Week of Reflection: 11/11

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 3
• Seven questions to end your week:

• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week? I've been teaching a lot more than I expected I would at this point, mostly due to NCMEA. We are working on pieces for the Christmas concert, and I am conducting one piece with almost every group. This is a lot of work. It's almost as if now that my student teaching "requirements" are done, I can actually teach band. Not to be too sarcastic, I am grateful for the "red tape" that required me to think about nearly everything in my teaching. However, I am grateful to rehearse music now. We are teaching music, and musical concepts through the music. It's not as obvious now though. *Snarky Tangent Over*
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
    I learned that schedules can change radically from week to week. This is part of the challenges of teaching: rehearsal spaces are being used, the band needs to play for a parade, kids are absent for a field trip, etc... These schedule changes, "curveballs," require you to be flexible and change your plans on the spot. We had a variety of these challenges happen last week, and it was up to us to make the most of the time/space/students that we had at that time.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?
    I plan to be completely done with my portfolio before we leave for Thanksgiving. I'm actively approaching this goal by working on my portfolio about 1-2 hours a day. This seems to be a steady, and reasonable approach.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
    I could have spent a little bit more time on the portfolio, and a little bit more focused practice time. I could have spent less time driving last week.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
    I worked with 9th band a bit this past week, and there were several times where I had to make decisions without really know what the director had been doing or planning on this particular piece. I approached most of these with confidence while teaching. However, I did make a few phone calls between class to make sure I was doing the right thing at the right time.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    I need to work on the video aspect of my portfolio, starting tonight.

Adapted from: Cernoff, M. (2013, August 7). 7 Questions to End Your Week With. . Retrieved July 21, 2014, from http://www.marcandangel.com/2013/08/08/7-questions-to-end-your-week-with/

• What were some data you analyzed this week and how did it help inform your instructional decisions?
  I listened to a lot of individual students and small groups play their parts. This enabled me to fix things on the spot. I also recorded some of my teaching, and was able to discover a few things that I missed. These will be items to address the next time I am in front of these students.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?
• Don't change in your car, you might lock your keys in your car.

• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
    I completed the technology evidences and screencasts. I have also finished my philosophy, and am almost done with that video.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
    COTC, and any further instruction on the formal observation forms
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor?
  • Grace and Mercy on Task 3