* Permission granted by student's guardians to publish photos.

Rosebank Elementary School, Chula Vista

Student Teaching | Rosebank Elementary School | Kindergarten

Lesson: Marshmallow and Toothpick Shapes

During this lesson we used marshmallows and toothpicks to create squares, triangles, rectangles, prisms, and cubes. Student's then had the opportunity to come up with their own creative shapes. This exercise was interspersed with partner talk during which students would explain how many vertices and sides or edges their shape had. Students saved the marshmellow / toothpic shapes and were able to take them home and show their parents later that day.

Rosebank Elementary School, Chula Vista

Student Teaching | Rosebank Elementary School | Kindergarten

Lesson: M&M Math

During this lesson students used concrete objects to discover the answers to addition and subtraction problems. They then created number sentences for these problems and arranged their objects into a pattern, number, or shape which they presented to the rest of the class.

The Artsbridge Program

UC San Diego Artsbridge Program | Rosebank Elementary School | Kindergarten

Lesson: Hip Hop Dance Improvisation

During this lesson students created a Hip Hop Rectangle and took turns going into the middle to improvise. After a student was finished improvising, we all gave a thumbs up to demonstrate respect for their dance thinking. Connections were made across content areas with special attention paid to math vocabulary. Words such as "perimeter" and "vertex" were used on a daily basis and became part of student’s everyday vocabulary.

The Artsbridge Program

UC San Diego Artsbridge Program | Rosebank Elementary School | Kindergarten

Lesson: Dance Rehearsal

During this lesson students were in the process of learning a Hip Hop Dance that was performed at the end of the year for family, friends, and school staff. We focused on theatre and dance vocabulary from the California State Standards: Artist, Dance, Hop, Jump, Unison, Improvisation, Stage Right, Stage Left, Down Stage, Up Stage, Center Stage.

Jackson (now Fay) Elementary School, San Diego

Student Teaching | Jackson Elementary School | 2nd Grade

Lesson: Language Arts

To prepare for weekly Reader’s Theatre performances students met on a daily basis to rehearse their script. Emphasis was placed on speaking with a clear and strong voice, remembering blocking, and the use of props. Student were encouraged to take their scripts home to practice as well as read them during Independent Reading time.

Memoirs of a year student teaching

This video was a final reflective project about my experiences student teaching and incorporating dance into Kindergarten and 2nd grade curriculum.