Final Blog April 16, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in Uncategorized.2 comments
Students: Ah, the students were great in the music department that we observed. Well, the groups varied from level to level, (then age to age or teacher to teacher), but for the most part, these students were on the ball. It was interesting to see the respect they had here and their hard work. Though we only taught a couple of lessons one on one in the beginning and a few video teaches, it felt good to work with them. They made me feel very comfortable and …well, excited about becoming a REAL grown-up teacher soon. 
CT: Haha, We already know how I feel. ~The CTs were wonderful! I learned a great deal from them, whether it was from just observing them, to asking them random questions every day, to just sitting in their office and listening to them talk and talk about their days and what was going on here. The thing that stood out to me about them in making their kids so successful was that they were so REAL, and then never ever ever gave up! I loved listening to the head director. He had so much passion, it was inspirational to hear him lecture and critique and share his insight. (The other director too.) They had a great deal of stamina for music and for these kids and this community, and it was clear that the students AND the school AND the community were aware of this as well. I will never forget them or the wonderful feeling they gave me for being here!
Collegues/Community: Overall, it has been fun. Aside from the loads of work- sometimes feeling a little “chore-ish”, the atmosphere was playful and the rapport was definitely good. I do have to say, I wished I would have changed up the seating every week only because I wish I could have gotten to know everyone better. It has definitely been fun and helpful though. It felt like family having to share ideas every day. …Takes some getting used to, but so helpful in the end. Thanks to everyone for just being themselves through this block. I’ve enjoyed it!
CT Interview April 11, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in Uncategorized.3 comments
Today we were supposed to interview our Cooperating teachers about ELLs. However, when we asked our teacher if he had any, his reply was more like a *big eyed* uhhh + shrug + “If I do, I don’t know who they are, because they blend in.” He laughed and then, straightening up, commented that he thinks he does have one (and then he named one).
As far as having a problem though, he said he hasn’t. The only language barrier issue he has had has been with the parents, since so many do not speak English. He said it wasn’t that bad though. He would just have the student translate to the parents for him.
Other than that, his strategies for the language barrier problem would be to put the ELL student next to someone in class that was bilingual and could be his/her “buddy”. I admired his light approach to it. I also liked how he concluded, “As teachers, you are going to be problem solvers…constantly. So it’s not that big of a deal once you get used to it.”
This morning : CT : Overall April 2, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in Uncategorized.2 comments
This morning: we reviewed objective assessments, ways to form the test to ease stress for struggling readers as well as special education. Oh man, I was so thrilled about the objective assessment I had created (because I had done it early), until Prof. B said this morning, ”Do not do the matching where the student has to draw a line from one column to the next” (for many reasons). Whhhups! :-s So now I have to go back and do it again. Oh well. You learn as you go I suppose.
CT: The students are performing in the auditorium today and tomorrow during their band class. I still encourage anyone and everyone to come out there, before they finally finish all this up for their contest on Thursday. If you can, you should stop by and observe before 2nd period! I’m not sure how it is even possible, but it’s like every time we go in there, the students still manage to make these pieces sound better and better, and this week will be the last you can hear them! Prepare yourself to get the chills. It is so moving! :)
Experiences overall: Going well. Just soo tired for some reason. ….or well, lack of sleep, because of all the thoughts going on in my mind that I can’t seem to settle. But that is a good thing I suppose. All this stuff has jump started my brain and has me thinking. Ah, I can’t wait to teach the little ones! Anyway.. guess that is all. I hope everyone has a good week!
*MOTIVATION* March 28, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in Uncategorized.2 comments
Despite my fatigue and coming to school with my black sweater top on inside out (pointed out by a fellow classmate this morning, thanks 
haha), this semester’s hard work is proving to be rewarding.
In class this morning Dr. B went over something that I really took to heart. Motivation.
The first thought I had while we were going over it was….heck, if we think back to the times that we have felt completely unmotivated for school…well, what makes us feel that way? When dissecting my own personal problem in one of my classes back at school, I realized that (not to put all of the blame on my teacher by any means), but I just really noticed: he has been making me play things for 5 years now– 5 years…and none of it to which I have ever really liked or gotten into, except for one piece. I feel forced and have not really been interested. Nor has he ever asked for my opinion. He just expects me to want to do things like he does. What am I really gaining here other than perhaps a headache every week? (That sounds so mean….but think of our students as we become teachers!)
