Student teaching today was great! I had such an enjoyable day and did so many different things. First period I went to a Professional Development meeting with my Cooperating Teacher. This is when all the 2nd grade teachers come together with the literacy coach and look at the students' work, discuss strategies for working with students, etc. Today we happened to speak a lot about literacy, reading groups, and meeting the needs of all our students (including those having difficulties and those above grade level). I found this to be extremely useful because it completely relates back to what I am learning about in my Teaching Literacy class.
Second period my Cooperating Teacher let me lead the Morning Message which she had written. Yesterday my class went on a field trip to the Wyckoff Farmhouse so the Morning Message was to find smaller words within those words and their goal was 35 words. It was interesting seeing the words students came up with. Some got frustrated and wanted to stop but ended up going back to continue and creating rather long lists. After some time, I wrote the list on the board of the words the class found and when the children told me the word, I asked them to spell it for me too. They came up with SIXTY words!!! I was so proud of them :)
My Cooperating Teacher also let me do a reading assessment of one of the students. They get tested monthly (or something along those lines) to track their reading level and I was able to do one today. Then, after lunch I read the first two chapters of Judy Blume's Superfudge to them--it's actually a pretty good book! Then we reviewed some vocabulary words and the day was just about over. It was really productive and educational. And the more time teaching I spend, the happier I am--I love getting the experience and working so directly with my students! I'm really sad though because I only have four more days left at PS 10 because next semester I'll be placed somewhere else.