In order to become a culturally competent teacher I will need to communicate in ways that demonstrate sensitivity to sociocultural and linguistic differences, using a variety of verbal and non-verbal communication techniques that encourage positive social interaction and support learning in their classroom. Currently in the class I am tutoring in, I have observed that the teacher does communicate in ways that show respect and sensitivity to the differences in the classroom. But at the same time, I have also observed situations where the teacher has showed the complete opposite, and sadly I observe this more than the other.
There is this one little girl in this class who on a normal week will miss more days of school than she actually attends. She is extremely behind in many skills and fails to complete her work. It is obvious that the teacher is aware of this and so are her fellow classmates. On one or two occasions I have heard the students speaking about her absence as if it is normal and accepted. The teacher has expressed to me that this girl's mother has her hands full. Sometimes the mother can not get her to the bus stop in time to catch the bus. If this happens there is no time for the mother to bring her to school because she needs to get to work on time, instead she leaves her daughter at home with the father. The question as to why the father does not proceed to bring her to school remains unanswered. This situation seems to be pushed aside. It has become normal for this child to be absent and seems not to be any concern. I have noticed the way the teacher speaks to her is as if this is her own fault. This teacher will voice rude comments about her absence when she is not there, but then also has rude comments for when this child is in class. The effort to help this child with her work and education seems to be absent. No effort, thought, or even care seems to be given to this little girl. It is heart breaking.
In other cases I have noticed this teacher showing compassion and support to some students who are in different situations. Although she sometimes shows support, I find myself shocked at how much negative feedback and overall feelings are projected from this specific teacher.
I have found myself working with the entire class lately. Most days I come in the students are working on their daily work individually while the teacher is at her desk. I have observed that the students receive little help or positive feedback during this time of the day. I have taken it into my own hands to personally walk around the classroom and make sure each student understands what is expected of them, and if help is needed I gladly give it. There are three students who I have found ALWAYS need help and are ALWAYS off task and confused. As soon as I enter the room I notice their faces seem to light up in relief. I look at each one and give them a friendly smile and a look letting them know I'll be over to help as soon as possible. It is shocking to me to see how my presence has helped these students already.
When looking at this and thinking I relate these situations to both Dewey and Delpit. I will explain Dewey first. John Dewey writes about education being a social function. And how we learn and grow from differences and communication. In this classroom these students sometimes need to depend on one another more than their teacher. These students seem to have a special connection where they all know they lack certain support from their teacher, so in order to make up for it... they help one another the best they can. They learn from their own differences and from the difference in when people come into the class and help the students, compared to the lack of help and effort from their own teacher at times. I also believe that the interaction and special connection I have developed with certain students has grown because of our differences and able to silently communicate and work together.
Delpit explains the importance of communication and the way rules and expectations are presented to children. Children from low income, poor, and colored families sometimes need more support and definite directions. The teacher in this classroom is failing to do this. She is simply telling the children to work on their daily work without giving clear directions and expectations. She is taking away the chance and ability to learn from these children.
This tutoring experience has been one I believe I will never forget. It has opened my eyes to many things I was not aware of before hand. And it has helped me become closer to knowing what kind of teacher I would like to be. Educating children is something that needs to be taken more seriously and have more time put into it. These children are our future, and as their teachers we are who helps them to their future. Through out this semester we have been asked many times by Dr. August, "What kind of teacher do you want to be?" This question is one I feel we need to ask ourselves everyday, multiple times a day. We need to be aware of what is going on not only around us but our students also.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Prompt 5& Delpit
When becoming a teacher you are not only dealing with the students in your classroom, you are also working closely with their families and lives outside your classroom. These students lives at home play a major role in their education just as their lives at school. When I become a teacher I will be interacting and working closely with the parents of my students. If I was the teacher of the classroom I am currently tutoring in, I can see myself encountering challenges in order to collaborate with these parents. First, English is my first and currently only language spoken. Many of these parents speak little to no English, making communication between us two extremely difficult. Also, the life I live at home and the events that take place outside of my work life is extremely different from what these students and their families are experiencing. Relating and understanding one another will be another difficult but not impossible challenge I see myself needing to over come.
