Field Study 1

During the months of September and October this semester I spent time at two different schools in four different classrooms. Being able to observe different classes and teachers at Westside Junior High and South Live Oak Elementary was a very new and exciting experience for me since I can’t say I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. My experiences at these schools gave me a better insight into the differences between schools, classrooms, and teachers. The purpose of this field experience was to get 10 observation or tutoring hours in an elementary or junior high setting. I chose to observe a

1. Review text pages 137–139 in Chapter 4. These pages cover step 9 in the planning process, assessing the social context of negotiation.

The teaching environment and how a classroom is set out can have an effect on the children; have a well organised classroom with clear instructions of how to use materials and equipment as this can help them have the confidence to try things for themselves.

It is important to foster a learning environment in which students feel safe, relaxed, secure, confident and valued (Gravells A 2012 pg25) especially for learners who may have had negative experiences in traditional classroom environments. Students often describe supportive learning environments as expanding their sense of family and enhancing their self-esteem, which, when combined with increased literacy skills, help students take more chances in pursuing their goals.

The teacher must know how to set the tone for the classroom and ensure that it is a productive learning environment. The teacher wants to avoid anything that would provoke them negatively as well as the students. At the same time, they must know what is needed to reinforce good behavior.

A supportive learning environment should be purposeful and task orientated, where the tutor emphasises the need to progress steadily. This can be done by starting lessons promptly, creating a smooth flow to the lesson, involving pupils and monitoring their progression and organisation. A positive effort should be made to ensure pupils have or build on self-respect and esteem by setting realistic opportunities for success and helpful support and encouragement whenever difficulties arise.

Probably the biggest influence to children in a classroom is their teacher. A good teacher will know their pupils, their needs, what interests them and their aspirations. A successful classroom will have well planned lessons in an environment which encourages learning and does not disrupt pupils. A teacher needs to attract a lesson to pupils, making it age relevant and suited to any needs they might have, for example special educational needs. A teacher will also understand their pupils learn in different ways and this is very important to keep pupils interested in the lesson and wanting to learn. The teacher knowing their pupils different learning styles could be the success or failure to their education. A pupil who is loud will not best learn in a quiet classroom environment, they would want to be a bit more “hands on” in learning activities. The importance of these three things together; teacher, lesson plans, and learning styles will be the success or non-success of a classroom. They can together create a positive, motivated environment to influence and encourage children to

Solid classroom management/community. Have you ever been in a classroom that could “run itself”? It probably belonged to an outstanding teacher. Phenomenal teachers craft a classroom that is a community, where all learners are able to grow in relationships, knowledge, and maturity. Systems are in place to make the classroom run smoothly so that time can be spent on more important things than where to put homework in the morning.

Respect: as a professional, respect should be demonstrated in your work, attitude, and communication with others. One way to gain the attention of your students is by creating an atmosphere of respect. This will then create a relation among you and the student that will keep the student engage and enthusiastic to learn. Generally building up an atmosphere of appreciation makes your students feel welcome and acknowledged in your classroom. Students who see themselves as regarded notwithstanding their learning contrasts are best ready to profit by distinctive chances to learn (Moore et al., 2011).

attitude to learn. Students should also prepare for tests and do the homework to help

On my level 1B fieldwork experience this October I went to a school based setting. Occupational therapy in a school based setting involves the therapist working with children who qualify for an individualized education program (IEP). These children must be in the age range of three to twenty one, and have a disability that effects their education in order to qualify for the IEP. The IEP allows the student to receive services from the school based team which may consist of an occupational, physical, and speech therapist depending on the child’s needs. The children who have an IEP work on skills that help them participate in school related

It is important to be reasonable and maintain realistic ideals and goals in the classroom. Understanding that you cannot always make all students happy and enjoy learning all the time is crucial because although teachers want students to enjoy learning, it is not realistic for students to always give positive feedback, but that does not mean you are not doing a fantastic job. It is also crucial to organize your life and understand that you may not have time for much else outside of the classroom and lesson planning, especially during the first year. It is important to plan on spending the majority of your time preparing lessons for your classroom. It is also important to understand that although you should always be prepared before class,

want the atmosphere of my classroom to reflect this it is important that the class follows

2) Create a safe classroom environment. Develop rules and procedures which provide a structured environment rich in routine and shared expectations. Develop and enforce rules prohibiting sarcastic, degrading, and berating remarks and comments by students directed at other students. In my classroom I implemented a "No Hunting" rule. No student may physically or verbally hurt another. Additionally, learn to use positive reinforcement instead of negative reinforcement to correct student behaviors. Lastly, provide copious amounts of praise and reinforcement for student risk taking. Become an advocate for each of your students. Take time out to let each student know how well they are doing. This could take the form of a short handwritten note on their papers, or verbal comment. The key is to focus on the students ' positive attributes and aid the student in developing an increased level of self-esteem.

There are many things needed to create an environment more conducive to learning for each student, some of which include: