Wednesday February 28 2007

Today since it was Wednesday I got transferred into another Jk class. I was excited to meet a whole new group of students, when I first got there I had to prepare the leprecon assignment they were also working on just like the other Jk class. Once I was done all the students got settled in at their spots and the teacher introduced me. It was cool because the teacher I was helping today use to be my old Jk teacher. The class introduced me to the afternoon routine and was excited to do so. The teacher taught them about a new craft they had to do with a paper plate; I got to help them while they worked on it. After that once they had play time I took 2 students at a time and worked with them on the Leprecon project. The kids were very excited to get the chance to make one. I only got through 6 of the students because it took them awhile to finish. Then they had break time, after there break I got to go back to Mrs. MacDonalds class and she had a couple things she wanted me to work on while the class headed to the gym for gym class. As I finished the work she needed me to do she told me about the bulletin in the hall were the students work can hang for the school to enjoy. I helped take down old work and put up the new art they had done about Clifford. Once I was finished it was the end of the day and I helped clean the classroom and get the kids ready for home time.

Tuesday February 27 2007

Today since it was Tuesday I got switched to the JK class, right when I arrived the teacher had set out a craft I would have to cut out and get ready for the students. The craft was a fun idea, the teacher told the kids that a Leprecon was coming to the class room when they weren’t there and would be leaving gold coins for all the students, the students will no when he has come over night because they will see magic dust sprinkled on the floor when they come to class. So there job was to make little Leprecon ladders so that he “could climb up them” to get to the class and place the gold coins. After I finished getting it ready the kids were undressing out of there jackets and boots, once they were done they finished their morning ritual, then the class showed me a dance they had been working on while I was in the other class room. As I sat with the class the teacher taught them about weighing things with a scale, they took random objects from the class and had to figure what weighed more. After that they had a work sheet on weighing waiting at their desks and had to color them in, I got the chance to help them with that. Also while they were having play time I took 4 students at a time and worked on the ladders the teacher explained how to do. It was fun because they were so excited about the Leprecon coming and had so many questions about him to ask me. Once snack time came at 2:30 I had to make my way back to the SK class, and helped Mrs. MacDonald with some work around the classroom that had to be done before the end of the day. While I was doing that the class was reading another book about Clifford, and that took us to the end of the day.

Week 2 Monday February 26 2007

The first thing I did when I got there was organize letters that were going to be handed out tomorrow; I organized them for the morning and afternoon class. After I was done that I marked and placed stickers on the work from the other day. Once the students arrived Mrs. MacDonald wanted a student to re do their pattern picture from last week, because they had not completed it properly, so I got to help him with it. While we were working on that the rest of the class had show and tell time, and read a book that one of the children had brought in from home. After the afternoon routine the students started working on the new project today, which was write three sentences about Clifford and color him in. most of the kids had problems with writing their sentences so I got to help them. Once they were done with that they had play time and Mrs. MacDonald introduced me to a new program they are doing with the students to help them become stronger readers for grade one. The program is, there are three books in the kit, two for two students and one for me to follow along, I can help them with the words but for the most part they have to read it themselves. I had to take two students to the library at a time to work with them. The students were eager to start and I had many volunteers to go first, finally we settled on who would go, so the two students and I made are way done to the library. Once we got there I handed them the new books and we read it together. The story was about families, so the program also involved me talking to the students about their own families. It was fun because they were so excited to talk about their sisters and brothers and of course the family pets. Today I only got through 6 kids so I have the rest of the week to finish up the rest until we get a new book to share. While I was reading with some of the kids, the rest of the class had play time, and at the end of the day they finished up with two books about Clifford, and while they were getting dressed to go home I cleaned the tables and put up the chairs, and finally Monday was over.

WEEK ONE JOURNAL feb19-feb23

The first few days are over and I really am starting to think more about becoming a teacher, I realize now that it is harder than I thought It would be but I am up for the challenge because I like working with children and belive I would make a great teacher. There are many different things teachers have to do to prepare for a days work, like before the class starts I did not realize how much thought had to go into the little crafts and projects, but in the end it is worth it because the students enjoy doing them.i really enjoy my placement so far becasuse the other teachers and staff in the office are very friendly and very helpful. I enjoy my time so much I don’t even look at the clock like I normally do when I am in class, time fly’s by so fast. I also feel very welcomed and I think the major reason for that is because the staff Is so nice and the students took to me very fast. At my placement appropriate dress and grooming means to fit in with what the other staff members are wearing, I realize it is not about fashion when I am there and if you look professional and are comfortable that is all that is important, I believe I have obtained a good impression and hope to keep it up for the rest of my time with the placement.

Friday February 23 2007

Today, my first project to do was cut paper and hand out to every spot at the tables their Clifford pattern crafts they would be working on later on in the day. While I was working on that the students were reading a book with the teacher about patterns. Once they were done the students went to their spots at the tables and worked on their Clifford patterns, I got to help them with it, and once they were done I marked some of the work they had been working on the day before in their spelling books. While I was doing that they had play time, then of course snack time. After their break I helped Mrs. MacDonald glue some more Clifford crafts they will be working on next week. Near the end of the day the students got to watch a movie on Clifford, because of course it is Clifford week.

Thursday February 22 2007

Today i did not attend co-op because i was sick.

Wednesday February 21 2007

I did not attend co-op today because i was sick!

Tuesday February 20th 2007

My second day of co-op was even better, today I got to switch class rooms and instead of helping in the SK (senior kindergarten) class I got a chance to work with the younger kids in the JK (junior kindergarten) class. Right when I got to the younger class I noticed a huge difference in the way they act even though they are only one year apart. The JK class was mush more dependant on me, but I didn’t mind it because they are so cute. Getting them undressed out of their jackets and boots took a long time but once they started class it was fun. First they gathered on the carpet and did there traditionally routine, Today is pancake Tuesday, so the class got the chance to make pancakes but before they did they had a work sheet to color in, I got to help them with that. Then the class had to make an underwater picture of fish once they finished their picture I got to help them paint over the picture with blue paint to make it look like it was really underwater, the kids had lots of fun with that. While I was helping them with the pictures the teacher made the class pancakes. The moment they were all waiting for SNACK TIME. Snack time for them is recess for the rest of the school, so after the snack time I made my way back to the Mrs. MacDonald’s room (the SK’s) I helped finish clueing little booklets together that the students will be using in the future, while I did that they did their usually Clifford book reading. Then the second day was over.

Monday February 19th 2007

Today was my first day of co-op; I showed up 15 minutes earlier then expected to help prepare any work that the class had to do. It turned out there was not to much for me to do, so Mrs. MacDonald showed me around some more and told me about some of the work that will be done in the future, things I will be doing with the students. I felt welcomed because once the kids got in and sat down the teacher introduced me and the kids took to me shortly after. Their first activity was show and tell once they finished they went right into spelling, they had to write a couple sentences in their books and I got to help them with it. After that and play time I got to have a break shortly after my break, one of the students read a Clifford book to the rest of the class. The next couple of weeks is Clifford week so they will be reading drawing and creating there own stories about the big red dog. Once the day was over I was even more excited to come back the next day.