Cindy+Junge+Portfolio



Lesson plans



#|Writing pieces from class time:

#|writing piece 6/25 - A memorable moment from the #|school year. This year I had the opportunity to host a #|student teacher in my 2nd grade classroom. I have had numerous #|student teachers before because I hardly ever turn down the opportunity. I will explain why later. Invariably new #|teachers always say the first thing that I said when I first began my #|teaching career. "The college classroom does not prepare you for the 2nd grade classroom". How true! It is very satisfying to watch young adults take their first eager steps toward "saving the world". This year's candidate was no different and he jumped into the work with both feet. I teach for the science coalition after school, he stayed. I taught extra time math to our 4th graders, he stayed. I tried holding monthly parent meetings this year at night, he stayed. His persistence paid off when my neighbor unfortunately was in a #|motorcycle accident. This happened in September and she was out all year for this accident. There were two long term subs hired but neither one was working out very well. As my #|student teacher neared his solo two weeks in the classroom, my principal approached me and asked if I thought he could handle the position next door if she cleared it with the college. What a wonderful opportunity for him! Needless to say, he finished out the year and is doing #|summer school. This was a wonderful opportunity for him and he will be more prepared as he begins to interview for his next position. It is very rewarding to see someone that you work with get an opportunity and make the most of it. Now, back to why I hardly ever turn down a [[#|student]]]] teacher. My experience with my cooperating teacher was so horrible that I do not want any new teacher to have to go through that! I still wonder why she took on a student teacher. I did learn lots of things that I will never do in my classroom though so I guess that was helpful. I always try to make it a positive experience and guide a new teacher the best that I can. This way I am reaching my students and, in a way, their future students as well.

#|writing piece 6/27

I chose to write about my dog Allie. Two years ago, when my husband, my brother, our dog, and my brother's dog all went on #|vacation in Florida our daughter came by the house to take care of our cat. She lived at the time in a #|townhouse not far from us. We have always had animals for as long as I can remember and my two girls have never not had at least one cat or dog in the house. Well, my daughter decided to go to the S.P.C.A. during this week and look for a #|small dog to keep her company. Of course, she got to the S.P.C.A. and fell in love with a lab! She was very scrawny with a big head - we had no idea how big she would get. At home we had a daschund - #|standard size but still small, and two cats. Now, my husband and everyone else in our families are dog people. I am a cat person. Dogs are okay, but they can be annoying and need more work than cats do. Anyway, back to the story....my daughter sometimes had to work double shifts and lived in a #|townhouse with no fenced in yard. She would sometimes ask us to "babysit" her dog since we have a fenced yard and a #|concrete pool that she can swim in. At first, I felt a little put out and not too happy with our daughter. We had now discovered that Allie was in fact a yellow lab and she grew quite a bit from her S.P.C.A. days. To make a long story short, Allie stays with us now and my daughter knows that she will never get her back. She is the most fantastic pet and I don't know what I would do without her. I am very grateful that my daughter picked her out of the S.P.C.A. and I can't believe how much I enjoy having her around. We just had to put our daschund down last week and that was very tough. Allie has made it easier at home though. She has really changed me from a cat person into a cat and dog person which is something I never thought I would say.

7/1 3 things I learned last week:

What a socratic seminar is - I think I can use this in my lit. circle groups this year. That other teachers feel the same way I do about writing More ideas for "real world" writing such as those in the book; ie "What is the perfect_", and " My Favorite Words"

2 things I already do in my classroom:

Sentence starters Ask my students to think critically in math, so I think I can start to slide that over into other subjects as well

1 thing I plan to do next year:

Add nonfiction #|writing to my science units. I already include lots of nonfiction text but never thought about adding writing. (of course we will have to see how my unit goes)

7/1 Amazon product review:

My students could have the assignment of looking for a new habitat for our classroom pet, Alvin. I would model with this example

The Super Pet #|Critter Trail Extreme provides hours of fun for your furry companions! They have trails to scurry over, wheels to exercize in, places to curl up in, and lots of space to roam. You will be able to watch them as they play and sleep. Make sure you purchase the carefree bedding suggested so that your habitat will always be "fresh" and tidy. What a great price for a kit that comes with everything you need! (no pets included)

7/1 Television commercial- Space Babies- Kia
 * **Imagery** || **Print Words** ||
 * space || Kia ||
 * planets || wheels on the bus ||
 * babies || it has an answer for everything ||
 * rockets ||  ||
 * animals ||  ||
 * **Spoken Words** || **Music** ||
 * All systems go || Wheels on the Bus ||
 * Where do babies come from? || nature sounds ||
 * All systems go || Wheels on the Bus ||
 * Where do babies come from? || nature sounds ||

7/2

Letter to principal Highlight what we have been talking about in class. I want to let them know that we have been using the CCSS in writing to make sure that our curriculum covers what is needed. This is going to be important for our students as writing is added back to the state test in 2104. I have some ideas for fitting nonfiction writing into the day for our elementary classes. As the science EPER and an instructor I can also spread the information in my science classes. I am going to have a student teacher this year so that may free me up to visit some other classrooms and share ideas.

7/2 Salvador Dali painting: 1st look: water, dead trees, swans, shell, monkey face 2nd look: elephants, clouds, blue sky, rocky ground 3rd viewing: swans are reflecting as elephants in the water, artist is pictured in the painting (where I thought the monkey face was) This would be a great activity to do in 3rd grade to have the students look for details. Hopefully we could make the connection that our writing needs to have details as well.

7/2 #|Philosophic chairs: 6th grade and 4th grade- Things they had in common were: students came to both sessions prepared to discuss their opinions. They had obviously learned about the topic already and had decided on a "side" Both groups had to be respectful of other opinions, they were listening and taking turns speaking All students got a chance to state their opinions and reasons Could have been taught during any subject forced students to give a reason behind opinion rather than just stating Could change "sides" if they wanted to

How I could use this: I think it would be a good tool for showing how providing reasons makes a stronger case for your opinion Not sure how I would fit into day because it obviously takes a lot of work and prep time. Would be awesome to showcase at a parent's night

7/3 Found #|Poem from a news story: COUP IN EGYPT President and military swore fight to death Long live Egypt and its proud people Army took control of state television Egyptians frustrated by struggling economy Obama administration has encouraged Morsi to listen to his people Opposition Dustour party- means constitution Crisis could have a significant effect on global economy