Entry #36

Entry #36

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-30-14

Summary of Today's Activities

Today we had all grade levels except for 3rd grade.  The kindergarten and 1st grade classes I had first thing in the morning.  They went through the haunted house only once, because I had to take my time while explaining each station.  We have several students throughout today's classes that had autistic children in them so I had to adapt some of the activites and stations and explain a little more in detail on what I expected from them.  The second, fourth, and fifth graders all had a scavenger hunt when they completed the haunted house.  The fifth graders did a great job with their scavenger hunt although I had one group that went to one wrong clue that messed up the entire hunt for them.  It actually ended up being the group that was extremely excited to play the activity and was not listening when I was speaking.

Reflection

My overall experience at Forest Hills has been excellent so far.  The other teachers have been very welcoming.  My host teacher is awesome and I am learning a lot from her each and every day.  Mostly what I have learned from her is that you have to be stern with these kids.  They seem all cute and innocent when they walk into class, but they will go haywire if you do not have control of the classroom.  The demographics at this school are a lot different than many other schools in which the parent involvement at Forest Hills is great.  It really shows with how the students respect their teachers and their classmates.  

Entry #35

Entry #35

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-29-14

Summary of Today's Activities

The first and second graders had a pumpkin patch field trip to go to so we did not get a chance to see them today.  Today we had 4th graders and 3rd graders.  We continued playing through the haunted house and the scavenger hunt.  The day started off with doing bus duty and ended with car duty.  Everything has been pretty repetitive this week with the games and scavenger hunt, but I have to think that the students only get to do these activities once a week.  

Reflection

We had two students in our fourth grade class that were touching each other a little too much during class.  When I told the students to choose a partner a girl and boy chose each other and I did not think anything of it.  I found out later that the both of them have a crush on each other.  Anyways, when they were going through the bat cave in the haunted house I saw the boy put his hand on the girl's rear end.  I stopped them immediately and addressed the issue.  I told them that it was not appropriate for them to do that and I told the girl that it is not appropriate for a boy to do that to her.  When this occurred, she was not upset at all that the boy had done that to her.  These are things that you don't think you have to deal with at the elementary level, but you can not give these kids the benefit of the doubt.  I learn every day, while student teaching, on how to handle all of these different situations that you are not taught to handle in the classroom.

Entry #34

Entry #34

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 Physical Education

Date:  10-28-14

Summary of Today's Activities

Throughout the entire week, all of the grade levels will be participating in the same activities.  For example, today we had the students go through the haunted house in the gym and work on the scavenger hunt outside on the playground.  I had the students walk in quietly and explain to them what they would be doing through each station in the obstacle course (haunted house).  They then walked back outside of the gym and they separated into groups of two.  They were allowed to be in the haunted house twice and each partner would be allowed to lead their partner and hold the flashlihgt.  Some of the contraptions in the gym were falling apart, so Ms. Boyd and I had to find ways to keep the activity going without stalling the students.  The scavenger hunt was set up in the morning before the classes entered.  Students were set up into groups of four and they had to read the clues to get them to the next clue.  At the end, each student received a piece of candy for participating and working hard within their group to figure out the clues.  

Reflection

As a teacher, I sometimes wonder if the students are enjoying the activities and the games.  I have learned to look at smiles and look at how the students interact with others.  It is an accomplishment wihen I see students working together to figure out a clue or help each other with an activity.  I feel great about a lesson when I see smiles on the kids faces and they are clapping when they see another student win in a game.  It isn't always what the students will say or how well they do on a test that will determine the effectiviness of a lesson.  Life is about learning, working with others, and having fun all simultaneously.  With my time at Dan River High and at Forest Hills elementary so far, I have seen a lot of smiles and I have seen many students working together.  I am proud of what I am accomplishing.  