I believe that when I become a teacher I will do anything and everything in my power to create a healthy and respectful relationship with my students and their families. Although I know it will be hard and definitely far from consistent, I will strive to do so. If I find myself in situations where physically communication is impossible because of language or transportation, I will need to find a way to make this work. A translator, a home visit, anything that will help I will do.
These students and their parents live different lives that I am used to. They have different encounters every day as do I. They have different fears, goals, and relationships. I may never be able to relate to the lives they live, but as these students teacher it is my job to try my best and to put all bias feelings and opinions aside in order to help these children to my best ability.
Another issue that may rise is the issue of discipline. Some families and I may have different opinions and methods of discipline. I will need to respect their feelings and conduct my classroom in a way that I am being respectful and mindful to their ways. If the students are in no danger then it is my job to respect their ways at home.
Lisa Delpit writes about the importance of communication and working together. She writes about communication between the students and their peers, the students and the teacher, the teacher and their coworkers, and most importantly the teacher and the parents. Delpit expresses the importance on teacher parents relationships and communication and how it plays a main role in the development and education of children. Delpit explains that she feels the importance of communication between parents and teachers is extremely important for those of poor white children and children of color.
Delpit's article and ideas have opened my eyes to the importance of communication. I believe I will reflect on her articles in order to cross these challenges and work successfully with the parents of my students.
I believe that when I become a teacher I will do anything and everything in my power to create a healthy and respectful relationship with my students and their families. Although I know it will be hard and definitely far from consistent, I will strive to do so. If I find myself in situations where physically communication is impossible because of language or transportation, I will need to find a way to make this work. A translator, a home visit, anything that will help I will do.
These students and their parents live different lives that I am used to. They have different encounters every day as do I. They have different fears, goals, and relationships. I may never be able to relate to the lives they live, but as these students teacher it is my job to try my best and to put all bias feelings and opinions aside in order to help these children to my best ability.
Another issue that may rise is the issue of discipline. Some families and I may have different opinions and methods of discipline. I will need to respect their feelings and conduct my classroom in a way that I am being respectful and mindful to their ways. If the students are in no danger then it is my job to respect their ways at home.
Lisa Delpit writes about the importance of communication and working together. She writes about communication between the students and their peers, the students and the teacher, the teacher and their coworkers, and most importantly the teacher and the parents. Delpit expresses the importance on teacher parents relationships and communication and how it plays a main role in the development and education of children. Delpit explains that she feels the importance of communication between parents and teachers is extremely important for those of poor white children and children of color.
Delpit's article and ideas have opened my eyes to the importance of communication. I believe I will reflect on her articles in order to cross these challenges and work successfully with the parents of my students.
Prompt 4& Johnson.
No one enters a classroom without a personal history; thus, no one enters a classroom completely free of bias. Each time I visit the school I am tutoring in, this statement becomes more clear, real, and obvious to me. The school in which I am tutoring in is extremely different for the schools I attended. Although the distance between my old schools and this school I am tutoring at isn't drastic, the worlds and lives in which the students experience are like night and day from one another.
As a future teacher I realize that there will be certain situations where it will be hard not to carry over a bias opinion and learning technique. One of major difference I feel I may find myself facing often will be the simple difference in language, culture, and privileges at hand. I have grown up and attended schools where English is the first language, if not the only language. Working with students who are in the complete opposite situation for language will be a hard task to accomplish. Although I know that I personally will do anything and everything to be able to educate these children the best and most effective way possible, I know that it will be extremely hard. Because I have grown up with English as my only language, I am unaware of how hard and confusing it actually is to not have grown this way. I am clueless to how difficult it is for these students because I myself have not personally experienced this. Also, I have been fortunate enough to have many privileges handed my way, a safe and loving home, and positive role models. Some of these children have not had any of this. This is another barrier that I will need to put my bias aside and work closer with these children.
I find myself becoming more and more interested in working in a inner city school setting. Although I have grown up in a predominately English speaking society, predominately white area with predominately white schools, I in no way think of myself or find myself better than any of these students. I actually have started to feel as though these students have the upper hand. These students in this school are learning with peers of multiple different cultures, religions, races, life styles, and languages. The students in this school are experiencing interactions with real life. In reality everyone is different. Everyone has their own history, their own story, and their own future. I find it amazing that these children are able to interact with one another and set their differences aside in order to help each other succeed and reach a brighter future.
