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.
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.
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