I just finished my last day of tutoring on Tuesday the 1st. It was so disappointing because my teacher was out sick and all the students were split up into six different classrooms. I guess that is their alternative for not having a substitute. The kids seemed very stressed out, misplaced, and I assume really missing their teacher. Even though my last day did not go as planned, I found the whole experience very helpful and it really has prepared me for what to expect in a classroom setting. There was one day where the teacher had to run out of the classroom to go deal with a student who had wet her paints in class and she gave me a book to read. All the kids sat down on the alphabet rug and listened closely. It was a rhyming book that most kindergartners have in their class because it is a skill that is required to learn before 1st grade. I acted just like a teacher and I sat their reading one page, stoping, asking them what rhymed, describing the pictures, and moving on. Observing the teacher as she was teaching really helped because she is always questioning the students and getting them to critically think. Ira Shor, talks about this in his article "Education is Politics". He states that their is a curriculum that is forced apon the teacher and that the teacher must use her "teacher talk" to inforce it on the students. There are ways of simply just sitting their and teaching rhyming straight out just like a highschool teacher might do with a history book but my classroom teacher teaches in a way that is benefical to the students. She has all the students participate and gives each one a chance to share ther ideas just like I did when she gave me the oppurtunity to read that book. What I am going to teach in the future maybe decided for me but I will be able to make the decision on how to teach it that will make a difference in my classroom.
I also got some lessons on how to control the classroom by using the "can I have your attention please position" which is simply hands behind the back and looking at the teacher as well as how to disapline a child that did something inappropriate. One teacher I met in the school used a "put your head down method" and I remember doing this as a kid. I just think the only problem that this teacher was not doing in this particular class was not talking to them afterwards about why they did what they did and explaining to them that it was not ok. I took it upon myself to go over to the student and ask them what happend. They openly talked about how they jumped around in line and I just let them know that they were in trouble because their teacher does not want them to fall and get hurt. He understood. Communication is essential.
I learned that it is always important to stay organized and make sure that everything is set and ready for the students. I think an organized teacher is a better teacher because that way I can model that for my students. My teacher identity is slowly coming together but I still have a lot more to learn and I think being in the classroom is the best way.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Blog Number 4
I think it is important to understand your personal history and accept it the way it is in order to move forward and better understand others. After reading Browns article "In the Bad and Good of Girlhood" I could really relate to the middle class girls from Acadia. My highschool was in a very small town of mostly white people and therefore we were very segregated. Our parents all taught us how to be respectful, use our manners, and keep what we had to say to ourselves. Us ladies grew into very passive and secretly competitive adults that tried to best follow proper feminie ideals. There were a few in my school that seemed to be from Mansfield because they were rebellious, loud, demanded respect, and used their voices to really make point. This was seen as disobidient and not proper. They would often get in trouble and wonder around the hallways during class because they did not seem accepted in the classroom. As a soon to be teacher, I would try my best to talk to my students and develop relationships with them to make sure that we all understand each other in how we act and how we speak. I do not want how I grew up to influence how I teach because I think it is important for children to voice their opinions and stand up for what they think is right. Yes, my classroom needs to be controled but I want everyone to have a safe space to share their feelings when appropriate. As a student, I tend to keep my mouth shut if I dont like a teacher or I tell my mom when I call her in the afternoon and talk about them behind their back. This is something I would not like to see happen in my classroom because if im upsetting someone I would like to know why and what I can do to change that. It is necessary for myself to accept all students how they are. It is going to be challenging working with diverse groups of students sometimes because you can not always relate to their lives. The students could be a different race and speak a different language and practice different traditions at home. They maybe shy and quiet or loud and assertive. You never know what your going to get and what they are going to bring to the class. I have not really had any misconceptions about different cultural groups because I know already that all cultures and students themselves have something to offer.
The best reader in my kindergarten class is a little african american boy who can read everyone of his classmates names on envelopes as he passes them out. He has a lot of self motivation because he wants to learn how to read. He will sit with a book and pretend to read it just to push himself and his imagination. The only thing is that he has horrible behavior problems and gets in trouble atleast once a day. It is hard for me to understand what is going on in his mind but I believe that he may be so bored in the class and so frustrated that he is not being worked enough that he is acting out for attention. This is a wake up call for my future teaching because I know that I am going to have to understand all my students and accomodate each lesson for each individual so that this does not happen.
The best reader in my kindergarten class is a little african american boy who can read everyone of his classmates names on envelopes as he passes them out. He has a lot of self motivation because he wants to learn how to read. He will sit with a book and pretend to read it just to push himself and his imagination. The only thing is that he has horrible behavior problems and gets in trouble atleast once a day. It is hard for me to understand what is going on in his mind but I believe that he may be so bored in the class and so frustrated that he is not being worked enough that he is acting out for attention. This is a wake up call for my future teaching because I know that I am going to have to understand all my students and accomodate each lesson for each individual so that this does not happen.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Emilys Blog Number 3
As a classroom helper I have been observing what goes on as well as helping the students with their work. For thanksgiving, they made little turkeys and putting them together was the hardest part because they had to follow directions. They colored the turkeys what ever color they wanted to and coloring is a hard skill for kindergartners to learn. At the end of the day the children were so excited to have their finished turkeys to take home to their parents.
