September Learnings

September flew by! wow, I can't believe it is over. It is a difficult month for student teachers. They are not used to the hours and hours that it takes to get a classroom up and running, but they learn very quickly. The student teachers that i am working with this semester are in grades k to 4. Lucky me, I get to visit the classrooms and learn from so many children, cooperating teachers and student teachers.
The beginning of the each school year starts with assessments. Assessments are the solid foundation on which we build all of our instruction. The teachers gave many assessments (sometimes I think too many - would it be better to study and go deeper into a few really helpful ones than spend too much teaching time giving more and more assessments) but they learned so much about where to start teaching and the need to differentiate their instruction. When I found this picture on pinterest I added a pen and gave one to each student teacher,

next, we had our first seminar and I wanted to make some fall baskets full of teacher goodies and try to make some fall cupcakes...well I tried!

Now, the student teachers (under the close modeling and guidance of their Cooperating Teachers) have begun to take over some subjects and they are doing so well. Here is a student teachers who is working with first graders on the beginning reading process -a daunting experience. This was delightful to watch!

                                                                                                                                                                                                             Another cooperating teacher shared her work with writing I CAN and WE CAN statements which are posted each day in the classroom. So important that the new teachers learn who to put goals and objectives in kid friendly terms!

All of the teachers are learning to begin their lessons with the standard in kid friendly terms and to review what they have learned at the end of the lesson with the same kid friendly standard.

A special thank- you to a great K teacher, Ms. Diaz, for sharing these with us.






I am so thrilled to see this cut up sentence work in the halls. Being a Reading Recovery Teacher Leader, I value this work so much and think it is critical to developing the concepts of print.

I love being with children and the new to profession teachers. It is so exciting to see the children grow and so exciting to see the teachers grow!!!
I will be back soon to share our journey with you!