February 12 was my first time going to my placement at my school I was assigned to. I volunteer at an elementary school in a city area. As I pulled down the side street the school was on I begun to become nervous. As my friend and I sat in the car for a few minutes before we got out and went into the school we talked and tried to get our nerves out and began to realize that it couldn't be that bad. As Gianna and I walked to the front of the school we began to see some children walking into school late. I thought to myself "wow this school looks much bigger then my elementary school use to be and looks like it was a newer school". As we waiting for the secretaries to buzz us in my nerves started back up again. Finally once in the school we headed to the offices where we signed in and then headed to our teacher's classroom. While sitting in the classroom waiting for our teacher to walk in and greet us I began to think how different this school is from what my elementary school was and how many aspects have changed since I was in elementary school. One aspect being buzzing in at the front door and having to sign in at the office, at my elementary school you had to buzz in and sign in but it wasn't as strict as it was in the school I am volunteering in.
Once my teacher arrived in the classroom we were all assigned our children and room numbers of where we would be tutoring. After we were given our children and the materials that we would needed we went over a few rules of how to help the children read and understand words, pronounce letters and sounds. Once I went into my first classroom i began to look around the room and noticed that there were many colorful posters which contained rules of the classroom, manners that they children should have while in the classroom. I also noticed that there were many posters hanging on the wall that consisted of feelings such as being happy, sad, laughing, smiling, frowning. As I was sitting in the chair at a small wooden table I noticed one poster that caught my eye because of it color and the content that it had on it. It said treat people the way you want to be treated and show the respect that you want to be shown. This poster caught my eye because that saying applies to everyone and if you aren't nice to someone and don't treat them with respect that will treat you the way you treated them. The classroom walls were covered with interesting posters and pictures and words that would help the children on a daily basis. There was not one part of the wall that wasn't covered with a colorful poster of picture. The teacher and students in my first class room seemed very welcoming and were extremely nice. It was very warm welcoming when they children called me Ms. Amanda and wanted me to help them with there work. In my second classroom of the day I went to I noticed much of the same posters and objects in the classroom. Although this classroom was much more loud and the children were more rambunctious they were still very welcoming and made me feel welcomed. In this classroom I noticed that they the children wanted to learn more and the teacher kept the children's attention more then the first classroom I was in. These children were full of energy and couldn't wait to go to lunch. As both of my classrooms were very welcoming I felt that once I go again and begin to become familiar with the children I feel much more comfortable.
While being in this school for only a few hours I began to notice that the teachers try and help their students with reading and math more then other subjects. Me being a "reading buddy" i have the privilege of helping the a handful of students became more comfortable with reading and being able to become better readers. While being in the elementary school I was assigned to I noticed that there assessment scores in math and reading were very slow, much lower then the states scores itself. The teachers are trying to help the students in ways that will benefit there learning so the scores of the school will raise and help there school be able to meet the standards they need to meet. As I was in one of my classrooms I notice that they children seemed to become bored easily because they teacher seemed to be teaching them from a script like booklet. These children cant have fun and make there ideas creativity if there teacher is teaching from a book and going by a step-by-step guide for them. The children became much more quicker then if the teacher taught them by herself. As we read Ira Shor in class he would say that children would be able to create ideas on there own and shouldn't be taught by a guide but instead in a system that bores the children. If the school wants there tests scores to raise then they need to fins ways that will keep the children's attention and make them want to learn and do better on these tests.
After just a few hours in being in the school and being in two different classrooms I couldn't wait to return next Friday and help the children even more. My experience being there on that day made me think of wanting to become a teacher even more. To be able to help the students in ways that they need it the most and how much they appreciate it put a smile on my face that made me smile from ear to ear. I couldn't wait to return and see what the next visit would bring and now it would affect my life.
Driving home with Gianna after our time at the school made us think how some of these children live and how they depend on us to help them with their school work. As we were on the high way going home I told her that I was nervous for nothing and that it was like I have been in the classrooms since they first day of school.
