Testing day for the students

On our last visit to the elementary, my class had to take a test that determined their level of skill in the English Language on the computer. Making a class of curious second graders take an online test  along with the mishaps technology brings  proved to have its challenges. First, the computers were being slow and not logging the students into the test. The computers also kept turning off. My teacher, the teacher in charge of administering the test, and I had to go around logging the students back in and hoping the second or third time around technology would work with us. I realized that when working with technology it is very important to maintain patience and clearly tell the students what is asked of them so they don't let their curious side take over. Since starting the test took so long, my teacher asked me to take the class on a restroom break. At first, I was a bit nervous since I did not know if the students saw me as an authoritative figure. However, I was amazed at how well behaved they were and proud that they listened to me and followed directions. I felt like I had control over my class. Once we were able to start the test, my teacher read some sample questions and finally the students were off on their own. I noticed that some students found it easier than others. Tests like these make it clear that at an elementary level there is a prominent gap between the skill level of students within one class. Knowing this allows my teacher to adapt  her teaching style for the better of the whole class. In class we learned about test taking and grades. I was able to see how standardized tests can help determine at what level each student is at. The tests my teacher gives the students also do the same but they test a specific topic they are on. Also, grades are earned and not given. Now that the year is on its way to the end, the students are being tested more often. I'm so excited to get back in the classroom and work with the students on a more one-on-one level, and keep learning from my teacher.

Objectives in the Classroom

Yesterday at the school, my teacher worked on math and social studies with the students. The day began with my teacher passing out a math test. After practicing fraction problems by making a "Fraction Book," my teacher passed out a practice test to evaluate their level of comprehension. The test was meant to show whether or not the students knew the material. She was going to grade them expecting 90% accuracy. This will help the teacher see what she has to change to better the learning experience of the students.  Once the test was done, we moved on to social studies. The objective was to learn about heroes of different time periods in American history. The students created a heroe book and had write down important facts about the person and why they chose them as their favorite heroe. The students also drew pictures reflecting on what they wrote. The teacher was going to grade them by the content written with very high accuracy. Throughout the week, we studied how to write and indentify objectives. Taking with me this knowledge I was able to see my teacher placing her objectives in action. These past nine weeks have been different than last semester. First, I am able to experience all the core subjects being taught. Second, I feel like my teacher allows me to be more involved in the classroom. I can't wait to see what the last nine weeks will bring at the elementary.

Something that has been different this semester is the fact that I get to experience various subjects the students learn in school. I thought I wouldn't like this new change, because I enjoyed working with the kids on my favorite subject, English. However, the more I get to work with the students on social studies and math, the more I enjoy it. I get to learn how the teacher apporaches and introduces different aspects of history. For example, the students have been learning about heroes of the past and making connections to their own lives. It's also nice to see how my teacher appreciates my help and allows me to work more and take more control in the class. I feel like I've been giving more range to work with the kids. Yesterday, I also did paperwork type work for my teacher. I was making folders out of paper and staples. It was so much fun because I felt like a teacher. The more I go to the school, the more I feel like teaching is what I really want to do.

Part 1
Yesterday, I was able to see a different part of my 2nd grade class. My teacher began the day with social studies and later science. I got to see these two subejects begin taught, something last semester I did not. It was interesting seeing how social studies and science is presented to an elementary class. While the class worked on a social studies worksheet, I helped the student who I helped last time. I felt really good knowing I was making a difference in this students educational life. Then, I was able to teach alongside my teacher on the Activeboard. I was nervous, but felt comfortable in front of the classroom. I got the students involved in learning some habitats for animals. I felt like it was a very productive day.


Part 2
As we move on to the work force, being prompt can be the difference between being an outstanding employee and being fired. The importance of instilling promptness at an early age begins in school. The rising problem the school was having with chronic tardiness made the school have to come up with a new tardy policy. The policy states that, no matter the excuse, if you are caught in the hallway after the bell  has rung you will be put in ISS for the remainder of the day. The contraversy this rule has had begs the question of whether or not this extreme measure is effective or not. As a teaher, tardiness cannot be acceptable. Yes, there are those students who view the bell system as a mere suggestion to get to class. Having this severe consequence has had an effect on students. As soon as the bell rings, most students begin heading to class, and when the two-minute bell rings, the school practically becomes a race to get to class. No one wants to spend the day in ISS for a tardy, which does make students prefer to follow the bell system. I believe that from a teachers perspective, this system is working. While it may be a little harsh, it gets the job done. Some students don't follow procedures unless there is something bigger at stake. On the other hand, there are those students who don't care either way and continue their chronic tardiness. These students then begin to miss their classes, which as a teacher would concern me. However, this percentage of students is small and most decide that the smart thing to follow the rule. Teachers experience less tardies and begin the class with no interuptions and ready to get to work. In my opinion, the "no excuses" attitude for being tardy is a bit obssesive. Sometimes there are things out of our control, such as traffic. Yet, it seems like this new policy has had an effect on students. As anything new, the policy might need certain modifications, however, as a teacher, the reduced number of tardies will make for a classroom that runs much smoother and students who follow the procedure.

