Message from Ms. Laurence...

To Mrs. Dorina....
I would like to say Thank You... I can not say how grateful I am for having you as a master teacher. We were partners that had great minds that think alike, we shared stories not only about school life but everything and anything and we were just like sisters. Throughout the experience of student teaching, I found every minute and second in your classroom wonderful and unforgettable. I thank you for all your advices, concerns, teachable moments, laughters, and of course helping me pick up my head when people put me down. No more words can be said or written to show you how thankful I am for this wonderful experience...

A Teacher for All Seasons

A teacher is like Spring,
Who nurtures new green sprouts,
Encourages and leads them,
Whenever they have doubts.

A teacher is like Summer,
Whose sunny temperament
Makes studying a pleasure,
Preventing discontent.

A teacher is like Fall,
With methods crisp and clear,
Lessons of bright colors
And a happy atmosphere.

A teacher is like Winter,
While it’s snowing hard outside,
Keeping students comfortable,
As a warm and helpful guide.

Teacher, you do all these things,
With a pleasant attitude;
You’re a teacher for all seasons,
And you have my gratitude!

To my Aides Mr. Q and Mr. Roque...
How can I ever thank you for making my lesson flow and life within the classroom less of pain in the ... You guys were my body guards and my life savers for all the trouble and naughtiness that the kids brought you were always there to help me. I thank you and I hope to see you in my own classroom in the near future...


To my unexplainable KINGFISHERS...
Ms. Laurence can not find the words to thank you for "always" being at your best behavior and for "always" doing your work. You guys are the sunshine that light my day in my experience as a teacher in training. You made me look forward to coming to class everyday and to expect the unexpected... I could not ask for a better class but yours... It is each one of you who made the difference in my experience and who brought out the "EDUCATOR" in me. I will truly miss you KINGFISHERS!! Always remember that Ms. Laurence is always around and to always AIM HIGH and FLY HIGH!!!

To the one and only.... (Ms. Pam)
To this wonderful lady who made this experience one that I will always remember because of her hard work in pushing me, advising me, and helping me with all my problems you are the one who I would like to "THANK" and who I would like to give my diploma too because you got me to finish one of my biggest goals in life. I thank you and I know you know how grateful I am to have you as my supervisor...

I'll Remember You Always

Rarely does someone
get to influence a person's life
in a positive way
for a lifetime,
as a teacher can,
fostering optimism and confidence,
providing knowledge that leads to success,
and being a good role model,
as you have,
and you are,
and you will...
forever.
I'll remember you always.
Thank you.

... The very Beginning ...

My adventure and wonderful experience with student teaching began January 05, 2009. For the first two weeks I came to C-4 already very excited. However, I was only there to do observations. I couldn't help myself but I had to interact with this kids. I had to help them and introduce myself. They were the 1st graders that were very welcoming. Within the first two weeks I got to know my students and master teacher very well. I got to interact with them, experience their routines and procedures and classroom management. During the first two weeks I got to see how my students behave and how well my master teacher was not only in teaching but as well as managing the class and this is how and why I learned so many things from her..

... Taking Over ...

From January 19-January 23, 2009, I finally began to take charge. I first began taking over during the morning routines and started working with small groups. I got to handle the class for about the first 45 minutes of class and then during Math. The first few days of taking over were very tense for me. I was very nervous and very scared as to how the kids would treat me but everything turned out well and I managed to survive. Each day I would go back and think what could I have done better and what do I need to change.

Then I slowly began to work with my small groups. With my small groups I worked with students that were struggling with lessons. I soon began taking over doing 3 hours of lessons. I was beginning to get a hang of all the routines and procedure, using my firm teacher voice and management with students that misbehaved, and facing the tantrums and testing of my students.

Beginning February 23rd I took over the class for the start of my 6 weeks of full days. I would say at the very beginning I was very concerned with time management because I had so little time to do everything. I needed to check homework books within my prep time, prepare homework assignments, prepare materials for the next lesson and to top it off it seemed as if time flew by so fast. My full days were full of excitement and unforgettable moments especially when there is a problem with a student. However, I am amazed I got to finish it off still surviving and still knowing that my students learned so much from me and that they appreciated every teaching moment with me.