Before tutoring in this school I feel as though I was blind to the reality of the beauty in these inner city schools. I pictured myself working in the Elementary school I attended and living the life that I have known until today. Tutoring in the city has opened my eyes to new options.
I feel that these children in these inner city schools are desperate for help. They need the teachers that are willing to go above and beyond to teach them. Not only is this school environment an educational experience for the students, I feel these schools are educational and beneficial to the faculty also.
I have related this prompt and experiences to the theorist Johnson. Johnson writes about the issue of race and how racism and fear is still present. He believes that humans do not fear what is different but instead we are intrigued and interested in it. Johnson talks about diversity and how race is only an issue because we acknowledge it and create it to be an issue ourselves. The school I tutor in is extremely diverse. From the languages spoken, to the religions, clothing, races, and preferred food.. the children in this school all bring individuality to their classrooms and provide their classmates with first hand education and insights on how life is different for everyone. As future educators we need to cross this boarder of fearing the different. We need to open our eyes and accept all. Race is only present if we allow it to be. As future educators we need to break these barriers and allow all of our students the same feeling of equality and opportunities. We all come from somewhere different, but at the same time we all share this earth. In order to create a brighter future for ourselves, our families, and our students, we need to push all fears and judgments aside and work together as a whole.
As a future teacher I realize that there will be certain situations where it will be hard not to carry over a bias opinion and learning technique. One of major difference I feel I may find myself facing often will be the simple difference in language, culture, and privileges at hand. I have grown up and attended schools where English is the first language, if not the only language. Working with students who are in the complete opposite situation for language will be a hard task to accomplish. Although I know that I personally will do anything and everything to be able to educate these children the best and most effective way possible, I know that it will be extremely hard. Because I have grown up with English as my only language, I am unaware of how hard and confusing it actually is to not have grown this way. I am clueless to how difficult it is for these students because I myself have not personally experienced this. Also, I have been fortunate enough to have many privileges handed my way, a safe and loving home, and positive role models. Some of these children have not had any of this. This is another barrier that I will need to put my bias aside and work closer with these children.
I find myself becoming more and more interested in working in a inner city school setting. Although I have grown up in a predominately English speaking society, predominately white area with predominately white schools, I in no way think of myself or find myself better than any of these students. I actually have started to feel as though these students have the upper hand. These students in this school are learning with peers of multiple different cultures, religions, races, life styles, and languages. The students in this school are experiencing interactions with real life. In reality everyone is different. Everyone has their own history, their own story, and their own future. I find it amazing that these children are able to interact with one another and set their differences aside in order to help each other succeed and reach a brighter future.
Before tutoring in this school I feel as though I was blind to the reality of the beauty in these inner city schools. I pictured myself working in the Elementary school I attended and living the life that I have known until today. Tutoring in the city has opened my eyes to new options.
I feel that these children in these inner city schools are desperate for help. They need the teachers that are willing to go above and beyond to teach them. Not only is this school environment an educational experience for the students, I feel these schools are educational and beneficial to the faculty also.
I have related this prompt and experiences to the theorist Johnson. Johnson writes about the issue of race and how racism and fear is still present. He believes that humans do not fear what is different but instead we are intrigued and interested in it. Johnson talks about diversity and how race is only an issue because we acknowledge it and create it to be an issue ourselves. The school I tutor in is extremely diverse. From the languages spoken, to the religions, clothing, races, and preferred food.. the children in this school all bring individuality to their classrooms and provide their classmates with first hand education and insights on how life is different for everyone. As future educators we need to cross this boarder of fearing the different. We need to open our eyes and accept all. Race is only present if we allow it to be. As future educators we need to break these barriers and allow all of our students the same feeling of equality and opportunities. We all come from somewhere different, but at the same time we all share this earth. In order to create a brighter future for ourselves, our families, and our students, we need to push all fears and judgments aside and work together as a whole.
Prompt 3& Shor.
