Showing posts with label Teaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Teaching. Show all posts
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
The Hogwarts SWPBS
For my EDSP 554 class at Cal State Los Angeles, I was asked to create a Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support Plan (SWPBS). Because this plan didn't need to be actively put into place but only conceptualized, I asked my professor if I could develop one for J.K. Rowlings' fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry from the Harry Potter novels and movies. What follows is a 34 page academic nerdfest you can download by CLICKING HERE or on the image below.
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Sing For Your Health!
I made a Webquest for my EDSP 430 course at Cal State Los Angeles (Information and Technologies In The Classroom). It gives a 5th grade class with access to the internet the task of creating their own karaoke songs to educate their classmates on important health issues. CLICK HERE or the image below to see how it's done!
Friday, January 6, 2012
Mild/Mod Special Ed Preliminary Teaching Credential: ACQUIRED!
Updated my teaching website and have an interview at LAUSD offices downtown today. If anyone has any leads on a nice Special Ed position somewhere near the East Hollywood area, please let me know!
Monday, December 12, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 11
My last week at the elementary school was bittersweet.
On one hand, I was glad to be finishing up my student teaching, on the other I was sad to leave the kids and a school so close to where I live.
It was a fantastic experience and hope I find students and teachers to work with in a paying teaching job who are as great as the ones I was working with these last few weeks.
Kids in both classes made me thank you cards, and I distributed lenticular rulers and stickers to them as parting gifts.
On one hand, I was glad to be finishing up my student teaching, on the other I was sad to leave the kids and a school so close to where I live.
It was a fantastic experience and hope I find students and teachers to work with in a paying teaching job who are as great as the ones I was working with these last few weeks.
Kids in both classes made me thank you cards, and I distributed lenticular rulers and stickers to them as parting gifts.
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 10
Had to fill in for a teacher who was having an IEP meeting this week and managed to give a lesson to a class with a number of kids with severe Autism. Did pretty well, but their lunchtime playground was absolute bedlam. Children riding tricycles like they were battering rams and violent keep away games that ended in quite a few tears. The winds had blown a basketball hoop completely over a metal fence to the field on the other side of the playground. It felt surreal, like I was in the eye of a chaotic storm.
Went with the kids in the SDC room to their practice for the Christmas musical and sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" enough times to want to bash my head into a wall. The kids did look cute doing the tune though.
Finished the longest term paper in my entire college career on Thursday night. My Progress Monitoring paper for my student teaching class clocked in at 47 pages with appendix charts. Very glad that one is behind me.
One more week of student teaching left!
Went with the kids in the SDC room to their practice for the Christmas musical and sang "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" enough times to want to bash my head into a wall. The kids did look cute doing the tune though.
Finished the longest term paper in my entire college career on Thursday night. My Progress Monitoring paper for my student teaching class clocked in at 47 pages with appendix charts. Very glad that one is behind me.
One more week of student teaching left!
Friday, November 25, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 9
The teacher was absent Monday and I subbed the entire day. I'm not technically supposed to do that since I don't have the credential yet, but I knew the routine and was effectively able to administer a relevant lesson plan at the last minute.
The kids in the Special Day Class have a very hard time with simple division. Some don't get it at all at this point. They are getting better at their writing, but it takes a lot of practice, repetition, and direct instruction to get them to perform.
The kids can follow directions well, and will stay on task if information is provided to them, but to have them process and expound on their own ideas without any guidance will end with them getting frustrated and coming up empty handed.
As an educator, I can see a lot of fault in the standardized methods of testing these children with special needs. Even with modifications or accommodations, scores will inevitably be lower if they have specific learning disabilities. Some of these kids just can't get that light to click on.
I don't mind trying day by day to keep pulling that switch again and again. Sometimes you see a flicker, and sometimes the light does go on and stays on. Those are the good days. But, sadly, there are also many days where the room stays dark.
Ate the cafeteria food every day this week. The spaghetti and meatballs wasn't bad.
The kids in the Special Day Class have a very hard time with simple division. Some don't get it at all at this point. They are getting better at their writing, but it takes a lot of practice, repetition, and direct instruction to get them to perform.
The kids can follow directions well, and will stay on task if information is provided to them, but to have them process and expound on their own ideas without any guidance will end with them getting frustrated and coming up empty handed.
As an educator, I can see a lot of fault in the standardized methods of testing these children with special needs. Even with modifications or accommodations, scores will inevitably be lower if they have specific learning disabilities. Some of these kids just can't get that light to click on.
I don't mind trying day by day to keep pulling that switch again and again. Sometimes you see a flicker, and sometimes the light does go on and stays on. Those are the good days. But, sadly, there are also many days where the room stays dark.
