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PEX Presentation

Object: I am going to create a rap video with my fifth grade team that my sister will shoot. I will write a rap based around my student teaching experience (things to remember, quotes, fun memories, what I learned, etc.). I will also have a select amount of students that will be in the video dancing. I also will create a running slideshow of pictures of the students from pictures throughout the semester that I have taken (from holidays, field trips, special days at school, during instruction, etc.).

Rationale: At the start of my student teaching, I was really unsure of how it was going to go. I knew that I was going to have the students be my number one priority for my teaching. However, I did not know that I would have so much fun with my cooperating teachers! I have been in other placements where I did not have as much communication or as much of a rapport with my mentor teachers. At Mesa Verde Elementary, though, I have found not only people to assist me in my craft but also lifelong friends. We honestly have too much fun sometimes! We always end up staying really late at the school talking and laughing while we are planning out lessons. I never thought that I would have has much fun working! It has made me realize just how fortunate I am to have the encouraging and fun team that I do. I have decided to create a rap video with my fifth grade team because they have supported me throughout every step of my student teaching experience. So, I want to feature them and have them star in a video where I talk about my student teaching experience.

I am also making a running slideshow of pictures because I have always just felt like my teaching is always about the students. I did not get into teaching for the money, for the content, or because my parents did it. I chose to teach because I want to make a difference in young people's lives. I love the kids, and that is why I enjoy teaching. I have around 50 students in total that I have for both classes, and I have gotten to know each one. I have created relationships with all of them, and I care about them. So, I want to show pictures and memories of my semester with them. I want this to portray my class and the family that we have created.

What I Need to Get Done:

Materials: Camera/phone (to take pictures of the students), video camera (for shooting the rap video), microphone (to record the rap song), computer (to edit the video, the song, and the slideshow), props for the video, and lyric sheets for the teachers.
What I need to do: Take pictures throughout the year to put in the slideshow. Write the rap song for the video explaining the experiences throughout this semester. Record the song on a microphone and edit the music together. Get all of the teachers together for one or a couple of days to film the music video with my sister. Then, spend time editing the footage on the computer.
- I have sent home a release form for the parents to sign for their students to allow their pictures to be taken and used for this presentation.
Project: Spend time getting the video planned out, with the lyrics for the rap and the video shot. Also, plan for the editing time and all of the effort of creating a video. Also, plan out a script for the PEX Presentation. Expand on the reasoning for the question you have to answer (who am I as a teacher), and plan out what you will say for the actual PEX (25 min long). Set up a slideshow video of the pictures from throughout the year.

Outline:

Beginning: Have the slideshow running at my station. Have the rap video pulled up on a different window to be able to start it quickly and efficiently on command.
- Start with introductions (be sure to introduce my teachers and guests).
- Talk about my decision on student teaching in Farmington and why I chose to student teach with Amy Dumas.
Discuss The Question: "Who am I as a teacher?" (Answer throughout PEX Presentation and be sure to answer it). Communicate how you felt at the beginning of the year.
- Apprehensive, not good enough, etc.
Experience at Mesa Verde Elementary: Share about the experiences that occurred throughout the year.
- Colleague Camaraderie
  - Spilling things constantly (Coffee spilling on papers story)
  - John scaring all of us (Show videos of John's scares)
  - Staying until 7pm to talk and finish work (John staying with me to plan)
  - Dumas and I sharing about our lives from day one
  - Going to the football game with Roberts
  - Friday lunch with the team
- Expectations
  - Setting them from day one
  - We are a FAMILY
  - Honesty
- Classes
  - Departmentalized (talk about the 2 different experiences: Dumas and Roberts)
  - Student behavior
    - Document, Document, Document!
  - Positive Relationships, but not friendships
    - Care, with high expectations
  - Math Vs. ELA
    - Math: Concrete
    - ELA: Abstract, so much more planning for completing Learning Goals
    - Both build upon itself
- Planning and Lessons
  - Always planning with the team (PLCs, staying after school, texts, etc.)
    - Science Stations
    - How to make a PB&J
    - Task Cards
    - Four Corners
    - Surgery Day
Closure: Explain how much your team and this school has impacted you in a positive way. Talk about the support you have received from the principal, other grade levels, and especially your fifth grade team
- What happens now: The plan is to stay in Farmington for a couple of years in order to get the funds to be able to teach abroad. Eventually, I want to end up in Colorado to start a family. However, we will see how everything goes from here.
Thank you: Thank the audience, guests, my friends, Fort Lewis College, the Dean, the Education Department, my cohort, my College Supervisor (Will Camp), Mesa Verde Elementary School, the Principal (Pam Schritter), the Fifth Grade Team (Amy Dumas, Jena Roberts, Daveena John, Mary Ellen Brokop), and my parents (Tim and Cindy Kienitz).

Process

1. My inquiry question is "Who am I as a teacher?"

2. I believe this question was chosen to research and discuss because many student teachers have to learn who they are as a teacher and find out during their student teaching about their teaching methods. It is a question that allows the student teacher to see the growth of who they are as a teacher during their experience this semester.

