Week 15

This week I taught full-time (with the exception of my cooperating teacher's cartooning club on Friday afternoon). We are working diligently on making career portfolios for each student so that when they leave the transition program, they have a record of all their accomplishments, skills, resumes, work samples, references, etc. so that when they go to get a job, they already have a portfolio set up for interviews. Having a portfolio is something I think that is very important for my students and something I can relate to them with since I, too, am in the process of creating a portfolio. Next week I hope to at least show a few interested students how to make their portfolios digital.

This week I had two students receive in-school lunch detentions in my class. One student seemed to have a bad case of the "Monday's" and not only would not participate but exclaimed his hatred for the class etc. Another student not only did not participate and call me a "worthless pretend teacher" but also walked out of the classroom! I was feeling a bit discouraged but tried to not take it to heart. On Thursday, the first student ended up telling me that I was a wonderful teacher and he was beaming all class, and on Friday, I was able to connect with the second student in the lunchroom to check-in and say hi. It seems to me that they both have quick rebound rates because on Monday and Tuesday I was the WORST! Yet, later in the week, I am a WONDERFUL teacher. This was a good lesson for me to learn. I will not always be my student's favorite person. Sometimes I will push them out of their comfort zones and they won't like it! But that doesn't mean I am a terrible teacher. Maybe it's just not their day. Maybe it's just not mine! I will always continue to grow and I am thankful for my students and the learning opportunities they provide me with.

On Wednesday, the student's had a half-day in which they either went to the Sportsplex to play basketball or they stayed on campus to Zumba! I stayed and did Zumba with a bunch of students and staff. It was such a fun time! The students didn't want it to stop. They actually requested songs after the instructor had finished and she gave them an encore. It was a blast! After the students left, the teachers had meetings. I was in a meeting of the certified staff for pod 4. The meeting was filled with opportunities to collaborate about staff meetings, case reviews, and the student handbook. I volunteered as the note-taker during the meeting. Standard 8B says that the competent teacher, “understands the collaborative process and the skills necessary to initiate and carry out that process”.  I definitely put this standard to use during this SIP day.

Schmidt Chapter 7

 

Chapter 7 talks about community in the classroom. The idea of community-based learning is something I enjoy and I plan on using some of Schmidt’s ideas in my classroom. Allowing the students to have more choice in their learning leads to them having more ownership of what they have learned. It gives them more responsibility and let's them participate in more self-discovery. When my students are in the "real-world" a lot of the problem solving activities they will encounter will involve active, community-based learning experiences so it is good to expose them to this often and early on.

I have been planning a community-based field trip. This field trip is to the Chicago Pedway. When we are there we will be completing a Scavenger Hunt. This way I am guiding the students towards what I want them to learn about and notice in the Pedway, but it is still up to them to discover it on their own and to use their problem solving and team work skills. They will have to navigate a map, document their progress, and stick together as a team. My vocational classroom is very project/community based. We do many field trips and many projects with our business Savory & Sweet. I am excited for the next two weeks and all the fun trips and activities we have planned. I love getting the students out in the community as much as possible.

Week 14

My spring break went by very quickly but then I got food poisoning and missed my first 2 days back! It was terrible but I was able to plan for the week even though I was unable to be there the first 2 days to actually teach. On Wednesday I learned all about the "red bin" activities. The "red bins" are filled with norm referenced tasks that the students are timed on. The two activities we worked on were screwing in nuts and bolts and packing dice into boxes. These were both tedious tasks that required a lot of attention to detail and fine motor skills. The students are timed and try to beat their own times to show progress. We had 3 students beat the norm times so we are having pizza for them as a reward (the school is a PBIS school). When the students finish doing the tasks at least 2 times, we chart their progress on excel to show their progress. These charts will be put in their portfolios as a work sample.

The student portfolios are something that I am taking over as my teaching project for my 2 full time teaching weeks. I have adapted a career exploration and transferable skills packet into a "developing your portfolio packet." I am really excited to help these students develop portfolios that they can take to future job interviews to "show off" their skills and accomplishments. On Thursday I introduced this project to the students and we discussed everything that goes into a portfolio including the differences between references and recommendations (and why our family members cannot be one or write one for us).

On Friday, we had "Float Away Friday" to raise money to send to the victims of the tornado in Fairdale, IL.  We made coca cola, orange soda, and root beer floats all during lunch. We also sold a few cookies we made that morning. We made over $234 to send in Walmart gift cards to help the victims. I was really proud of how generous the students were. We sold over 100 floats! It was a success. The students were able to practice many skills like cooking, money management, making change, setting up displays, customer service, etc.

I am looking forward to this next week. We have a fitness day coming up on Wednesday and clubs again on Friday- which I always look forward to. My cooperating teacher runs the cartooning club and one of our students who is in the club has cerebral palsy and I am so impressed by his determination and his ability to preserve and draw! He is doing an awesome job! All of our students are. My time here really is flying by and I am sure these next three weeks will as well. We are also looking forward to a field trip to the Chicago Pedway which I was able to plan this week and write a request for! I am hoping to hear by this week whether or not we will have transportation provided. I hope to continue to grow in the area of 3I in the Illinois Professional Teaching Standards. Creating short-term and long-term plans to achieve the expectations for student learning.
 

Week 13

Week 13 flew by. We prepped candy on Monday, I was sick on Tuesday, had the candy sale on Wednesday, I was observed on Thursday, and we were off on Friday. So, it really was a short week, packed full with activities. The candy sale went better than expected. I wasn't sure we would sell everything we made in the 3 hours allotted. Instead, we SOLD OUT in about an hour and a half. I was so proud of my students! They did a great job setting up shop, running the cash register, and packing up people's treats.

Thursday we balanced all the spreadsheets, "paid our bills," and talked about profit and if the sale was worth it! They decided it was worth it and that we should do it again next year. Between the potato lunch and the candy sale, the students have raised close to $400 for a new basketball hoop for the Transition program.

On Thursday before break, I was pleasantly surprised to receive a few hugs from students as well as a few "miss you's". I am eager to get back into the swing of things next week and to finish up my 4 weeks there!! I will be very sad to leave such wonderful people and a wonderful place.

Schmidt Chapter Ten

Social Justice is important because every person should have a right to an education. Not just any education either, but a fair education by highly qualified teachers. I also think it is important to educate students about social justice. Social justice applies to all areas of life and students need to learn how to discern what is unjust in the world and be motivated to make a change. One way to create global citizens that was mentioned in the text was to read books about kids making a difference. This motivates students to also make a difference.

At the transition program, each morning we read the newspaper. I think this is a great way to show and discuss social justice going on in our town and the greater world. As a Christian, I know that I am called to be Jesus' hands and feet and to be just.