Ate the cafeteria food every day this week. The spaghetti and meatballs wasn't bad.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 8
The kids were distracted this week. Some days they were really off focus.
Gave an art lesson on Image Macros and had the kids make their own on cheezeburger.com/Builder. Still can't believe that site was accessible through the LAUSD internet filters.
More standardized testing for kids who can't understand basic math or read sight words without difficulty. Needless to say, they didn't do very well.
Had my last observation by my Cal State professor on Friday. My lesson was interrupted by a fire drill and I still finished too soon. Tried to plan a better lesson but had technical problems the night before. Oh well.
Played handball and kickball with the kids this week.
Gave an art lesson on Image Macros and had the kids make their own on cheezeburger.com/Builder. Still can't believe that site was accessible through the LAUSD internet filters.
More standardized testing for kids who can't understand basic math or read sight words without difficulty. Needless to say, they didn't do very well.
Had my last observation by my Cal State professor on Friday. My lesson was interrupted by a fire drill and I still finished too soon. Tried to plan a better lesson but had technical problems the night before. Oh well.
Played handball and kickball with the kids this week.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 7
Tomorrow we have a day off for Veteran's Day, so the school week ended early.
I had my third observation this week and got to prepare a science lesson. Made a Powerpoint and set up a science experiment having the kids pick up rice, nuts, gummy worms, raisins and raw spaghetti with a pair of kitchen tongs, a clothesline, some chopsticks, a spoon and a tweezer to emulate bird beak adaptations.
It was a home run, as the kids were interested and interactive and the lesson was a success.
The next day's state testing bummed me out though. The kids had to do a science test on stuff they hadn't covered in the curriculum yet. They test low to begin with, but giving them questions about stuff they had never even been taught is unfair.
Ate hot pockets every day this week for lunch.
I had my third observation this week and got to prepare a science lesson. Made a Powerpoint and set up a science experiment having the kids pick up rice, nuts, gummy worms, raisins and raw spaghetti with a pair of kitchen tongs, a clothesline, some chopsticks, a spoon and a tweezer to emulate bird beak adaptations.
It was a home run, as the kids were interested and interactive and the lesson was a success.
The next day's state testing bummed me out though. The kids had to do a science test on stuff they hadn't covered in the curriculum yet. They test low to begin with, but giving them questions about stuff they had never even been taught is unfair.
Ate hot pockets every day this week for lunch.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 6
Took my first sick day this week (Thursday).
The kids finally gave me my first cold.
Taught a lesson on the civil rights movement on Tuesday.
In fact, taught most of the day Tuesday all by myself.
Did pretty good. The kids seemed to be getting the gist of what my lesson was all about.
Some of the kids in IDEC may not be progressing as rapidly as I initially thought.
Will be interesting to see the progress monitoring data at the end of the 10 weeks.
Am officially sick of Yogurt Honey Peanut Power Bars.
Kids were recovering from sugar highs the day after Halloween.
The kids finally gave me my first cold.
Taught a lesson on the civil rights movement on Tuesday.
In fact, taught most of the day Tuesday all by myself.
Did pretty good. The kids seemed to be getting the gist of what my lesson was all about.
Some of the kids in IDEC may not be progressing as rapidly as I initially thought.
Will be interesting to see the progress monitoring data at the end of the 10 weeks.
Am officially sick of Yogurt Honey Peanut Power Bars.
Kids were recovering from sugar highs the day after Halloween.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 5
Went to the Halloween party the school threw over the weekend dressed like Dr. Strange.
Got to show the IDEC kids The Picture of Everything site on the smartboard.
Had some of the kids with the lowest cognitive abilities make great strides in learning addition.
Even staying up until 1am I was able to get up by 6:30 before the alarm.
Discovered the falafel place for lunch near the school.
Got to show the IDEC kids The Picture of Everything site on the smartboard.
Had some of the kids with the lowest cognitive abilities make great strides in learning addition.
Even staying up until 1am I was able to get up by 6:30 before the alarm.
Discovered the falafel place for lunch near the school.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching: Week 4
Kids in the IDEC room are having a lot of success with developing their scary stories from rough drafts to final products. The progress is quite remarkable.
The kids in the SDC class needed a lot more review, but there's twice as many in that class as there is in the IDEC room. The teacher is still dealing with way too many brand new instruction modules being thrown her way.
My friends filmed me this week in both classes for my video assignment. It'll be interesting to see the difference in my demeanor in both settings.
Got to give a lesson in how to draw a monster to the IDEC kids on Friday afternoon. That was pretty cool. I'm an art teacher at last!
The kids in the SDC class needed a lot more review, but there's twice as many in that class as there is in the IDEC room. The teacher is still dealing with way too many brand new instruction modules being thrown her way.