*grim face*
It all ties in to US as we are developing skills to become great teachers and ways to help us interest the students! In class the option of rewards came up, or working with surprises keeps students engaged, or bringing up subjects or projects that deal with what Mrs. Nicholson calls the ”ick-factor”. But I still feel the main the idea to GET TO KNOW YOUR STUDENT and develop a good rapport as Dr. B has been saying is the underlining answer to making a true difference. As a student, an observer, and future successful teacher, I am totally understanding the importance of motivation and good rapport.
CT class: Keeping it short, they are doing very well. U.I.L. is next week already and Kate and I spoke with our C.T. to drive up to Pflugerville and follow the band through the whole thing next Thursday. That class is so intense that I feel like a parent for all I have seen them grow this semester. Looking forward to it.
ELL Buddy: Brought him homemade cookies today like I had planned and haha, it seemed to even boost his confidence today. The fluidity, pauses for punctuation, and character voices as he reads has really improved, so I wanted to let him know. I’ve been clear in what we would work on in this time, and …yeah… like I said…I feel like it is working.
Keep the motivation up! We’re almost there…
These students inspire me~ March 21, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in Uncategorized.4 comments
This morning we went over ‘Fights’ before heading off to our CTs class (how to handle them and such). I suppose I am naive, because for some reason, I never really thought about that. So I’m glad Professor Bond slid that lesson in there, because I probably wounldn’t have thought of it until the moment it will actually happen under my supervision.
Anyhow, so that was on my mind when I entered my CT’s class this morning. When I walked in, the piece that these kids were playing…and to the extent that they are involving themselves in it, was …..there’s no other word to describe them but just absolutely glorious! It’s like, the thought of fights…the thought of struggles and misunderstandings….The way these kids were performing in there seemed to comfort and take away any thoughts about that sort of thing. The sounds washed over me, each note like a smooth wave coming in and then fading back out, and a drone of voices singing latin. The sounds that these kids were putting out, and with the emotion behind them was so captivating. (I wish everyone could hear them play.) They are playing a song that not only causes them to play difficult rhythms or tune difficult notes, but some of them are singing in latin, and everyone behind them supports them with confident dynamics. It is breathtaking! The CT too shows so much expression in his directing…so much that I felt like I was involved. Ahh, I really love going in there.
You know, I really notice that I have a hard time explaining myself sometimes…. but for this, I just wish everyone could hear it coming from the students’ music. It will absolutely take your breath away.(Seriously seriously, if anyone can come …just walk in to first period sometime next week to hear them, I think you will feel inspired for the rest of the day.) These kids will amaze you. They are so focused. It is like as an entire group they are moving mountains…
These students inspire me. You should stop by sometime, before they go off to contest. Ahem… let me restate that. Come by next week. You don’t have to be a music major to feel what is going on here. Just step in and listen, because something is going on here, and it is definitely something powerful.
ELL Observation Part I March 19, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in ELL Buddy.1 comment so far
SIOP:
Today I chose to observe my ELL buddy in his P.E. class, and wooh! There was no structure at all! When I finally met with my buddy, I just had to ask how the class is run every day when I pick him up for our reading time. In a way, I was really surprised to hear his reply too. (I know we were supposed to be observing our student..and not so much how the class was run.. but I couldn’t help notice both!)
My ELL buddy explained that each month the students get to vote on what 2 sports they want to do, and they just do that for that month, (Friday’s being a free day). But none of the girls in the class were involved at ALL or were even dressed out! (That seemed really disappointing.) Hmm….but back to what I was supposed to be observing and on a better note, my ELL buddy was actively engaged with the rest of the guys. That’s at least good. He is comfortable in that class. I know he loves soccer, so you can guess what he was doing today….like every day that I pick him up from P.E.
Sigh. So for today, here is my SIOP evalution:
I. Preparation: Well…From what my ELL buddy told me, the students previosuly voted and knew what the point of today. (Basketball or soccer…or nothing if they accepted a lower grade..)
II. Instruction: None.
III. Strategies: None.
IV. Interaction: All of the above. I know he can be shy, but he obviously feels comfortable with those guys, because it is so lax in that class. He just gets to do what he likes, so discipline or lack of interest is not an issue here at all.
