Content:

On March 18, 2008 I went to Mabel Elementary School on a protected work day. My cooperating teacher and I spent hours of planning for the next four weeks. In addition, I was given resources that can be used to help enhance student learning in my classroom.

Impact:

This workday helped me plan four weeks of lessons for every content area we study. I have discussed with my teacher the lessons I have chosen and what the outcomes she received after she taught them. As a student teacher, this helps me become more aware of my student's learning styles and what lessons might fit their needs. Furthermore, my teacher introduced me to a variety of resources that will help my students understand certain concepts.

Alignment:

Attending school on a workday helped me to meet the following NC Standards for Teaching:

Standard 16: Elementary teachers develop as leaders in their schools and communities by staying informed about educational policy issues and supporting professional development. Elementary teachers participate in co-curricular activities, provide leadership in student and curriculum involvement, and connect these activities to the development of citizenship ideals in their students.

Indicator 4 - Teachers participate in the selection of textbooks and resources materials that augment the elementary curriculum such as atlases, maps, children's literature, and software.

    -- I have met this indicator by planning with my cooperating teacher. Together we narrowed down two class sets of children's literature that will be used in an unit on Endangered Animals. I also was able to select which science materials I wanted to use when teaching an unit on Matter. I chose to use a science kit that included a manual along with materials that can be used for over 17 hands-on experiments.

Indicator 9 - Teachers understand the importance of collaborating with colleagues to strengthen content, research, and pedagogy as well as with the community to provide quality instruction that meets state competencies.

    -- I now understand the importance of collaborating with colleagues when attending a teacher workday. Planning with my cooperating teacher has helped me tremendously. The lessons and ideas that I gained all meet state goals and standards.

Indicator 10 - Teachers advocate for the rights and welfare of their students by involving appropriate school and community human resources in meeting the needs of each student.

    -- This workday helped me find resources within Mabel Elementary that can be used to meet the needs of my students. I understand that a majority of my students benefit from hands-on manipulatives. Hence, I have found ways to incorporate these manipulatives in most of the lessons I will be teaching.