Final Exam- Part 3 "Reflection is Good for the Soul"

Over the course of the past two years I was blessed with a golden opportunity to be able to intern in a class room and get first hand experience. Not many people my age are able to say that. 

I've dreamed of becoming a teacher for as long as I can remember. When I was younger I would line up my stuffed animals and have "class" and I would teach them things out of my older brother's math work books. Still to this day, I have the same dream. 

On the first day of interning my first year, I was extremely nervous because I wasn't sure what to expect. I adapted very quickly and realized that my teaching abilities and qualities come naturally. I am 100% positive that I was born to be in a classroom teaching children. I couldn't imagine doing something else. After spending two years in a classroom getting first-hand experience I'm still sure that I want to be a teacher. I am just as enthusiastic about it as I was when I was having "class" with my stuffed animals. I feel incredibly comfortable in a classroom with 20 pairs of feet running around. Over the past two years I have learned many things. I have learned about things that I must do in a classroom and things that I should never do in a class room. I've learned that I can't wait to have my very own classroom. 

I brought closure to my classroom by talking to the students about growing up and moving on in their school career. I reminded them about the time when they we're about to start first grade and how nervous they were. After that, I read them a story called "First Day in First Grade" and it was about the journey of a young girls first day in the first grade. Then, I had them write advice to the future first graders about how first grade would be. Needless to say, they were very humorous and entertaining. 

I gave them a poem that read, "I'm glad I was your teacher, I've come to love you so. I can't believe the end is here. I hate to see you go. Remember all the fun we had in all the things we did, but most of all remember.. You're a very special kid!" I was very sad to leave my classroom because I have bonded and formed wonderful relationships and made unforgettable memories with them. They hold a very special place in my heart. I'm very proud of each and everyone of them on how much they've grown. This year's internship was truly a blessing. 

This was written in response to Mrs. Stevens' Blogger. 

Final Exam- Part 2

DRESS CODE FOR 2013-2014

1. Professional attire is required. This includes you ID and name badge. 

2. If you wear a t-shirt it has to be either one that we have provided for the interns this year or a site school t-shirt. 

3. Nice jeans or slacks are a must. No holes, rips or tears. 

4. ABSOLUTELY NO FACIAL PIERCINGS! 

5. No visible tattoos. 

6. Your body should be covered appropriately. No boobs, butt or belly. 

7. Have an appropriate hair style. Nothing dramatic.. This includes facial hair. 

Consequences:

If you can't abide by these rules at your field site, you won't be allowed to go. It is a privilege to be able to do this. If there are multiple offenses you will be banned from attending your site school. You are practicing to be in the professional world, please dress like it.  

This was written in response to Mrs. Stevens' Blogger.

Final Exam- Part 1

(1.8) Measurement. The student understands that time can be measured. The student uses time to describe and compare situations. The student is expected to:
                              (B) read time to the hour and half-hour using analog and digital clocks.

Here is a game that will help the student perfect and understand the art of telling time using an analog clock or digital clock. In this activity you choose whichever clock you want to work with then, you have to put the correct time on the clock to complete the activity.

This was written in response to Mrs. Stevens' Blog.

End of the Year 2012-2013

Thank a Teacher!

Dear Mrs. Akers,


Thank you for allowing be to be a part of your classroom this year. The things I have learned are not only things I will be able to use in my career but they are also life long lessons. I appreciate everything you've done for me over the course of the year. You students and I are beyond blessed to be able to call you our teacher. The passion you have for teaching is contagious and extremely inspirational. You've made such an impact on me and I'll be forever grateful. I hope to be half the teacher you are one day.


Love,

Shelly Mae Burnett

This was written in response to Mrs. Stevens' Blogger.

Parents

Teachers are professionals. They are professionals just like doctors and lawyers. In a way, teachers act as a doctor and/or lawyer in their everyday job. If a student gets a scrape on their knee at recess or in P.E., they bandage the child up and make sure they're alright. That's something a doctor would do, right? Lawyers give people and companies advice and tell them what they can and can't do in their everyday job. Well, doesn't a teacher do that on an everyday basis? Yes. Teachers are trained just like a doctor and a lawyer would be trained. They're trained on how to do their job and how to do it well. How do you think doctors or lawyers become professionals? They are taught by a teacher to do their job. So, yes. Teachers are professionals just as much as a doctor or lawyer.

I don't think it's okay for a parent to second guess or question a teacher's professional assessment of a situation. The parent should trust what the teacher has to say about a situation.

Students should always take responsibility for his or her actions. They are their own person and can make the decision between right and wrong. They are the person who decides to do what they choose to do.

Parents should not make excuses for their child. Making excuses for your child sets them up for bad habits in the future. I do not think it's acceptable or responsible for a parent to do this.

If a student does not take responsibility for their actions from the beginning of their school career, it is teaching them to blame other people for their actions. Instead of owning up to them and being responsible. This is also something that will set a student up for bad habits in the future.