V. Practice/Application: All of the above.
VI. Lesson Delivery: Since the lesson is student-based, I suppose the pacing was fine. Not much of a lesson though.
VII. Review/Assessment: The only thing I can think of to put here is that I know he comes out of there happy. It’s one thing he really likes to do, so he participates, and he smiles a lot while doing it.
….Though I wonder what drives him. I keep thinking about that, so I pushed him a little extra hard when we read today to see how he reacted. I’m speeding up the pace. I think he can handle it……I am in such a ponderous mood right now.. haha.. K, I’m going to end this before I keep “philosophizing”. Haha. Tchao y’all.
You could definitely feel the heat today….and I don’t mean outside. March 7, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in Uncategorized.1 comment so far
1. So far, we have been comparing classroom managing styles, and wow, do we get to see different ones! It is so great to have the opportunity to be exposed to many different styles, not just to be able to soak them in, but to see how the students react to different types of discipline!
2. In our cooperating teacher’s class, you can tell that competitions are coming up soon (in the directors’ eyes)…but at the same time, you can also tell that spring break is coming up (in the student’s eyes). This week, we are getting exposed to the clash of what the teacher wants vs. what th students want. How do you react in this situation? When ”wants” don’t line up? Well, like Glasser mentioned, as the teacher, you have to remind the students that they have choices. To set them up for success they need to stay on track and keep their mind in the game.
So today when we got to see that ”asking the students what they want” and “retracking” wasn’t working, I wondered what our cooperating teacher would do next. Though, as I’m sure every student in that class already knew what he would say, I knew too that he was going to stop the rehearsal to re-line their ambitions. Our cooperating teacher somewhat sternly reminded them with the idea of what consequential failure will be like if they keep it up. The room got so quiet. He was very stern and real with these kids, and they knew he was right. He preached, “if you don’t want it, why are you in here?” Then he coated that with “because I know you all can do better than this. All of you can. Each and every single one of you in here are talented. If I didn’t believe so, I wouldn’t have put you in here. Come on. Get it together.” Sometimes he can be fierce, but he really does remind them every day that he cares about them, and the day he stops keeping them in line they will know that that is the day he has stopped caring. 
But the tension was really up today. I didn’t know where this was going to go until he asked the students what they thought *his* job was as the teacher. The whole class looked up. “Do you think I should just not tell you when it doesn’t sound good? Would you like that?” The class responded, “no..” He continued, “So when I tell you that you aren’t working as hard as I know you can, would you agree? Or am I making this up?” They agreed. Then he started the piece over.
3. We all got to have a peptalk later about it, and we were reminded that as a director, you have to be the parent, teacher, public speaker, banker, therapist, influencer, …the list goes on. Sometimes it is so hard! But the bottom line is, you have to care, and like Dr. B said this morning before we all headed out, you have got to constantly reflect as a teacher. Is what you are doing, working? How can you improve? It is a never ending process. You will never know it all, but you will- get better. To be a director seems to really be a juggle. Yet, …to be a director, I know it will be so rewarding for you when you know how to line up those students’ “wants” with yours as the teacher.
After all, that’s why we’re here to be a teacher right?
Reading Reading Reading :) How it sounds and What it is really saying~ March 1, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in ELL Buddy, Uncategorized.add a comment
Part 1: Informal Assessment of Student’s Language Proficiency Level:
On day one I actually assessed my student by asking him where he felt he was in speaking, listening, reading, and writing. My student rated himself as a 9 on speaking and a 9 on listening on a scale of one to ten, ten being the best. Then today I looked over the assessment packet, and I would pretty much agree. At least so far, I haven’t noticed any listening or speaking difficulties, so I would rate him “near proficient”.
Part 2: Plan for Developing Buddy’s Language Proficiency:
Since day one, I have also asked my buddy what his goals are for this program, and what he would like to take out of this time I spend with him. His comment was that he would like to spend most of the time on reading, but he would teach me spanish here and there too. So other than speaking our regular “what was your weekend like” conversations everytime we meet, he will be trying to explain things from spanish to english for our mutual learnings here. However, with his reading projects we will do, he will learn some new vocabulary within the text that we will go over.
