One thing I want to mention is that this week I was having a hard time teaching my science lessons. I felt like they were going okay, but they didn't feel as successful as I wanted them to be. I didn't like the way the pieces of the individual lessons were laid out in the curriculum guide so I had to spend a lot of time rearranging them in my head to make them feel more natural to me. I am happy to report that I changed some things about my Friday lesson, the way I started the lesson, and I felt like if went very well. I started students out on the carpet and did a demonstration with student participation and they were very engaged. I then had students get supplies and they were excited to start their own experiments. I think I will try this format again next week while teaching science. Hopefully I continue to improve in my science teaching throughout the next couple weeks!
I have also been reading through my TPA handbook and looking at my curriculum guide to determine what areas I can start working on now. I am starting to teach Math on Monday and we should be done with the unit I am starting by next Tuesday. I hope to give a preassessment for the new unit and start my video taping the middle of next week, finishing before conferences on the 16th. That's my plan for now. I hope things go according to plan!!
ReplyDeleteAfter seeing your science lesson this week, I can attest to the fact that your preparation is excellent (scope and sequence makes good sense) and that even if you're still feeling a little underconfident, it doesn't show. I think when you take an established lesson plan and tweak it (whether it's the way it's organized, or swapping out their activities for ideas of your own, etc.), you get a better handle on the content. Would you agree?
Thanks for the TPA update. I forgot to check in with you about that when I visited. Your plan sounds do-able, but I know you're feeling pressure that Meggie and Julie aren't because you need to get the TPA launched and completed in the next 3 weeks before you switch to your middle school placement. You'll do it!