SSED Week Fourteen

     I can see the light at the end of the end of the tunnel!!! With our unit plans wrapping up and our lesson plan writing behind us, I absolutely can feel quite a bit of the stress being lifted!  I know I still have a long way of editing to go on my Unit Plan, but I am happy to at least see my thoughts begin to piece together and become coherent.  I have had a wonderful challenge in my clinical classroom this semester, but I am thankful all my lessons have been taught and my time there is coming to a close.  We only have one more week at Washington coming up this next week.  I have really enjoyed the overall experience of the environment I have received at Washington this semester.
     I would say that the largest lesson I have learned from my Unit Plan so far is that when I am given a large assignment, I really should be taking every free minute to put towards it so the last few weeks aren't jammed with the writing, rewriting, mind-changing, rewriting again cycle.  And let me tell you... It is a never ending cycle.  I have also learned that it is absolutely okay for me keep changing things as long as I am not second guessing my original plan... because then I end up in that cycle I mentioned earlier.  According to the professional teaching standards, teachers reflect on their practice, and I know that in looking over my unit time and time again I am learning how to effectively reflect on my work.
     This semester in my clinical placement I was given the opportunity to work with a grade that I had no experience with previously.  I was honestly terrified at first.  My original thoughts were, "Sixth graders are taller than I am, bigger than I am, and louder than I am."  These thoughts were actually true in many ways, but what didn't run through my mind was how sweet and how fun this age group is.  I was very blessed by my sixth graders this semester.  They were respectful and eager to learn every time I was in the classroom.  I still think that I am personally more fit for the younger grades, but I now understand why some people have such a big heart for sixth graders.
     I have continued my research for my PDP this week.  I have mostly focused on the portion about ELL students so far, so I did a little research on student-teacher relationships.  My favorite portion of information came from a website called Learn.Teach.Lead.  The link to the website is http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/105124/chapters/Developing_Positive_Teacher-Student_Relations.aspx.  The most effective portion of this website was in a paragraph titled Communicating Positive Expectations.  This paragraph basically discussed good strategies for calling on students and getting them to participate individually.    
     I'm pretty excited this semester is coming to a close but I am really thankful for everything I have learned.  This semester has been the ultimate challenge for me thus far in college, but it has really pushed me to try new things and give my all more than ever before.