Week of Reflection: 11/4

• Rate your overall experience of the week: 4
• Seven questions to end your week:

• • Observe: What pleasant surprises / accomplishments did I achieve this week?
    Pleasant surprise: edTPA will be done on Monday! I was observed by Dr. Parker, and it went really well.
  • Reflect: What lessons did my work/experiences teach me that I will build upon next week?
    I learned that middle school students will talk when given the opportunity, but high school students take more direction.
  • Focus:  How are my short-term efforts and my long-term goals still aligned?
    Long-term Goal: improve percussion skills. Short-term goal: work with percussionist every week (6th-8th). I am doing this.
  • Be Productive: What could I have spent more or less time doing?
    I could have spent less time leisurely reading, and more time sleeping, practicing, and doing work.
  • Have Courage:  How did apprehension and indecision impact what I did and didn’t do?
    I'm starting a new piece with 8th grade band, and I have a condensed score. This is very frustrating at times because I am not sure who is playing which part. I have to ask students frequently what they have at a particular spot.
  • Begin Anew: What is the first logical step(s) for next week? What mental clutter can I clear?
    Turn in edTPA, and start knocking out the last of the portfolio requirements. I'm going to revise my philosophy, and start working on my videos.

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 analyzed quickly this week while working with trombones. I heard every student play Au Claire de la Lune, and gave immediate feedback.
• What is one piece of advice you can share with other student teachers?
• Listen to some Stravinsky, he's a genius

• NC Teacher Candidate Standards (be sure to reference activities from your lesson plans to solidify your answer)
• • Pick an element from standard one of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    1A- I used positive behavior management in 6th grade band. The percussionists were talking, and they kept talking after I told them to stop talking. I sent one student to sit down in the cafeteria so that he would no longer distract. I did not make a big deal of this, and moved on with class.
  • Pick an element from standard two of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    2D- We've had a lot of students in 6th grade come late to class or have to leave early for intervention and supplement. This can be very frustrating, but after talking to the specialists we are realizing that they don't have a choice. We are trying to establish mutual respect of instruction time.
  • Pick an element from standard three of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    3A- This week we sight read a new piece in 8th grade band. It is a medley of different holiday tunes. I introduced the piece by comparing it to a well-crafted essay. I asked them how they would introduce an essay that had three main topics, and then we played the piece. The students responded really well to this.
  • Pick an element from standard four of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    4B- I mentioned this briefly in standard 2, but many students are coming late to 6th grade band. Sometimes this is their homeroom teachers fault. After several days of a few students coming in consistently late, I decided to go and talk with the teachers. Similar to the specialist, they responded really well. They appreciated that I went directly to them, rather than passive aggressively going to administration. We are working collaboratively to maintain a supportive school environment.
  • Pick an element from standard five of the evaluation tool and explain some activities/strategies you implemented this week to increase your rating for the element.
    5A- we are picking piece for the Christmas concert, and we are finding pieces that are developmentally appropriate and tailored to student/ensemble needs.
• Other:
• • What components of your portfolio have you started to complete?
    I've started pretty much everything, but there are several assignments that need their final touch-up before I submit them.
  • What support does your clinical educator need from your university supervisor?
    When are you planing on sending the COTC, and how do we complete it?
  • What support do you need from your university supervisor?
  • Merely an information that I might not know regarding wrapping things up at the school on an official level.