Weekly Log After 1st Week of Teaching

Name: Kate McCormick

Week: Jan. 25th

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
This week I mostly observed Mon-Wednesday, additionally noting her classroom management,
questioning and engagement strategies and completing the observation sheet. Erica also started discussing
lesson plans for the rest of the week, especially US History, which in the class that Ill take over first. As
classes did group work, which is fairly often in Ericas classes, I generally circulated around to talk
individually with students and offer support.
She had me look over an activity with primary documents regarding the cause of WWII and add questions
to some documents. This was useful to help me work on building one of my targeted skills, which is
asking interesting/higher level questions. Erica and I spent a little time doing the paperwork required
paperwork and discussion it entrails. I also attended staff development in the form of PLC meetings and
Wednesday Professional Development staff meeting.
On Thursday I had a big day: I led the 3rd period US History and the afternoon because Erica had a sub to
get to an appt. This included the 2nd half of 5th period, 7th period and 8th period.
I also spent time making my lesson plan for next week; it will be on Pearl Harbor and the Japanese
internment.
2.
What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
Working with Erica to plan is satisfying. I really enjoy her approach to teaching, the rapport I feel with
her, and all that Im learning from her. Collaborating can be frustrating but it feels really productive and
creative with her, which is an awesome and refreshing surprise.
Getting to teach/facilitate on Thursday was great. Ive missed teaching and the level of engagement I feel
when I teach is so complete; its an experience of flow for me (as evidenced by totally not hearing
announcements being made!). The kids here are super respectful so far and Im enjoying all the group
work on the chance to peek over shoulders and check in individually.
Most challenging for me is all the new names and all the new computer stuff to manage. Learning new
tech. things always feels overwhelming for me at first and then its usually so much easier. Right now
Im overwhelmed by all there is to learn to be functional in this 1 to 1 school and also to keep up with the
grading that will be required for 168 (ish) kids.
The new early schedule was also a challenge. Im still working on changing my bedtimes and rising
times. I got here right at 7:45 this week and would like to arrive earlier next week.
3.

What are the plans for the upcoming week?

Next week I will lead one US History class and support in the others (I assume/hope). Erica is open to
modeling in 2nd period and letting me lead 3rd. I like this idea, but want to make sure I have the lesson
plan to mentally prepare, not just jump into it after
I also will write plans for the following week/post-unit test. It is at this point that I will take over these
classes and I want to have (hopefully) 2 weeks planned. This may be ambitious but it feels necessary to
map out the whole unit.

I want to learn all students names for the 2 US History classes by the end of next week.

Weekly Log After 3rd Week of Teaching

Name: Kate McCormick

Week: Feb. 8th-12th

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
This week I mainly observed, planned and prepped materials well need for next week.
Monday
Monday we had a very late called 2 hour delay; they eventually switched to a snow day. I was already at
school and stayed from 7:30 to 12:30 working mostly on my first Sociology Unit. I copied the resources
that Erica shared with me from her Google Drive, made a list of what content/concepts/vocab the book
covered, made a list of ideas of things I wanted to work in and then used the three to plan the overview of
a 2-week unit. After I left DCG around lunch time I finally made my trip to Office Max to get a hole
punch and dividers so that I could get my exponentially increasing amount of papers into a more
manageable format.
Tuesday-Today I learned how to use Socrative (quizzing app), made questions for econ test, gathered materials for
my econ lesson, talked through/practiced my demo of comparative advantage with Erica, added vocab.
terms to the Soc Unit plan, and graded the sociology bellringers. I made the Quizlet for the upcoming
Cold War unit, which helped me get events and timeline organized in my year. I also looked through the
US History DBQs to figure out which ones to focus on in upcoming unit; these are the more in-depth &
higher level activity that will prepare students for the essay questions/meeting standards that are on the
test. Figured out I need to find another that addresses the second essay question better. Erica and I went
over her plans for tomorrow; shell be gone the whole day.
Wednesday-Erica was gone and I did all classes, though it was an early out day so each class was 25-29 minutes
instead of 43-46. Did a free market simulation in 3 econ classes, started group work on intro to culture
unit in Sociology, and continued work on the justification for using nuclear weapons DBQ. From 1:153:35 was staff meeting professional development, focused on questioning, wait time, changing end of the
year assessments.
Thursday-I taught 3 econ classes in which I did a simulation to teach the concepts of absolute advantage and
comparative advantage. This was followed by student/pair practice time and an exit car to check
comprehension. Also worked on lesson plans for upcoming week and had two panning periods, one with
Erica and one with the US History staff and instructional coach. In this meeting I suggested changing an
essay question, which they were receptive to. Erica also showed me how to add to her Google calendar,
as she needs to have 2 weeks up for parents to see. We also talked about emailing parents, as there are a
few that she emails every week. I started a list of the different organizational/reporting/administrative
things I need to make sure I remember to do on a weekly basis.
Friday--

Today I proctored (LAN schooled) two US History tests. I graded entered scores for US History and
Sociology tests. I did planning on my own and in collaboration with Erica in the two planning periods.
She asked me to do a lesson plan for sociology so that I can get in front of that class, since I havent really
been in a lead role in that class yet.
2.

