Department of Education

Student Teaching Reflective Journal Cover Sheet

Please attach this completed form to the front of the Weekly Journal Entries.
Candidate

Cooperating Teacher

Kayla Grossman

Rose Wagner
Week

Start Date

End Date

Site

10

11/10/14

11/14/14

Sacajawea Elementary

- Please check all that apply

Classroom Duties
X
X
X
X
X
X

Observation
X
Bulletin Boards
Assistance to the Classroom Teacher
X
Lesson Plans
Work with Individual Students
X
Unit Plans
Work with Small Groups
X
Parent Communication
Work with Large Groups
X
Substitute Teaching
Direct Instruction in Math, Science, ELA, Social Studies.
Other:
Quick Thoughts: I am doing everything in the classroom the teacher would be doing.
Duties Outside of Classroom
X
X
X

Hall Monitor
Study Hall Monitor
Lunch Duty
Playground Duty
Bus Duty
X
Curriculum
After School Study Group
Parent Conference
Other:
Quick Thoughts: I am doing everything outside the classroom the teacher would do.
Meetings
I.E.P.
X
Student Assistance
Faculty
District
Grade Level
X
Curriculum
PTA/PTO
Parent Conference
Other:
Quick Thoughts: Attended all meetings with my cooperating teacher.
X
X

Extracurricular Activities
Coaching
Chaperone
Attending Special Events:
Other:
Quick Thoughts: There were no extracurricular activities this week.

I have learned that kindergarten students have a lot of pent up energy when you have indoor
recess all week. I tried to add more yoga and classroom movement to help them work out all the energy,
but it was not always successful. When they did get afternoon recess this week, most of their recess was
spent getting dressed in their winter gear. I am hoping it is a little warmer next week. Other than the
uncooperative weather, I had a good week.
I participated in the district lesson study in another kindergarten class. The focus was on Every
Day Counts calendar activities and math practices from the Math Expressions text. I really enjoyed
being a part of this. I found it really helpful to observe another teacher and classroom. I was watching
one boy during the activities and tracking his behaviors. The student did not participate in any whole
group questions or activities. When he was working, it was on something different than the group. I have
several students do the same thing during my calendar time. I found it beneficial to listen to seasoned
teachers brainstorm on how to improve student participation. I also felt better about my calendar
activities knowing my students were no worse than the other kindergarten class. The best part of the
lesson study was learning some extension activities to add to the daily routines.
One of my only concerns at this point is still ELA. My cooperating teacher uses Daily Five and
Caf. Which I had never heard of until, I walked into her class. I have bought both books and hope to
read them when my student teaching experience is over. I have also talked to a couple of other people to
see whose classes use Daily Five so that I can observe upper grades, because it is supposed to be so
different than kindergarten. For most everything else in ELA, I am starting with the standards and
looking for thematic lessons which incorporate the standard. Of course this month we have done a lot
with Thanksgiving. We have done Turkey Word Families for the short e, Thanksgiving writing
prompts, and many nonfiction books on pilgrims, American Indians, and corn.

I have seven days of student teaching left and have spent much of the week planning and getting
grades in so my cooperating teacher can take over the class. I know the last couple of days are going to
be bittersweet. I have already talked to my cooperating teacher so she can keep me in the loop on the
progress of students.