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My Observation Of A Elementary School Classroom

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Elementary school classrooms should be vibrant, inviting, and interactive. My first observation was in a second-grade classroom, followed by an observation in a third-grade classroom. I observed classrooms at East Haddam Elementary School from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 a.m. on the 12th of October. I spent two hours in each classroom. There were seventeen students in the second-grade classroom, eight boys and nine girls, and one teacher, Mrs. Caron. In the third-grade classroom, there were eighteen students, six boys and twelve girls, and one teacher, Ms. Kaan. The physical and interpersonal environments were similar in both classrooms however, the temporal environment was somewhat different. During my observation in the second-grade …show more content…

The students either worked together to achieve a goal, or were playing matching games in which the child with the most number cards would win. The children were learning basic addition, and identifying if one quantity is less than or greater than some other quantity. While some students got slightly competitive, many of the children were aware of the purpose of playing the games. Several students stated that it did not matter who wins because the games are supposed to be about having fun. After each group of children had a turn at each math center game, the children each retrieved a book from their backpack and began independent reading. While reading, the children were permitted to sit wherever they would like throughout the classroom, and Mrs. Caron called the names of four students who were allowed to pick out one of many stuffed animal bears from around the room to hold or sit with while they read. Mrs. Caron explained to me that everyday a new group of four children is selected to use the bears therefore, by the end of the week, every child is given the opportunity. While the children got settled for independent reading, I switched classrooms and began observing in the third-grade classroom. In Ms. Kaan’s third-grade classroom, I observed whole group reading and independent reading. Whole group reading took place on the rug in the front of the classroom. Ms. Kaan read

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