Week 14

On Monday we had parent-teacher conferences.  It was really helpful to sit in on numerous parent-teacher conferences in a row.  Not only did I feel like it helped me get to know my students better, it also was a good experience to listen to how my teacher approached conversations with parents, both positive and negative.  One thing I was surprised by during conferences was how many students came with their parents.  It my other experiences with conferences, students were not allowed to be in the room.  This time, almost all the students came with their parents.  Another thing I realized during conferences was how exhausting they were.  My teacher and I had 13 conferences in a row without even a minute break, and it was hard not to have any time to gather thoughts or look over scores right before each conference.  Participating in conferences was a practical learning experience that I really appreciated (8P).

On Tuesday I had one of the busiest days to date during student teaching.  My teacher thought we'd have a lot of down time during conferences on Monday, but we didn't end up having any free time.  Because I had been planning to introduce a readers theater this week and was planning to copy and assign scripts during conference free time, I had none of that done.  I spent all of my plan time getting their scripts ready.  I ended up getting everything done, but by the end of the day, I was exhausted.  I had a lot to do after school too, but I was able to catch up so that Wednesday wouldn't be as busy.  

On Wednesday all the work I had done on Tuesday for the readers' theater paid off. We practiced reading through the scripts during one of the morning mini lessons and during a couple guided reading groups and students LOVED it.  I could tell it would be challenging for them to follow along during the play, but they loved the idea.  Some of them got really excited when they realized they would get the chance to perform their plays for the rest of the class.  Most of them started taking it more seriously when I told them that as well.  
During math on Wednesday afternoon, we tried playing a game that students had not handled well the week before.  I reminded them that we had to stop playing the game once, but that I had confidence in their ability to play it this time.  They did so well.  They followed directions and played the game without distracting each other and without jumping or running around the rug.  They worked together and had a lot of fun.  It was a wonderful change. :)

On Thursday I could tell that Spring Break was in the air.  Everyone in the school seemed excited to get out.  During math the students were easily distracted by the second grade group working with my cooperating teacher.  After about 20 minutes, the 2nd grade group left to work on a computer program.  When they left, I was able to transition from using the board and drawings to having students act out the concept of fractions we were using.  Because the rest of the room was quiet, I was able to expect their voice levels to be lower.  They were able to hear me, and we were able to act out fractions and counting fractions.  I had student split the class into halves, thirds, and fourths.  Each group then stood up as we counted them, saying "1/2, 2/2" or "1/3, 2/3, 3/3" etc.  They were able to move around and they were much more engaged in the activity (5I).  Now I need to figure out how to pull off those kinds of activities while the 2nd grade group is still in the room.  

Friday was a busy day.  It was definitely a balancing act trying to get things done, keep students on task, and join in their excitement for Spring Break.  Students performed their readers' theaters they had been practicing all week at home. It was great to hear some struggling readers get really excited about performing their plays.  The rest of the class listened incredibly well too.  I was so proud.  :) 

Friday was one of the first times during writing that students were doing a variety of different things at the same time.  Some students were writing, some were illustrating, some were coloring, some were laying out their fairy tales and illustrations on large posters, and others were ready for the next assignment.  While it could have been overwhelming, I found that my students and I all enjoyed that work time.  I think they needed some time to move around the room and focus on a task on their own. They needed some time to be able to talk while they worked.  It was a really positive work time that they valued.  I could tell they were invested in their work and it paid off.  

Next week we are on Spring Break and we are all excited!