Entry #33

Entry #33

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE                    

Date:  10-27-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                The day started off with bus duty.  Ms. Boyd and I then immediately got started on setting up the gym for our haunted house activity and Halloween scavenger hunt.  We spent pretty much all morning assembling the haunted house.  The students would come in with a partner and the person leading would have a flash light.  They would start off by crawling through a tunnel or wall pads covered with table cloth.  They then would get on a balance beam and try to not fall in the goo or green construction paper.  The students would then crawl through another tunnel and end up near the pumpkin roll or an incline pad that they had to do a complete body roll.  The stepping stones would be next.  If they fell they would fall in a snake pit.  The next station was a set up hula hoops that they had to jump through.  If they fell outside of the hula hoops then they would be bit by spiders.  Once they completed that activity they had to sit on a scooter and go through a bat cave that was constructed with black table cloth and PVC piping and cones.  The students would finish up at “Ghost Jump”, which they had to jump over hurdles that had ghosts taped to the sides of it.  The objective was to jump and not hit the ghosts. 

Reflection

                The haunted house was a ton of fun.  We played Halloween music and turned the lights off while two students were in the gym going through the obstacle course.  I had to explain to them that they were playing pretend and nothing in the gym was to be taken seriously.  I also explained that since they were in a haunted house they must stay quiet.  I basically did this so that they wouldn’t scream the entire time.  I made the students go through it twice so that each partner had a chance to hold the flash light.  Now the scavenger hunt wasn’t as successful and I have yet to understand why it didn’t go as planned.  Ms. Boyd and I set up the Halloween scavenger hunt outside.  We placed clues all around the playground.  The groups were given different clues to start off with and then they went from there to find the next clue.  At some point, the students were going to the same place twice to find a clue.  Anyways, it didn’t go as planned, but the students had a lot of fun and they received a piece of candy at the end of game.

Entry #32

Entry #32

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE                    

Date:  10-24-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today we had all of the grade levels except for 4^th grade.  I had the 3^rd graders all by myself.  Ms. Boyd had to leave in order to take care of some things at home.  The kindergarten and 1^st graders started the day off with “Monster Mash” and then played “Ghost Tag” and “Bats in the Trees”.  The second graders played the same games and then played Ghostbusters at the end of class since we had some extra time.  The 5^th graders came to the gym next and we played “Monster Mash”, “Haunted House” and “Ghostbusters”.  The 3^rd graders only played “Monster Mash” and “Haunted House” since their teacher brought them to class a little late.

Reflection

                Having a class on my own today was great!  It was good to see how it would be if I had my own gym and my own classes.  I thought that since Ms. Boyd was out of class they would be asking a million questions about where Ms. Boyd was and they would have misbehaved more if she was not there.  That was not the case.  I had total control of the classroom and the students enjoyed the games and most importantly stayed safe.  Thankfully we had the time to plan for next week yesterday, because we didn’t have much time today to do so.  The day ended with working car duty, which actually helped with learning the student’s names.

Entry #31

Entry #31

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-23-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

Since today was a half day for the students, we did not have any classes.  The principal felt like the students did not need to go to their “special” classes today since it was a half day.  She believed they needed to stay and learn in their main classes.  Needless to say, it was a pretty boring day for me and Ms. Boyd.  We did spend the day working on the “Haunted House” or obstacle course for next week’s lessons with all of the grade levels.  We are going to turn off all of the lights in the gym and have a few students go at one time through the gym’s obstacle course.  After each student has had a few chances to go through the haunted house, they will work in teams to work on a Halloween scavenger hunt outside.

Reflection

               

                Although today was a half day, it still seemed like an extremely long day.  When the students are in the gym and we are having fun the day flies.  Ms. Boyd and I did get a lot done for the plans for next week.  Although it was a half day, we the teachers, had to stay behind and see if any parents wanted to have a parent and teacher conference.  Ms. Boyd told me that normally no one wants to, but we have to stay in school in case a parent decides to want to have a talk.  I am really enjoying elementary physical education so far.  The planning for each grade level is a little challenging, but it is worth it in the end to see the students smiling and enjoying their time in my class.  

Entry #30

Entry #30

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-22-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today I had first, second, and 4^th graders.  The first and second graders played Monster Mash for the warm up, Bats in the Trees, and Ghost tag.  We had a little extra time with the second graders so they played Ghostbusters.  The 4^th graders played Spider Tag, Haunted House, and Ghostbusters.  I found out today that the students have a half day tomorrow and they have no special classes during their day, so we will not have any students in the gym.  Today, Ms. Boyd and I had car duty.  In the mornings we have to stand outside and make sure they students are getting into the building safely and make sure they are walking to the correct classroom.  Ms. Boyd was there to help me since I didn’t really know where the students were supposed to go.

