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Blog #8

I am surprised that I'm still uncertain whether or not to be a professional teacher. I just don't know! I think I could be really good at it, but it might exhaust me (I'm not young). I think teaching an older group would be best for me such as High School or even College students.

But this class has helped a lot to steer me. I see that this path is not a bad one for me. I would be happy to always have the option to be a teacher. The service learning (observing) I did was very helpful, especially since I was placed with a first-year teacher. I saw her being patient, creative, kind, firm, silly, serious, and everything in-between all in each day of class. I appreciated her versatility and her gentleness. I am not sure I could be as good as she is in a classroom.

Another thing is that I am studying to teach only English. With this, I will have already chosen to teach 6th grade and older, and a topic I am passionate about. I wish I had been able to observe an English teacher, specifically. It seems to me they may have less planning, less classroom management worries, and better success among their students who have already all succeeded at all previous education requirements.

So here I am, still uncertain but quite possibly on the right path. My next steps will be to get the degree and to try a variety of things I can do with it until I find my favorite. Thank you very much.

Blog #7 I have been seeing in the classroom the things I have been learning in my teaching class. Some things I don't see or use much of is cultural awareness since my observed classroom is very homogenous. Looking at my previous blogs and other assignments, I believe I have been able to articulate well the things I have been learning.

Blogging is an interesting and creative way to show off to other people the things I am learning. It prompts me to be accurate on mentioning things I have observed. I notice in my first blog as an observer, that I was more interested in the teacher's contributions and methods than I was in where she got her ideas. I see now that she is less creative than I thought and more-so just following procedures and the things she was taught.

#6

I have seen the teacher, in the classroom I am observing, teach the Utah Standard curriculum, but not all of it. I have seen lots of math and english language arts, but really nothing else. Of course, I only observe 20 hours. I know if I was a teacher, I would likely move through curriculum in chunks, starting with whatever may be considered building blocks for future things. I watched the teacher once do math all day because the students were not grasping the information. She was really good at keeping the students engaged with numerous fun activities and I was very impressed with her dedication to having then reach the standards that have been set.

I believe the teacher feels that some standards are less important that others and that she focuses on what she feels is the most important first. I asked what would happen to those students who never do grasp the content, and she assured me that they all would eventually understand before the end of the year. She has plans for children who take their time. Thank you.

Blog entry #5

While observing in a first grade classroom, I noticed a student who was seated away from the others. He wasn't allowed to sit next to anyone because he had some different things to work on. Most of the classes that I have either substituted in or have observed have had a student or two that require some different teachings or seating arrangement.

Some need different utensils, others need a few different rules or have a different set of curriculum. No two students are the same and according to this week's video, it is the teacher's job to be aware of and to accept each student best they can. Each classroom should have a variety of books that cater to different abilities and cultures and even languages.

Though the schools I have seen near me lack racial diversity, there is plenty diversity in other things and I have seen teachers struggle to be responsive and I have seen others do it with ease. I believe the ability of the teacher to be responsive depends on several factors and cannot be measured accurately by me after only a few hours of observation.

I will always do my best to be aware and accepting.

While observing a classroom of 3rd graders, I saw two students be pulled out of class for a half hour to attend an ELL class together. This is because of the Lau vs Nichols case in 1974. This case included many non-native English speakers suing the schools because they were not among the fortunate ones who receive English language instruction. Some students at some schools received help, but others did not. The students were struggling in school and had no idea where else to turn.

Their case was not won at the District Court level, but was eventually won by the US Supreme Court. Now, every non-native Enlgish speaker student in the United States in 1st grade through age 16 are offered English language lessons to allow them a better chance of success in attaining a very important US education.

BLOG entry #3

Today while observing a classroom of 3rd graders. I saw many instances where the teacher provided engaged learning. Here are three of those instances:

At math time-

1. The students first watched a comical video about why their specific math topic is important.

2. Next, the students were allowed to try to solve some math equations by writing directly on their desks with dry-erase markers.

3. Last, students got into groups to try to find other ways to solve the equations.

So, while the students worked on math for an entire 30 minutes, they felt more like they were watching a show, doing some art, and then hanging out with classmates. Here are the pics of the day which include the class moto, their schedule, a tin the teacher carries around to always be prepared, and some morning meeting ideas.

BLOG #2 I had the opportunity to substitute at an Elementary school the other day. I taught 5th graders for 4 hours. The teacher's teaching theory seems to be one that is driven by a mutual respect. She must believe that if the kids are respected, the teacher and their lessons will also be respected. This means that if the students seem to be having a rough day, the teacher will bend the curriculum to accomodate their needs. She is structured and organized and the students know what is expected. A time I saw that the teacher offered choice to the students was when the students got to pick whichever book they wanted from the shelf at reading time. This particular teacher did an excellent job at helping the students feel loved and safe by never letting a raised hand go unnoticed and by having positive and encouraging messages all over the classrooom. She was also kind enough to supply each student with their own waterbottle and holder and an elastic foot rest. I noticed a very positive classroom community when the students helped their neighbors whenever they could with whatever they needed. She was very organized and I loved her system. Here are some pics of things I loved to see in the classroom.

I'm in the second half of my college education studying English Education and after lots of literature and grammar training, I finally get to learn a little about education! I have a professor who is requiring 20 hours of classroom observation in a public Elementary school. It wasn't easy for me to get in touch with the correct person for permission to observe in the school of my choice. I guess there is a person over the service work and donations of my school choice. Once I got in touch with this person, the process was fast and they were very accomodating to my schedule. I am now scheduled for my first day of observation in just a few days! After day one, I'll document here which learning theory the teacher seems to use the most. I will then continue to add to this blog, things I am noticing and learning.

Heavy snow in June. We just never know! Good thing I just harvested my first lot of garden veggies.

Ahhhh, spring is here.

Eeeeww! Bring it in the house, and die.

Our pet deer come back every spring to visit. It's amazing to get to know them and to watch them grow.

It sometimes feels like we're the last survivors on Earth.

Can you see children?

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