I have only seen a few parents coming in the classroom at the end of the school day and it was mainly for behavior problems. In the class there is a star board and from what I understand each student has four stars to start out with each day. The teacher pulls stars when the student is not following directions, behaving inappropriately, not paying attention, etc. etc. The students get very very upset when their star is pulled because when all four are gone then their parents gets a phone call. They have to come in after school is over and meet with the teacher and their child and explain what went on that day and why they do not have any stars. My classroom teacher gave myself and two other girls who come into the classroom with me permission to take away their stars if we need to. The students try to act like we are not as powerful as the teacher and she wanted to give us some authority to make sure the students are respecting us and doing as we say.
This system seems to be a good one that I would like to use in my classroom someday because I feel that it is important for parents to be involved in their child's behavior problems and try to correct that at home as well as learn to discuss with their child why they did what they did. When your are a teacher you are like another parent who is actively involved in their lives and it is important for everyone to be on the same page. I know that it is going to be extremely hard to get every parent involved in their child's schooling because some do not care as much as others. The students want to make their parents proud.
Skills in school that seem basic like coloring as I mentioned before and even using a pair of scissors is a hard task for the students. It is important that the parents at home take time with their children to practice these skills. There is one little boy in the class and he colors so well I thought it was the teachers example being passed around the class. Other students take hours to color one thing and I am not exaggerating. One boy takes so long that he has to finish it the next day. It is the teachers responsibility as well as the parents responsibility to help the child master these skills. The only problem is some parents do not have the time or do not care.
In my classroom they have red folders that they take home for reading with their parents. The children pick a book that they want their parents to read to them and bring it back when they are told. This is a good way to get the parents involved because some may never have read to their child before or some may not even own a book. I think the parents need to understand that their child's education is not all up to the teacher but includes their participation as well. As a soon to be teacher I think it is going to be hard dealing with parents who could careless but I must be persistent and keep trying. If the parent does not want to be apart of it all then I as a teacher may keep the student after school to practice the basic skills kindergartners need to be successful in their schooling to come.
I have only seen a few parents coming in the classroom at the end of the school day and it was mainly for behavior problems. In the class there is a star board and from what I understand each student has four stars to start out with each day. The teacher pulls stars when the student is not following directions, behaving inappropriately, not paying attention, etc. etc. The students get very very upset when their star is pulled because when all four are gone then their parents gets a phone call. They have to come in after school is over and meet with the teacher and their child and explain what went on that day and why they do not have any stars. My classroom teacher gave myself and two other girls who come into the classroom with me permission to take away their stars if we need to. The students try to act like we are not as powerful as the teacher and she wanted to give us some authority to make sure the students are respecting us and doing as we say.
This system seems to be a good one that I would like to use in my classroom someday because I feel that it is important for parents to be involved in their child's behavior problems and try to correct that at home as well as learn to discuss with their child why they did what they did. When your are a teacher you are like another parent who is actively involved in their lives and it is important for everyone to be on the same page. I know that it is going to be extremely hard to get every parent involved in their child's schooling because some do not care as much as others. The students want to make their parents proud.
Skills in school that seem basic like coloring as I mentioned before and even using a pair of scissors is a hard task for the students. It is important that the parents at home take time with their children to practice these skills. There is one little boy in the class and he colors so well I thought it was the teachers example being passed around the class. Other students take hours to color one thing and I am not exaggerating. One boy takes so long that he has to finish it the next day. It is the teachers responsibility as well as the parents responsibility to help the child master these skills. The only problem is some parents do not have the time or do not care.
In my classroom they have red folders that they take home for reading with their parents. The children pick a book that they want their parents to read to them and bring it back when they are told. This is a good way to get the parents involved because some may never have read to their child before or some may not even own a book. I think the parents need to understand that their child's education is not all up to the teacher but includes their participation as well. As a soon to be teacher I think it is going to be hard dealing with parents who could careless but I must be persistent and keep trying. If the parent does not want to be apart of it all then I as a teacher may keep the student after school to practice the basic skills kindergartners need to be successful in their schooling to come.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Blog Number 2
I have been going into the classroom now for awhile now and it is such a pleasure being able to work with the kids and see how they learn. I observe the classroom, help out the kids and engage in "teacher like" conversations with them to see if they are understanding the lesson. The children really respect my presence and like having me in the classroom.
My classroom is one of the most racially diverse rooms that I have ever seen. There are about three white students, six black students, eight hispanic students, an asian student and a couple students that are a mix of cultures. When I looked on Infoworks it said that my school consisted of 23 percent White, 19 percent African American, 55 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Asian, and 1 percent Native American. Their information kind of matches up with what I have observed except there seems to be less White students and more African American.