In class, we have been studying what Harry Wong has to say about being an effective teacher and how prodecures will allow for a teacher to run a succesful classroom. What I found interesting the last time I went to the elementary was that my teacher had Harry Wong's book on being an effective teacher. I began to really notice how she handles the classroom and spotted different procedures she has in place. Something new I saw last Thursday was seeing the students get ready to take a test. My teacher instructed them to clear everything off their desk and be in ready position, which was having both arms on the desk and sitting properly. Next, she handed out the dividers to give each student their space and discourage them from looking some place other than their test. When she saw that everyone was ready, she passed out the test. They, as a class, filled out the name and date and put their pencils down when they were ready. Finally, the teacher instructed them to begin the test. After they were done, they were instructed to check over their work. Lastly, the students raised their hands so the teacher could pick up the test. She had a list of things to do after each t5he test was done, so the students knew exactly what they were expected to do. I found this procedure very effective because the students followed each step and were ready to work. Other small procedures Ive seen my teacher implement is when the students move from the reading carpet to the desk or vice versa. She begins by getting their attention with the signal they've learned and instructing them table by table to go to the designated area. From what I've seen, I think my teacher has a good hold of the students. They seem to follow procedures and intructions.

I was very excited walking in to my classroom yesterday. The kids as soon as they saw me greeted me enthusiastically. I will admit that at first I didn't think they would like me simply because they had another student for their class last semester. Yesterday also presented itself with how a teacher must accommodate with different challenges the day might bring. For example, my teacher relies heavily on the Active board. All of her flip charts and notes are on the system, but yesterday it decided to stop working. She tried for a few minutes to get it to work, but when she realized there was no use she directed the class in a different direction. Instead, she handed out copies of a text and the students began to read over it and paraphrase what they had read. As a teacher, it is good to introduce and use different technologies in the classroom, however, since it can also be very  unreliable it is good to plan for when things don't work out a certain way. I was most excited when I was able to work with two kids individually. These students fall behind the rest of the class. Their ability to read and write are not as high up. I worked with them and helped them get their thoughts in order by asking them to tell me things they had learned. Then I helped them write by sounding off whatever word they did not know how to write.Sometimes it was difficult for them, but I managed to keep them focus and try their best. It was  great knowing I was helping these two students be able to succeed in the classroom and that my teacher trusted me to do this.

Part 1
We learned the importance of drills to practice how we should react under those circumstances. Yesterday, we experienced an unplanned fire drill. All the seniors were at the assembly, while the lower grade levels were in their study halls. The students and teachers who were in their classroom knew exactly the procedure to follow. They headed to their their designated areas, while the teachers maintained order as to where their class was. As I has heading outside, I even saw some classes that were lined up oputside. However, the seniors that were in the auditorium had to follow a different kind of procedure. The handful of teachers didnt have a roster to know where exactly their students were. Also, we just headed outside without sticking with our class. It wasn't too chaotic, but we did move slightly slowly considering it could have been a real fire. That's just because there are only two exits in the auditorium. After the fire drill, we all headed back to the assembly. Considering the circumstances, I believe the fire drill went well because we still knew the procedure.

Part 2
Our guest speaker discussed how prominent stereotypes are. People guide themselves by what they see and judge a person before spending the time to get to know them. We have all been a part of this. It is really easy to simply stereotype a person especially when we know nothing about them. I think in these times, stereotyping has become more evident in school and everywhere. Minorities are usually seen as uneducated or lazy. In most cases, it is quite the opposite. It is important to make an attempt to stop stereotyping in order to reduce hostility among dirrefent groups of people and instead try to become a more unified community. instead of judging people based on myths we've heard, we should treat each person as what they are, an individual with different strengths and weaknesses. reducing steroetypes will open our eyes to see the potential of each person and not shut them down before even knowing them. Stereotypes hinder each group from moving forward.