Part 3: Informal Assessment of ELL student’s Reading Proficiency:
My buddy rated himself a seven for both reading and writing in English, and again I would have to agree. We have been reading for the past couple of weeks now, and I have been taking notes on three areas that can use some work. He is doing wonderful by the way, and he is so honest. He really tries and wants to learn, and I admire him for that. The three areas that I have noticed so far that can improve have been: 1)Using different expressions when he reads dialect. 2) Punctuation pauses while reading text, such as taking a slight pause for commas and the end of sentences as well as reading exclamation and questions with more appropriate and non-monotone voices. 3) Fluidity when he reads.
Part 4: Plan for Developing Buddy’s Reading Proficency:
Lastly, the assessments will be through him reading aloud a book of his choice each time we meet. When he reads it out loud, not only will I be able to help him when he doesn’t yet know how to pronounce a word (and I can explain what that word means), but also I will be able to check the three areas I have noticed he could successfully work on in the rest of our meetings this semester. Before leaving today, I went over all of this with him. I asked him to rate himself again, and checked to make sure these were the areas he would like to work on for the rest of the semester (or if he wanted to change it up), but this is what he requested.
Starting next class though, I am also having him bring his textbook so I can show him how to “scan” over the chapter before he reads it. He will look at bold titles, scan for certain key words, read the questions at the end of the chapter as well as chapter summaries. Once he has an idea about what the Chapter is about, we will go back and actually start reading it with meaning and purpose. This will focus more on the actual comprehension of the text rather than just the “sounds” and fluidity of his reading.
–I am doing this to make sure he can apply at least some reading strategy right away in his classes, and not just the strategies he is learning when he reads out loud.
He is doing great so far. He approves and has been really helpful for me as well. I still think I should bring him cookies. haha
Woowoo ELL!
Does anyone know if we are allowed to bring cookies or things of that nature to give to our ELLs? February 19, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in ELL Buddy.2 comments
The reason I ask is because I am thinking about what we have learned in the Canter video about procedures this morning.
Even though we are just working one on one, I would like to develop some sort of routine that has rewards to continue to encourage my ELL and reinforce that he is on the right path with learning. I am just so amazed already. To me, rewards can do more than just reinforce a good action or behavior. They remind me to keep up- the hard work, and it helps me to actually remember- what I have or am learning at the time. Would you agree?
So, as you can probably understand then that since I notice my Ell really trying, I just want him to feel proud for being so consistent and patient at this. (We have been working on his reading, and today in particular, we worked on using expression when reading dialect, because I was noticing some monotone.) bah!
I didn’t say this, but it is interesting too how much it is like setting habits in playing band music! When you start off allowing mistakes, those mistakes become habits, and down the road, habits take FAR MUCH MORE work to fix than they would have the first time. The directors here have taught me something about having high standards. Hard work at first is much easier than later. So, I want my ELL to start off right, and I would just like to reinforce his good habits. …Compliments can get redundant, and I’ve already talked with him about the good points in getting to be bilingual. (Better jobs, able to communicate with more people….he is really lucky more than he is unlucky.)
He is such a great kid. They all are, but I really want to keep his chin up about this and keep him working hard. Does anyone have any suggestions or thoughts on this?
Today was the start with ELLs February 12, 2007
Posted by mg1107 in ELL Buddy.2 comments
1) You know, maybe it’s crazy, but I am so excited about this opportunity. I have to admit that I was kind of nervous at first (actually, quite a bit nervous) : “What would I say? What if my student never spoke? uhhhhh!!” But it was good. ~sigh~ I think I preassessed okay, because my student felt comfortable enough to tell me things about himself and how he would like to spend this time. He smiled quite a bit too! A little shy at first, but we’re defintely off to a good start. We will be moving to the library next time to start reading, and I am really looking forward to it.
Oh, and he laughed when I asked if he could help me learn spanish too. Without knowing it, you know, he actually comforted me just by being himself today, so that was kind of cool. You would think it would have been the other way around… So yeah, looking forward to this opportunity this semester.
2) Connections, Conflicts? Nope… I am just busy making the connections right now and getting started. “I’m just gonna keep on swimmin.”
3) Experiences helping me develope? Definitely! How? All of the above. Like I said, my focus this week is really about getting started. I still have to come up with my video teach plan as well. But how do I incorporate reading in the middle of a band class without interrupting the program’s routines? Once again, problem solving is necessary. Any ideas?
