Before arriving for my second week of placements I was quite excited to finally see my students again. I could see from the students faces a since of recognition and happiness when they saw me enter the classroom.
One thing that I noticed my teacher do when trying to gain the attention of the class, she would ask them to give her five. That means she raises her hand and expects them to follow suite. I like this method because instead of yelling out she uses a quiet yet effective method. Another teaching technique that my teacher uses with her students is she tells them to further explain their answers to questions. Instead of one worded answers she asks them to expand on that thought. I also noticed my teacher taking on another hand on approach with science curriculum. The lesson for the day was on magnets so she passed around a couple of rocks and asked the what had to be in the rocks in order for them to attract the magnets.
I had a very interesting conversation with my teacher about the change in common core standards specifically in the area of math. The 4th grade teachers are having to work backwards and to go back to multiplication and division but student's now have to explain how the operations work by using different explanations. The explained to me her frustration with this new method and the changing that she has to do in her teaching after 20 years. As I watched the students working on their math I knew that it was very challenging for many of them. I do not remember learning what they were learning at that age. She even went on to mention the ISAP and that everything that they were covering would be on the the test. The pressure of these tests are too much for students to handle, it annoys me that these test are weighed so heavily in the Education system.
One thing that I learned that can apply to Education 203 is that we never stop learning. Although my teacher has been teaching for 20 years she is still in the process of learning and developing new methods of how to teach her students.
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Monday, October 7, 2013
Day #1: October 3, 2013 Field Experience
To be honest before arriving to my placement the main emotion that I felt was nervousness. Most of the experience I have working with students is from Kindergarten to 2nd grade but 4th grade this was a whole new crew. After I was introduced to the class and took my seat in the back I began to observe the class.
Right away I knew that this 4th grade class was no different then my own years ago. The two subjects that I was apart of were science and math. One activity that I really liked that the teacher had her students do was a model of a series circuit and a parallel circuit. They formed a circle and held hands demonstrating electricity running through both a series and parallel circuit. I think anytime a hands on model can be done in the classroom it's generally beneficial because many students learn best with a visual representation.
One thing that I thought was interesting was how the teachers choose to do math. Instead of having only their students, the students were transferred to a different 4th grade teacher. At the beginning of the year the students took a pre-test to see where they were in math. They were broken up into about 3 different categories; enrichment, average, and advanced. I think that my teacher taught the average students; the teachers rotate which group they are teaching. The students were learning multiplication and division factor families. One of the activities that they did and seemed to enjoy was a team game. The teacher divided them into groups of 4 or 5; each team received a white board, marker, and eraser. She wrote down three numbers on the board and the objective of the game was for the students to write the factor family on their board while working as a team. I like that the teacher reminded them that the activity was just for fun and that it didn't matter who won or who lost.
A way that my first day applied to Education 203 is that we can learn from our students. Although 4th graders are young and still have a long ways before they're adults; I feel as though I can still learn from them. They know how to be excited and to be goofy, sometimes this gets lost as we become adults but that doesn't mean that it's not important.
The students were very excited to share with me about the books that they were reading. I loved their enthusiasm! It is great that students are excited to read and enjoy talking about books. It seemed as though having class time to read was a treat for them.
I'm excited to go back for day #2 with my 4th grade class!
Right away I knew that this 4th grade class was no different then my own years ago. The two subjects that I was apart of were science and math. One activity that I really liked that the teacher had her students do was a model of a series circuit and a parallel circuit. They formed a circle and held hands demonstrating electricity running through both a series and parallel circuit. I think anytime a hands on model can be done in the classroom it's generally beneficial because many students learn best with a visual representation.
One thing that I thought was interesting was how the teachers choose to do math. Instead of having only their students, the students were transferred to a different 4th grade teacher. At the beginning of the year the students took a pre-test to see where they were in math. They were broken up into about 3 different categories; enrichment, average, and advanced. I think that my teacher taught the average students; the teachers rotate which group they are teaching. The students were learning multiplication and division factor families. One of the activities that they did and seemed to enjoy was a team game. The teacher divided them into groups of 4 or 5; each team received a white board, marker, and eraser. She wrote down three numbers on the board and the objective of the game was for the students to write the factor family on their board while working as a team. I like that the teacher reminded them that the activity was just for fun and that it didn't matter who won or who lost.
