What is the most important thing you have learned during fieldwork observation? Why?

What is the most important thing you have learned during fieldwork observation? Why?

The most important thing I learned is how much a teacher really does. This is not going to be an easy job, there are papers to grade, a class agenda to keep up with, and 30 different children with different personalities. It is an all the time job. At first it was hard to see where I stood with these kids but by the time my hours were up I had found a place in the classroom, I had the respect of the kids and I knew that I could do this. I understand that each class is different and each new year will bring new challenges and new kids; it’s not always going to be easy. In fact I think it will rarely be easy but just with my short experience in the classroom I know it will be worth it.

What are the school rules/classroom rules and how are they enforced?

I think a lot of the rules are one that are mostly expected of kids in the 6^th grade but one behavior issue that has been happening lately is, coming to and from recess they get really loud. Today the teacher gave them a chance to rectify that but they failed quite badly, so tomorrow for recess they will be practicing coming up and down the stairs quietly. I feel like this is a fitting consequence.

There is a reward system that works fairly well, I think it would work better if she, the teacher, used it more frequently. They have what are called Class Bucks, they can earn these through good behavior, staying on task, helping the teacher and other students, for exceptional work… etc. After a while they have and auction in which the teacher brings things and the students can bring stuff to sell as well for other students to buy. One problem is that there isn’t a set time period for the auction, I think the kids would be more proactive in earning bucks if they had a deadline to earn as much as they could

What strategies does the teacher use to actively engage the students? How effective are these?

The teacher I am working with has some very engaging activities. For example, they are studying World War 2 right now, to go along with that they are doing book groups using historical fiction based on that time period. They also have to create a two scene movie trailer which they will do together in class. Another engaging activity they had was during their science lesson today they went around the room looking through microscopes at microorganisms.

I love these ideas. The first because they get to use their creativity and talk about the experience with the students around them. The con is sometimes they can get off task or there is always that one kid who just won’t do the reading and tries to drag their group down with them. For the most part I think it is a positive experience, it’s effective in making the students real look at the material. The second one because it is very hands on, they even prep the dishes of organisms and have to find and identify them. It get them out their seats and it kept their attention well enough once they got going and could see them moving. 

What do you think is the most challenging role a teacher plays? Why?

It’s so easy for the teacher to be fun and friendly. To be excited about teaching and wanting to be your student’s friend. I think the hard part is when you have to show a little tough love to kids. Being the boss isn’t always easy, to show kids there are consequences to their actions. It’s our job to prepare kids for the real world and if all we do is show them kittens and rainbows, how does that prepares them for the increase of responsibilities and work in coming years? Our goal as educators is to prepare these kids to be successful in life. It’s not just our goal but the goal of every school, state and even the whole nation.

Right now I am working with 6^th graders and many of them do not understand that in just a few short months they will be in junior high where childish tantrums and unfinished school work gets you know where. I was grading math packets and many of the students just left spaces, even pages blank. I gave them back to the teacher and together we had to talk to those students and explain to them that part of growing up is learning to be responsible and that teachers in junior high will not always give them a second chance at assignments. It was a very difficult conversation. Some of the kids even cried, how much easier would it have been for that teacher to just say “Oh their still young, we’ll cut them some slack.”

What clerical and preparation responsibilities have you participated in?

I have definitely learned that being a teacher isn't all apples and gold stars. During my time volunteering, I've helped grade assignments and projects. Just the other day I spent a few hours organizing a filing cabinets. Teachers participate in a lot of time consuming a work that doesn't involve teaching at all. But knowing this still doesn't hurt my resolve to teach.

There is still joy in the mundane things. Sitting grading projects or assignments with the teacher, it was not uncommon for her to be so happy reading the responses of the students or marveling that the progress that a student had made or that he or she had managed to complete the project at all. Even checking on my progress in organizing her cabinet, I could tell how excited she was to move on to the chapters I was replacing. Small joys and triumphs, that is what this work is all about.

What modifications for learners who are exceptional do you see?

What modifications for learners who are exceptional do you see?

There is a few exceptional students and today as they finished putting together a project it become quite apparent. I can tell that teachers have to do so much and that it was nice to have a second pair of hands. Even the students who excel know to help the few with learning disabilities in the class. During their 30 minute reading time there is one girl who can read along as another student reads aloud to her. There are so many possible ways to tailor a class to a child’s need. The possibilities are as limited as your imagination.

In class today, the teacher had an open discussion with the kids about the problems she has seen and the need for change because different learning needs. She even asked their advice and put a few ideas up on the board. I notice how she included all the kids and most everyone participated and all of the students agreed to the new changes. The teacher also told the students what she had tried to do to remedy the problem and also that even though it was slightly affective it did not solve the problem. With 6^th graders this was affective, with a younger class I can’t say how affective it will be. 

Tell about an opportunity you had to work one on one with a student.

At the school I am currently volunteering, at 2:30pm they have what is called Flex. Flex is a time when children who struggle or are behind in class stay in class for extra time one on one with the teacher. The other children go to do other activities. I was able to help this smaller group of children practice their timed reading; by timing them as they read a passage, correcting mispronounced words, and offering encouragement.

 Some might argue that giving these children extra attention might not be fair to the other children in the class. I believe that the equality is in the fact that if those other children where in need of extra help they would receive it no matter their races, language or social status. These kids come from a variety of backgrounds: Caucasian, Latino, and African American. Each is treated equally, which is amazing compared to how each of these kids would have been treated less than a century ago.