Once my teacher arrived in the classroom we were all assigned our children and room numbers of where we would be tutoring. After we were given our children and the materials that we would needed we went over a few rules of how to help the children read and understand words, pronounce letters and sounds. Once I went into my first classroom i began to look around the room and noticed that there were many colorful posters which contained rules of the classroom, manners that they children should have while in the classroom. I also noticed that there were many posters hanging on the wall that consisted of feelings such as being happy, sad, laughing, smiling, frowning. As I was sitting in the chair at a small wooden table I noticed one poster that caught my eye because of it color and the content that it had on it. It said treat people the way you want to be treated and show the respect that you want to be shown. This poster caught my eye because that saying applies to everyone and if you aren't nice to someone and don't treat them with respect that will treat you the way you treated them. The classroom walls were covered with interesting posters and pictures and words that would help the children on a daily basis. There was not one part of the wall that wasn't covered with a colorful poster of picture. The teacher and students in my first class room seemed very welcoming and were extremely nice. It was very warm welcoming when they children called me Ms. Amanda and wanted me to help them with there work. In my second classroom of the day I went to I noticed much of the same posters and objects in the classroom. Although this classroom was much more loud and the children were more rambunctious they were still very welcoming and made me feel welcomed. In this classroom I noticed that they the children wanted to learn more and the teacher kept the children's attention more then the first classroom I was in. These children were full of energy and couldn't wait to go to lunch. As both of my classrooms were very welcoming I felt that once I go again and begin to become familiar with the children I feel much more comfortable.
While being in this school for only a few hours I began to notice that the teachers try and help their students with reading and math more then other subjects. Me being a "reading buddy" i have the privilege of helping the a handful of students became more comfortable with reading and being able to become better readers. While being in the elementary school I was assigned to I noticed that there assessment scores in math and reading were very slow, much lower then the states scores itself. The teachers are trying to help the students in ways that will benefit there learning so the scores of the school will raise and help there school be able to meet the standards they need to meet. As I was in one of my classrooms I notice that they children seemed to become bored easily because they teacher seemed to be teaching them from a script like booklet. These children cant have fun and make there ideas creativity if there teacher is teaching from a book and going by a step-by-step guide for them. The children became much more quicker then if the teacher taught them by herself. As we read Ira Shor in class he would say that children would be able to create ideas on there own and shouldn't be taught by a guide but instead in a system that bores the children. If the school wants there tests scores to raise then they need to fins ways that will keep the children's attention and make them want to learn and do better on these tests.
After just a few hours in being in the school and being in two different classrooms I couldn't wait to return next Friday and help the children even more. My experience being there on that day made me think of wanting to become a teacher even more. To be able to help the students in ways that they need it the most and how much they appreciate it put a smile on my face that made me smile from ear to ear. I couldn't wait to return and see what the next visit would bring and now it would affect my life.
Driving home with Gianna after our time at the school made us think how some of these children live and how they depend on us to help them with their school work. As we were on the high way going home I told her that I was nervous for nothing and that it was like I have been in the classrooms since they first day of school.
Hi Amanda,
ReplyDeleteYou've made many important observations in this post. You talk a lot about the inspirational posters that cover the walls. That might tell you what is valued in this classroom--at least what the teacher thinks SHOULD be valued. It's always interesting to watch the interactions to see if the messages on the posters are a lived reality.
You mention Ira Shor. I was a bit confused by the way you integrated his ideas. Go back and read that section and I think you'll see what I mean.
It's always good to re-read and edit your entries for meaning and conventions (spelling, grammar, etc.) before you post.
Continue to think on these things,
Dr. August
Oh, and by the way, I love your reading buddies image!
ReplyDeleteDr. August
Both of the classrooms you talk about remind a lot of the classroom I work in. My classroom is filled with colorful posters, I don't know how the students don't get distracted every once in a while. You mentioned in your second classroom how the kids were a bit rowdy and some of the kids in my classroom are the same way, especially when they see new faces helping them out. My kids are always so eager to do new lessons and learn something new. The teacher is always finding new ways to help them understand as easily as possible and she really makes her lessons fun. I can really tell she loves her job and it seems like your teacher might be the same way! :)
ReplyDeleteAMANDA!!!
ReplyDeleteI remeber this as if it had happened yesterday. We were nervous beyond belief. I remeber when we pulled into the area of our school, and it wasen't really anything of like we had expected, because some of the building are spotless and brand new, like some of the section 8 tenement housing next to the school, but if you take a couple turns then the area is not kept up at all, some building are delapidated.
Our school is decoraded nicely, and it is very clean on the inside, which isn't really what we were expecting walking through the doors.
I find it really funny how you me and kayla found our first grade classrooms to be more motivated, it must have to do with some maturity that goes on from one year to the next, becuase it is a big transition from kindergarten to first grade.
I also do remeber the ride home, which was completely different from the ride there, and how we all could not stop talking. It made us smile with excitement and accomplishment that since we made it through the first week, we could make it through the rest, and that we would establish a relationship with the children that we work with, and pick up on their learning techniques.
I believe we had a very positive experience at our school. I do find a connection with this experience to Ira Shor and empowering education. As quoted in her article "people are naturally curious. they are born learners. Education can either dvelop or stifle their inclination to ask why and to learn." I think with all the positive energy we bring to the children they won't fear asking questions and they will have fun learning!