Semester 4 Reflections

 

Technology-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS,
I grew in the strand of Technology by:

• Being a leader in my school to help solve computer issues/questions.
• Creating a website of technology resources to share with the community.
• Creating a movie maker video for 4k registration night on my own.
• Continuing to read technology magazines and articles.
• Getting daily emails from ASCD and following the links to good information
• Trying out pinterest.
• Trying out Evernote on my phone and laptop.
• Giving classdojo a try in class and with my smartphone.
• Teaching others some basics of an ipod touch in the classroom/gym
• Continuing to use Google tools to collaborate (Google Docs, Google chat, Google mail, and Google Calendars).
• Attending school district technology in-services through previous district employees.
• Learning how to create my own Prezi.  
• Creating my first video on PhotoStory3 for the play day.
• Updating my blog on a bi-weekly basis as well as communicating with my accountability partner frequently.
• Getting more comfortable with my iphone and apps that are on it.
• Learning to use my new digital camera.  Using picasa to edit digital images.

 
Learning in Community-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS,
I grew in the strand of Learning Community by:

• Continuing to check D2L and email frequently.  
• Growing my PLN on Twitter and Facebook.
• Collaborating with co-workers from my own building.
• Keeping up to date with my accountability partner, Amanda, through online collaboration.   
• Collaborating with other 4k teachers from other districts.
• Checking out others’ blogs on blogspot.
• Leading Kindergarten buddies once a week at school.
• Modeling and emphasizing positive problem solving skills in the classroom.
• Communicating with parents of my classroom on a frequent basis through email, newsletters, and phone calls.
• Working in a group and leading class for one day.  Researching community builders.

 

Best Practice-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS,
I grew in the strand of Best Practice by:

• Reflecting and creating a brochure about Best Practice. (Shared with accountability partner)
• Researching formative behavior assessments.
• Using reflection to improve my practice.
• Engaging children through the use of technology in the classroom.
• Collaborating with my peers
• Sharing articles on D2L on a monthly basis.
• Trying to understand RTI and progress monitoring.  (Training in SIMS)
• Thinking more about gifted learners and how to differentiate my instruction.

Teacher Leadership-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS,
I grew in the strand of Teacher Leadership by:

• Being a vital leader of the 4k program.
• Reading the articles of ASCD and Teaching Tolerance magazines and continuing to share with my district
• Assisting co-workers with technology.  Leading collaboration through technology.
• Managing 2 paraprofessionals and one 4k teacher.
• Creating a teacher leadership guide and sharing it with my accountability partner.
• Creating a website of technology resources to share with our community.
• Organizing and planning an all-day field trip on a Friday (lunches, busing, tickets, chaperones).
• Organizing and leading the 4k in our first ever Rhythms Night.

Social Justice and Diversity-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS,
I grew in the strand of Social Justice and Diversity by:

• Researching kids books on social justice.
• Reading magazine articles from Teaching Tolerance and sharing them with my community.
• Reflecting on the diversity in my own classroom (language, abilities, ehtnicity, age).
• Teaching the children Spanish.
• Researching concerns of social justice and diversity in my own school district.
• Finding ways to push the students more academically.  Meeting the needs of all learners.
• Exposing the children to new experiences (a live production at the Children’s Theatre).

 

Ed Research-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS
I grew in the strand of Ed Research by:

• Finalizing my research paper.
• Previewing others’ action research presentations.
• Reading the APA manual for specifics on footnotes and resources.
• Researching disabilities and needs (including kids with anxiety).
• Reading about new regulations about restraint and seclusion.
• Sharing articles from Teaching Tolerance and ASCD.
• Researching Early Childhood models.
• Supporting community members through the revision process of their action research paper.

Curriculum Development and Assessment-SEMESTER 4 REFLECTIONS
I grew in the strand of  Curriculum Development and Assessment  by:

• Reading and practicing formative assessments in the classroom (thumbs up, thumbs down)
• Collecting and comparing report cards from other districts for Pre-K.
• Organizing my files to relate to the curriculum standards.
• Understanding the Common Core Standards.
• Previewing Second Step, a social emotional curriculum for preschoolers.
• Researching differentiation and what others do for gifted and talented.
• Assessing myself and my work through the Master’s program.