... Transition??? ...

My transition week was to take place beginning April 06 - 18. However, unexpected events occur in everyone's life. Sadly, I did not get to do the full 2 weeks of transitioning my class back to their teacher. My transitioning did not take place because I was offered a job with the school (William S. Reyes Elemen. School). I began with my very own classroom beginning April 01, 2009. Moreover, I really did look forward to ending my student teaching by completing the whole practicum and ending by transitioning slow the class to the teacher but like they say expect the unexpected...

Lessons and Activities that demonstrate the value of DIVERSITY

Science Fair Project











Layers of the Rainforest (Diorama)











Caterpillar Skip Counting











Creating a Nest (Habitat of Birds)










Field Trip to the Zoo (Mammals/Reptiles/Birds)










Flag Ceremony (Taking Charge)











Family Tree (Project)














Health and Wellness (Physical Education)

Assessment Tools

1. Teacher Made Quizzes/Tests - written or oral assessments that are not commercially produced or standardized. In other words, a test a teacher designs specifically for his or her students.

2. Star Reading and Math - is a quarterly progress monitoring software assessment in wide use by primary and secondary schools for monitoring the practice in reading and math. The software provides additional information to teachers regarding reading and math rates, amount of reading, and other variables related to math and reading.

3. Reading First Assessment (RFA) - RFA is an ongoing assessment tool used to monitor the students reading level and progress with alphabet sounds, recognizing alphabets, blending, phonemic awareness etc.

3. Portfolios - a collection of student work gathered for a particular purpose that exhibits to the student and others the student's efforts, progress or achievement in one or more areas.

4. Performance Tasks - encompass many skills and usually have a direct application to real tasks people are asked to do in everyday life.

5. Learning Logs -consist of short, objective entries that contain mathematical problem-solving entries, observations of science experiments, questions about the lecture or readings, lists of outside readings, homework assignments, or anything that lends itself to keeping records. Often the responses in these logs are usually brief, factual, and impersonal.

6. Journals - usually written in narrative form, are subjective, and deal more with feelings, opinions, or personal experiences. Journal entries are usually more descriptive, longer, open-ended, and free flowing than logs. They are often used to respond to pieces of literature, describe events, comment on reactions to events, reflection on personal experiences and feelings, and connect what is being studied in one class with another class or with life outside the classroom.

7. Individual/ Group Presentation - students are assessed based on given criteria to with the outcome of the final product.

8. Observation- assessment may also be done with observation during the time when students are working, presenting, or orally participating during a discussion.

Relevance to Student Learning

1. School Walk-A-Thon - Students were able to raise money to for the use of maintaining the buildings of our school, to buy school supplies, etc. Students walked around our school field to show their support for our school and the money they raised for the school.

2. Physical Education - Physical Education plays an important role at our school. We are very concerned with our students Health and Wellness. In order to promote health and wellness we have our students go out to the playground or field for FIELD DAY. During field day the kids are able to play and exercise.

3. Field Trips - During our field trip students were able to simulate with the actual animals they have been learning about (BIRDS, MAMMALS, and REPTILES) at the Saipan Zoo.

4. Tsunami/Fire Drill - Students were able to use their Fire Drill and Tsunami Drill knowledge by actually being involve in our school Tsunami and Fire Drill. The students were able to demonstrate what to do if it were to be in an actual event.

5. Family Fun Night - Students were able to raise money for their grade level and for the school. They were able to create booths with games, food, etc. Students were also able to bring out their families to share entertainment that the school has prepared.

6. Read-A-Thon - Our school Read-A-Thon enables the students to read at home and to develop their reading skills not only at home. A student is acknowledge for reading the most books and for spending the most time reading at home.

7. Pennies for Peace - The students of William S. Reyes participated in the Pennies for Peace to raise money to help built schools in the Middle East. The students were able to help other children by helping them built a place to learn.