Hey Practicum Students and Student Teachers!

Let’s begin!  These next 15 weeks are some of your greatest opportunities to o serve your mentor teacher, other teachers in the building, as well as beginning or continuing to interact with students.  Once you begi student teaching, your time for observing will be limited.  You will be focused on planning for each day’s instruction.  If your mentor teacher is giving an assessment that doesn’t require you to be in the roo, has your MT for suggestions.  Who teaches math well?  Who is excellent with classroom management?  Who does well with disruptive students?  Can I watch small groups with the special education teacher?  You will love and agree with some strategies, you will disagree and cringe sometimes.  Example:  I’ve heard experienced teachersmake derogatory remarks such as ‘his head is full of rocks, he doesn’t have a clue, The elevator doesn’t reach the top floor.  Just walk away.  Take it as something you will do better with.  All kiddos have strengths.  They may not be academic strengths, and I know. You’ll feel the pressure to make every student achieve.  Sometimes a student’s achievement means they don’t need objects to count with anymore.  It may mean they are using the bathroom on their own.  It may mean they are learning to use a talking board.  Success looks different for each one of them.  

Online phonics diagnostic @whamphonics.com
Additional elementary resources @ https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Whamphonics