As a future educator I strongly believe that it is important and critical to be aware and respectful of each student's individuality and specific needs. The chances of having a classroom where every single student is coming from the same cultural back round, has the same level of understanding, learning techniques, and is evenly matched up on abilities and overall educational expectations, is slim to none. As educators we need to have our eyes, minds, and hearts open to the differences in our students. In order to reach our students, we need to be able to create an educational atmosphere that will be comfortable, reassuring, and strong for each student.
Growing up I attended an Elementary, Middle, and High School where I found many of the children were able to relate to one another and had many if not all similarities at home. Although as I grew older and reached higher grades I did see the similarities started to fade and the students and cultures slowly grew more divers, overall I grew up pretty sheltered and oblivious to how different life is for others.
The school and classroom that I have been working in has opened my eyes to how different life really is for everybody. This school has students from different backgrounds, cultures, races, and life styles. Growing up this was something I was oblivious and unaware of. Although I have lived only 45minutes away from this area my entire life, our lives and experiences are extremely different. As an educator I need to be aware of these differences and be able to work with each student's story in order to successfully help and improve their lives.
In the classroom I am tutoring in I have observed that the teacher has taken some consideration in these children's wide variety of educational needs. She has created a schedule that gives each child enough time to work individually, in pairs, and with the class as a whole. I have noticed at times during different subjects she does step aside with some students to further explain and provide extra help. Although I have noticed her making some adjustments to these children's needs, I feel she is capable and should put more effort and time into creating the classroom a positive environment for each student.
The student's in this class clearly come from different life styles at home. Some of these children have a role model figure present while others do not. Some children have someone to work with them on school work at home while others do not. Some children have a safe, secure, healthy place to go home to while others do not. I feel that the teacher I observe and help out has either turned her back on these situations, or is worn out. The communication between the students and this classroom is more focused around discipline rather than understanding and equal respect.
I have noticed there are certain students in this class who are on top of their work and are often praised and shown as an example for the other students. At the same time I have noticed there is a hand full of students that struggle, cant focus, and need more help than others. I have observed that these students are often in trouble, being scolded, or simply sitting in their seats with looks on their face of grief, confusion, defeat, and failure. The way the teacher deals with these certain students is the complete opposite of what I would expect.
These children need more one on one time, more comfort and compassion. The way they are treated by their teacher, in my eyes, is just going to set these certain students up for hatred towards schooling and authorities.
Educators need to be aware and hold their eyes open to the differences in their students. I can imagine it may be exhausting at times, but as tired as we may feel.. these children are even more tired, worn, and in need to motivation and help. Creating a classroom with a syllabus and schedule that meets all students needs and abilities is a very difficult task. Nobody said life would be easy. Education is something today that needs to be wiped out and completely refocused. The glorious summers off and convenient work hours are not the aspects of teaching that should be drawing in future employees. The children, their lives, and the compassion, support, respect, and help they need is what is important.
Ira Shor comes to mind when thinking of these topics in the classroom. Ira Shor believes that education is something that students, educators, and society as a whole should participate in. Educators should teach students to question what is being taught, what view point books are written, and what exactly is right and wrong. He believes that education is something that should give students the chance to interact, think deeply, and have the chance to speak for themselves and develop their own believes on certain topics. Everyone is different. Humans are individuals. Not any two human on this earth share the same exact story as each other. As educators we need to allow our students to shine and succeed as individuals. We need to strive to educate and reach them any way possible. We need to show our students that their past is what makes them who they are, and their future is something they themselves can only determine. As educators we need to put all bias aside. We need to take a step back and create an educational atmosphere that gives each student the ability to reach a successful future and form their own personal views, thoughts, and goals while growing.
Growing up I attended an Elementary, Middle, and High School where I found many of the children were able to relate to one another and had many if not all similarities at home. Although as I grew older and reached higher grades I did see the similarities started to fade and the students and cultures slowly grew more divers, overall I grew up pretty sheltered and oblivious to how different life is for others.
The school and classroom that I have been working in has opened my eyes to how different life really is for everybody. This school has students from different backgrounds, cultures, races, and life styles. Growing up this was something I was oblivious and unaware of. Although I have lived only 45minutes away from this area my entire life, our lives and experiences are extremely different. As an educator I need to be aware of these differences and be able to work with each student's story in order to successfully help and improve their lives.
