Journals
Students will write reflections on the issues, concerns and celebrations of their student teaching semester experience, using one of the format options (see files below) as general model. Their supervisor may also prefer a specific format and may ask the ST to use it.
Student teachers are required to complete at least three journal entries, approximately one page in length each, for every week of student teaching, starting with the first week of student teaching. After about a month, as student teachers are taking on more responsibility in the classroom, they can shift to writing two entries per week.
Students are encouraged to choose a specific moment, interaction, observation, etc. on which to focus in each journal entry rather than trying to reflect on the whole day, or even a whole lesson. We've found this encourages more in-depth reflection.
During the week after the mid-semester conference, one of these three entries will be a reflection on the conference.
Student teachers are not expected to journal during the solo week. Instead, they will write one page of notes each day. (One possible format: What did the class complete? What did the class not get a chance to finish? What aspects of my teaching need revision and how do I know? What did I learn about my teaching presence? They will then write a two to three page reflection on their solo week after the week is over.
Students may receive other specific journal prompts from their supervisors.
If the solo week extends for more than one week, students and supervisors may adjust the requirements accordingly.
Students are expected to write clearly, with attention to grammar, usage and mechanics. These are due to supervisors at a consistent time/day to be arranged with supervisors. Supervisors will provide weekly written feedback on journals; students are expected to read this feedback and incorporate it in further journal entries when relevant.