As I sat in the back of the second grade classroom on Monday, I could not help but to relate things back to our EDUC 250 class. Yes, I know this was the point of the visit. However, I did not imagine it would come so naturally. I found myself relating everything back to the NCTCS standards from the teacher's actions to even the decorations in the classroom. This class has truly put me in the mindset of a future teacher by allowing me to view things in a new light.
The first thing I realized as I walked into the class I was to observe were the decorations all around the room. In my opinion they aligned with standard 4, facilitating learning. The decorations prepared the scene for facilitation of learning. I believe this is just as important because the students need to be an environment that encourages them to learn. She had student work displayed all through-out the room. This helps the students to reflect on what they have already done and also encourages them to keep growing to replace that work with new work. Her classroom was engaging for students and even made me excited about what they were about to learn.
Another observation that I made while in the classroom is the setup of the room. She had the students seated in groups to allow for collaborative learning. She had her small group table strategically placed at the back of the room so she could keep an eye on her classroom during the different small groups. This aligns with the leadership standard because she was able to conduct a small group and control her classroom simultaneously. Her small groups also displayed diversity in the classroom. One group was using technology, another used white boards, and another used cards to play a math game. Each small group exposed the children to the same material just presented in a new way. This is crucial in a classroom because students cannot dwell too long on one topic without becoming bored. This allowed the students to keep learning while staying engaged.
Overall this experience was very influential. I never imagined I would actually see second graders be handed iPod touches and for them to remain on topic. However, this teacher had established her rules and position as the leader in the classroom and the students respected her for that. I walked away from this experience knowing that this is something I must do as a future teacher. I am typically a person who handles issues as they come. However, in teaching this will be much different because it will be beneficial to address possible issues at the beginning to avoid this as a distraction later.
Colleen,
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with your post. I knew going into it that there would be something for me to take away but it was easy for me to make connections back to things we have discussed in class. I also saw a lot of leadership throughout the class I observed because of the way desks were placed. I think this is huge for teachers because its a really good way to keep an eye on things at all times. Although the class I observed didn't use that kind of technology, it was really neat to hear you guys talk about how what they tell us in class is really the real world today.
Stephanie Blackwell
I am glad that you are able to see what we are learning in class and are able to relate it to our observation hours in the school. I can definitely see teachers displaying these qualities in their class rooms by walking around and helping their students on their guided practice.
ReplyDeleteColleen,
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post! I really appreciate how you approached the recap of your first observation. The level at which you connected the NCTCs and the observation is awesome! You are already making those deep connections that are so crucial to your development as a teacher! Keep making these connections!
JP