Reflection

                I feel like Ms. Boyd has done a good job with helping me with ideas for games and letting me have the classroom when the students arrive.  There are times when I am preparing to address a student for bad behavior or not understanding the rules of a game and she yells out to the student before I get an opportunity to explain to the student what they were doing wrong.  It has gradually gotten better, but it is still an issue.  She gave me some feedback today about my instruction.  She said I had good control of the class and I was very enthusiastic with the students.  The only thing she saw today that she said will be improved through time with elementary students is hearing all of their side comments and addressing them.  Evidently, while I was teaching a game, one of the students made a comment to where she could hear it, but I couldn’t.  I continued to instruct and never addressed the comment the student made in front of the class.  

Entry #29

Entry #29

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-21-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today we had the kindergartners.  The warm up activity was “Monster Mash”.  We then played a game called “Bats in the Trees”.  Two students are considered to be trees when they are facing each other and holding hands.  The rest of the students are considered to be bats.  When the game began I yelled “Bats fly around!”  The students that were bats would pretend to be flying all around the gym.  When I yelled “Bats find a tree”, the trees would raise their branches (arms) and the bats would get inside in between the two students or inside the tree.  We then played a game called “Ghost Tag”.  Two students were chosen to be witches and one student was chosen to be the wizard.  The witches’ job was to tag as many trick-or-treaters and turn them into ghosts.  When the students were turned into ghosts, the wizard would come by and tag them and bring them back to life and they were allowed to walk around the gym again.

Reflection

                In one of the kindergarten classes I had a student come up and tell me they didn’t like the game we were playing because they were scared of witches.  The student looked extremely scared and so what I told him was that we were playing pretend and that none of it was real.  He really didn’t care much for what I had to say so I told him it was fine to sit out for that game.  I also had the student with autism in my class this morning.  He got upset every time he didn’t find a hula hoop to stand in during the “Monster Mash” game.  I had to have a talk with him during the game and let him know that all the other students that were out of the game were not acting in the way he was.  So far, kindergarten has been the challenging grade to teach.  I have learned that as a teacher of a kindergarten class, you must explain every minute detail or things will go haywire during your lesson.  That includes everything from how the game begins to the cleanup of the gym equipment at the end.

Entry #28

Entry #28

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-20-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today we had the third graders in the gym.  I started the class with the “Monsters Mash” game.  They had to pretend to be a Halloween character while walking around the gym.  We had a few new suggestions such as goblins, the headless horseman, and trolls.  The class had some built up energy from the day so the warm up was a chance for them to get it all out before we started our other Halloween games.  After the warm up, we played “Spider Tag”.  I chose two students to be the spider, while the rest of the class was flies.  The gym is pretty small so I decided to break each round into girls and boys until we reached the final rounds and there were only a few students left.  The next game we played was “Ghostbusters”.  Each student received a bowling pin (ghosts) and a beanbag (Ghostbuster).  The students chose a spot on the gym floor to put their bowling pin.  Once I blew the whistle they had to pick up their Ghostbuster off of the floor and throw it at other student’s ghost.  If their bowling pin or ghost was knocked down they were considered out of the game and they had to sit out for the rest of the game.  The last person with their bowling pin standing would win.  We played several rounds of this game. 

Reflection

                Mondays and Tuesdays are pretty slow days in the gym, only because we don’t have very many classes on those days.  We use these days to prepare for the events of the upcoming week and clean and organize the gym.  Ms. Boyd told me that there are times that students will come into the gym on these days and we will help them review other subjects and even tutor other students if they need help.  Today was supposed to be my first day of full time teaching, but I pretty much started that last week.  I was glad I did so, because I could relax during this past weekend and not worry about the dreaded first day.  This week I will start my search for teaching jobs.  I guess I better get started on a resume.

