Halloween Party!

Class started a little different this morning. After the announcements, we began SSR, unfortunately we didn't get a chance to do our pot notes. Since today is Halloween the teacher cadet students brought in chips, drinks, sweets and other goodies, we had our own little party. While we were enjoying the party some students were in the process of completing their lesson plans that are due Thursday, other students were working on their Lifeline projects.

Lesson Plans Cont.

Today we first had SSR and then did pot notes. After that we worked on lesson plans. Everybody was working great and are trying to fhinsh their lesson plans. We have been working on lesson plans for a couple days and everybody has made good progress. The class was very quite and working hard. Mrs. Sutusky was out again today and the class misses her so much. We are glad she is coming back tomorrow.

Lesson Plans & Lifelines

Mrs. Sutusky is still at her Teacher Cadet conference so we had another substitute. We worked on our lesson plans and our lifeline projects and we also were able to watch Friday Night Lights while we worked. At first I dreaded having to write out a dialouge for our process section, but then I realized it will really help out once we go into our placements. I'm also finished with mine and then I have to work on my lifeline project. We all can't wait until Mrs. Sutusky comes back!

Sub day

Today we had a sub, Coach Cash. We read our SSR books and then we wrote our pot notes. Then we had a choice to work on our lesson plans or we could watch the movie 8 below. It was a very fun class but we missed Mrs. Sutusky really bad!

Lesson Plans

We did lesson plans yesterday, we are getting closer and closer to completing them. I feel as if we are learning how to really teach in this exercise. This in my mind is the real transition from student to teacher. We work on these for most of the class after we did our SSR time.

Lesson Plans

Today in class we began our lesson plans which are not as bad as i expected them to be. So far it has been going well just a little challenging with scripting out every little thing. I am beginning to feel more like a teacher , having my own lesson plans. I cannot wait to get finished with these lesson plans because then we go into our placements and that is going to be great. I am going into the first grade and it is going to be so much fun working with the little kids and helping them through school.

What's Behind the Behavior?

Today was just like every other day we started out with our 10 minutes of SSR, and then wrote our pot notes. After writing our pot notes, Mrs. Sutusky told us what we would be doing in class. We would be working in groups on a worksheet called "What's Behind the Behavior? Strategies for Common Classroom Characters." I was partnered up with Brandon, and Courtney for this assignment. For this activity we were to read a scenario that was taped to the outside of a folder. Once we read that scenario, as a group we had to discuss possible reasons for that type of behavior. After discussing with my group, we then could open up the folder and compare our answers with the worksheet provided. I really liked this activity, it let me understand the types of behaviors that may be in my placement.

Finishing Up Classroom Procedures Plan

Today we started out by silent reading. Then after that we did our pot notes like every other day. No one had finished all the classroom procedure word document, so Mrs. Sutusky allowed all of us to finish. It was a lot of work. We had a very productive day. It took the rest of that class to finish the work. Then when we all got done we had to email our work to Mrs. Sutusky. She also gave us a packet with questions about classroom rules and procedures that we had to answer and turn in.

Classroom Procedures

Like usual, we started class by silent reading. Most of us are done with the book A Child Called "It" and some are getting close to being done. The book is amazing. I recommend this book to anyone. After the silent bell rang we got out our pot notes and wrote to our classmates. Then Mrs. Sutusky started the classroom procedures lesson. She explained to us how rules and procedures are different from one another. She told us to remember that rules have consequences and procedures don't. Then after she explained it all to us we had to pretend like we were teachers and make up five class rules that we would obtain in our classrooms. We had to make a flyer and decorate it with our rules on it. We also had to make a document and it was rules and consequences. We had to use those five rules and explain how we would teach our students the rule and then list three consequences if the student chooses not to obey. After that she gave us a work sheet wth twenty-two procedures on it and we had to explain in a word document how we would do cartian things in our class. For example one procedure was " students signal for teachers help" and i said that in my classroom if a student needs help that they can quietly raise their hand and i will be there to assist them as soon as possible. We had a very productive day. It was a lot of work but we all worked hard and got it done.