In the classroom I am tutoring in I have observed that the teacher has taken some consideration in these children's wide variety of educational needs. She has created a schedule that gives each child enough time to work individually, in pairs, and with the class as a whole. I have noticed at times during different subjects she does step aside with some students to further explain and provide extra help. Although I have noticed her making some adjustments to these children's needs, I feel she is capable and should put more effort and time into creating the classroom a positive environment for each student.
The student's in this class clearly come from different life styles at home. Some of these children have a role model figure present while others do not. Some children have someone to work with them on school work at home while others do not. Some children have a safe, secure, healthy place to go home to while others do not. I feel that the teacher I observe and help out has either turned her back on these situations, or is worn out. The communication between the students and this classroom is more focused around discipline rather than understanding and equal respect.
I have noticed there are certain students in this class who are on top of their work and are often praised and shown as an example for the other students. At the same time I have noticed there is a hand full of students that struggle, cant focus, and need more help than others. I have observed that these students are often in trouble, being scolded, or simply sitting in their seats with looks on their face of grief, confusion, defeat, and failure. The way the teacher deals with these certain students is the complete opposite of what I would expect.
These children need more one on one time, more comfort and compassion. The way they are treated by their teacher, in my eyes, is just going to set these certain students up for hatred towards schooling and authorities.
Educators need to be aware and hold their eyes open to the differences in their students. I can imagine it may be exhausting at times, but as tired as we may feel.. these children are even more tired, worn, and in need to motivation and help. Creating a classroom with a syllabus and schedule that meets all students needs and abilities is a very difficult task. Nobody said life would be easy. Education is something today that needs to be wiped out and completely refocused. The glorious summers off and convenient work hours are not the aspects of teaching that should be drawing in future employees. The children, their lives, and the compassion, support, respect, and help they need is what is important.
Ira Shor comes to mind when thinking of these topics in the classroom. Ira Shor believes that education is something that students, educators, and society as a whole should participate in. Educators should teach students to question what is being taught, what view point books are written, and what exactly is right and wrong. He believes that education is something that should give students the chance to interact, think deeply, and have the chance to speak for themselves and develop their own believes on certain topics. Everyone is different. Humans are individuals. Not any two human on this earth share the same exact story as each other. As educators we need to allow our students to shine and succeed as individuals. We need to strive to educate and reach them any way possible. We need to show our students that their past is what makes them who they are, and their future is something they themselves can only determine. As educators we need to put all bias aside. We need to take a step back and create an educational atmosphere that gives each student the ability to reach a successful future and form their own personal views, thoughts, and goals while growing.
Promt 2
The linguistic, ethnic, and sociocultural characteristics of the students in the classroom in which I am tutoring in are very different from not only my own, but from what I am used to and what I expected. The children in this classroom all come from a variety of different back rounds, speak other languages besides English, and are used to a life that is very different from the life I, myself am used to. I personally have attended schools where English was the dominant main language and majority if not all the students have grown up in English speaking families and familiar life styles. This classroom I am working in has opened my eyes to the differences in children's lives and how these differences play the main role in children's education and overall life.
All of the students in this classroom speak English and communicate well. Although they all can converse in English fluently, for many of these students English is their second or third language. Some of these children live in households where English is spoken very rarely if at all. This plays a roll in creating a communication barrier in this particular classroom. Yes, like I said before all of the children DO speak English and are able to communicate with their peers and the teacher. At the same time, because some of these children are only around the English language in school, some lessons, conversations, and interactions are found more difficult and frustrating for these children.
In this class I work with four specific students as their "Reading Buddy." These four students have fallen behind on their reading skills and are not up to speed with the rest of their classmates. Their fluency, understanding of the material, and recall methods are close to a full grade level below where they should be performing. As I spent more time with these children and have gotten to know them I have learned that two of them come from homes where the English language is only used amongst certain members in their house hold. I also learned that reading is something that these children are only working on in school. Once they leave school grounds the practice of reading and education in general is stopped until the next school day.
I related this to Goldenberg. Goldenberg talks about English Language Learners and the struggle with education. Many students who primarily speak a different language are more at risk at falling behind in school, struggling, and sadly even failing.
