Blog 8

     I have learned many things through my field work.  The most important thing that I learned was classroom management.  The teacher that I observed did a fantastic job at controlling the classroom.  He had many procedures that effectively got the students attention and the class was never out of control.  I want to be able to run my class this way because it is such an important aspect of teaching, it sets a foundation for everything else.  Learning strategies on how to control a class was probably the most important thing that I could have learned.
     Other strategies that I learned during my field work was strategies on how to get the student thinking.  I learned the importance of not just giving the child an answer, but rather using scaffolding to get their brains thinking.  When they learn something for themselves, they remember it a lot better than if the answer is just told to them.  I think this is another important thing to learn early in my education.  I want the children to really absorb the information I teach them.  Asking, "Why?" is another key aspect to teaching that I learned through my field work.  It allows their thinking to go deeper rather than staying at the surface.
     If I can learn right now effective strategies to run a classroom then I will be a more successful teacher when the time comes.  Classroom management and teaching information are the keystones to an effective classroom.  This class has set a foundation for the remainder of my journey through the elementary education process.  I can elaborate my ideas from this class into deeper philosophies for my teaching strategies.  These are only two of the countless things I learned through my field work and I cannot wait to incorporate them into my teaching tactics.

Blog 7

      The schools rules and guidelines are strongly enforced in both the school as a whole and in each individual classroom.  The biggest rule that is incorporated in the school is no bullying.  There are signs in the hallways, doors, and in every classroom.  They have wrist bands that promise to not bully.  If you wear them on certain days, you get a treat.  This motivates students to not bully and they get rewarded and acknowledged for their efforts.
       One procedure that is used in the classroom to make things run smoothly is the way the teacher gets the classes attention together.  When he is ready for them to stop collaborating with neighbors and needs their attention he simply says, "hands and eyes."  The class repeats him and they all look at the front of the classroom with their hands clasped together.  This is a very effective way to get the student's attention.  Another thing the teacher does is say with excitement, "hair on fire!" The class does a quiet scream then they are completely silent.  This is a fun and efficient  way for student's to pay attention and gives them an opportunity to let out their voices.

Blog 6

     The teacher that I observe does an excellent job at actively engaging students.  He has the desks set up in tables so the children can collaborate with each other about answers and share ideas with each other.  He often uses the think pair share strategy allowing each child to have an opportunity to think about and elaborate on his or her answers.  He then puts them in pairs and lets them share their findings or ideas.  Another thing he does is bring all of the students together sitting on the carpet.  He says this gets them more engaged in the learning rather than sitting in their desks with distractions. 
      I noticed some of the vocabulary we learned are words he has taught me about.  One that he uses most is wait time.  He will ask a question and will not let students raise their hand until everyone has had a chance to think.  He says when students raise their hands right after a question is given it makes the other children not want to try to think because they will let someone else answer.  It also gives them an opportunity to put all of their ideas together in an effective answer.
      Aside from wait time he uses many other of the vocabulary words we learned.  He never says them but constantly portrays them.  I see him using scaffolding many times when he is helping a student one on one with a question.  He is also very good at overlapping.  He uses many of these strategies and he is a very effective teacher.

Blog 5

      During my field work experience I have learned so much and I have noticed many various roles of the teacher.  They have to be good at a lot of different things.  They have to be artistic, understanding, trustworthy, kind, patient and hold many other qualities of a good teacher.  Aside from these mentioned characteristics a teacher must be able to teach the many diverse students in her classroom.  The teacher I observe is very well at controlling his emotions, patient, funny, and he has obviously gained the students trust because they just adore him.
      I would think that the most important role that a teacher plays is simply being a good teacher.  It is their responsibility to teach their students.  To be a good teacher you must hold many qualities to reach out to each student.  I have noticed that preparing different and unique lesson plans to satisfy every student is very beneficial.  In the class I observe the teacher does exactly this.  Every time I visit the classroom he uses different techniques to teach the children.  One technique to get the students to think is when he asks a question he doesn't let them raise their hands for two minutes.  He told me that this gives the students an opportunity to figure out the question without distractions and without the other students just giving them the answer.  He calls this "wait time."  He does a very well job at teaching each individual student the lessons.
      I think the most difficult role for a teacher would be incorporating every student in the lessons even students with disabilities, careless attitudes, and different levels of cognitive development.  The teacher I observe does a very good job at teaching the material to each student.  He has them skip recess to catch up or join in a study group, he has separate time to give small group lessons, and he works one on one with students.  I think it would be hard to reach out to each individual student but he has given me a good example of how to succeed this role of a teacher.

Blog 4

      I am really enjoying my field work observation.  It is amazing to see what we are learning in class take place in a real classroom.  I had the opportunity to prepare a power point presentation to introduce myself to the class and I really enjoyed that.  I also got to correct an assignment and it was interesting to see the various scores.  You can really see where some children struggle and others where they prosper. 
      For his assessments he just uses the typical written test.  Before he starts a new chapter he starts out by giving them sort of a pre test.  He gives them a problem and lets them use what they already know to figure it out.  Some kids know exactly how to do it, while others have no clue.  It's interesting to see all the different methods they use.
      One of the teachers I observe uses very interesting teaching strategies.  One in particular that seems to really get the students thinking is when he asks them, "why?"  He will ask them, "why is that the answer?" or "why did you do it that way?".  This really gets their brains thinking.  This strategy is very effective for pre tests because then they ask them selves those questions and its a good way to start learning a new concept.
     

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.