Journet Week 13

          This week on Monday, the Co-teacher was out at a training, so my CP and I ran the class.  You do feel a bit discombobulated when you have to follow someone elses lesson plans.  However, because we know the students and what they are working on it isn't too bad.  I'm starting to see that when the co-teacher is out, they learning specialist takes on the role of the general education teacher and if we are lucky we will get a sub to give us extra support.  We set the expectations and just remind the students over and over again until they understand the expectations.  We did a morning circle and it was nice to have the kids share and participate with them.  They also do a team building game.  The learning specialist taught math whole group and I took the role of the learning specialist on my own.  I was able to keep the students on my radar of who needed extra support with math.  Teaching fractions for the first time is not as easy as it appeared.   Providing support when I am not sure how to teach it in the most simple way is challenging.  I am use to taking the lead of the learning specialist but because I was on my own, I did the best that I could.  After school, I read the teachers math manual.  I reviewed the smart board slides and reviewed the student work books.  I wanted to be better prepared to support them the next day.  In the afternoon, I attended an IEP but with the role of a translator.  I have previously translated in an IEP.  This time it was different because I understood everything that I was translating.  It is interesting because this IEP meeting was through a phone conference.  I think it is great that schools are able to accommodate parents when they can not be physically present for what ever reason.  It was interesting as well because I did a lot of talking.  I translated from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English.  I understand the importance of being accurate as to what the clinicians and the teachers are saying to the parents.  I have to be accurate as well when translating what the parents want to communicate to the teachers and clinicians.  I felt surprisingly comfortable translating especially because I knew the language and what it refers to. Standard 8- Collaborative Relationships: The competent Teacher 8D) understands the benefits, barriers, and techniques involved in parent and family collaborations.

         On Tuesday my CT and I tested our students in a separate setting.  We reviewed their IEP's to make sure we upheld their testing accommodations.  We had 3 students but 2 of them needed the test read to in math.  In their IEP we were able to provide breaks.  One of my students was able to have a scribe.  We would praise them and prompt them to slow down.  If they were frustrated we offered a break.  One student would say, "I don't know this."  I would encourage them to just do their best and that would make us proud.  It is hard to watch a student who is unable to read a standardized test feel frustrated and all I can say is do your best.  I praised and encouraged the students and I can see how my positive energy influences my students.  Standard 4- Learning Environment:  the competent teacher 4D) understands factors (e.g., self-efficacy, positive social interaction) that influence motivation and engagement.  

         A personal insight that I had during this test was how we had to pick up the test materials and account for each one before testing.  We had to count all of the scratch paper.  We had to count all of the rulers.  We had to return everything well counted.  We were instructed to never leave the test materials unsupervised.  We had to check it back in as soon as everyone was testing.   How there is a script for testing students that teachers must read.  How everything must be done in a structured way.  I have been a proctored tests before but I never realized how you have to take this with the utmost seriousness.  I felt a bt ridiculous watching my CT count scratch paper but I now see the importance of all of these extra measures.  Being a Christian woman and a professional and ethical educator, I would never do anything unethical when testing my students.  So I guess my personal insight is that there are people out there that will manipulate a situation and that is why we have to be very structured and alert so that we don't knowingly or unknowingly jeopardize a testing situation.  Standard  7 Assessments: The competent teacher 7H) knows legal provisions, rules, and guidelines regarding assessment and assessment accommodations for all student populations. 

        Wednesday was a very similar day to Tuesday as far as testing went.  However I did meet with a small group to review their vocabulary words and their sight words before Thursdays test.  I had 3 students but they were very chatty.  I had to respectfully remind them about their talking out of turn.  One student was reluctant to work.  He said I do not want to practice on the small boards.  I had to think quick and then I turned it into a game.  I gave the 3 students their word and I also used my letter cards to give them visuals so that I can keep them engaged in the review.   The reluctant student participated and I praised him for being respectful and for participating.  I told him that I would tell the co teacher how well he did.  The other 2 students were respectful but easily distracted.  I had to be quick on my feet to keep them engaged.  I feel that it went well until it was time to go.  The reluctant student was very upset because he was expecting to get free computer time after we worked.  Upon reflecting on the situation, I realized that next time I can set a timer and say we will work for 15 minutes and if you are respectful and participating you can then get some free time.  That way the student will work for something and I can honor his free time because that is usually what he is use to doing. Standard 4- Learning Environment:  the competent teacher 4D) understands factors (e.g., self-efficacy, positive social interaction) that influence motivation and engagement.  

         On Thursday we had our last day of testing our students.  We finished testing in the morning.  My CT and I began to progress monitor our students.  I am beginning to feel very comfortable working with the students on their learning goals and also progress monitoring them.  I looked at individual student learning goals and progress monitored them.  My CT taught me how to find interventions on Chicago Public School approved sites.  By watching her, I am also learning how to create teacher made progress monitoring assessments that are in line with their learning goals and are research based.  I was intimidated at progress monitoring the students especially if I don't know them too well but I have noticed that when we work one-on-one, they are usually willing to work with me and are also eager to share about their favorite movies or video games.  The students have began to joke with me during progress monitoring.  This tells me that they feel comfortable around me.  Standard 7-Assessments: The competent teacher 7I) knows assessment and progress monitoring techniques to assess the effectiveness of instruction for each student.

Today we have gathered data on a student that has been referred for an IEP.  I am learning how the initial process of an IEP begins and we have begun to review the students work.  We have also met with the clinicians who will evaluate the student in many areas.  It is interesting to see all the assessments and testing that happens o rule out some services and provide the student with all of his/ her actual needs.  

In the evening, after school my CT gave a literacy workshop for the parents.  I volunteered to stay because I want to learn how to better interact with parents and also how to guide parents in helping their children with literacy.       

My goals for next week are to  continue learning about the IEP process, sit in on the meeting and or other IEP meeting like initial, re evaluation etc...  I want o be ready and as prepared as possible when I have to run my own classroom or run my own IEP meetings.