Kindergarten
I could have not had a better teacher for Kindergarten; Mrs. Blank, a well known teacher in Rochester Hills. I was fortunate to have her as a teacher because of the tactless teacher I had in preschool. Mrs. Blank gave me a jump start to the confidence I needed to continue my education.
Examples of How a Teacher should provide Feedback to Kindergardeners: |
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Examining my Kindergarten report card, I notice that my only "Developing" behavior I needed to improve on was my self-confidence. When I saw this it helped explain that self- esteem was an issue way before struggling in middle school. It made me realize that every teacher has a slight impact on each of our students, no matter what their age. Mrs. Blank, unlike my Preschool teacher, made me feel on top of the world. Just as every teacher should.
First Experience with Writing and Technology in Kindergarten: |
1st & 2nd Grade
Learning my Words:Learning my words was a struggle at first for me. I remember my mother becoming very frustrated when I was trying to learn the alphabet. My teachers and parents noticed I seemed to struggle with trying to sound out my words and therefore, I'd spell wrong. I remember how proud I was to give this to my mother because I had struggled in the past. It's important for teachers to stay in contact with the parents by informing them what they are doing in school and how their child's progress. It's important to form a relationship with the parents right from the start.
A Purpose to Student Writing:I found my favorite kind of writing in 1st & 2nd grade was when it was meaningful. Since I despised testing so much, I enjoyed writing letters, writing stories, or simply writing in my own journal. When I was in that mode, I wrote with no pressure and had no worries. This assignment I completed in 1st grade reminds me of Linda Christensen's "Knock Knock" poems. Although my assignment was not a poem, I found her opinion on curriculum valuable and accurate.
"Too often today, schools are about "power standards"... & too often I get caught up in that land too. Then my heart gets cracked open by students, and I remember that first I must teach the child who is in my class" -Linda Christensen I agree with Christensen and believe that students learn more when they write FOR A PURPOSE, something that holds significance to their lives. Anything that is as simple as writing a letter to another teacher in the school can give students meaning to the writing. |
Test Anxiety!As school became harder, the harder I became on myself. Kindergarden and first grade I remember my biggest worry was the spelling test. I would come home from school and drill each "wall word" with my mother. By 2nd grade, I was learning how to put these complicated words into sentences. Knowing I had a "Dictated Sentence Test" would bring terrible stomach aches and I would dread walking into school that morning. Whether it is the perfectionism I get from my father or the worry wart syndrome from my grandma, 2nd grade brought a whole new meaning to the word "test". I found myself worried at such a young age over these dictated sentences and found myself less focused on writing, just to write! These dictated sentences were usually timed because we had to get on to a new subject that day. The ticking of the clock made my hands sweat and my feet tap. 2nd grade, I knew it was true, I despised testing.
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3rd-5th Grade:
Build a RELATIONSHIP:Ms. Taylor and I had our own special bond, or so I thought. Looking through my assignments in Ms. Taylor's 4th grade class I noticed I always was writing little notes on the side of my papers. At first, I found this to be quite annoying and embaressing. I thought to myself, "great Chels, probably made the process of checking papers 5x longer". As I continued to find more, I also noticed I did very well in this class. I found Ms. Taylor engaged in my education and in my interests. Every work sheet she handed out, was (most of the time) created by herself. If we want our students to open up to us, we must allow them to do so but opening ourselves up as well. Ms. Taylor and I didn't only discuss my interests, I knew about hers' as well.
Both fans of Michigan State, we formed a relationship, and she became one of my most influential teachers in Elementary school. Opening up our students isn't the goal but, providing the tools and environment to allow our students to feel safe enough to do so is. We want our writers to express their desires, fears, and interests. Building a relationship with your student is the first step to this. When we allow the students to come out, the classroom will become a place they want to be.
Now that I am older, I realize that Ms. Taylor and I weren't the only "special bond" in the classroom. Ms. Taylor strived to form this "special bond" with each and every one of her students. |
Stay Away from Lazy:If we expect our students to write, we must write too-
Even when I was younger, I HATED the copied worksheets from the book. I remember thinking, "Is this really all the teacher has to do? Copy worksheets from a book and spend class sitting at their desk?" My 5th grade teacher was my most degrading school year in Elementary. My teacher was a fan of the worksheets and never once did she get in front of the classroom and write.
"Every minute we're together I'm providing demonstrations with which my students may or may not engage. I'll never be able to account for everything that each of them learns from me in our time together" -Nanci Atwell Atwell's belief that teachers must learn from their students is valuable because it prevents a lazy teacher. The more our students are able to see our own struggles in writing, the more they can relate to. Understanding that writing is a process and that there is always more to learn. A teacher must be a role model to the classroom, writing when the students write, and reading when the students read. "Students can't be the only learners in the classroom. Teachers have to learn, too" -Nanci Atwell |