredible unit for the students! I already have a ton of ideas, and cannot wait to discuss those ideas with my cooperating teacher!
Schmidt Chapter 11
1. How did Schmidt's Chapter 11 inform your thinking about communication?
To be honest, this Chapter brought to light some issues and experiences that I experienced in my first placement. For example, frequency of communication. My cooperating teacher told me that because I taught so much, it gave her an opportunity to communicate more with parents. She reflected that the increase in communication had a positive effect on the relationship she built with parents as allies instead of people on opposite sides of a team.
I have always been of the mindset that frequent communication with parents is key to a good relationship with the parents of students and helps to build a bridge between school and home. No matter the age of the students, communication with parents and building a good relationship with them will help me to become a more effective teacher for their child. If there is positive interaction between teacher and parent, there is every opportunity for the child to benefit. For instance, if there is a good relationship, then parents will more freely express factors at home that may be contributing to success or needs in class from a particular student. Additionally, if the teacher has a good relationship with the parent, he/she may reach out more to discuss or problem-solve an issue pertaining to their child as a student.
This chapter also helped me realize that every class of parents will be different. Just as classes of students are different, so are the parents/guardians. I will be sure to keep that in mind in my future classes and try to build effective communication systems with the understanding that the same type of communication and interaction may not work for every class. Similarly to how we adjust lessons as teachers, we must also adjust communication for parents so that we do everything we can to build a positive, effective, and united relationship with them for the good of the students.
2. How will you be better prepared for the parent-teacher conference?
This chapter helped me to realize the subtle and obvious differences in cultural communication. Whether it be a language barrier or cultural variances, there are many factors to consider when meeting with parents. I think this chapter made me realize that understanding the personal and cultural backgrounds of my students is not only important in forming lessons but important in parent communication. I think keeping an open mind and a non-judgmental attitude will be one of the most important factors in parent-teacher conferences. Not one person desires to hear only negative feedback about their child. It is a parent's instinct to defend their child. Keeping this in mind and always starting on a positive note I think will help any parent-teacher conference be more effective.
Signing off 'til next week! I can't wait to let you all know how the first week of my second placement went!
Lisa P.
Lisa, it's good to read that you calmed yourself down and that you decided not to worry about the edTPA for now. I'm confident that you will do well, and you should feel that way too. I agree that it was gracious of the school to let you stay and at least help out where you could, but I understand that you are itching to get back to teaching. I look forward to your post next week when you describe your new placement and your feelings about it.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right about frequent communication with parents, and I also think it's important to have positive communication, so when there might be a problem, it's not the first time you make contact.