Observation Week

Well this past week was a very busy week! Dean Carroll, my supervisor and the dean for the College of Education, came this week to observe us and basically hang out with us. It was also the week I was teaching my EdTPA lesson plan, the lesson plan I had been working on for months for part of my OSU requirement. My lesson plan was over Theme, teaching the students what theme is, contrasting it to a summary, then letting them apply it to literature and the novel we have been reading. This lesson plan was a little nerve wracking as I wanted it to go really well.

During Monday's lesson I discussed summary and theme with the students and read two children's books, Chrysanthemum and A Bad Case of the Stripes, to show how to find theme in stories (with their help). It went pretty well and I was excited for the next day where they would be applying theme on their own.
On Monday night we were invited to a nice family's house for an "authentic italian dinner," cooked by an Italian airman. There were lots of people and our host made sure we all got to know one another. She asked so many questions and then had us play a "game," to see who has done all of these interesting things (like if you speak several languages, gone sky diving, gone on a cruise.) I think I raised my hand once..so I guess I'm not very "interesting." However, there were some people who raised their hand for almost every single one and I don't find them particularly amusing. Anyways.. after our delicious dinner of bread, pasta, and nutella crepes, we got to know the italian airman a bit better as he talked about where he grew up, his experiences in the States, and where we should go when we visit Italy. He was a nice guy but he certainly had some ideas about Americans that aren't always true. (Like how we enjoy there being a McDonalds on every corner, that our parents give us anything/everything we want, or how everyone gets a car for their 16th birthday).  During this dinner, we also talked to a few of the teachers there who gave us some great advice about applying for Dodds schools. We should definiltey take advantage of student teaching with Dodea and apply as soon as possible as our names will be on the first page of applicants (and there will be thousands of applicants). We enjoyed dinner and getting to know Dean Carroll a bit better in a less formal setting and went home to prepare for the next day of obseravtions.

Tuesday was my day of observations, and I was the first up. Before the dean came in, I explained to the students who was coming in and why. They were full of questions (Does she tell you if you passed or failed?! Is she watching us?) and I told them to behave like normal, pretend she wasn't even there. Then cue Jenn threatening them to behave or else.. haha I began teaching part 2 of my EdTPA lesson, reviewing theme with the students, having them discuss their own examples of themes, and assigning pairs of students a particular book to analyze. Dean Carroll came in sometime while the students were discussing their own examples. I walked around helping students and asking them their thought process and what they thought of the books. I chose the groups based on ability and who would work well together, and I chose books based on ability as well. With my higher level students, I gave them more challenging books and so on and so forth. I also chose books I thought the students would enjoy and they all seemed to like their book. I discussed my lesson and how I chose groups and books with the Dean and then she chatted with Jenn for a bit. I didn't get my feedback until later..but before she left she said "You look like you're made to teach Hannah." oh my goodness that made my heart happy!!!! I'll share her feedback later. Jenn then walked Dean Carroll downstairs to where she would be observing next and all my students turned to face me real quick...looking at me with the funniest expressions. They all started shouting asking "How did it go?" "Did you do good?!" "Do you still feel nervous?!" "Did you pass?" "How did we do?!" hahaha I couldn't help but laugh. I told them I think I did well and they were perfect as I knew they would be. They then asked if I could bring them cupcakes..I said absolutely not. They already have Halloween this week and they don't need more sugar. If it wasn't Halloween I would have brought them lots of cupcakes :)

Wednesday was the last day of teaching my theme lesson plan and it went great. Arguably the best day as the kids did a fabulous job analyzing Tale of Despereaux and figuring out the theme (and justifying it). I had them do "Line Ups" where students line up based on what theme they think applies to Tale of Despereaux and explain their reasoning. They did so well!! Except one of my very bright students was trying to be cute and say gibberish..that didn't fly over so well. Other than that..everything was great and I was very proud. That Wednesday evening Dean Carroll came to play volleyball with all of us. She was hilarious as she tried but would rarely succeed. She was a good sport about it..she told us she was a diver, not a volleyball player. After volleyball we all went to the pub for drinks and dinner, and to talk more about our experiences here and about school. She assured us there will be changes made to some of our classes which made us all very happy. She told us all we did a great job in our observations, and that the teaching profession looks bright thanks to us :) She is so sweet and supportive. When she left us that night we all felt a bit sad, but she did promise us a lunch date the week we get back (with Dr. Davis, our other supervisor). 

Thursday was Halloween and it was insane at the school. The kids had a sandwhich party for lunch and recieved more sugar than I thought possible. They got two kinds of cupcakes, oreos, ice cream sandwhiches, pudding, and then candy. Good grief!! Kim and I then spent the night with Jenn and had fun making margaritas and tacos and seeing adorable british trick or treaters. Friday was a teacher work day so Jenn offered to take me to sushi for a long lunch. I'm so lucky someone else here loves sushi like I do! ALSO:  a new trip has been planned!!! A few of us decided to plan a trip to Barcelona, Spain!! Actually it was Jenn's idea..she can be so smart sometimes. So me, Jenn, Kim, and Micaela are going to Barcelona the weekend before Thanksgiving while the other girls made their own plans. So excited!!!! 

So now our trip schedule looks like this:

November 9-11: Dublin, Ireland

November 16th: Birmingham Christmas Market

November 22-24: Barelona, Spain

November 27-30: Rome, Italy

November 30-31: London, England

Decemeber 7: Fly back home to Dallas!!

Can't believe only a few more weeks!! I already know I will be bawling when I have to leave my kiddos. I'll put up Dean Carroll's feedback soon!! 

And if you miss my beautiful face..here is a "teacher outfit" for you all :)

Always love love love