Social Studies Methods- March

 Classwork      
         Spring is finally here!  This semester is flying by, I can't believe it is almost Easter!  March has been a very eventful month for me in my coursework.  In class we have been discussing and working more with edTPA.  I have found the commentary language to be a little difficult to get use to and understand.  Although, after having more practice with creating the level 1 planning commentary for the flipped lesson and the traditional lesson plan, I am becoming more comfortable with the language used.  I am able to see how the planning commentary for edTPA helps make sure all aspects in your lesson connect to your central focus for the students.  I have been able to see what I need to change in my lesson development to strengthen my lesson for the students understanding to take place.  I have also seen aspects I need to change or add in my lesson to help the students to see the connections conspire for the big idea.  By creating a level 1 planning commentary and your lesson this relates to the North Carolina Professional teaching standard, standard 3 "Teachers know the Content they teach" (NCTCS).  The teacher aligns the content to the NC standard course of study, plan ways to spark the interest of students in the lesson, interconnect the content with other disciplines, and the teacher relates the material with the here and now, the world around them, to the students (NCTCS).  When the teacher creates the level 1 planning commentary and the lesson plan they are going through all of these steps in standard 3 and through many other NCTCS standards.
          In class we have also been able to create and teach our flipped lesson plans.  I really enjoyed this experience and gladly accepted any feedback my peers had for me.  I think a flipped classroom approach will be a great tool to use in my future classroom.  By using the flipped classroom approach the time the teacher has to lecture is significantly decreased in the classroom.  This gives the students more practice with the material through whole group, stations with small groups, hands on activities, independent practice, etc.  This approach would also help students to move through lessons at their own pace.  I hope to use flipped lessons in my future classroom to help my students to be successful in their educational journeys.
          I am still enjoying using twitter in this class.  The top tweets of the week have really helped me to find some amazing helpful resources, quotes, ideas, and encouragement, etc.  I recently was able to watch a speech from a former teacher, Rita Pierson, she was a teacher for 40 years.  Her speech was on the importance of creating relationships with your students.  She talks about how students can learn more from a teacher they have a relationship with and respect for.  Please if you have a minute please watch Rita Pierson's speech.  She really inspired me and I hope she will be able to do the same for you.  Here is a link to her speech: https://www.ted.com/talks/rita_pierson_every_kid_needs_a_champion#t-443926
Clinical Experience    
       I was placed in Ms. Pope's fourth grade class at Central Elementary school for my clinical experience.  I have been able to work with this teacher and these same students last semester.  By having been able to work with these students previously has helped them to be open to my teaching in the classroom.  My first lesson was a bit challenging with this class.  For this lesson the students were taught in a whole group, this was different for them they are normally taught in two separate groups.  The students had a little bit trouble staying focused because they were all together for this lesson.  The students eventually begin to become engaged and participate in the lesson.  I showed a power point with this lesson and some of the students did not know what a power point was.  I felt a little old when they did not know what a power point was.  I believe I may be a little behind in technology than they are.  The students enjoyed talking about the technology developments from the past to the present.  Many of the examples they gave were for gaming, such as the iPad, xbox, etc.  I knew after teaching the first lesson that the second lesson needed clearer directions and more hands on activities for the students to complete.  When I created the second plan and taught it the students were more engaged and learned more about the content from the lesson.  For this learning experience the North Carolina Professional teaching standard that relates the best would be standard 5, "Teachers Reflect on Their Practice."(NCTCS).  I was able to look back and determine what were the students able to learn.  I was able to decide what could I do to help improve the understanding and engagement of the students in a lesson.  By changing the ways I presented the material to the students and planned hands on activities helped the students to be more engaged in the lesson and therefore, absorb more of the content being taught.
Outside Research    
     In my observations at Central Elementary I have witnessed and discussed the issue of bullying.  I have seen bullying taking place in the fourth grade class I am placed in and also in a fifth grade class that has lunch the same time we do.  The fifth grade classes bullying has escalated too far.  There is a group of girls in this particular class how are calling themselves the mean girls.  These girls are saying mean things about other students and staff at the school.  It is to the point that the principle is involved.  I decided to do more research on how teachers can stop bullying.  I found a few helpful resources below!  One gives information and helpful tips for parents, teachers, and the community.  For teachers we need to focus on creating a safe environment for our students.  Creating a safe environment for students to learn relates to the NCPTS relates to standard two, "Teachers establish a respectful environment for a diverse population of students."  It is our job as future educators to help students to feel safe and respected even if they are different so that they can learn to the best of their abilities.  I also found an article from edutopia discussing five tips for principles, teachers, and parents to help prevent bullying from starting.  Please check out these links on bullying if you get a chance!  They are very helpful and informative!  Let's do our part to fight for every child's rights in our class.  All of our students are important, unique, and should feel empowered that they can do anything they put their minds to.  No child should be bullied no matter what.  We need to love and respect one another.  We are all different and unique. Links: https://www.edutopia.org/blog/bullying-prevention-tips-teachers-parents-anne-obrien
https://www.stopbullying.gov/what-you-can-do/index.html
Future Classroom
     In my future classroom, I plan to stand up for all of my students by making sure they realize that they are all different, but they are all unique and they have something to offer this world.  My future students will know that they can make a difference in this world.  I will make sure my students know that meanest and bullying are not tolerated in my classroom.  I will also use the level 1 planning commentary to help me in my development of all lessons for my future students.  I want to make sure the connections exist in my lesson so that my students can resolve to the big idea being portrayed through the lesson.  I will use flipped lessons in my future classroom to help my students to have more time working hands on with the content itself.  I will also reflect on my practices to determine what I need to change in my teaching to help my students to understand the material better and to be more engaged with the content.  I will be a leader by establishing what the students are going to learn through the NC standard course of study and relating the content to different disciplines.  I will facilitate a safe environment by not tolerating bullying to help my students to learn to the best of their abilities.  I hope you enjoyed my blog this week!  I look forward to April and may many blessings come your way!  

 Resources:  http://www.ncpublicschools.org/docs/effectiveness-model/ncees/standards/prof-teach-standards.pdf
(and the links throughout the blog).