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In 2005, I graduated from Slippery Rock University, located
in northwestern Pennsylvania, with a Bachelors Degree in
Elementary Education. Following graduation, I spent a year
working with autistic children which enabled me to see
teaching in a whole new light. I interviewed with Ms.
Johnson in the summer of 2006 and was given a position
teaching 3rd grade math. Last year was a
struggle, and I had many very challenging students, but
every difficulty that I have encountered along the way has
taught me a lesson and has molded my practices to be ever
more effective.
This
year, I was blessed with a phenomenal group of children.
Upon entering my classroom, many were deficient in several
essential skill areas and accomplishing our goals within our
short time limitations seemed to be an insurmountable task.
That challenge however, is what has given me my motivation
to work as hard as I have throughout the year.
Far
greater than my own work ethic is that of my students.
Almost every day, their high energy level has kept them
interested in the lessons and focused on every problem.
Almost all of the strategies that I have chosen to use in
the classroom have been successful thanks to their excellent
behavior and passion for learning.
We utilize
several strategies to help us achieve our goals. At the
beginning of the year, for example, the area of identifying
units of measurement was a struggle. Although the students
had experienced the subject through hands-on measuring with
several different types of units and tools, the test results
did fully reflect our efforts. After doing some thinking, I
was able to create a set of magnetic sentence strips with
units and key words that helped them to literally and
visually connect specific key words to specific units in
common FCAT-like scenarios. Following this activity and a
few other strategies accompanied by more kinesthetic
experiences, my students have mastered the area of
measurement.
Also in the
area of measurement, I allow the students to play a game
that is a twist on Chinese football in which they must use
non-standard units of measurement to determine their score.
They must measure using whichever non-standard units they
are given, write the answers in a table, then determine the
lowest number to find the winner for that round. It is a
fun and very successful way to reinforce one of the most
difficult 3rd grade Math FCAT skills.
This year, my class
and I have grown a little bit older and much, much wiser.
We constantly utilize new ideas that evolve into fun and
effective classroom activities and rituals that leave me in
a very confident position as we look forward to our quickly
approaching FCAT. I am proud of what we have accomplished
together but would much rather see the recognition be given
to them than to myself. |