My field experience has been wonderful! I've enjoyed every moment in the classroom learning more about 3rd grade. Today we had a substitute in charge of class, she is such a sweet lady! She was really good about connecting with the students, being positive and upbeat, and treating every student with kindness. Today I had a different opportunity to help in the classroom. As the substitute teacher was reading aloud to the class her allergies kicked in and put her into a bad coughing fit. Because of this she had a difficult time talking and continued to cough until her allergy medicine kicked in, but until that time I was able to instruct the class on what they needed to do with their homework and planners, and was able to read to the later gaters. As I read to the later gaters, we were suppose to stop after every page and point out key meanings in the book. I was able to discuss with the class about different key points in the book with the students. The sub's voice finally came back and we were able to work together to teach. It was a great experience to help where I was needed and see how I do in the teacher's role for about 15-20 mins.
Right before I started reading, one of the students in the class told me that he thought I was going to be a great teacher someday. That made me feel so happy!
Afterwards I read with a few students individually in the hall. I am so excited whenever I get to interact with the students and I can tell that they enjoy it as well.
From my field work experience I have learned that children and so curious about their world and want to understand how things work. They have big imaginations and sweet spirits. I've learned that being a teacher includes many different roles and that it's certainly not an easy profession, although I understand more about the great rewards that come with teaching students. Through this experience I have even grown to care for many of the students in the class that I see every week, and don't really want to stop volunteering!
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Thursday, November 7, 2013
Classroom Rules and Procedures
Today in the 3rd grade classroom, I noticed a couple things that the teacher does to enforce classroom rules. She always give them praise if they are doing something right. For example, if they are listening, raising their hand before they speak, and effectively following directions she will thank them for their good behavior. Every child wants to be praised, so eventually more and more children will make good choices so they can be recognized for their good behavior as well. The teacher also mentioned another thing she does to enforce classroom rules which is to set routines. If the students understand what they need to be doing and know the next activity or assignment they are less likely to get in trouble and more likely to follow directions and not fool around. She recently started a new rewards system as well. If a student does something correctly or has good behavior they are given a "penny" which is a paper version of a penny. She has a classroom store with many different items which costs a certain amount of pennies. If a child makes a wrong choice they owe her a penny from their stash.
The teacher has many different procedures that she does to help the class run smoothly. She has the children always raise their hands to make a comment so no child is speaking over another. When everyone is listening together at the big rug she gives instruction for a small period of time, then allows the children to repeat the instructions to their neighbor which allows them to engage with each other and recall their responsibilities. When talking time is over, she counts down from 5 to 1 allowing the children to finish their thoughts and reach silence by 1. The children are very good about being completely quiet again by 1. She mentioned that transitions can be the most difficult time to make the class run smoothly. At the beginning of the school year, she use to wear a stop watch around her neck and time the children on how long it took them to get from one thing to another. She would tell them their time and challenge them to make it even shorter. This motivated to children to see what their shortest time could be. As weeks went on she would slowly stop using the stop watch, but by that time the students were use to making speedy and productive transitions between activities.
The teacher has many different procedures that she does to help the class run smoothly. She has the children always raise their hands to make a comment so no child is speaking over another. When everyone is listening together at the big rug she gives instruction for a small period of time, then allows the children to repeat the instructions to their neighbor which allows them to engage with each other and recall their responsibilities. When talking time is over, she counts down from 5 to 1 allowing the children to finish their thoughts and reach silence by 1. The children are very good about being completely quiet again by 1. She mentioned that transitions can be the most difficult time to make the class run smoothly. At the beginning of the school year, she use to wear a stop watch around her neck and time the children on how long it took them to get from one thing to another. She would tell them their time and challenge them to make it even shorter. This motivated to children to see what their shortest time could be. As weeks went on she would slowly stop using the stop watch, but by that time the students were use to making speedy and productive transitions between activities.
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