Assessment

At the beginning of Teacher Cadet, we played a huge review game. We reviewed everyting we have studied thus far in the semester. We had to categorize everything into specific topics. Today we learned about the different forms of assessment. There are two types of assessment which include formative and summative. Formative assessments include quizzes, class discussions, homework ect. Summative assessments include standardized tests, unit tests, unit projects, ect. In this lesson,  we learned about how certain things can make an assignment and/or test difficult by putting true/false mixed in with short answer and such. We even took a "Test on Testing" and had to identify the errors in the assessment. I really enjoyed this lesson.

Mid Term Review Game

Mid Term Review Game

Bloom's Taxonomy, Lecture, and Technology

Like always we had our daily SSR and wrote our pot notes before class began. We had a jam packed class today, but learned a lot. Once class started, we got straight to work learning about Bloom's Taxonomy. There are six levels of Bloom's Taxonomy which include: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. This lesson taught me new ways to question my students once I go into my placement. I learned that questions should become more challenging throughout the lesson. We also discussed techniques for effective lecturing. Then we learned about how to include technology in our lessons when we go to our placements. We also discussed the positives and negatives about technology. The most important thing we learned today is "always have a back-up plan." I think this was a very wonderful lesson.



Board activity for effective and ineffective lecturing techniques



Creating Bloom's Taxonomy questions

Creating Bloom's Taxonomy questions



FFA day

Today in Teacher Cadet, we started out with our normal ten minutes of SSR. After we read, we wrote pot notes. Shortly after there was an announcement for all FFA students going to the fair to report to the designated area. Teacher Cadet is already a small class of twelve students, so today in class there was only Murshay, Parker, TJ, Brandon, Mrs. Sutusky, and I. We had several students absent for the FFA field trip. We finished watching Remember the Titans, and then discussed the struggles teachers faced during segregation. I love this movie.

Remember the Titans

Today we did the normal stuff, wrote "pot notes" and read for ten minutes during SSR, that we do every morning. After that, we started watching the movie Remember the Titans to evaluate struggles in the classroom. We were able to easily make the connection with segregation from our previous lessons in Teacher Cadet. We didn't get to finish all of the movie, but we will have time to finish the last bit tomorrow.

Happy Homecoming

This week has been extremely hectic because it is homecoming week. It was Spirit Week and of course Mrs. Sutusky was extra peppy. For most of us seniors, we were a little sad knowing that that is our last Spirit Week, but we all sucked it up and went thorough the day like normal. We started off the day with SSR and then pot notes. I am going to miss pot notes when we go to our placements. It has become a huge part of my day. Our lesson was about different instructional strategies. We also discussed the advantages and disadvantages of Methodologies. Methodologies are groups, questioning strategies, lecture, technology, games, worksheets, textbooks, and inquiry lesson. For the activity, Mrs. Sutusky broke us up into groups and gave us a puzzle. We could not talk as we were putting together the puzzle.  I never knew how hard it was to put together a puzzle with two boys without talking. Josh really wanted to finish the puzzle so after we finished the lesson Mrs. Sutusky let him. Because of this lesson I feel prepared for my placement at MTP Elementary School.

The girls putting together their puzzle

Working on their puzzle

Keri, Veta, and Brittany with their completed puzzle

Working hard on their puzzle

Check out this link

Here is a link Dr. Morgan's blog about Tuesday's visit.

http://kcsdblog.wordpress.com/2012/10/10/nchs-teacher-cadets-4/

Poem Assignment

After reading this poem, please answer the question below. After you have responded, please comment on two other posts by your classmates.

When you thought I wasn't looking by Mary Rita Schilke Korzan

When you thought I wasn't looking, you displayed my first report, and I wanted to do another.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you fed a stray cat, and I thought it was good to be nice to animals.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you gave me a sticker, and I knew that little things were special things.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you put your arm around me, and I felt loved.

When you thought I wasn't looking, I saw tears come from your eyes, and I learned that sometimes things hurt - but that it is ok to cry.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you smiled, and it made me want to look that pretty too.

When you thought I wasn't looking, you cared, to say thanks for all those things you did when you thought I wasn't looking.

1. Teachers make a difference when they think no one is looking. Is this true in your school?

Catch Up Day

Today in Teacher Cadet, Mrs. Sutusky allowed us to get caught up on our work. We have been extremely busy lately. I am so thankful she gave us the day to work on our assignments. Everyone worked quietly and barely anyone talked. I am excited to begin instructional methods tomorrow.

