Blog 3

         While I was at the classroom I am observing they were learning about math.  During math they were learning about decimals.  I noticed he used intrapersonal by asking the students questions and getting them involved and by having them figure out a problem with a neighbor.  He used visual by drawing on the board and had the students take turns doing the problem on the board.  he also used kinesthetic and used blocks to portray the various place values of the decimals.  He also used interpersonal to figure out math problems. 
         He taught me to go deeper rather than stay on the surface.  He told me that by asking questions such as "why is that the answer?" or "why do we do it that way?"  gets them to a deeper level of thinking.  He gave them an opportunity to think without raising their hands.  He said when they raise their hands it distracts the other students and they don't try to figure out the problem.  He said to acknowledge when they get the answer right.
          I also noticed many culture diversity while observing.  There are many different origins of children in the classroom.  I think it would be important to acknowledge their cultures and I think maybe it would be a good idea to let them teach the classroom about it, I think it would help their peers appreciate different customs.  Aside from culture their is many other diversities among the students.  I notice that their are children who are on different levels of reading, math, and other subjects.  While one child may be struggling in one area, they may excel in another. 
          I have noticed that when a child is struggling the teacher will take them aside and go a little slower and work one on one with them and that will help them understand.  The teacher told me it is useful to get a group of 3 or 4 students who are struggling and teach them a mini lesson and they can help each other.  He said this is really useful.  I have also seen all the classrooms split and go to separate classes to learn math where everyone is on their level.  This way they can go faster or slower depending on what level the children are on.  I love the classroom I observe and it is so fun to see what we are learning take place in real classrooms.

Blog 2

       The Elementary School where I observe asked me to visit every 5th grade classroom to observe various teaching strategies.  I created a power point to introduce myself and that was a lot of fun!  I had the opportunity to give a spelling test and help with a craft.  In history they were learning about Indians and hieroglyphics.  She used a kinesthetic way of teaching and had them carve hieroglyphics into sand paper for their craft.  They said it was very difficult and that helped them know how the Indians wrote and communicated.  When I visited another classroom we worked on multiplication skills.  I quizzed two kids and they were on various levels of their memorization.  It was interesting to see how every kid is different in their cognitive development. 
        While we were at recess I noticed theirs many different races and colors of skin.  The other kids don't seem to even notice or care.  Everyone is friends.  It is astonishing to see to difference in racial acceptance from the 1950's to now.  I'm very happy to see the improvement in the education system.

Blog 1

     Today I started my observation in a 5th grade classroom.  I am observing at Riverview in Spanish Fork.  While I was there the teacher, Mrs. Thompson, was teaching a math lesson.  As I sat in the back and observed, my first thoughts were "I cannot wait to be a teacher!"
     While she was teaching a math lesson I noticed that she was using every thing we have recently learned.  The children were struggling with the new concept and therefore she tried many different strategies.  She let the children be in a partnership and they had the privilege to decide how to figure out the math problem in a way that would benefit them. 
      I noticed that she also used the eight intelligences.  They could decide which way worked best for them.  Some of the kids used blocks, some used paper, some used their partner, and some used a calculator.  I thought this was a great example of the eight intelligences.  While she was teaching she also used all three of the learning modalities.  She used auditory and talked them through it, she used visual and showed them pictures and drew on the white board, and she used kinesthetic and let them do hands on activities.  Using a variety of techniques she was able to portray the new math concept and they were able to grasp onto it.