The Beginning of the End!!!

I am extremely excited about my last year here at GWU!!  I finally got my placement and went and met with my teacher today!!  She seems pretty awesome ad I already just adore her.  I loved how the classroom was set up; she had it arranged to where it felt cozy in there and the theme was a beach.  As I was driving to meet my teacher, I had a thousand thoughts and questions running through my head.  When I got there, she met me at the door and greeted me with the biggest smile, and that is when I knew I would like her.  From the second I met her she made me feel welcome!  After a decent conversation, she took me under her wing, and showed me around the school, and she introduced me to every staff member in the school building!  I was greeted with a lot of "Welcome to the family" and "I'm here, if you ever need anything".  I couldn't have asked for a better a better day at my school!

Today, was also the first day of classes, and it is slowly but surely sinking in that I am a part time college student, and part time teacher.  As we went over the syllabus and course calendar this week, I thought about just how much I am going to accomplish, as well as grow in such a short time period.  My life is going to change completely when I meet my students and I cannot contain my excitement.  I think this year, I will be more motivated and determined to produce my best work, not just for the letter grade I want, but also because I will see how it effects my students.  I have already got some of the items on the Clinical Experience Checklist checked off and am ready to see how the rest of the semester unfolds!!!!

This week I chose to research how to keep an open line of communication between the teacher and the parents.  It is proven that in most cases, if the teacher has a strong relationship with the parents, then the student is more likely to succeed in the classroom.  I read an article written from a mom's perspective, but she is also a teacher as well.  It was nice to see what she had to say about how to best and most effectively communicate with parents these days.  I was interested to read four items that she recommended for open communication, not only for teacher to parent, but also school to community.  Student blogs was the first listed, and I absolutely love this idea!!  I think it allows the student to express what is going on in the classroom and how they feel about it.  Next, which I was shocked to see, was social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.).  This allows the community to see through the windows of the school and be aware of what is going on in the schools.  Third, was the Remind app, which I am actually very familiar with, and this helps keep parents on the same page.  Lastly, Class Dojo, which is used in my clinical placement, and this lets parents know how their child is doing behavioral wise and emotionally/socially in the classroom.  Feel free to check out more details from the article!!!

https://www.teachingchannel.org/blog/2015/04/15/improve-communication-between-home-and-school/

 
The two NCPTS that I thought fit best during this first week were: 1. Teachers demonstrate leadership, and 5. Teachers reflect on their practice.  I chose these two because my teacher is one of the most  respected teachers in the school, and she demonstrates all of the characteristics of a teacher leader.  I hope to become her mini me and adopt some of those same characteristics.  Also, number five, teachers should always reflect and see what they can improve.  After reflecting on meeting my teacher today, I want to better our communication and continue to build that bond with her and her students.