One challenge I had was figuring out how to talk to some kids about another student’s behavior. I wasn’t sure what to say, so I asked the teacher for advice and she helped me know what to do. My teacher also told me I did a good job when I helped one of the English learners. I spoke to them in their language but also used English to encourage them to practice. It felt great to know I was helping them feel confident and learn.

I also got the chance to help with testing some of the kids this week. It felt great to know the teacher trusted me with this responsibility, and the kids seemed comfortable taking their tests with me. Lastly, I helped lead the line during dismissal. All the kids listened, stood in a straight line, and were very quiet. Dismissal went good, and I even had the chance to keep introducing myself to some of the parents.

One challenge I faced was keeping all the kids' attention. Some of them weren’t paying attention, and I found it hard to get everyone to focus at the same time. The teacher told me I did really well for my first time teaching the whole class like that. She said it’s normal for kids to lose focus, especially in large groups, and suggested I try calling out students' names to bring their attention back next time. Her feedback made me feel confident and I’m really happy with how the week went.

I also taught math for the first time this week and it went well. The students were engaged, and it felt rewarding to see them understand the concepts.

My mentor and I discussed strategies for managing students who sometimes interrupt the lesson. She gave me helpful ideas on how to communicate with them in a way that keeps the class on track. I was able to use these strategies while subbing, and they worked well.

My mentor teacher gave me helpful recommendations this week. She suggested that I always set clear expectations before starting a lesson and use more details when giving instructions. This will help the students understand what they need to do. She also told me that I did a great job keeping the students engaged and making sure everyone participated.

I also had a great experience with the students in the cafeteria. I have take them before but it was the first time they students behave really good on the way there and while they were sitting down eating, and I made sure to set clear expectations before we went. I was really impressed because, even the students who sometimes have behavior issues, followed the directions and listened to me. It felt great to see how well they responded to the structure I set, and it showed me how important clear communication and expectations are.

One challenge I faced was keeping the lesson on pace while also addressing student questions and getting them back to focus. I wanted to make sure every student understood, but I also realized that I need to keep an eye on time. This is something I’ll continue to work on. I’m proud of how I’m growing into my role as a teacher and how I’m staying open to feedback. My mentor and I discussed the good things for this week, showing improvement based on feedback and applying it right away.

Looking back, one thing I would improve is making sure I gave more time for the debrief at the end. Some students were ready to share their thinking, but we had to move quickly through that part. Next time, I’ll plan to start the activity a little earlier to leave more time for student discussion and reflection.

One challenge I faced was keeping everyone’s attention during lessons. Some students were distracted, and I had a hard time getting the whole group to focus at the same time.

My mentor said I did great overall and reminded me that it’s normal for attention to drift sometimes. She gave me the tip to call out students’ names when needed to bring them back. We also discussed my ability to manage the class on my own and keep working on pacing and making sure I stick to the schedule while teaching.

I had a helpful talk with my mentor about classroom tips. She told me it’s okay to stop a lesson and reset if the students are losing focus, which was great advice because I was having a hard time getting them back on track. She also suggested trying new seating arrangements to help students build new friendships and stay more engaged. I'm starting to understand how small changes like that can make a big difference.

My mentor trusted me to watch over some students who usually have behavior challenges, and I appreciated that trust. I was a little nervous at first, but those students did great. They listened, followed directions, and enjoyed the whole trip. It showed me how much they’ve grown and how important it is to build strong relationships with all students. We also started working on our sea animal projects for open house, which made the kids even more excited.

It’s also been a reflective week. My mentor and I have been talking about how much growth we’ve seen in the students, especially those who struggled the most at the beginning. Seeing them improve so much is such a good feeling. I’m proud to be part of their journey.

Throughout my time here, I’ve learned so much how to manage my time during lessons, give clear directions, break steps down, give praise, and make lessons fun and meaningful. I’ve learned to plan with my students in mind and use strategies that meet different needs. I also understand better now how important it is to know your students and include their cultures in the learning. It’s been such a great experience.