A way that my first day applied to Education 203 is that we can learn from our students. Although 4th graders are young and still have a long ways before they're adults; I feel as though I can still learn from them. They know how to be excited and to be goofy, sometimes this gets lost as we become adults but that doesn't mean that it's not important.
The students were very excited to share with me about the books that they were reading. I loved their enthusiasm! It is great that students are excited to read and enjoy talking about books. It seemed as though having class time to read was a treat for them.
I'm excited to go back for day #2 with my 4th grade class!
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Giggles, Laughs and Good Times!
This following is a reflection on my second trip to Circle Urban Ministries on October 4, 2013:
Before arriving to Circle Urban on October 4th I thought I knew what to expect but little did I know. A few of us were given the option to work with the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students; I jumped at the opportunity. "Finally!" I thought to myself "I can work with the younger kids." When we finally walked into the room full of 4th, 5th and 6th graders I knew the day would be an adventure! As I looked around the classroom filled with about twenty boys and seven girls between the ages of 8-12 years old I knew that we were in for a journey. The table that I worked with was a group of three fourth grade boys.As I walked closer to their table I could already hear their giggles and see their smiling faces. Here we go I told myself as I took a seat.
The 4th grade boys that I worked with were a far cry in terms of maturity from the 7th and 8th grade students that I worked with my first day at Circle Urban. But on thing that was consistent is there goofiness and lightheartedness. They could still smile and laugh despite what might be happening in their environment. Their happiness reciprocated to me by the end of our time at Circle Urban I could laugh with them. One of my favorite experiences of the day was when I went over to a table of 4th and 5th girls that were planning a wedding. I even gave them the ok to plan my own future wedding and they persisted in asking me questions on my wedding colors, bridesmaids, and cakes. They then went on to ask me which One Direction boy I want to marry and offered me their opinions of each one. They reminded me so much of myself at that age and I loved every minute of being with them.
One thing that I have learned in Education 203 that I felt applied perfectly to my day at Circle Urban is the importance of loving our students. What I admired so much about working with the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders is the instructor that worked with them she was firm and had complete control over the class but still knew how to smile and laugh.
Before arriving to Circle Urban on October 4th I thought I knew what to expect but little did I know. A few of us were given the option to work with the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students; I jumped at the opportunity. "Finally!" I thought to myself "I can work with the younger kids." When we finally walked into the room full of 4th, 5th and 6th graders I knew the day would be an adventure! As I looked around the classroom filled with about twenty boys and seven girls between the ages of 8-12 years old I knew that we were in for a journey. The table that I worked with was a group of three fourth grade boys.As I walked closer to their table I could already hear their giggles and see their smiling faces. Here we go I told myself as I took a seat.
The 4th grade boys that I worked with were a far cry in terms of maturity from the 7th and 8th grade students that I worked with my first day at Circle Urban. But on thing that was consistent is there goofiness and lightheartedness. They could still smile and laugh despite what might be happening in their environment. Their happiness reciprocated to me by the end of our time at Circle Urban I could laugh with them. One of my favorite experiences of the day was when I went over to a table of 4th and 5th girls that were planning a wedding. I even gave them the ok to plan my own future wedding and they persisted in asking me questions on my wedding colors, bridesmaids, and cakes. They then went on to ask me which One Direction boy I want to marry and offered me their opinions of each one. They reminded me so much of myself at that age and I loved every minute of being with them.
One thing that I have learned in Education 203 that I felt applied perfectly to my day at Circle Urban is the importance of loving our students. What I admired so much about working with the 4th, 5th, and 6th graders is the instructor that worked with them she was firm and had complete control over the class but still knew how to smile and laugh.
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