A time I've failed in a situation and learned a lesson from it is when I've told a lie to my parent and got caught. I learned that I shouldn't have lied and I should've just told the truth. It would have saved me the guilt and trouble that I got into.

This is in response of Mrs. Stevens' Blogger.

Creativity Counts

Creativity is the use of the imagination or original ideas, especially in the production of an artistic work. 
Creativity matters in education because it is what keeps things from being boring. If you have a creative way of teaching, then the kids will be more involved and enjoy learning a lot more rather being bored with out creativity. When kids have the chance to be creative they will most likely enjoy working more, too. 

Creativity is lacking in our school systems. We can fix this by teaching the same things, just in different ways. It is really quite simple. Instead of just giving notes and a test, do a hands on activity. The chances of them remembering what they learned in the activity are far more greater than what they would be if they were just taking notes. Creativity is important and needs to be incorporated with how teachers teach their students. 

I wrote this in response to Mrs. Stevens Blog.

Appearance Counts!

Making first impressions is extremely important. If someone were to show up to an interview or their job unprofessionally dressed it would reflect poorly towards them for multiple reasons. One reason being is that they may not be taken as seriously as the should or could be. It would make their employer or co-workers think that they weren't there to work and that their job obviously isn't very important to them. If they were to show up to an interview poorly dressed, the chances of them getting that job is very slim.

Reasons you shouldn't dress unprofessionally-

• You may not be taken seriously.
• It could jeopardize your chances of getting a job. 
• It would give your future employer a bad first impression. 

What NOT to wear...

What is acceptable to wear... 

This was written in response to Mrs. Stevens Blog. 

Here is a link to my Storyboard.

Here is a link to my lesson plan.

My Glog Blog

Shelly's 1st grade glog

http://s2qns33.edu.glogster.com/american-symbols-for-1st-grade

My First Semester as a Teacher

I am a student intern at North Ridge Elementary School.

I intern in a first grade class for Mrs. Kathy Acres and also in a second grade class for Mrs. Susan Burns.

While I'm in my first grade class we are usually working on science and in my second grade class we do math. 

The first day I got there, I was a little nervous just live anyone would be. My nervousness quickly disappeared and I was very excited to see what the rest of the year had in store for me. 

During the second semester I'm looking forward to learning new things from both of my mentor teachers and the students. I can't wait to see how much the students have grown from the beginning of the year to the end.

This blog is in response to Mrs. Stevens blog. 

My Plans for the Future

Here are three things I want to change-
1. I want to make better grades next semester. I can change this by doing my homework and getting it in on time if not earlier. I don't want to wait until the very last second to get things done. If I change this, it will eliminate stress.
2. I want to be more motivated to go to college and start applying for scholarships at any chance I have. It will save me a lot of money and stress if I do this. I can apply for scholarships instead of getting distracted by the television or social networks.
3. Lastly, I want to apply for colleges. I need to start this ASAP. I should've started a year ago. This goes along with procrastinating.. I've waited til the very end to do something. I can start applying to colleges in my free time instead of going out with my friends or getting on social networks.

20 Minutes

If I was a teacher I would encourage my students to read at least 20 minutes outside of school by telling them that it would make them smarter. I could give them extra recess time, rewards like bringing a stuffed animal to school, having extra computer time, give them stickers for their reward charts, wearing slippers instead of regular shoes or being able to watch a fun movie. 

I like to read, although I don't read as much as I should. If I read more than it could help enlighten me in other subjects. I have plenty of extra time in my day to be able to read for 20 minutes but of course media and social networks take up that extra time.

As in intern, I can definitely tell a difference in the students who read outside of school. Their vocabulary is significantly better than the other students. They also understand and comprehend things at a faster pace. Same with the homework- I can tell who does and doesn't do their homework. It takes the kids that didn't do their homework a lot longer to grasp things that are going on in the classroom. It is definitely a set back for those kids. 

If I had the chance to redo my last 14 years of school, I would take it in a heartbeat. I would study more and for longer hours. I would do my homework and make that a habit. I wouldn't procrastinate and I would do things 100% instead of just trying to get by. 

When I read, I enjoy reading mysterious books. I like when books leave me wanting to read more. 

Solutions

I think our country should put certain laws on who should be able to purchase/own a gun. Background checks should be more thorough than they are now. Individuals with a mental illness should not be able to purchase a gun because a majority of the shootings that have happened in this country are committed by someone with a mental illness. Our country should also offer more help to people who suffer from mental illnesses.

Are you Pinterested in Resources?

Here is a good blog to help you with math- Teach the Math
Here is a good blog for a second grade classroom- 2nd Grade Pad
Here is a good blog for a kindergarten classroom- Smedley's Smorgasbord
Here is a good idea for a science lesson.. Solid/Liquid Activity
A VERY cute idea for a homework station at home- Homework Table Idea
An activity for helping to understand adjectives- Popcorn Adjective