Entry #27

Entry #27

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-17-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                This morning Ms. Boyd decided to introduce next week’s games to the kindergartners and first graders so that I know how to teach them next week to all of the classes.  “Bats in the Trees” was played first.  Trees were formed at the beginning of the game.  Ms. Boyd chose the students who would be trees.  Two students formed a tree.  These students would face each other and hold hands.  Their arms were considered branches.  The other students were considered bats.  When the game begins, Ms. Boyd would yell out “Trees raise your branches!” and the bats would pretend they were flying all around they gym.  Ms. Boyd would then yell “Bats find a tree!”  The bats would then find a tree and get inside or in between the students that were considered trees.  Once the bats were inside, the trees would close by lowering their branches or arms.

                The first graders played “Ghost Tag”.  Two students were chosen to be witches and one student was chosen to be a wizard or healer.  The witches tagged students and then they became ghosts.  The wizard would go around and tag ghosts to bring them back to life.  The other grade levels played the games we played all week with the other classes earlier in the week.

Reflection

                Ms. Boyd had a few students acting silly in her classes today.  A few times she handled it by sending them to timeout.  There were a few times when students were talking while she was speaking and instructing.  During these occurrences she stopped instructing and addressed the issue directly to the student in front of the class.  It seemed to be effective.  During this week of observing, after she has addressed the class about misbehaving, the class has normally behaved for the rest of class.  She threatens to stop the game and have them sit for the rest of class.  On Monday I start teaching full time, so this weekend I will be working on lesson plans to prepare for the upcoming week.

Entry #26

Entry #26

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-16-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today was an eventful day since we had all grade levels in the gym throughout the day.  We played the same games with all of the classes since we have been focusing on playing Halloween games.  The kindergartners and first graders played “Monster Mash”, “Witches Brew”, and “Skeletons”.  The second and third graders played “Monster Mash”, “Spider Tag”, and “Haunted House”.  The fifth graders started a bicycle safety lesson.  Class started with them taking a Pre-Test on bicycle safety and things associated with bikes.  Afterwards, we played “Monster Mash”, “Spider Tag” and “Haunted House”.

Reflection

                Today I had no intention of teaching any classes.  Ms. Boyd asked me this morning to teach her first grade class.  I was hesitant to say yes at first.  Regardless I taught first grade and also the rest of her classes for the entire day.  I had a tremendous amount of fun today and I look forward to tomorrow already.  We had an earthquake drill today and we had to take the students from the gym to the cafeteria.  The students are very welcoming and the students enjoyed all of the games we played today.  I can definitely see myself teaching elementary PE, but we will see.  It was only the first day.

Entry #25

Entry #25

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:   Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:   K-5 PE

Date:  10-15-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                This morning I started off by visiting the principal and introducing myself.  Mrs. Lassiter was not at school yesterday so I wasn’t able to meet her on my first day of observation.  Ms. Boyd and I started the day with first graders.  They started the class off with the “Monster Mash” warm up activity that the classes began class with yesterday.  It is the game that is a variation of musical chairs; instead it is played with hula hoops.  We then used the parachute to play “Witches Brew”.  Ms. Boyd bought fake spiders, bats, and tow ghosts to put in the parachute.  Second graders then came to the gym to start their Halloween activities.  They performed the same activities as the first graders earlier in the morning.  In the afternoon we had the fourth graders.  The played all of the same games as the other grade levels with the only difference being they played a game called Ghostbusters at the end of class.  The students were given a plastic bowling pin and a beanbag.  They had to protect their bowling pin, while knocking other student’s pins down.  The last person with their bowling pin standing won.

Reflection

                Although the games are repetitive all day, each class has so many different personalities that it spices the day up for Ms. Boyd and I.  The excitement of the students in PE is what makes teaching elementary PE so much fun.  Not once have I heard sighs and disappointments from the students about the games we were playing.  Unlike the high school students, the elementary students do not care much about the game.  As long as it has them moving and is somewhat chaotic they love it.  The Halloween games are very creative.  Teaching elementary students is going to be a great change of pace compared to teaching high school students.