Q & A with Dr. Morgan

Today in Teacher Cadet, Dr. Morgan Superintendent of Kershaw County, came to visit us. The whole class created questions to ask him. When he came in, he told us everything about his job and what he does every day. He has a very busy schedule. He had an excellent answer for every question we asked. We asked him things like "what do you think about building an elementary school near the middle and high school," and he thought that was an excellent question because he would love for that to happen in the future. Dr. Morgan also had questions for us. He asked us what we thought about observing all of the students, and what surprised us the most. For me, it was how the students behaviors vary throughout the schools. He also gave us advice. Dr. Morgan told us that when being a teacher expect the unexpected.

Dr. Morgan speaking with the Teacher Cadets

Debate

Today we started class by doing our pot notes. In class we decided to do a debate over several issues and topics in education. There was a disagree and an agree sice. Whichever side we chose we had to defend ourselves and give an explanation of why we chose that side. There were twenty five topics that varied from religion in school to school policies. Some topics went into a deep discussion like students getting involved with school policies being enforced or being excused of an assignment because of your religion. The debate was pretty good as we got to see our views on certain topics that people talk about daily in our area and district.

Questions for Dr. Morgan

We started the day as usual by writing "pot notes." We finally got to present our elementary school projects. I think everyone did a great job. After the presentations, Mrs. Sutusky told everybody that Dr. Morgan would be coming on Wednesday for a Question and Answer session. Everybody got on their laptops and went to the school district website. The objective was for everybody to read and look at different things that were on the website; things like his blog. After reading topics that were discussed on the website and things that were happening at school, students were to type at least five questions to ask Dr. Morgan when he comes on Wednesday. Mrs. Sutsuky also directed us to research current state wide issues going on in the education world today. The majority of the students had questions about the freshmen having iPads. The other questions were about the school rules and policies. I think that Dr. Morgan will enjoy some of the questions that we came up with. I cannot wait for Wednesday to see what his responses are.

Sunshine Elementary School

Kershaw Private School

North Central Elementary School

Tall Oaks Elementary School

The History of Education

Today in Teacher Cadet, we started the day off in the normal by reading "A child called IT." After that we jumped straight to the lesson, the History of Education. We learned all about how education got its start and different ways it has changed over time. We viewed back on "Plessy vs. Ferrgusson" and "Brown vs. Board of Education" which had many factors to the change in education. The overall of the lesson was good, it broadened the idea of education to us and helped us understand where things all began. We also did a who decides activity which ask us questions and we have to answer in a who decides manner, like "who decides if we come to school on snow days?" and we would answer "the district." We also watched clips from "Remember the Titans" showing education in the movie. At the end of class we got a few minutes to ourselves to work on other things or projects.

Development

Yesterday, on October 3rd we started class with our daily SSR and pot notes. Instead of reading "A Child Called It" we read an article about the novel "The Hurried Child". When SSR was over, as a class we discussed what the reading passage was about and our opinions on the topic. Then we watched a video called "Teens and what makes them tick" which I thought was pretty interesting. The video explained why teenagers and adults act so differently and interviewed several teens who had issues with their parents. The video was long so we had to stop it before class was over, but I think it kept everyone's attention.

Movie/Project Day

Today, first we read for SSR and then our pot notes. We watched "Teens Whats Make Them Tick" and it was very interesting on what some teens act like. While we were watching the video, we have questions to answer that goes along with the video. As some students watch the video they answered the questions as they watched the video. We watched the movie for half of the class. After the video we worked on our elementary school projects. My groups elementary school is named Tall Oaks Elementary. We drew a big oak tree in the middle of our poster board.

Continued Elementary School Projects

Today in class we did like we normally do, we read for 10 minutes for SSR. Then we wrote our pot notes to each other. After that we worked on our Elementary projects. In my group it's Jill, Veta and I. Our school is called Tall Oak Elementary School. We traced the tree for our symbol in the middle of our poster today. We aslo put glitter on it and made it fabulous!

Elementary School Assignment Continued

At the beginning of class today we did our SSR like every day. We continue to read A Child Called It which is a good book just very sad. After SSR we did our daily pot notes for our fellow classmates. After we finished our pot notes we continued to work on our elementary school projects with our groups. Today our group got the majority of everything finished, although creating the schedule was a difficult task. We have the layout of our classes and our hallways but we still have to create the playground for our students. Overall this project is going along very well at the moment and hopefully it will continue to. I am anxious to see how the finished product is going to look.