I have noticed that the ethnic and sociocultural characteristics throughout this classroom vary drastically. When I was in Elementary school I remember my classmates, the faculty, my friends, and I all had common life styles, beliefs, and characteristics growing up. Here in this school and classroom that I am working in, it is clear to me that each child has their own individual and in some cases, extremely different story. Usually I am working with these children early morning until their lunch time. I have noticed the huge variety in the lunches the children bring. Their differences aren't only among their taste buds. The simple characteristics as dress, speech, and social interactions are all different with each student. Some students come to class clean, put together, and appropriately dressed. While other students may come in the same outfit two or three days in a row, cold and dirty. It is clear that some of these children have it better than some others.
When looking at these aspects of this classroom, I have been able to not only agree with some of Goldenberg's viewpoints. But I have also been able to see, experience, and learn hands on what exactly Goldenberg is preaching. Every child has their own story. As educators we need to be aware of this, understand it, appreciate it, and work with each individual story as a tool in educating our students.
All of the students in this classroom speak English and communicate well. Although they all can converse in English fluently, for many of these students English is their second or third language. Some of these children live in households where English is spoken very rarely if at all. This plays a roll in creating a communication barrier in this particular classroom. Yes, like I said before all of the children DO speak English and are able to communicate with their peers and the teacher. At the same time, because some of these children are only around the English language in school, some lessons, conversations, and interactions are found more difficult and frustrating for these children.
In this class I work with four specific students as their "Reading Buddy." These four students have fallen behind on their reading skills and are not up to speed with the rest of their classmates. Their fluency, understanding of the material, and recall methods are close to a full grade level below where they should be performing. As I spent more time with these children and have gotten to know them I have learned that two of them come from homes where the English language is only used amongst certain members in their house hold. I also learned that reading is something that these children are only working on in school. Once they leave school grounds the practice of reading and education in general is stopped until the next school day.
I related this to Goldenberg. Goldenberg talks about English Language Learners and the struggle with education. Many students who primarily speak a different language are more at risk at falling behind in school, struggling, and sadly even failing.
I have noticed that the ethnic and sociocultural characteristics throughout this classroom vary drastically. When I was in Elementary school I remember my classmates, the faculty, my friends, and I all had common life styles, beliefs, and characteristics growing up. Here in this school and classroom that I am working in, it is clear to me that each child has their own individual and in some cases, extremely different story. Usually I am working with these children early morning until their lunch time. I have noticed the huge variety in the lunches the children bring. Their differences aren't only among their taste buds. The simple characteristics as dress, speech, and social interactions are all different with each student. Some students come to class clean, put together, and appropriately dressed. While other students may come in the same outfit two or three days in a row, cold and dirty. It is clear that some of these children have it better than some others.
When looking at these aspects of this classroom, I have been able to not only agree with some of Goldenberg's viewpoints. But I have also been able to see, experience, and learn hands on what exactly Goldenberg is preaching. Every child has their own story. As educators we need to be aware of this, understand it, appreciate it, and work with each individual story as a tool in educating our students.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Post 1
The school that I am doing my VIPS tutoring in is in a tricky location to find. The school itself does not have a private parking area. It is extremely close to another building and they share the parking that is available. When you park your car the school itself isn't in direct view. You need to walk through a blocked area in order to reach the main entrance. As soon as you reach the main doors there are many flyer's written in both English and Spanish. This was a clear sign to me that there would be many students, employees, and families in this school that are Spanish speaking. In order to enter the building you need to press a button that is located to the right of the door. As soon as you enter you noticed that the walls and hall ways are pretty bare. Every so often you will walk by a display of children's work or an bulletin board with information on events and meetings displayed.
The main office is dark and not as friendly as you would expect. The people working at the desks take little if any notice of your presence and continue with their work. I was glad to see that the classroom I will be working in is very different than the atmosphere of the office. As soon as I walked in the second grade classroom I noticed the rules and expectations displayed very clear in the center of the room. As I entered I noticed the different displays of children's work, educational posters, and a display of the current weeks spelling words and educational goals and tasks. I also noticed that the children did not sit at individual desks, instead they were sharing larger tables with about four or five other students. The tops of the tables seemed very unorganized and the children's work was sloppily placed in piles. I can only imagine how difficult it is to stay focused and on task in such an unorganized and distracting environment.
