Hopes and Dreams check-in

Below are my initial hopes and dreams for the 2011-2012 school year with some comments on how they are going so far.

·         Be Positive (with students, staff, friends, and family), Positive Teacher Language, No Complaining

      (This has been difficult for me. I started the year in being extremely positive and excited about the school year. However, with the demands of the school year, behavior problems, and other factors I have had difficulties in being positive with a few of my students. I continue to catch myself using language with students that I NEED to make more positive or at least phrase it another way. I have a few students who struggle in following directions and staying on task - I want to be more positive with those students. )

·         Stay Organized – classroom and master’s program

        (So far, I have spent countless hours in the classroom as well as working on my masters' assignments. I feel I have been organized in both areas which has alleviated much stress. I am hoping to continue to be organized and even improve with some things in the classroom.)

·         Take time to have fun with both friends and family

        (I have spent time to have fun with family and friends the past few months. However, I have turned friends down because of the work that I have been doing for school and masters. For some reason, I get it in my mind that I want to stay on top of it and devote much of my weekends to continue to be organized and to complete assigned work. As a result, I need to put more of the work aside and take more time for my friends.)

·         Help my students to enjoy the upcoming school year, have fun, learn, and be the best they can be

      (I know many of my students are enjoying the school year. I try to have fun with them and allow them to have fun as well. Once again, I am trying to take time out of our busy curriculum and allow them to have more fun and not sweat the things that we do not get too. I have many great students and I am hoping that I can help those students to enjoy the school year despite the challenging students in the class.)

·         Action Research – Be organized and disciplined in regards to implementing AR

       (I think being organized and on top of things with AR has made it a bit easier for me this semester. I am also doing something I greatly enjoy so it has been easy to work with it. With the hectic schedule and need to get to so many things, I am finding it challenging to devote time every day to my AR. I am still getting to it but I am cutting into other things that I need to get in during math time. However, so far through 7 weeks, we have not missed a day with implementing daily math games in our schedule. We have missed some number sense activities/discussions but we are working hard with our games.)

·         Implement technology into the classroom to help students learn (Promethean board, IPod, virtual field trip, student computer)

       (Still room for improvement but I have made attempts for students to individually use the classroom computer as well as the promethean board. Students have been working on LEAD 21 skills and spelling work with the promethean board. They have been doing a wide assortment of things with the class workstation. Students have a choice of what educational website they may work such as spellingcity, LEAD 21, compass learning, or other websites. In the coming weeks, I am hoping to add a few Ipod touches for students to work on language arts and math skills.)

·         Devote time weekly to reflection time

       (In looking back, I have spent time weekly with reflection time linked to my AR. I do need to do a better job of reflecting on other things that I do throughout the day. I seem to find myself doing school or master's work and no time to step back and take a look at how things turned out.)

·         Daily devotional or quiet time – read the bible

       (I need to improve in this area and I am going to begin ASAP.)

·         Ask for help from people