3. Timeline:

Work on the website
1. Finish the photos page and the lesson plan page (add lessons onto the lesson page and more photos of the year on the photos page)
2. Get all of the inquiry question done and researched before December 15th.
3. Complete the artifact before Dec. 15th.
4. Finish "What Needs To Be Done" up above.

State of Consideration: October

I have been really wanting to do a scrapbook or a yearbook for my PEX presentation. I was thinking that I can spend a day with the students where they can create a page for this scrapbook/yearbook about themselves and things that they have learned throughout the school year.

I was thinking of making this because I have always just felt like my teaching is always about the students. I did not get into teaching for the money, for the content, or because my parents did it. I chose to teach because I want to make a difference in young people's lives. I love the kids, and that is why I enjoy teaching. So, I was thinking of making my project centered around the students and around the year that I had with them. I have around 50 students in total that I have for both classes, and I have gotten to know each one already. I have created relationships with all of them, and I care about them. So, I also want them to share about who they are and their personality. I want this yearbook to portray my class and the family that we have created. I want that to show through the pages, because that is truly what my semester has been all about.

Currently, I just feel like the PEX is so ominous to me because I have so many ways that I can go with this project, which slightly scares me. I have a gut feeling that this project will creep up on me, and I still won't have a solid idea set yet. I think my yearbook idea is fun, and I think it can be done. I am just worried that not all of the students will be able to participate, because they need parental consent. I just have to make sure to get every student's parents/guardians to sign a photo release form, so that I can share photos and their name for my project. Hopefully, this idea will work out.

State of Consideration: November

Plans have changed. I have given out the forms to my students, and there was one student's parent that said no to allowing their child to have their photos in the presentation. So, I have decided that I am going to change up my presentation idea. I have now become stressed with the fact that I am changing ideas. However, I think this will be a fun project.

The idea came from on of my team members, Ms. John. She made a joke about doing a rap video for my PEX Presentation and laughed about it. However, I remember saying "Wait, that's actually a good idea!". I then decided to think it over. So, I have now been working on this. Over break, I have been filming with the help of my sister and the other teachers at Mesa Verde Elementary. Now as I move forward, I need to get more shots in December, and I have to edit the video together. I am worried about how busy December will be and how stressed I will be. However, I am excited about this project and how much fun I have been having already!

State of Consideration: December

This month has been crazy already! It has been a ton of work and prep for the PEX Presentation. I have been filming a bunch with the students and teachers. I also have been working on my script and inviting my coworkers to PEX. It is really starting to get real! I am both excited and nervous of everything that is happening right now! And now, I am heading to my first position as a teacher! So, all of the work is starting to get really hard to juggle. It will work out though, and everything will get done. I have to make sure to edit my video to completion and finish up my script. Also, I will need to gather anything else that I will need for my Professional Exhibition. Then, on to the presentation and the final destination of graduation! Yay!!!!

PEX Rap Video Plans

Intro:

*Opens with a shot of the school, hallway, then Ms. John and I in her classroom

John: So, what are you going to do for you PEX presentation? You know that is coming up, and you need to figure that out!

Kienitz: Umm… well I just have so many ideas, I just have no idea what to do!

John: Ashley! You’ve got to come up with something! You only have a couple more weeks!

Kienitz: I know, I know! It’s just so hard to choose!

John: What are you doing!

Kienitz: Well, I do have one idea…

*Kienitz gets a thoughtful look on her face (zoom in), and then the shot pans up and transitions to a dream/thought (leads into the video)

Rap Portion

*Transitions to the rap portion of the video. Title of the song in the shot

*Music starts

*Shots of the school (basketball hoop, slow motion dribbling, swings swinging in the wind, grass waving in the wind with the school in the background, school supplies, etc.)

*Shot quickly shifts to just me rapping the first verse

*Throughout the verse, there are shots of the different teachers dancing/being cool throughout different areas in the school

*Also, could have shots of students playing outside, dancing, etc.

Verse 1:

Students, books, start of the year

Students are ready to work with their peers

Math, SWBAT, kick into gear

Learning is fun, so everybody cheer!

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 2:

Pencils, scissors, folders for you

Lessons all about place value

Models, expressions, journals to glue

Time to learn something new!

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 3:

Coffee and sugar is my fuel

Late nights to plan for school

Fun with my team while sitting in stools

Let’s make learning cool!

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 4:

Take over every core subject

I ask for honesty and respect

Grading all work with red checks

ELA is coming up next!

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 5:

Reading, writing, tests to complete

Simple and complex goals to meet

Document, document, everything

So that the students can reach great feats

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 6:

Observations, planning, printing each day

During recess time while they play

Getting them ready for informative essays

I’m almost done and wish I could stay

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 7:

Fun with my mentors and fifth grade team

Being with them always makes me beam

I was nervous but they boost my esteem

Working with them has been such a dream

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Verse 8:

I am almost finished with this song

This experience I will remember my lifelong

I learned through this that I am strong

I am a teacher and in school is where I belong

Chorus:

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

Fifth grade!

Fifth grade learning!

—Spill something at some point—

Closure

John: Ashley? Ashley!

Kienitz: Huh? What?

John: What's your idea?

Kienitz: I was thinking a rap video!

John: Really? That's dumb.