Entry #24

Entry #24

School Placement:  Forest Hills Elementary

Cooperating Teacher:  Crystal Boyd

Grades/Subjects:  K-5 PE

Date:  10-14-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today was my first day observing at Forest Hills Elementary.  Crystal Boyd (host teacher) seems to have a tight grip on her classes.  Her classes consisted of kindergartners and fourth graders.  The unit for all grade levels has started with Halloween games.  Ms. Boyd had the kindergartners in the morning and they warmed up playing a game called Monster Mash.  This game is a variation of a musical chairs game; instead it is used with hula hoops.  Once the music has stopped, the students would have to find a hula hoop to stand in.  While the music is playing, Ms. Boyd would call out “Pumpkin”, “Ghosts”, “Spiders”, “Scarecrows”, “Werewolves”, “Monsters”, or “Bats”.  The students would have to walk the perimeter of the gym acting out or pretending they are the Halloween character.  The main activity was called “Witches Brew”.  A parachute was used for this activity and it was considered to be a witch’s pot.  The students then chose what was going to be in the pot, such as rats, snakes, eyeballs, etc.  The gym equipment represented these things or items and were put in the middle of the parachute.  The students would then stir the items in the pot (parachute) by waving the parachute.

                The fourth graders played a game of Spider Tag.  Two students were chosen to be the spiders and the rest were considered flies.   If a spider tagged a fly then the fly would have to sit and become a spider helper.  The objective is to get from one side of the gym to the other without getting tagged.  The last two students standing would then be spiders in the next round.

Reflection

                Forest Hills is a small school with a great atmosphere.  The faculty was very enthusiastic and warm.  Many of the teachers came down to the gym to introduce themselves.  Ms. Boyd’s activities were very fun and the students had great respect towards her and the gym equipment.  All of the games were Halloween themed.  The kindergarten class had a student with autism that was getting upset and crying when he lost in the game.  I will have to find a way to keep him engaged in the activities provided.  Overall, it was a great first day.  I learned how the classes would enter the classroom and sit on the yellow line and how Ms. Boyd would transition from a warm up activity to the main activity.  I am a little disappointed that the classes only meet once a week, but I’ve heard that’s how many elementary schools do Physical Education.  I am definitely excited about this placement and what it has to offer and what I have to offer to the students of Forest Hills Elementary. 

Entry #23

Entry #23

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  10-9-14

Final Reflection

                Experience is the best word I can think of when describing my time at Dan River High school.  Student teaching is a great experience and that was evident with the time I had with the students.  The experience was not always great and wonderful, yet it was still in experience.

                I have taken many classes at Averett University to prepare myself for the classroom setting.  Nothing came close to getting me prepared to have own classroom than just jumping into someone else’s classroom and teaching.  There are things that occur throughout a day of teaching that taking a college education course will never prepare you for.  Handling student’s emotions during instruction was a struggle in the beginning, but I improved throughout the weeks at the high school. I had to become stricter with rules and regulations and stick to my beliefs on the proper way to handle the class.  I felt like one of my strengths was how vocal I was and how honest I was with my students.  I have noticed that students can see right through teachers that are being dishonest, unfair, and there in the school to only receive a paycheck.

                I am anxious and eager to start my next placement, yet sad that I am leaving Dan River High School.  Overall, it was a wonderful experience and something I will never forget.  It took me long enough to remember their names, but I will never forget the students that I had.  The students prepared a card to give to me on the way out with special messages and my host teacher game a gift card to Dick’s Sporting Goods and some Dan River High memorabilia.  Again, I’m sad to leave, but I am curious to see how the elementary atmosphere and experience will be.

Entry #22

Entry #22

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  10-8-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                First block health had their long, awaited test on the skeletal system.  I made the test a multiple choice, true/false, and matching test.  They were allowed to ask questions beforehand and then we took the test.  Second block presented their fitness plans to the class and I.  They had to develop a fitness plan for a client and describe to the class why they chose the exercises and client’s goal.  In fourth block, we reviewed for the test tomorrow.  I split up the test questions and gave half of them to the other half of the class.  They then faced off and asked each other the questions after they discussed with their team the answers to those questions.  A correct answer would get a point for their team.

Reflection

                Today was bittersweet since it was my last day of instruction at Dan River High school.  The students were very sad that today was my last day of teaching.  I had to grade the tests during planning, and as I expected, the students that took interest in the subject did extremely well.  The other students struggled with the simpler, more basic questions on the skeletal system.  I hope they realize that they must work harder and not to take health class lightly.  There is no SOL testing for health, students must realize the importance of health in not only their lives, but other people’s lives as well.

