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.