Intro to Placement

1. Describe one thing that you learned.

Begin to notice what your student are doing and feeling. Do not lecture without noticing if your students are attentive, and seem to be "getting it".
2. What questions do you have and/or what do you still want to know.

When do first year teachers find time to collaborate with their peers? Generally speaking, will they be assigned a mentor their first year?
3. What are you anxious about regarding student teaching/teaching?

The first day of school this coming Tuesday.
4. What are you excited about regarding student teaching/teaching?

The first day of school this coming Tuesday.

Intro to Placement - About Kevin

I have had a great career spanning 36 years in manufacturing and distribution, and now embark on perhaps the final career of my life, teaching. I am a veteran of the US Navy having served four years during the Vietnam War. I came to the Northwest just a little over a year ago from my home back east, New York. I enjoy outdoor activities to include hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and biking. I live in Sammamish with my wife of 40 years, sister and brother-in-law. My wife and I have two children, two grandchildren, and two dogs.

Intro To Placement - About Robin

Robin is from North Carolina, and moved to this area two years ago. Is an advid kayaker, and is in love with her paddle. She is a self proclaimed adventurer and loves to challenge herself with learning new things. Her scariest moment was being trapped in a hole during a kayaking outing. She has kayaked both in open water and whitewater. Her paddle is black, manufactured in Washington State, and is made out of synthetic materials. She has paddled the Snomish River, among other rivers in the area. She was in the water the day she joined the UW Kayak Club. She has paddled the Outer Banks, and intercoastal water way. She has paddled with whales. She owns one kayak, and has the use of the Univerisity Clubs kayaks.

Franklin Teaching Journal

August 27, 2009 (Day 4)

Staff meetings, followed by meet and greet new students, and final room preparation and lesson plans for 1st 2 days of math. Challenge in 1/2 Quest is the fact that you must lesson plan two groups of students with 2nd and 3rd grade work.

• School nurse presentation on use of EPI pens, 911 procedure, seizures, and asthma. To my knowledge no one in our class has a special medical need. Will review with master teacher.
• Teacher handbooks distributed and reviewed by principle.
• School policy is not punishment for students but to correct behavior. Spoke about behavior contracts and sign-off process.
• Teachers directed to provide principle with progressive behavior plan for each classroom. Teachers must follow procedure with behavior referrals slips to office.
• Recess inventory of balls provided by PE teacher.
• Districts Mandatory Reporting Policy reviewed.
• Discussion of “sexting” was reviewed and procedure to deal with instances.
• Review of LWSD Rules of Conduct.
• Review of Student Handbook, and revisions made for this school term.
• Energy policy reviewed. Extremes were cited as above 85 or below 65 in the classroom were thresholds established by districts.
• Virtually all personal music players, refrigerators, fans, heaters were no longer to be used. Any use need to be cleared with principal
• BBQ at Lael’s Monday
• Kids are never left unsupervised or allowed to move from class to class without teacher presence.
• Review of committee members for school year and stipends.
• LEAP schedule issued
• Meet and greet new students to classroom along with parents.
• Review of lesson plan for 1st two days of class.
• Copies of worksheets made for next week

Franklin Teaching Journal

August 26, 2009 (Day 3)

Today attended a workshop on The Brain, Learning, and Differential Instruction. There will be a follow-up for part two of this workshop. Spent afternoon in the classroom decorating, using the laminator, and stencil die cut, writing names on desk and cubbies.

• Accent the positive.
• Secret to avoiding Alzheimer's is to continually lean new things as you age. Reference the nuns brain.
• Can’t learn if you are emotionally down or tired.
• Breakdown the “I can’t” attitude.
• Kids need to move about the classroom and stand up.
• Chewing gum forces more blood to the brain and studies show that more blood stimulates the learning process.
• Don’t focus on what kids can’t do, but on what they can do. Use their strengths to bridge to their weaknesses.
• Speaker uses learning centers or work station that students rotate to.
• Use mixed ability groups
• Too many kids have IEP’s nationwide which promotes tracking which is counter to DI method of teaching
• Use of games is widely used.
• Made a cootie catcher.

Franklin Teaching Journal

August 25, 2009 (Day 2)

First day of September Experience.

Morning spent listening to publishers from TCI explain how to teach the new social studies curriculum.

• I liked activity where two students with one crayon draw a picture without communicating, then do the same thing with communication.
• Again the idea of kids teaching kids, buddying, group activities promotes learning. Teacher the guiding hand to direct activities.
• Listened to Chip Kimball, Superintendent. Good speaker. Teamwork, and honesty promoted. Don’t tell students, etchers, administrators what they want to here. Story about water skiing.
• Afternoon spent helping decorate classroom. Border, numbers and letters on desk. Student of the week schedule. I get to sit in an adult chair. No more worries about breaking the kindergarten chairs.