May 20, 2010

This was my last time to go to the middle school. It was kinda sad and I think I'm going to miss our trips over there. I really enjoyed watching how classrooms are run and seeing first hand the way students respond to different activities. Throughout my time visiting both the middle school and elementary school I have learned that I don't have the patience for younger students. I have figured out that I would like to pursue an education in education and have an impact on many students. This class has given me great experience of what it is like to be in a class and has made me feel prepared for being in a class myself. I can not wait to graduate and continue on my path toward becoming a teacher.

May 5, 2011

Yesterday I was not able to go the the middle school. Instead, I had to take an AP test. It was testing me on how well I knew English Literature. The grading scale for AP tests is a lot different from normal tests. It is graded one through five, five being the best score. The AP test included two sections. The first was multiple choice and we had one hour to read excerpts and answer analytical questions about them. Then we got a ten minute break. We came back for the two hour second part where we were given three prompts and had to write three well written essays. These sections are graded separately and the scores are added together. This test will help gain college credit for you depending on the college you are going to and the score you get. The purpose of taking these more rigorous courses and sitting through hours of testing is to acquire as much college credit as you can in order to place out of classes therefore reducing the cost of college.

April 21, 2011

Last Thursday I was only able to be in the classroom for half an hour because I had to come back to my own school to register for the AP tests I am taking this year. Therefore, I was only there long enough to watch them grade their homework and help with that. But I do remember from a couple of months ago, the teacher assigned a project as an alternative assessment for them. This project consisted of writing their names in hieroglyphs. They were graded on the accuracy of their interpretations of the glyphs and how creative they could make their posters. Although not a huge project this gave the students an alternative to taking a test and were able to use their imaginations and creativity. I enjoyed looking at all the different ideas they came up with the next time I went.

April 14, 2011

Each day I go to the middle school is a new experience and I learn something new. Yesterday, the students worked on vocabulary words. They basically copied down definitions. This was good for them to learn what all the words mean, however the students were not very focused. It shocked me how much these students just don't care about there work. I worked with one student in particular and the only way he did his work was if I was sitting right there next to him showing him what to write. It was the only way I could keep him focused. This is the new unit they are starting as they took a test last Thursday. They will held accountable for the vocabulary words they learned yesterday and will be assessed on how well they know them. There are different ways to asses a students knowledge. The most common way to asses a students knowledge is to give them a test. This shows a teacher what all the student has learned.

April 7, 2011

When I went to the middle school yesterday they had a test planned. The test was over Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The teacher said I could just walk around and help students where needed, just you can't give them the answers. I noticed one boy,that she had told me previously is a little slow, was not really working and hadn't gotten very far. So I sat down with him and just read each question for him and he answered them. It seemed like he knew the information but just needed a little help to focus or read the questions. I was really happy I could help him and hope that me reading him the questions helped him to understand and do better than he would have originally. Also there was a new teacher in there today. She is the permanent sub for the special education teacher that retired last week. She seemed really nice. I can't wait until next week when I get to help again.

March 31, 2011

I still enjoy helping at the middle school. It has been a joy to see the way a middle school class runs. The students finished filling out the charts they had made in days previous. Then they studied for a quiz they were about to have. While they were studying I worked with a couple of them helping them to study. This gave me a chance to have some personal interaction with the students. One thing that has become apparent to me through watching this class is how many students don't care about the class and are disrespectful to the teacher and disrupting the class. These students need set structure from the beginning of the school year so they know that there are rules that must be followed. When it comes to students who have special needs there is a second teacher in the classroom who specializes in this. She works specifically with those designated students and modify there tests and quizzes to fit their abilities. However, this teacher retired yesterday for family reasons. This means that the main teacher will have to modify her normal procedures to cover the other teachers duties as well.

March 24, 2011

It felt like I hadn't been back too that class in forever, but at the same time like I'm there all the time. I got to work with a group of students out in the hall yesterday. We read through the article and then went through and answered all the questions. They all put effort into the work and it was cool to work with them personally. Each time I go there the teacher gives me bigger things to help with. This week we talked about teaching methods, what teachers should and should not do. One thing they shouldn't do is grade on a curve. It is not fair for all the students. Rather teachers should grade by percentages and how acurate each individual student is. We talked about facts, concepts, thinking and problem solving, and physical and manipulative skills. We discussed the methods of direct and indirect teaching and the positive and negative sides to both. Another thing we talked about is how teachers should give tests not for the grade but to make sure the students understand the information.

March 10, 2011

Yesterday at the middle school the kids took a CPQ. This means there wasn't really a lesson or objective. However, I thought of an objective that could work. Given a CPQ the student will demonstrate their knowledge of reading maps and charts and recalling facts about religion by answering the questions to the best of their knowledge with 85% accuracy. The class consisted of reviewing for this CPQ then going ahead and taking the CPQ. While they took this quiz I graded their homework. It was actually kinda fun. It was interesting to see which students tried on their homework and who didn't really care. A major difference I've seen between elementary and middle school is in middle school the students are very vocal and have opinions. In elementary school they seem to go more along with whatever the teacher says.

