Blog Post #8

The most important thing I have probably learned from doing fieldwork observation is to have fun with it!  Don't forget to see the student as an individual.  It is easy to get caught up in making lesson plans, grading papers, and filling out paper work, but the most important aspect of the job is to pay attention to your students.  Don't forget to see past all the other things and focus on their needs having fun with them!  I worked with some students on math and reading and it was fun to get down on the floor and be at their level and listen to them. Learning doesn't have to be serious all the time. 

Teachers need to be flexible and take time to enjoy the milestones their students make.  It is easy to worry about testing scores, but that should be such a small part of it.  Yes, it is good to have a routine and structure, but sometimes lessons take longer, or things just don't go as planned and that's okay.  Keeping this perspective is what makes teaching rewarding and fun.

Blog Post #7

What are the school rules/classroom rules and how are they enforced?

In the first grade classroom I observed, the rules were pretty simple.  Raise your hand.  No talking when the teacher is talking.  No running in the halls.  Use good manners.  In the fourth grade classroom I observed, the teacher had the students come up with the rules.  They were things like "no sass," "use good manners," and "respect others."  This held the students more accountable because they needed to keep the rules they made.

The teachers reinforced the rules with a clip chart.  The chart would have square you move up or down.  At the top would be "ready to learn" then below that would be "warning" and below that "time out" and finally "note home".  The good thing about this clip chart was a student can improve his behavior and move up.  If students were talking teachers would say attention phrases like, "I can wait" or "Hands and eyes".  The fourth grade class I was in also worked towards a class party.  Tables would get points for being ready and for listening.  

Blog #6

Q: What strategies does the teacher use to actively engage the students?  How effective are these?

I have noticed in the first grade the teacher tries to use as many objects as possible to have the students be hands on.  While doing math, the teacher uses objects to count, block 10 charts, and white boards.  Even the upper grades have small white boards for every student so they can be writing and practicing a problem.  I think the white boards are pretty effective.  Kids like to be the one to write, not just the teacher.  The white boards seem more fun than a pencil and paper because it's different and it's something they see their teacher use.  The first grade teacher also moves the students around so they aren't sitting in the same position for very long.  They can break out into pairs and sit anywhere in the classroom and work on an assignment, or they move to the rug for further instruction.  This helps those antsy little bodies keep from getting bored!  In fifth grade they talk in pairs or go up to the white board to demonstrate an answer.  This also gets them moving and keeps them from doing the same thing for too long.  The teachers also use phrases such as, "eyes and hands," which means the students need to be looking at the teacher and have their hands folded so they aren't playing with anything.  This helps the students to focus. 

Blog Post #5

Q: What do you think the most important role a teacher plays and why?

I think the most important role a teacher can play is that of a coach.  Yes, kids need an educator and a good coach teaches them what they need to know.  However, a good coach is also there loving, supporting, and urging their student on.  It is important to remember kids come from all sorts of different backgrounds.  Some of their life at home is not very good.  Sometimes all kids need is someone to show them positive attention and cheer them on.  Kids won't remember what you've said, but they will remember how you made them feel.  It is sad but true, in some kids' life, you are the only positive they see.  As a coach, you need to be there to build them up and give them hope.

How many of us remember "that one" teacher who was just awesome and made us feel good about ourselves?  How long ago were you in that class but can still remember anyway?  How many of us remember that one "bad" teacher who made us feel worthless?  How long did that stick with us?  That is why being a "coach" is so important.  Sometimes all is takes is a little confidence building and cheering on to completely change a kid's life.  Sadly, all it takes is one teacher who belittles their student or is harsh to tear down a kid's life. 

Yes, a teacher needs to teach.  I think a good teacher looks beyond just reading, writing, and arithmetic, and teaches character, love, and self-confidence as well.  A little coaching in the right direction can go a long way.

Blog Entry #4

Some of the clerical duties I have done are grading and filling out parent/teacher conference times.  One day while volunteering in the fifth grade, I graded a test on vocabulary and comprehension.  I had to add up their score and record it.  I understand being a teacher doesn't just involve teaching, but lots and lots of grading!  In the past, I have graded spelling test, timed math tests, and vocabulary tests. 

When it is test time, the students have folders they stand on their desks to prevent cheating.  Those kids who need extra help sometimes have few problems to do.  In first and third grade I saw how some kids who were behind a little had fewer spelling words to do.  The teacher graded them at their level more.  In the fifth grade classroom I volunteer in, the teacher has them take timed math tests to keep their math skills up.  They are timed for 10 minutes and try to complete as many tests as they can.  The teacher keeps a record of what tests they passed so the student know which test to start with.  This particular teacher has a parent volunteer help with grading all those tests!

What modifications for learners who are exceptional do you see?

The past few weeks I have been helping and observing in the fifth grade. During the time I am there, the fifth graders are being taught math.  One particular student is a little slower than the other students and goes to a Resource Teacher who helps him with his math.  He is gone while the other kids work through their normal lesson.  In Resource, he his with just two-three other kids who have the same need. 

On the day I was helping in his classroom and he missed his Resource Time.  I had the opportunity to take him in an empty room and help him one-one-one with his homework while the other students did their assignment.  I was surprised to see how much he knew.  What he lacked was motivation to get his assignment done.  With a little prodding, and much positive feedback, he was able to complete some of his assignment during the allotted time. 

I think he has an IEP and part of the plan is to send him to Resource and give him less homework.  Anytime the teacher has available for one-on-one help, the teacher will try to guide this student through his work.  He still is a part of the class and has access to the "normal" classroom environment, he just gets a little more leeway in homework and gets more help. 

Working with Small Groups

I have had the opportunity to work with small groups in first grade.  I help those students who are struggling in math or reading.  I have noticed the attention span of the first graders are limited!  Using flashcards to help with site words does not work so well.  I think appealing to the kinesthtic aspect of learning would be better.  I found a neat website that teaches site words by singing and doing actions.  I shared my findings with the teacher and they ordered the DVD!  I also think my afternoon the kids are tired and can't sit still for very long.  I found when I worked with the kids one-on-one, their attention span was better and I could make the lesson a little more fun.

I got to use some plastic 10-frames for math help.  I think the kids liked this because they could touch and see what they were doing to make 10.  I found it helpful to use different manipulatives when practicing with counting.  The students got bored with just one set of something to count. I also found students to be more competitive with the other students in the group.  One-on-one teaching is so effective.  I think it is important for the lower grades to have grown-up volunteers or paid teacher's aids to help in the classroom so if one student isn't understanding a concept, they can have one-on-one help and attention. 

Tales from the Fourth Grade....Sept 2, 2014

Today I helped in my daughter's fourth grade classroom.  When I walked in, the teacher, Mrs. Wilson was finishing reading aloud to the students.  What I thought was interesting was that while she was reading, students had little white boards on their desks for them to doodle on.  I thought this was a good classroom management skill because some kids have a hard time sitting still and if they can do something that doesn't take a lot of thought, like doodling, they can actually listen better.  After reading, it was math time.  I helped a few students go over rounding while the rest of the class played a math game.  The game was set up like Jeopardy, but with math questions.  The class was divided into two teams, but everyone still had to figure out the problem on their white board.  I helped walk around and make sure all students were participating and also helped those who were stuck.  It was good because they were still able to review for their upcoming test, but do it in a fun way.  If the class got too noisy, Mrs. Wilson would say things like, "if you are listening, touch your nose"or something similar.  She would also say, "I like the way Madison is listening" to get the attention of the class in a positive way.