February 12, 2015 Afternoon Fieldwork Experience Blog 8

What is the most important thing you have learned during your fieldwork observation? Why?

     I am very grateful for the opportunity which I have had to go and work with such a wonderful group of first graders and their teacher.  It was an eye opening experience for me and one which I will never forget.  I think that the most important thing that I learned from my observation is that a first grade classroom (which grade I was set upon teaching) is not the grade for me to teach.  I loved the honesty and excitement in the kids but they had so much energy and were all over the place.  There was a lot of tattle-telling, crying, "selective hearing", and lots of other misbehavior's.  They would try the patience of a Saint and believe me their teacher was one!  It is the first year these students are at school all day and they learn a lot about structure, rules, and control in this first year.  Personally I think I would be better able to handle a slightly less out of control group of students... second or third grade.  I am glad that I observed and had the opportunity to discover this.
     I learned so many valuable things thoughout this semester including ways to engage the students in the classroom better, different ways to deal with behavioral issues, and most importantly that there is now a common core that teachers teach from.  I am excited to continue to learn how to become the best teacher I can and to hopefully remain open minded to new thoughts and ideas.

     I always loved school and thought it would be great to be one of those teachers that I think back on and appreciate.  I was blessed to have passionate grade school teachers who loved what they did and loved seeing their students succeed; that makes all the difference in the world.  I hope to one day have the opportunity to inspire that same love of learning in a new generation of students.

February 12, 2015 Morning Fieldwork Experience Blog 7

What are the School Rules/Classroom Rules and how are they enforced?

     The school rules for Hobble Creek Elementary are shown on posters hung in each of the classrooms and they say the following:

"Hobble Creek Hawks show respect and soar when they:

1.  Follow adult instructions

2.  Are where they are supposed to be

3.  Choose words and actions that are helpful, not hurtful

4.  Protect and take care of school property

5.  Leave gum, candy, and toys at home."

     The classroom rules are as follows:

1.  We need to be respectful

2.  Listen while others are talking

3.  Always do your best

     The teacher typically enforces the school and classroom rules.  In the classroom the students all start out with a green card.  If a student is not following the school/classroom rules or is having a behavioral problem the student is asked to pull a card.  A green card means a student is doing great.  A yellow card is a warning to the student.  If a student pulls an orange card they will miss five minutes of recess.  A red card means that a student will miss 10 minutes of recess.  At this age (first grade) usually just pulling a yellow card is enough of a warning because no one wants to miss any part of recess, but, if a student does pull a red card and they continue with disciplinary problems then the teacher will send the student to the principals office and the parents are called.  The school rules are enforced using the teachers discretion.  When I spoke to the teacher she said that rarely are their times when a situation goes beyond her classroom.  If a student hits someone, starts a fight, or brings a weapon to school they are immediately sent to see the principal otherwise they will pull a card.

Graphic Organizer Project

February 5, 2015 Afternoon Fieldwork Experience Blog 6

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

        I think that I lucked out getting to observe the first grade class and teacher that I did.  One strategy I would like to discuss is the teacher's use of "equitable distribution."  I love that the teacher had a jar of popsicle sticks with all of the students names on it.  The students also loved that everyone had an equal chance of getting their name called out to help the teacher do a specific task, answer questions, or their favorite thing the popsicle sticks were used for... drawing their names out for reading prizes at the end of the week.  I think it was great that the teacher focused on helping the class move along with a variety of activities that involved as many students as possible.  The students worked with mixed groups of students for different center times such as reading groups, writing groups, math activity centers, photo analysis', art projects, and so many others.  I like that as the students were changed from group to group they were able to share, interact, and receive ideas with those they might not have normally associated with in the classroom.  It was a good strategy to diversify the classroom dynamics and served to broaden the student's ideas and perspectives.  
     One of the activities that actively engaged the students and that they loved was poem time.  The class read "A Frog and A Flea by Cynthia Mitchell."  The teacher put it up on the board and read it then asked the class what certain words meant.  Then she had all of the students read the poem aloud together and they loved it.  Another activity similar to poem time that involved the whole class but also groups of students was in essence a group reading.  The teacher handed out scripts to each of the students and then divided the class into groups.  The scripts had 6 different parts and each group highlighted their parts and read over them.  Then as a class they read it aloud.  Each group saying their part together and then the whole class reading the "everyone" sections as one.  I believe that is one of the key strategies that the teacher uses; the students aren't confined to their desks all day like I was as a child.  She keeps the students busy working on one activity for 10 or 15 minutes then begins moving the students around the room.  She lets them work alone for a few minutes then it might be story time so they all move to the rug where she reads to them, it might be time to pick a partner and work together, or find a group to play math games with.  Whatever the activity the kids are active and remain interested because the teacher has made learning exciting and interesting.  
     First graders aren't used to being cooped up at a desk all day long so it is good that the teacher allows movement and encourages interaction.  I think the teacher has been effective in her strategies to keep the students interested in learning.  The environment she encourages could get out of hand with noise or students who just talk instead of work but she has a reward system for those who keep working and do what they are asked.  The teacher doesn't tell which students are getting their names written down but throughout the week the teacher watches and those who are doing what they are supposed to get their names put down for a prize drawing.  If students get out of control and don't listen to the teacher she takes away their group privileges and they have to work alone until they can prove their privileges can be given back.  I have enjoyed observing and learning from this teacher.  She inspires students to be the best they can be and to strive for more.