What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?

Teaching the full day on Wednesday. It was the short periods for an early out day, so it was pretty
speedy, but was great nonetheless. It was positive with all classes, which was great to feel like that report
is there at this point, though I know it may change when I fully take on the classes.
The snow day on Monday was also really helpful for some quiet, focused organizing time. I got 2 weeks
of planning done. Laying out those lesson plans for the first two weeks that I teach Sociology should be
pretty straight-forward now that I have a clear idea of where the unit should go/cover and how Id like to
approach. Even though this is the last class Ill take on, it was good to get a jump start, especially as I
know Ill be extraordinarily busy with 5 classes, two preps by the time I take on this 3rd prep/final class.
Most challenging was Thursday in general. I had hardly gotten sleep and felt slow all day. Specifically, I
found the comparative advantage lesson frustrating, partly because many of the kids did not quite get it
and seemed grumpy and/or unengaged by the simulation. But also because I was less confident about the
and more sleep deprived (and thus way too easily confused) than was reasonable. Student engagement and
comprehension is really what Im going for and so when I feel like I miss this when I tried hard for it is
disappointing. Of course I keep trying to do this, but I know a thinker skin would help too.
3.

What are the plans for the upcoming week?

Since US History lesson plans are done for next week (and that is the class that Ive fully taken from
Erica), I plan to make as many lesson plans for US history, econ. and sociology as possible.
To be consistent and fair with expectations with students (around cell phones, accountability on work,
class participation).
To keep a positive tone, especially when things are not going as I planned or students are not as
receptive, engaged or enthusiastic as I hoped or planned for.
To think of at least three things I would change or experiment with the next time I teach a lesson.

Weekly Log After 6th Week of Teaching

Name: Kate McCormick

Week: Feb. 29th

How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
This week I mainly observed, planned and prepped materials well need for next week.
Monday I wrote up a whole thing and then had it disappear. That day we finished the Korean War in US
History. They presented (2nd period better than 3rd) and found it difficult. I learned its a great
assignment but that I need to give at least twice as much time for it. Had to rush through notes at the end
and Erica said it was way too fast (which is always my problem with lecture) I also did grading and US
History lesson plans that day.

Tuesday I worked on finalizing my Socialization plan (first day to do this class from now on.) It went
really well; they got more involved than I expected them to be the first day (Id expected some resistance
to a new/lesser teacher). But the content is interesting and they seemed to get into it; I think I was doing a
good job of making it accessible. I was pleased that 3 students came in during AO; three of which were
students who are failing and so it was great to see them come in. I also talked to one young man in the
hall that day (duh, duh, duh). Hes been purposely disrespectful/boundary pushing since I started. He was
adamant hes in the right but was better the next day, though it was also a super short/ race-like day.
Wednesday was an early out day so we rushed through short classes. I worked on wrapping up the Cuban
Missile Crisis and Erica told me that I did a much better job on pacing the lecture/info part. Glad for some
progress. Ive been doing better on wait times and holding students accountable. Also revised the
Socialization quiz in a big way--was really nice to be able to do this independently. Today I also sent
emails to my students and their parents who are failing US History and called one who did not have an
email. Glad to do this reaching out and how to meet these parents next week. I also had PLC meeting and
2.5hr professional development after school. We did the Marshmallow challenge, heard from the English
PLC and got some time to work.
Thursday was a busy day. 2nd and 3rd was wrapping up Cuban Missile crisis and a review game. During
AO I met with students who were wanting help studying for the test. 4th period I met with my co-teacher
and we made some corrections/alignment to the test and I met with the other US History teacher to do
more planning on upcoming lesson. 6th period I taught my socialization experiments lesson (you were
here) and it went quite well. The rest of this day/work periods, I working on SOciology lesson plans for
next week because ended up that I needed to overhaul it, meeting with Molly and Molly/Erica for my
review and grading, which went super well! At home I totally redid my Sociology plans for the next day
and coming week.
Friday went fast again. I swear time is speeding up. This was administering the US History test 2 periods,
prepping it and Sociology in the morning (since I changed plans for Soc I had extra to do this morning)
and 4th and 6th were reviewing grades on the test, entering them, getting them from IEP students,
analyzing % of correct and deciding to drop a question, and getting some sociology handouts from Erica
for next week up and ready. I also made my bellringers and learned how to post them on Google
classroom.
What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging experiences?
good mid-term evaluation
good test scores (on multiple choice; it will take me the weekend to see how the short answer
turned out)
What are the plans for the upcoming week?
need to focus on what came up in my mid term review (which I mostly already knew from Erica and
about myself). The highlighted ones are my focus as its a long list.

be more balanced in my self-criticism and self-congratulation

slow down in lecture/direct instruction
incorporate more checks for understanding/formative assessments
use proximity and move around the room
asking high level questions consistently
wait time
more application