Intern Experience Week #13

The work in my PDS's this semester was drastically different. I spent the first 5 weeks of the semester in a self-contained middle school classroom working with students in grades 6-8 and then the remained of the time I was in a 5Th grade social studies/science classroom teaching all 5Th grade students. I believe that I am a more well rounded pre-service teacher because of my experience in these very different placement, and the opportunity to work with such a diverse group of students.
For my 5 week placement I was teaching all subjects to students with a variety of needs in grades 6-8 all in one classroom. This was very challenging because I wasn't just providing support to what the students were doing in the regular classroom like I had in previous special education experience, but instead in charge of their every curriculum need. My mentor teacher and I built a relationship very quickly because of the necessity of getting me teaching right away since I was only there for a short amount of time. The work was challenging at first because I needed to create whole group instruction as well as small to reach every student and every learners needs. This classroom was also the first time that I was working with students that had sever behavioral and emotional disabilities. It was also very important for me to build a beneficial relationship for my mentor teacher as well so I made sure that I was keeping track of students work, grading assignments and doing anything and everything she asked me to do. Also turning my lesson plans in early to her helped build the professional relationship needed so that she would trust me in her classroom. I really value everything that she taught me in her classroom I definitely grew from our experience working together.
Then when I returned to my home PDS I was placed in a 5th grade social studies classroom in order to provide me experience in teaching middle school social studies since I have a 5-9 certification. This was the first time in a while that I was placed in a general education classroom. Also these 5th grade students were on the highest level that I had taught thus far. Even though I was placed in a middle school those students were working on a 3rd and 4th grade level, so working with the general education population at this academic level had me a little nervous. I had also never had a class that instructed me on teaching social studies at this level so with all of these factors playing a part I was anxious to see what would come. I was very lucky to be placed with a mentor teaching that was understanding of my lack of experience in teaching social studies and very willing to work with me. Instead of teaching right away I would observe him teach one block then I would teach the same lesson in the next and we would discuss what I did well and then improvements. This was very beneficial because I was able to readjust or try new things in different classes because I was teaching the same lesson three times a day. Sometimes it got a little boring doing the same thing, but it was a nice change as well. It was also beneficial to have my special education background because sometimes I would use some of the techniques I used with that particular student population in my general education classroom if a concept was giving them trouble. I believe that my mentor teacher and I were able to form a beneficial relationship because I was able to share my knowledge about special education and he about science, social studies, and behavioral management in the classroom. I also was able to form a professional relationship with my teacher by always being prepared for class with lessons, material and grading assignments. We would co-teach often and discuss planning as a team. I hope to return to this classroom and other 5th grade classrooms in the spring and continue building my professional relationship with my mentor teacher. I plan on using technology to enhance teaching in the classroom and plan on introducing different ways of using technology with my mentor teacher.