Feburary 24, 2011

While at the middle school yesterday I was more involved in the class. It was a lot of fun. Towards the end of class the teacher seperated the kids into three goups. One of those groups I got to lead. I worked through the worksheet with them and helped them to understand what they were doing. This helped me to interact with them individually. I enjoyed listening to them speak their opinions on the subject they were learning.

Feburary 10, 2011

1. Yesterday I went back to the middle school to help in the history class. While I was there I was able to witness an observation. One of the principals came to observe the teacher while she taught. This made one of the teachers very nervous and flustered. But I thought she did a good job. Another thing I noticed was a procedure that the head teacher uses to silence the class. When the students were talking to much and she wanted their attention, she would raise her hand and say, "When the hand goes up, the mouth stays shut." This was very affective as it made all the students be quiet and pay attention.

2. The new tardy policy that was put in place on Wednesday has its drawbacks, such as students missing their classes. However, with this policy only being in place for a three days it is already showing its effectiveness. Students are arriving promptly to class for fear of going to ISS. Also, with the addition of an ISS to the students record they would not be able to exempt finals this semester. This provides great motivation for students to not be tardy. Although I do think it would be to the administrations advantage to allow for viable excuses from students who are not usually tardy as there are some situations that are unavoidable and it is a huge inconvenience to miss class especially when they are AP classes.

Feburary 3, 2011

I was not able to go to my class last Thursday, but I do remember some of the procedures the teacher has in place. When the students first enter the room they are supposed to get there homework out. After the teacher collects all the homework the students write in their planner if there is a test and the teacher goes around and circles it and adds her initials. This means the students must get their parents initials to show that the parents are aware that their child has a test coming up. Then the teacher has the class as normal discussing whatever topic they are on. Also sometimes at the end of the class she will give each student a question and they must turn in this slip with the correct answer be fore they can leave class. This helps to make sure the student is paying attention to the lecture and learning the needed material. The way she allows them to get a book is she has a different continent name for each table and when she calls that name, that table may go grab a book from the shelf. I'm sure there are many more procedures but that is all I remember. Another procedure she might have is how they may go to the bathroom.

January 27, 2011

Yesterday was my second time at the middle school helping with the history class. This time I got to stay the whole time so I was able to see the whole first period and part of third. They have odd and even days, alternating each day so one week I see first and third the next I see second and fourth. It is interesting to see the different classes and how with different students in each class it creates a unique environment. Also there was a sub for the co teacher in the class so I got a different perspective on how a teachers teach. I'm starting to see how each child learns in their own way and the teacher must conform to help each student. I also noticed that it helps to bring in other sources, for example the teacher had them read an article from a certain educational magazine. She read out loud stopping periodically to include the students in discussions. I am definitely starting to see the classroom from a teachers perspective.

January 20, 2011

Part 1
The other day in class Mr Fernandez came and talked to us about safety procedures in schools. He told about how every single student has to be accounted for. We got a real live experience with this yesterday. During a senior assembly the fire alarm went off. The whole senior class plus some were all in the auditorium. This caused it to be difficult for everyone to get out of the auditorium in a speedy manner. When we all did get out of the auditorium there was no way to organize us to make sure no one was missing. Students were just hanging around talking with friends waiting until we could go back inside. I have know idea how the teachers and faculty accounted for all of us.

Part 2
The speaker during the assembly was Tony, one of the guys the movie Freedom Writers was based on. He was in that class and had his own hard story. He told us about everything he went through and all the stereotyping that took place. However, he overcame his difficulties and now speaks to others encouraging them to push past stereotypes and everyone telling them they can't. Stereotyping is something everyone does. It is almost like an automatic thought for people and most don't realize they do it. In high school there are many of stereotypes, for example: dumb jocks or uncool smart kids. Overall stereotypes are not good. People must learn that stereotypes do not define them. They can be whoever they want all they have to do is work at it.

January 13, 2011

Thursday was our first day to go back to our classes. I was moved to middle school to help in a history class. However, I was unable to go to that class yesterday because the teacher was not there and had a substitute. So instead I went with the majority of the class to the elemenatry school and made sure everyone knew where to go. I ended up hanging out in the library reading. While I was in there I saw a few classes come in to check out new books. It was cool to see there excitment in finding books to read. There was also a class who came in the library to type up a report of some kind on Mac books. This integration of technology into classwork gives students a great experience. While I enjoyed reading in the library, I am extremely excited to begin with the middle school history class!