All of the students can speak English and I know that many can also speak a different language just by their accents. On Infoworks it states that 25 percent of their students are bilingual yet there is no ESL program in their school. I have noticed that when I ask a question to a student that speaks more then one language they seem to have a harder time understanding it and answering it. I have to repeat myself a few times and be patient. I think it is very hard for the students who speak more then one language because sometimes they can't find the right words to say and usually get confused. I have seen the kids struggle especially when their teacher gives them directions in class and on assignments.
There was one quiz they had to do that had them circle an object relating to its placement. For example, which picture shows the bee on the left side of the flower or which picture shows the teddy bear on the table? This is hard for the kids in general because they do not know their left from right yet or do not have a developed sense of direction and placement. It makes things ten times harder when you do not understand the language that is being thrown at you. Simple words like left, right, on, over, up, down, under, beside, etc. etc. are not easy words for students speaking another language. This example shows how testing students this way is not always the best idea and does not give a chance to students who are struggling with the language.
I think the whole idea of having a diverse classroom is a great idea because everyone can learn from each other and understand each other more. These students in my classroom are going to be better off in society because there used to being around people who are different from them. It is amazing how well they all work together and how the students love to help one another.
My classroom is one of the most racially diverse rooms that I have ever seen. There are about three white students, six black students, eight hispanic students, an asian student and a couple students that are a mix of cultures. When I looked on Infoworks it said that my school consisted of 23 percent White, 19 percent African American, 55 percent Hispanic, 2 percent Asian, and 1 percent Native American. Their information kind of matches up with what I have observed except there seems to be less White students and more African American.
All of the students can speak English and I know that many can also speak a different language just by their accents. On Infoworks it states that 25 percent of their students are bilingual yet there is no ESL program in their school. I have noticed that when I ask a question to a student that speaks more then one language they seem to have a harder time understanding it and answering it. I have to repeat myself a few times and be patient. I think it is very hard for the students who speak more then one language because sometimes they can't find the right words to say and usually get confused. I have seen the kids struggle especially when their teacher gives them directions in class and on assignments.
There was one quiz they had to do that had them circle an object relating to its placement. For example, which picture shows the bee on the left side of the flower or which picture shows the teddy bear on the table? This is hard for the kids in general because they do not know their left from right yet or do not have a developed sense of direction and placement. It makes things ten times harder when you do not understand the language that is being thrown at you. Simple words like left, right, on, over, up, down, under, beside, etc. etc. are not easy words for students speaking another language. This example shows how testing students this way is not always the best idea and does not give a chance to students who are struggling with the language.
I think the whole idea of having a diverse classroom is a great idea because everyone can learn from each other and understand each other more. These students in my classroom are going to be better off in society because there used to being around people who are different from them. It is amazing how well they all work together and how the students love to help one another.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Blog number 1
I drove up a very large hill just to reach the school building. As I passed by the houses on the street they looked a little outdated and the neighborhood was pretty quiet. Nothing really surprised me about the area and it seemed like a very nice place to go to school and live. The neighborhood is not off a busy street or in the center of city chaos. The school is made out of bricks and has a huge stone staircase that leads up to the main door that was off centered and confusing to find. As I walked up to the school I was extremely nervous and asked myself what is the purpose of me being here at this time and am I really going to be able to help the students. According to Kahne and Westheimer I am participating in the giving and caring model. Through giving my time to these students I will learn a great amount about them and myself as a soon to be teacher. I will understand the students and be able to grow from this experience. Inside with my purpose in mind, I signed into the main office and talked to the reading teacher. She brought other tutors and I to the classroom to get the students we were assigned to. I noticed how colorful the room is and that there are a lot of pictures on the walls. Everything was organized so the students could easily grab their materials and get to work. There is a number line and an alphabet rug and a board for the teacher to write important words on. The classroom is actually pretty small and the students tables and chairs fill it up. On the outside the school is huge and inside the hallways are very large and wide with classrooms being very small. The school feelings welcoming and safe yet controlled. The students know what the students are their for and know that they need to focus in the classroom. The teacher was very powerful and held the students attention. The students were all participating which is an extremely important part of the educational process according to Ira Shor. When students were called on and the teacher did not understand what they were trying to say she would critically interrogate them and ask them why they think that is correct like Boler points out in her article that shoes how voices need to be challenged. The students take their schooling very seriously and are whiling to learn. Respect is valued and when a classmate is speaking and cannot be heard the teacher directs everyone’s attention to the speaker and commands respect of that student. This was an interesting way of dealing with students voices not being heard in the class and I really liked how the teacher handled the situation. I will definitely use this in my classroom because I saw how well it worked and how well the students responded and understood respect. There was no fighting in the classroom and everyone seemed to get along really well. Listening is valued and raising your hand before speaking is essential in this classroom.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Hey everyone
My name is Emily. Im going to RIC to become an elementary school teacher with a concentration in Spanish.
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