Miscobstivation In The Obsergarten Classroom

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

Having discovered my calling to work with nontraditional students, I took a position with St. Charles Youth and Family Services as a Teacher of Experiential Education. This position allowed me to interact with urban students from MPS who were expelled, court ordered or Special Education students who were deemed best suited to self-contained program. I loved the challenge every day. Every student was so different, but they all wanted and craved the same thing… acceptance and unconditional love. I wanted more.

I observed the preschool classroom of Ms. K. Today was a smaller group, as several children are on vacation. This is a new facility and just the host teacher was in there at this time. I came into the classroom at 8:00 and left at 9:00. I spoke with the host teacher before and after the observation for feedback, which I felt was beneficial to both her and me. I observed the children during inside for 20 minutes. I observed the children during outside play for 40 minutes.

I was placed in a 2nd grade classroom at Bailly Elementary School for about 9 weeks. Bailly Elementary is a public school within the Duneland School Corporation of Indiana. It supports Kindergarten through 4th grade students, and currently serves about 450 students in 20 classrooms, one of which is a hearing-impaired class. The grade levels themselves are contained in separate parts of the building, each consisting of around 4 to 5 classrooms, similar to a pod-style layout. It has a counseling center for students to utilize at will and is equipped with aides and other specialists as needed. The facility has a full-sized library and gymnasium, along with a computer lab, and cafeteria.

The school had a friendly atmosphere about it and seemed very much like a big family as it had strong outside support from many parent helpers who voluntarily came in often providing extra help.  While there I feel I built up a good working relationship with both

Visiting Elizabeth Davis Middle will allow me to see the job being done. Being at the school will allow me to see the job being done from another perspective, the teacher’s. I will be able to see how a teacher plans their lessons from start to finish. This will allow me to see how a teacher decides what do with each of their classes. Not only will I observe the planning portion, but I will also see the teaching being done in class. Observing a class will allow me to see how a teacher handles classroom management and how they are able to perform engaging lessons for their students. Not only will this benefit me, but It will also benefit the teacher. It helps

By taking children to visit a new school before they start, it will give them a better awareness of the environment that they will be studying in. It may also give them the opportunity to meet other children at the school and make some friends during the visit.

I was lucky enough to get to observe two of my children through this observation assignment. My three year old daughter who attends preschool at Temple Tots, here in Portsmouth. Also my youngest son, who is in second grade at Portsmouth West Elementary School. I really enjoyed the observations, and not just because my children were there. Reading and trying to imagine what a classroom is really like is more difficult than it would seem. Actually getting to be present during school and feeling the atmosphere created is a completely different experience.

During my second scheduled observation, I was observed doing several things with the whole group. First I lined up the class and walked with the class to and from their bathroom break. I had students meet me at the carpet for a quick math fluency. This fluency involved up one/ down one. Then I had students go back to their seats and I guided them through rocket math. The last activity I did with the class that was observed, was a math application problem that was to be completed in student math journals. I had students solve a problem in their journals, and called a student up to come share their work with the class.

This week I attended all five days of block teaching. Monday was a boring day, because the students were learning the basics of PARCC testing. I just sat there and observed while they took their practice test. The rest of the week Tuesday through Friday I got to teach! I taught my mini unit on the civil rights movement. It was a four day unit and the students really enjoyed it. Having the opportunity to have complete control for four whole days was amazing and a great learning experience for time management. I was able to go at my own pace and my lessons were able to spill over into the next day (this happened a few times). It was so refreshing to not feel rushed and the students got to learn more at their own pace. I really got the feel for classroom management and how planning for a whole week feels like.

Conducting Field Observations was a wonderful opportunity for me. The school at which I did my observation is Williamsburg Montessori School (WMS). Located in the beautiful riverfront school building at Schaefer Landing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, the Williamsburg Montessori School serves parents of children from three (3) months to six (6) years of age. The neighborhood in which the school is located is very quiet and is populated by a variety of people from different ethnic backgrounds, Black, White, Asian, etc. Across from the school, constructors could be seen working on new buildings, in addition to the already established condominiums that dominate the community. There were people walking about their business. Others walked their pets while some cycled back and forth pass the school.

The beginning of class had a somber tone for the first time this semester. The news stunned our class, along with the entire world, with the announcement of Donald Trump as President. How alarming was that decision, especially during a time when the focus of our class contradicts the Vice President’s belief of equality for the LGBTQ community? It broke my heart to see my professor cry, sensing that a level of power and civil rights for a large population is now in jeopardy.

I began my journey at Glascock County Consolidated School when I was three years old. At the time, my mother was teaching fifth grade science, so all of the “big kids” knew me and treated me like a little sister. I have many memories from my years at GCCS; from helping put up bulletin boards, to decorating for the annual pageant, to playing hide and seek with my brother throughout the school during the summer as my mother prepared her science lab. Every classroom I walk into has a memory tied to it. I have grown up in the hallways of GCCS, and I could not be more grateful.

My first inclination is to verify with my supervisor if I can join the observing team as I am very hands-on when it comes to assigning and delegating tasks. In order to properly observe at least 75% of the teaching staff, a fourth observer is necessary. I would be more than willing to take on that role and to focus on the ELL push in/Owl Hours. If approved I would add to the already created observation schedule. I assigned observer A to go in on a Thursday to the Middle School classes. The observer’s experience in Middle School and Social Studies will be put to great use this way. I wanted at least one observer to see what the environment is like on a half day. Furthermore, the half-day schedule allows for more ease in changing between

Conducting classroom observations are very important to the prospective teacher. Observing helps show how experienced teachers manage their classroom. For this observation it was important to notice how the classroom was arranged, how the teacher interacted with the students, the teacher’s management style, and interview the teacher.