Summary: Field Experience

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

“A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops.” – Henry B. Adams. For as long as I can remember, I have always wanted to play a big part in children’s education, which is why I have decided to enroll for an education course. I believe that educators have a lifelong impact on their students and on the development of resilience. Thus, I aspire to inculcate my love for learning into the next generation, by influencing and inspiring children all through their formal education.

When I was a sophomore I was selected for the Missouri Scholars Academy. This single event changed my life forever. Missouri Scholars Academy is an intense three week program in which 330 of Missouri’s brightest individuals are gathered at the University of Missouri’s campus during the summer and attend classes, lectures, and activities. Before this adventure, I was always really shy. I was absolutely terrified to talk to “popular” kids and never uttered a word during class. But that was about to change.

At times, being labeled as a gifted student can be a burden for the student with that label. The Association for Middle Level Educators found, “research indicates that many gifted students deliberately fail tests or fail to do homework so that they don’t appear to be too smart” (Payne, 2013, p. 15). The need for acceptance at this point in students’ lives outdoes the will to achieve higher than their classmates. It is common in a middle school classroom to see students choosing to have friends over excelling academically (Payne, 2013).

In February, Galaviz will be traveling to the NEA Foundation Gala in Washington, D.C., to receive $10,000 and the NEA Foundation’s Horace Mann Award for Teaching Excellence. As one of only five recipients in the nation, this prestigious honor really reinforces Galaviz’s devotion to continually going above and beyond for her students, something that, for her, starts long before the start of the school year. Every summer, Galaviz goes door to door, meeting with the families of her incoming students. As an educator, she believes that knowing about the student, their family dynamic and their home helps her to be a better teacher. “I

As a teacher, I have seen students who are gifted; students who can hear information once and it sticks. I have also seen students who become frustrated or apathetic; students who think they can’t do something or choose not to do something because it poses a challenge to them. Having just completed my second year of teaching middle school and high school English, I reflect on this past school year and am reminded that I have chosen a challenging career, but those challenges are miniscule when compared to how fulfilling it is to see a student truly excel. As a teacher, nothing is more gratifying than coming across a student who is motivated; a student who isn’t afraid to put in the work to reach his goals; and a student who not only shows academic excellence, but pushes himself to be the best he can be as a son, an older brother, a member of his community, a volunteer, and a captain of the soccer team. That student is Trevor Fancher.

Chelmsford Public Schools mission is to, “cultivate inspired, creative, and well-rounded lifelong learners who process the integrity and self-direction necessary to be contributing community members.” I believe that as a teacher, it is my job to provide opportunities for students to become inspired, by not only themselves but others in order to reach their goals both academically and socially. I also believe that it is my job to prepare students to become

Some of the goals of schooling and society in the United States are to develop students and citizens, who have high aspirations, believe in their capabilities, are hopeful they can realize their aspirations, and are optimistic about their future in general. Such characteristics are important because each leads to overall well-being (Bandura, 1977; Scheirer & Carver, 1985; Snyder et al., 1991), student achievement and higher graduation rates (Snyder et al., 2002) through a personal sense of urgency which allows them to take control of their life, challenge themselves, persevere through difficulties, and cope when obstacles arise (McBride, 2012).

I began my field experience on June 4, 2015 with no idea of what to expect. During the period however I was able to gain a first-hand experience of how different environments affect students. It is always easy for someone to feel at home and function effectively in a familiar environment, but what happens to a student when the environment is not their own, or not what they are used to? Do the same principles or measuring stick apply to these students that apply to those in a familiar environment? It was interesting to observe these students who were completely out of their comfort zone but were required to learn at the same level and have the same academic achievement as those who were completely at home.

My child 's name is Jude Alexander and he is a male. As a baby he is cautious around new people and situations, but warms up fairly quickly to friendly people. In kindergarten Jude Alexander seemed to have made one or two friends and usually played cooperatively and was sometimes reluctant to join in new activities with unfamiliar children. He performed below average on tests of vocabulary, and the ability to retell a story. He had a real knack for the art projects, and really got interested in the pre-math activities involving working with blocks and geometric shapes. In first through fifth grade he worked cooperatively in groups, usually respects the rights and property of others, and usually demonstrates appropriate peer social interaction. He demonstrates strength in art, all areas of reading, and in spelling and appropriate for the grade level in writing. He needs additional help in the areas of speaking and listening and in the content knowledge of social studies, science and music. He was average in mathematical problem solving, understanding of data, number concepts, graphical applications, and arithmetic computation. In the seventh grade, he consistently contributes to cooperative group activities and respects the rights and possessions of others, and shows age-appropriate social interaction with peers. He demonstrates strength in art, reading, spelling and writing. He was average in math and science, and needs additional

My first day of observations had finally arrived. Filled with excitement, I opened the doors to Pleasant Ridge Elementary School, and walked into the front office to sign in as a guest for the day. I made my way to the second grade wing to do my first observation for my field experience report. The second grade instructor greeted me as I entered her classroom, with a big bright smile I found made her classroom warm and inviting.

I observed and analyzed the design and delivery of an instructional unit in a Montessori school setting. I observed a classroom of grades 1-3 two times from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m. at the Kennebec Montessori school. I was asked to sit quietly and to not interact with the children so I could get a realistic view of the class day and the children would pursue their chosen work.

Reflecting back on my field experience, I was able to gain quality insight as well as a better understanding of the teaching and the learning process of ESOL in a mainstream classroom. My experience in Mrs. Little’s classroom has shown that the role of the ESOL teacher is to educate students in functional language skills, offer content that is academically challenging, and helps students acculturate to the new language and culture.

There are different things a teacher can do to trigger this type of motivation in students. “Some examples of

There are many aspects to teaching and as a teacher it is necessary to understand the most important aspects of teaching and how they should be incorporated into the classroom. A teacher’s most important job is not to teach specific material but to build relationships with the students and ensure they feel safe and cared for. Once the teacher is able to ensure this then they should focus on teaching, however teaching is more than listing off facts and sharing information with the students. As teachers it is essential we try to engage our students. There are many ways to engage students and each teacher as a specific way they get their classroom involved in learning. During my field experience I have learned the importance of being able to engage students and I have seen what a classroom looks like when students are not engaged. My field experience has helped to reflect on student engagement and how I would place the experience in my philosophy of education.