Entry #21

Entry #21

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date: 10-7-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today, in first block health, we strictly reviewed for the skeletal system test that was planned for tomorrow.  The power points were re-explained and I used questioning throughout the class to check for understanding.  Dr. Brenner was in class today to observe me teach my fourth block class.  I had three cars set up outside and the students were handed a Venn diagram.  The students had to compare and contrast the items under the hood of the cars.  For example, the students would have to recognize that all three batteries to the cars were on the driver’s side of the car.  Afterwards, we went inside the gym and played ultimate basketball.  The other PE teacher had his class in the gym, so we separated both classes into boys and girls and we played girls on one court and guys on the other court.

Reflection

                The students were well behaved and in fourth block that was partly due to one of my students not being in class today.  She tends to act up and get the rest of class giggling during instruction.  Of course, class goes on and my lesson in fourth block went very smoothly.  The students were glad to get out of the classroom and I feel like they learned things that most students wouldn’t learn until they were older and more mature.  This driver’s education course has been a review for me as well and there have been things that I have had to learn along the way.  Therefore, students are not the only ones learning new things throughout the day.

Entry #20

Entry #20

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  10-6-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Students in my first block health class had two worksheets to work on during class by themselves.  We have ended the material, but for the next two days we will be reviewing the material we have been going over in class for the past few weeks.  I took my second block class to the library to work on their presentations.  The students chose a partner and they worked together to develop a fitness plan for their made up client.  In my fourth block class, we took a quiz on dashboard signs that drivers see in their car.

Reflection

                The students in first block health are scaring me because it does not seem like they are retaining the material.  I ask questions during class and it is always the same one or two people who want to answer the questions.  My fourth block class seemed to do really well on their quiz.  I am excited about tomorrow because Dr. Brenner is coming to class again and I have a fun activity planned for my students in fourth block.  I used my planning period to develop the test for first block and to plan the activity for fourth block.  Recently, I have been getting a lot of comments from students stating that they wish I stayed at Dan River.  I am going to be sad to leave.

Entry #19

Entry #19

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  10-3-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                The first block health class had a quiz on the bones of the mid-section and pelvis.  Afterwards, we studied the bones that would be on the quiz on Monday.  The students wrote the words down five times a piece to help them with the spelling.  The second block class had free time since all three PE classes were in the gym today.  We made sure that no one was sitting down and if they were not doing anything then they would have to be walking on the perimeter of the gym.  The fourth block class talked me into letting them take the quiz on Monday, so we played a picture review game to help them study.

Reflection

                Thank God it was Friday!  For some reason I was extremely tired today.  My host teacher said that the students will wear you down by the time Fridays get here.  The students really enjoyed the picture review game.  One student from each team would go up to the board and I could yell out a dashboard sign.  The student who would draw the picture first and correctly would win a point for their team.  The students had talked me into letting them take the quiz on Monday.  We had several students missing from class today, so I was fine with reviewing today and taking the quiz on Monday.

Entry #18

Entry #18

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  10-2-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                The students in my first block health class had a survey to complete; therefore we started in the classroom.  Pittsylvania County sent someone to go around to every 9^th grade class and administer a survey.  After the survey, I gave the students a worksheet to help review with the skeletal system material.  They were allowed to work with a partner.  In second block, I explained to them about an upcoming project that they would have to work with a partner.  They chose their partner and then we went into the weight room to lift and work on their form on certain lifts.  In fourth block Drivers Education class, we reviewed for the dashboard signs quiz that we were having tomorrow.

Reflection

                The first block survey through my class and I through a loop, especially when we were informed that morning that someone would be coming into our classrooms for about 30 minutes.  We got through it and I feel like I handled it pretty well.  I have noticed during my time as a student teacher that you must learn to adapt to several situations throughout the day.  I believe it is one characteristic that separates the ineffective teachers to the effective teachers.

Entry #17

Entry #17

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  10-1-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Since the student enjoyed playing the Rapid Fire game last week, I decided to have them play that game again in all of the Physical education classes.  The main objective in assessing students was to watch their form when they were throwing the dodgeball, honesty when they got hit by the ball, and participation.  In first block, we watched a movie on the skeletal system and they were given a worksheet to follow along with the movie that would later be graded for completion.  We then reviewed what would be on their quiz tomorrow.  In fourth block, we discussed the differences between dashboards in cars and how you must get to know your car before you start driving the vehicle.

