Student Teaching Weekly Log

Directions: Answer these questions each week and email them to your student teaching
supervisor by Sunday evening.
Name: Emily Prier

Week 10: November 7-11

1. How did you spend your time this week? What responsibilities did you have?
--This week I continued full time teaching in English I and English II. In the English I
classes, we read our last couple of short stories, and we did a fun lesson on voice. At the
end of the week, students took a quiz over literary terms, and then they began pre-writing
for their personal narratives. In English II, we continued working on the students
argumentative research papers. Students had time to read and annotate their articles, and
then we did practice with writing claims and reasons and supporting those reasons with
evidence by doing topic talks. To end the week, we reviewed effective lead ins, and
students had to complete a graphic organizer in which they identified their claims,
reasons, and two pieces of evidence for each reason. This helped them organize their
thoughts and their argument.
2. What were your most satisfying experiences? What were your most challenging
experiences?
--My most satisfying experiences were seeing my voice lesson do well and helping one of
my students one-on-one. I did a lesson on Voice in which students read short excerpts
from two different characters (labeled character 1 and character 2). They then had to use
those excerpts to determine characteristics of the character (age, personality, etc.). Once
we had discussed how voice could reveal character traits, the class was split in half, and
one side of the room had to write a story acting as character 1 and the other half of the
class had to write a story acting as character 2. Then we shared, and the students did
really well with it. I have also been working closely with one of my students when he
comes in to English tutor every other day. He has been completing missing assignments,
and I helped him study for a quiz we took on Thursday. I glanced over his quiz, and it
looks like he did well which is a great feeling.
--My most challenging experiences were trying to avoid being frustrated and maintaining
confidence. I have been getting very frustrated lately with my students acting like they
have no idea what theyre supposed to be doing after I have explained it several times.
Its the constant battle of trying to get them to pay attention. I am also struggling a bit
right now with confidence because we are in the writing process, and I have less control
now. I have talked with Emily about this, and she says she often feels this way too. I am
going to incorporate mini lessons at the beginning of class to give them some guidance,
but once they begin writing, I can no longer be in controlI have to let them spread their
wings and fly.
3. What are the plans for the upcoming week?
--Next week in English I, students will continue working on their personal narratives. We
will be workshopping their drafts, working to improve on their beginnings, middles, and
ends, as well as improving their voice and grammatical aspects. I am hoping to
incorporate a new peer revision strategy. They will submit these papers on Friday. In
English II, students will continue working to lead in and analyze their 6 quotes. When
they have finished these aspects, they will begin putting the information into paragraphs

to start forming their paper. Along the way, we will review good examples of analysis,
transitions, introductions, conclusions, and counterclaims/rebuttals. They will submit
their papers the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.