Christmas Lesson Plan

Yesterday at the elementary school was the best experience ever. I enjoyed teaching them a lesson so much, it was amazing. When I got there the teacher let me get started right away. The kids were already sitting on the carpet so I joined them and read to them, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. They sat very attentively during the whole story and seemed to like the book. When I finished the story one of the little boys mentioned how it ended, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!" which was the same way the other book they had read in class ended. The teacher and I told them that most Christmas stories end that way. After that I explain what I wanted them to do next, write their own story about a reindeer. I gave them an example of a story I wrote then sent them to their desks to get started. I walked around during this time helping the kids decide what they wanted their stories to be about. I loved seeing their creative side and the things they came up with. One little boy had a bad reindeer who wasn't allowed to pull Santa's sleigh. Another boy who is a little slower than the others was having a hard time getting started, so I sat down with him and worked with him through his whole story. It was awesome seeing what these kids could come up with. After they finished their stories I got them started on the craft. I showed them my example and told them how they have to trace around their foot and both hands to make the face and antlers. I went around helping them trace. They were all so excited about the craft and thought it looked so cool. Even the teacher was really excited about it and said she was going to clear a space outside the room to hang the reindeer and their stories. There was a problem when it came to gluing the mouth down. The pipe cleaner didn't seem to want to stay. The teacher said she would go back through after all the glue had dried to fix the mouths. But besides that it went really well and I had a blast. The kids seemed to legitimately love the craft and that was exciting for me. I had so much fun with this and would love to do it again!

Junior Achievement

On Friday my class was able to go to an elementary school to teach a junior achievement curriculum. My partner and I taught first graders about families and their jobs and how important they are. When we first got there we introduced ourselves to the teacher. It ended up that both have a connection to the teacher. My mom had taught her son in kindergarten. After we talked to the teacher we stated to set up the different posters and things in the Junior Achievement packet while they finished up their rotations. We started off by showing them a map and getting them to point out how the different people are helping out around the neighborhood. Then we gave them a JA booklet called Our Family. They added stickers which matched the questions in the booklet. We also taught them about needs and wants and what the difference between the two is. They learned about different jobs and how all of them are important to our community. Then we showed them a map and showed them how the key works with the different symbols. In the last lesson we played a game where they acted out a job and if they did a good job they got payed and got to "buy" one of the need or want posters we used to demonstrate. The students seemed to enjoy what we were teaching them and liked having us there. I would love to teach the Junior Achievement lesson again it was lots of fun!  

Teacher Website

If I hasd a class and there were laptops readily available there is so much I would be able to do. One thing in particular that would help in the subject of math is the website, Kids' Zone - Create a Graph. I would use this website for the students to make a graph and see how the process works. I would give the students a work sheet with different data sets. They would use this data to plug in and design their own graphs. This would give the students the oppurtunity to make a graph themselves.

Teacher Impact

Teachers have huge impacts on thier students. Children spend a large amount of their time at school. This is time where the teacher is the one they look to as an example. As a role model the teacher influences what the students do and how much they enjoy doing it. For a childs physical development they can encourage children to play outside when they get home and be active with them at recess. They can also tell the students stories of ways they are active outside of school. When it comes to a childs emotional and social development teachers have an impact as well. As they children work throughout the day the teacher could have them work in groups inorder to develop their comunication skills and make them work with another person. The teacher also show them they care emotionally. For example if a student is crying they could take the time to listen to them and find out what is wrong. As for cognitive development they have the most influence on these children. Their whole job is to teach their students. In order to maximize what the students learn they may take in to account the students strengths and weaknesses and the way they learn best and incorporate that into the lesson plans. This is how the teacher impacts a child's development.

Day 7

Yesterday was great. I enjoy those kids so much. I worked with three in particular on adding. These students were adorable. They kept asking me questions about high school and my pink hair. They were talking over each other trying to tell me things, I was trying to balance listening to them with getting them to add the numbers and do what I was telling them. The two girls were both trying to get my attention and it was causing a little bit of conflict. I solved this by letting them take turns talking and give them each an equal turn. This satisfied them with them being able to be heard. There was also a mini crisis when one of the girls was arranging her cubes the same way as the other girl. She was very upset that her idea was being copied. I just asked her if it was hurting her in any way. She said no, so I asked if it would be okay for her to share that idea with the other girl. This seemed to satisfy her and the two girls started joking around with each other like nothing was wrong. It is nice how conflicts don't stick in first grade. For me, I think the key to solving conflicts is communication and making sure everyone's side is heard and understood correctly. This week we learned different conflict resolutions. These consist of conciliatory gestures, avoidance, altering the group structure, appealing to a higher value, I need you and you need me, direct order, communication, seek additional information, outside intervention, compromise, developing new resources, and democratic vote. I think a combination of all these situations, depending on the circumstances, is the best way to handle conflicts.     

Day 6

Once again we went to the elemntary school yesterday. It has honestly gotten better each time I go. I got to work one on one with a few of the students and actually talk to them. It was a blast. Also while we were there I asked the teacher a few questions about their communication with parents. I first asked how often she communicates with her students parents. What she does is send home a folder every day and in the folder there is a behavior chart with major things happening that week and there is a place for the students grade and any comments on what the child needs to do or how they have been acting. She said she also makes phone calls if needed. Which led to my second question: In what situation would you direclty call a parent? She would call a parent if a child got hurt at school that day or if they were hit by another student or their child is the one who hit another student. Anything that the parent would be able to see on their child she would call to let them know. In the case of a parent yelling at her, she said she would have to stay calm. She would just take what their saying and act proffessional. She understands that that student is their little baby and very precious to them. If a student was misbehaving in class she would get in contact with their parent. She would tell the parent what's going on in class, what she has tried to fix it, and then ask if anything is going on at home. Many times a problem at home causes a child to act out. That is how the teacher handles her parent communication.