Reflection

                The video in first block health was very informative.  Student had to stay on task and listen because their worksheet was going to be graded afterwards.  Some of the questions on the worksheet were too close together and it made it very difficult for some of the students to answer the following questions.  I had one student fall asleep during the video and I spoke with him after class about his recent grades and why they are low.  My second block Advanced PE class enjoyed just staying in gym today to play Rapid Fire.  I have had many of my students and students from the other PE classes state that they want me to stay for the rest of the year.   The student were very enthusiastic during the game and what I like the most about the game is everyone is on their own and trying to protect themselves from getting hit by the ball.  It is a great way to work on cardio health, without students thinking about the running aspect of the game, even though they are running the entire time.

Entry #16

Entry #16

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  9-30-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                In all of the Physical education classes we played a game called Ultimate Basketball.  The class was separated into two teams.  The main rule in the game is the ball cannot hit the ground.  If it does hit the ground, the opposing team will receive the ball.  They have three seconds to make a decision with the ball.  The team has to pass the ball 3 consecutive times in order to attempt a shot at goal.  First block had a re-take of the bones quiz and we then discussed problems that are associated with the skeletal system.  In fourth block, we discussed the dashboard signs in a car and getting to know their vehicle.

Reflection

                In fourth block, we practiced a code red procedure.  My host teacher warned me before so I had a chance to determine what my actions were supposed to be beforehand.  The students really enjoyed the Ultimate Basketball game and I will definitely be using that game in the future.  My first block class definitely studied for their re-take, because the grades were supremely higher than the first attempt.  I was very happy to see that the students studied.  They have another quiz on Thursday and I think and I hope that they see that they must study in order to do well in my class.

Entry #15

Entry #15

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  9-29-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                All of the Physical Education classes participated in a game called wall ball.  This game is a variation of a kick ball game.  The class is separated into two teams.  The ball will be rolled to a classmate on the other team.  That person will kick the ball.  The objective is to kick the ball and then not get hit by it by the other team on the way across to the other side of the gym or wall.  The student can either stay there until the next student on their team kicks it or comes back to the other side without getting hit.  If the student goes down and back without getting hit, then they score a point for their team.  If the ball is kicked in the air and then caught then the student is out.  Once three out has been reached, then the other team will have an opportunity to kick.

Reflection

                We did not go into the classroom today due to make up photos for the yearbook and a survey that ninth and eleventh graders had to take.  Of course the students enjoyed the entire time in the gym.  It just meant more screaming and yelling in the gym in my part to make sure students were behaving.  During planning I worked on lesson plans and went to the library to plan out a few days for my second block class to research and work on their fitness plan project with a partner.

Entry #14

Entry #14

School Placement:  Dan River High School

Cooperating Teacher:  Patricia Moore

Grades/Subjects:  9-12^th- Health/PE/Drivers Education

Date:  9-26-14

Summary of Today’s Activities

                Today’s activity for PE was a 45 minute routine of yoga.  The television was brought into the gym and a yoga instructor took the whole class through a yoga routine.  Surprisingly, all of the students loved it in the first block.  The students had a quiz on the bones of the head and neck when we went into class.  If they were done with the quiz, I had them fill out my Intra-Survey (Student Profile).  This survey allows for me to get to know the students a little better.  In my fourth block Drivers education class, the students had a test on the traffic signs, signals, and pavement markings.

Reflection

                My first block class performed terribly on their bone identification quiz.  I don’t think they realized how tough it would be so I offered the same quiz on Tuesday to allow them to study more efficiently.  The highest score they earn is the one that will be placed in the grade book.  My fourth block class did very well on their test.  I had a student that was bothering another student while he was taking the test and I had to take that student out of class and have a stern conversation with him.  In fourth block PE, I had a student dislocate his shoulder while trying to spike a volleyball during a game.  I had to walk him to the nurse and then the school had to send him to the hospital.  I was tempted to pop it back in for him, but I was trained to let the professionals handle those types of situations.