The teacher that I am working with seems very stern and loud. She seems to have a strong hold over the children and I noticed more negative reinforcement being used than positive. The students all seemed to be very enthusiastic and excited to be in school. At this moment they were working on individual work that they needed to complete and have checked before lunch time. The teacher seemed to be more focused on her own things at her desk rather than keeping the children on task and providing help if needed. I found myself walking around and helping the students on my own. They seemed slightly caught off guard by receiving help and reinforcement, it was shocking and slightly sad to observe. Many of the children seemed to have a hard time staying on task and completing their work. The teacher would often scold the class on the noise level and point out a different child who is working correctly or in some cases a child who was far behind on their work and not doing what was expected from them.
As a reading buddy for this classroom I work separately and off to the side with three individual students who are behind on their reading skills. The three children I work with seemed very excited to step aside and take part in the activities and lessons I would be doing with them. I have noticed slight changes in their performance once they felt comfortable and confident.
This school seems to be very key on respect and meeting the standards of what is expected from you. I also saw this in the classroom. Although I saw many things that I felt were negative towards the children's learning experience, I feel this school and classroom are striving to provide the students with the best education possible. I look forward to continuing to work with these students and gain knowledge for my future career as a elementary school teacher.
The main office is dark and not as friendly as you would expect. The people working at the desks take little if any notice of your presence and continue with their work. I was glad to see that the classroom I will be working in is very different than the atmosphere of the office. As soon as I walked in the second grade classroom I noticed the rules and expectations displayed very clear in the center of the room. As I entered I noticed the different displays of children's work, educational posters, and a display of the current weeks spelling words and educational goals and tasks. I also noticed that the children did not sit at individual desks, instead they were sharing larger tables with about four or five other students. The tops of the tables seemed very unorganized and the children's work was sloppily placed in piles. I can only imagine how difficult it is to stay focused and on task in such an unorganized and distracting environment.
The teacher that I am working with seems very stern and loud. She seems to have a strong hold over the children and I noticed more negative reinforcement being used than positive. The students all seemed to be very enthusiastic and excited to be in school. At this moment they were working on individual work that they needed to complete and have checked before lunch time. The teacher seemed to be more focused on her own things at her desk rather than keeping the children on task and providing help if needed. I found myself walking around and helping the students on my own. They seemed slightly caught off guard by receiving help and reinforcement, it was shocking and slightly sad to observe. Many of the children seemed to have a hard time staying on task and completing their work. The teacher would often scold the class on the noise level and point out a different child who is working correctly or in some cases a child who was far behind on their work and not doing what was expected from them.
As a reading buddy for this classroom I work separately and off to the side with three individual students who are behind on their reading skills. The three children I work with seemed very excited to step aside and take part in the activities and lessons I would be doing with them. I have noticed slight changes in their performance once they felt comfortable and confident.
This school seems to be very key on respect and meeting the standards of what is expected from you. I also saw this in the classroom. Although I saw many things that I felt were negative towards the children's learning experience, I feel this school and classroom are striving to provide the students with the best education possible. I look forward to continuing to work with these students and gain knowledge for my future career as a elementary school teacher.
About me!
Hello!
My name is Jessica. I am currently a student at Rhode Island College. I just transferred here from the University of Rhode Island so this is my first semester at this college. I am studying to become an Elementary and special eduction teacher. So far this semester I enjoy the classes I am enrolled in. Through my FNED346 class I am tutoring second graders through a program called VIPS. So far I have personally enjoyed this experience.
Besides going to school I also work at an in home daycare in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. I love working with children and can't wait to start my future career as an educator.
My name is Jessica. I am currently a student at Rhode Island College. I just transferred here from the University of Rhode Island so this is my first semester at this college. I am studying to become an Elementary and special eduction teacher. So far this semester I enjoy the classes I am enrolled in. Through my FNED346 class I am tutoring second graders through a program called VIPS. So far I have personally enjoyed this experience.
Besides going to school I also work at an in home daycare in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. I love working with children and can't wait to start my future career as an educator.
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