Westwood, April 14th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Friday, April 15 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 176

   Today the students had really high energy! For 2nd grade this week I read the poetry book "Dogku" because I knew the the "Mary had a Little Jam" would be too young for them. "Dogku" is a sweet little book and was well received by the students.
   In the afternoon I helped Mrs. Voigt's class use ConnectEd program on the Chromebooks. I helped them login and get working on the correct math topic. This is a really high needs group, so it can bet a bit hectic but it all worked out quite well. The students work really well on the Chromebooks!
   I taught Mrs. Koopmeiner's class work on their life cycle projects. I showed them how to make one, and displayed the needed vocabulary on the projector screen. Everyone was really on task and only a couple of students required quite a bit of assistance with the project.
   

Westwood, April 14th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Thursday, April 14 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 168

 Today the 2nd grade group met and worked on their national park project. Two students were not so into it today but I was able to help them look at the index and locate information they could use in their report. We also investigated the national parks website as well. By the end they had made some good progress.
  The 5th grade "Week in the Woods" group went well too. Almost half the group was sick (flu is going around again), so we discussed a lot so as not to read too much and get way too ahead of the others.
   At the end of the day I read to two K groups and one 2nd grade group. I had fun helping students find books. Usually I help with the check out but I need more experience in assisting the younger students find books/materials.

Westwood, April 13th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Wednesday, April 13 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 160

   This morning we had the first grade group finish their animal projects and present them to one another.  They really had fun sharing their work and were excited to show their parents at home on their google account.
   The 2nd grade reading group started a project on our national parks. I found books about national parks and made up a graphic organizer for their research. I also set up a a Chromebook for each student opened to the official national parks website. They each looked at the books and chose one to research. It went really well and the students liked this new project and like the break from reading a novel.
   This afternoon, I led the 5th grade "Petey" group. They are so much fun and full of energy. This is quite an emotional book, and it's great to see how well they are able to connect to it and open up about their own experiences.
   I taught Mrs. Koopmeiner's K class more about Pixie today. They had to create a text box, and images of different sizes. It gave them a little more focus and made them try something new that they will to know how to do for their life cycle project. 
   At the end of the day I helped check out books to the 4th graders.
   

Westwood, April 12th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Tuesday, April 12 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 152

   I started to teach Mrs. Koopmeiner's K class to use Pixie. I showed them the basic functions and they had time to explore it on their own. It's funny how most students seems to really like the 'spiral/mirror' function.
   Then I helped lead the 3rd grade reading group. Sara had to help another teacher so she gave me their new choices for their next book. To be honest, I really did not like the choices and the students weren't real into them either. One student was quite upset about them and got really agitated when the other girls didn't choose the one she kind of wanted to read. She just sat there with the book on the table and I ignored her. Finally she picked it up and joined in.
   I also helped lead the 5th grade "Week in the Woods" group.  Some of the students are quite shy and aren't fond of reading, but they are slowly finding their voice. The students are into this story so that is helping the discussion.
   In the afternoon I read the "Mary had a Little Jam" book. A student asked me to read to him during book check-out. I have been waiting for that because again, they usually ask Sara, but today a little boy asked me! It felt great!
   
  

Monday, April 11th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Monday, April 11 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 144

   This morning we had the 1st grade group and I decided to write their google login information on their research sheets because it took so long to have log in with Sara and I helping each one individually. If I were organizing this group I would have them using different websites to find their research because the students that are still looking for facts are having a hard time reading from the Kids national Geographic sites, and Sara has them just googling information if there isn't enough about their animal. I just think the whole process is becoming too complicated for some of these students, so it is not an enjoyable time for them.
   The 3rd grade reading group today finished up their book "The Golden Threaded Dress" Again, I would like to do more of a bigger closing project then just a discussion to conclude the book. It seems that a deeper reflection is needed before pushing onto the next book. They could act out a particular scene of the book, or write a letter to the main character. I think this would bring the group closer and make them a little more interested in the book group.
   Next was the 5th grade group reading "Wee in the Woods." I have become closer with this group and Sara let me lead them on my own today. I tend to stop and ask more questions along the way than Sara does, and I think the students respond well to this style.
   This week I chose the poetry book "Mary had a little Jam" which has poems that are similar to the classic Mother Goose poems. The students enjoy them! I also even got to help a few students find a book to read! They usually go to Sara, but today a few students actually asked me to help them!

Westwood: April 8th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Friday, April 8 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 136

 This morning I picked-up the 1st grade group. They are almost done with their projects,so I showed them how to add transitions and borders around their pictures. They thought that was pretty cool! It did add to the presentation, so it was fun to show them something new.
   I read to three groups the "Name that Dog!" poetry book. Once again, it was a hit. I'm glad I chose a book that appealed to so many students this week. Sara even noticed that the more inattentive groups have been behaving very well for these last couple of weeks. That is good to hear!
   Once again I led half of the "Week in the Woods" group. I was really able to engage them in a great discussion. It took me a while to get in the rhythm of book groups,  but now it is coming more naturally and I feel that I can do it well.
   At the end of the day I helped out Mrs. Voigt's class use Chromebooks. We had them reading from the school's subscription to the online Capstone website. This time we used headphones, which worked out much better because they like the audio books and having 28 students all listening to different books the other week was crazy! It was interesting how the students were so absorbed into their stories! For this school it is worth paying for this site. 

Westwood: April 7th

Mentor: Sara Martini

Date: Thursday, April 7 2016

Time: 7:30-3:30

Hours: 128

  Today I led the 2nd grade "Chocolate Fever" group. I think this group was anxious to finish up this book! We discussed how this book ended and we compared it to "Rosie's Story" just to come full circle with that discussion from our previous book group sessions. It ended in a bit of an anti-climatic fashion because there wasn't any big ending or mini-project to wrap things up. I guess I would have had the group process this story more and make sure they really understood the meaning.
   Then I read to a second grade group, and helped them check-out their books. Second graders are so much fun! It is one of my favorite grades to teach.
   Later I helped lead the 5th grade reading group, which is reading the "Week in the Woods." This week went much better! I think the students are becoming more comfortable with me and my style of leading book group.
  Then in the afternoon I read to two groups of K and one 2nd grade group. I read the poetry book "Name that Dog!" It was a lot of fun because they wanted me to keep reading more poems and they thought they were funny, so everyone was attentive which was awesome!