My friends filmed me this week in both classes for my video assignment. It'll be interesting to see the difference in my demeanor in both settings.
Got to give a lesson in how to draw a monster to the IDEC kids on Friday afternoon. That was pretty cool. I'm an art teacher at last!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching Week 3
There were dozens of dead roaches in the staff refrigerator but no one stepped up to clean them out.
The 4 kids who are mainstreamed to a general ed math class are ahead of all the other students in their SDC class when it comes to mathematics.
Does mainstreaming special ed students work?
When they have a good TA or student teacher to help them!
We have a guy coming in to the IDEC room each week to teach a reading strategy that involves drumming.
It was developed by one of Jimi Hendrix's drummers.
I personally think it only sort of helps.
One of the required reading books I read to the kids was all about zombies.
They have Ceasar Chavez Day and MLK Day off, but not Columbus Day. I can understand that.
Found out the school janitor's 12 year old son got a 14 year old girl pregnant.
The 4 kids who are mainstreamed to a general ed math class are ahead of all the other students in their SDC class when it comes to mathematics.
Does mainstreaming special ed students work?
When they have a good TA or student teacher to help them!
We have a guy coming in to the IDEC room each week to teach a reading strategy that involves drumming.
It was developed by one of Jimi Hendrix's drummers.
I personally think it only sort of helps.
One of the required reading books I read to the kids was all about zombies.
They have Ceasar Chavez Day and MLK Day off, but not Columbus Day. I can understand that.
Found out the school janitor's 12 year old son got a 14 year old girl pregnant.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching: Week 2
Standardized testing is very disruptive.
I think it's detrimental to do it in the first 2 months of school.
Kids like computers. They take to them fast.
The laptops crash or drain their batteries rapidly, however.
One malfunctioned today, started beeping, and wouldn't stop.
Saw notable improvements in some students from what they did on Monday to what they could do on Friday.
Someone stole my small bag of cookies this morning from the staff dining room.
My CSULA professor came to observe me doing progress monitoring and math lessons today. I think I did all right.
Got to see what a rainy day schedule was like on Wednesday: Not very fun for the teachers or the kids.
Woke up before my alarm rang every day this week.
I think it's detrimental to do it in the first 2 months of school.
Kids like computers. They take to them fast.
The laptops crash or drain their batteries rapidly, however.
One malfunctioned today, started beeping, and wouldn't stop.
Saw notable improvements in some students from what they did on Monday to what they could do on Friday.
Someone stole my small bag of cookies this morning from the staff dining room.
My CSULA professor came to observe me doing progress monitoring and math lessons today. I think I did all right.
Got to see what a rainy day schedule was like on Wednesday: Not very fun for the teachers or the kids.
Woke up before my alarm rang every day this week.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Reflections on Student Teaching: Week 1
I can get to the school in 8 minutes.I eat a Cinnamon Pop Tart and drink a 5 Hour Energy Drink and a Glaceau Vitamin Water "Focus" drink each morning.
They have a parking structure for the staff.
All the kids are in uniforms. Blue pants. White shirts.
Some people break this rule, but not many.
One of the teachers told me they don't allow the kids to dress up for Halloween.
The children in the special education class are the most well behaved I've observed so far.
The first master teacher I work with is strict. The kids respect her. Learning a lot from her.
Was in her class all this week and did a Read-Aloud for the entire class and led some small group activities in math and language arts.
Today I was at IEP meetings all day with my second master teacher. She's running a new program called IDEC. Her assistant translated all the kids needs beautifully to the parents and guardians. These people are on it.
All the kids have their own personal laptop/tablets. The class has it's own smart board and printer.
Only 6 kids in the entire class.
Don't feel too exhausted at the end of the day.
So far so good.
They have a parking structure for the staff.
All the kids are in uniforms. Blue pants. White shirts.
Some people break this rule, but not many.
One of the teachers told me they don't allow the kids to dress up for Halloween.
The children in the special education class are the most well behaved I've observed so far.
The first master teacher I work with is strict. The kids respect her. Learning a lot from her.
Was in her class all this week and did a Read-Aloud for the entire class and led some small group activities in math and language arts.
Today I was at IEP meetings all day with my second master teacher. She's running a new program called IDEC. Her assistant translated all the kids needs beautifully to the parents and guardians. These people are on it.
All the kids have their own personal laptop/tablets. The class has it's own smart board and printer.
Only 6 kids in the entire class.
Don't feel too exhausted at the end of the day.
So far so good.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
My new teaching website
I just put together a website to help me find work as a Special Education Teacher. I'm currently getting my credential at Cal State Los Angeles and figured a simple little website for school administrators to see some of the things I can do would be a good idea. CLICK HERE or on the image below to have a look!
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