Final blog #8

    The Most Important thing that I have learned during fieldwork is to give each child a chance to succeed. There may be things going on at home or with their peers. They could have bullies or don't have any idea if they are going to eat that day. Each child needs the proper care and attention as the next. Don't pick favorites and never treat a child unfair. There are some kids that have disadvantages such as ADD or may be autistic.
     You just never know what's going on in their minds. I've learned to make sure each child understands what you are teaching especially with reading and math. Some children have a hard time with those subjects and if they don't understand then they wont be able to advance to the next grade. I have learned to be a better teacher by watching some of the others I would change a few things and be more understanding.

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

      At Central Elementary there are several rules and regulations for the children to follow. Such as if you are disrupting the class you will be sent to the principles office and if you continue you will then be forced to call your parents and explain to them what had happened. I have seen it happened to where the child kept making noise and talking to the kids next to him while the teacher was trying to teach math. The child was first told to write his name on the board and given several warnings before being sent to the principles office, but he kept going on and getting into trouble.
      The teacher then sent him to the principles office. What I noticed though is that the teacher didn't at all make sure he went to the principles office, he just continued teaching. After several minutes of wondering the halls he came back and peeked his head in the class and asked "where am I supposed to go again"? The teacher then made sure the child made it there by calling the principles office. It is important for the teachers to have the rules because the classroom would be constantly interrupted. The majority of the students in his classroom where well engaged and were having fun learning but there is always that one kid that doesn't want to follow the rules. It disrupts the classroom which denies the other children of learning the most they can.

Strategies teachers use to actively engage the students

     While in a 3rd grade class and the sixth grade class I have noticed a few ways the teacher has actively engaged the students. In the sixth grade class to help them learn their math, he has them rap out one of their songs. He will play background music with a beat and the kids stand up and cross their arms like they are rappers. It so cute. the girls have a different part then the boys and they all love it so much. He also has them go up in front of the class once a week and teach one of their math problems to the other students. So that he knows they understand it.
    During P.E. time he had the kids get into groups and they played different games. Each team pics a leader and the leader directs the rest of the team.  In the third grade class she had them do different art projects on the subject that they were learning and paint a picture about. She also had them playing games in groups to help their math skills, such as monopoly or Life. I have come up with a few ideas while observing these teachers and its such a simple thing to have the children actively engaged. It makes learning more fun. I want to involve music in my classroom and have the children have set groups that they are involved in. So they make friends and they understand the meaning of a team. And I want to have activities and art in the children's lives incorporated with their math and English I feel it will be an overall better experience for the children and the teacher.

Blog #5 The role of a teacher.

    From observing teachers in the past and now I've have seen very many roles of a teacher. Teachers are an important person in a child's life and can be a great influence. Some kids don't have guidance and love at home and being a teacher with these aspects can change a child's life drastically. The teacher plays a huge rule in teaching the child for the future. They teach them many aspects and subjects that will help them in the future. For college and real life. Teaching science, math, English, history, art and respect for others. teaching them to be a team and giving them listening skills. Showing them that you care by giving those kids that have special needs a little extra help and attentiveness.
    To me the most difficult role of a teacher is to get the attention of every child. Making sure that they are learning what they need to know and making sure they are paying attention and understand what your teaching. I feel it can be quite challenging to get 25 to 30 kids to listen to you. Being a fun teacher who gives the children different activities and making learning fun is important, from what I have seen the kids pay attention allot more that way. Being in the 6th grade class that I have observed I've seen the children respond allot better to music and activities. They love to engage in ways that they can express themselves, such as rapping a song about math or going in front of the class and teaching the other kids. Giving kids n important role helps them to want to be there and learn.

Blog entry #4 managing assessment

 In the classroom I have been observing, I have seen a few ways the teacher has assessed the classroom. One was that he had the kids go into two groups and split up the classroom. He had each group come up with a group chant and whichever team used the most team work and which team had the best ability to perform would get a certain number of blocks that would go towards their field trip. When the kids were don't they did their chant and each team used their teamwork to the best of their ability but one team was better, he then rewarded them with their blocks.
           Another form of assessment I have seen in that class is my first day that I visited, they were all taking a multiple choice test, to test their skills in certain subjects. It was a placement test to make sure the kids were at the level they needed to be for that grade level. They were in the computer lab taking the test and the children were raising their hand for the teachers help if they didn't understand a question or needed a little extra assistance. The kids seemed to mostly understand and I didn't see a lot of hands raised.

Entry # 3 Children in the classroom with learning disabilities

            While visiting the sixth grade class I have attended a couple times. I noticed that there was a child in the class who had an extremely hard time listing. I was there for a couple hours and he had gotten into trouble at least ten different times. I kept thinking to myself , "why doesn't he just listen, does he want to get into trouble". When the kids took a short break and got into their groups I asked the teacher about the student, I asked him if he gets into trouble like that often? The teacher responded by saying " yes, absolutely".
            He explained to me that every day the child gets into trouble and need to write his name onto the board. He often misses out on reses . He explained to me that his parents don't really seem to respond to the fact that he is getting into trouble. They seem as if they don't really care and kind of shrug it of, as if it's not a big deal. As I continued to watch the student he kept getting into trouble. He was extremely wiggly he would pay attention. He would talk to other kids, lean back into his chair and laugh out loud. earlier the teacher had explained to me that he believes that the child has an extreme case of ADD. Which I kind of figured is why he was so wiggly.
            The teacher, after having to tell the student over and over to stop, finally just sent him out of the classroom and sent him to the principles office. The child never did come back and I assumed that he just ended up going home. But I couldn't help but think of what he must of been thinking. His parents don't really care and the teacher just kicks him out when he sick of him. I felt really sad for the child I wondered how he would ever learn. It made me realize that I can't wait to be a teacher. I want to give the students a chance, I want to be a teacher who actually makes and impact on a child's life. rather than dismissing them when I get annoyed.

Blog entry #2

  Today I walked into Mr. K.'s 6th grade class and they were reading a story. He was reading to them with a ton of enthusiasm, They were extremely interested in the story and couldn't wait to hear what was going to happen next. After he was finished he told them they have 15 seconds to clean of their desks for a chance to earn more blocks The kids were mostly successful and it was a good motivator for the kids to listen. He has these blocks so they can earn a field trip for themselves, if they get enough. He told them he felt that they were doing much better with their listening then they have in the past. He asked them if they agreed and they said yes.
         After that it was time for P.E. so he explained to them that they will be playing a game called "Dr.,Dr". Its just like dodge ball, except when you get out you have a chance to be redeemed by the Dr. and you are in the game again. We headed over to the gym and they got into teams. I was on one team and he was on the other. Of course they thought for some reason I was going to be good at this game and had me be the Dr. little did I know that when we started to play someone hit me with a ball and I was out. I guess when you are the doctor and you get out there is no more Dr. I think the kids were pretty disappointed at that.
          Everyone was playing with team effort and were really enjoying the game. After that we headed back to the class room and got the science stuff ready. There were three groups of kids and each had a spot light which was supposed to be the sun. They each had a globe with a light energy meter on it. They headed to the gym to work on there science papers and they worked really well together trying to figure out the questions. The kids were all participating and helping each other out.