3-30-09

Today is the last day (by my number of hours) to do my observation. I have really gotten to know the students and Mrs. Bartholomay, and it will be sad not to be in here as often as I have been. I have learned so many things from Mrs. Bartholomay including: different teaching styles, fun activities to do with the class, how to deal with problems in the classroom, and how to keep organized. She recently had the students plant seeds that will grow in the classroom and will be beautiful flowers to give to their mothers on Mother's Day. Students need fun activities like this to make learning enjoyable. She first taught the class for many days about caring for a flower (during the science time). Everyday the students check on their flower, how much it has grown, and remind Mrs. Bartholomay about watering them. I definitely look forward to coming back to visit and possibly substitute with this group of children. I also know that I can call on Mrs. Bartholomay anytime I have a question about teaching.

3-23-09

Today I was in the classroom for approximately six hours, or nearly the whole day. Mrs. Bartholomay had more paras in the class than usual when I got there. She informed me that she had a meeting to attend for a while starting at 8:30. So she asked me to watch the class for her while she was gone. The paras took about six of the children with them to their other classroom, and I kept the majority of the class with me. First, I gave them a spelling test, then after that I gave them a timed math assessment, where the students get one minute to complete the problems then after one minute I say "switch" and they use a crayon for the next 2 minutes to complete as much as they can. We then went over the answers and they checked their own papers. They then had to put the paper in their homework folder to complete at home. Next, I did a math lesson on geometric shapes. I introduced the students to the different shapes, then they had a worksheet to walk around the classroom in pairs and find objects that were geometric shapes, and write them down. After the class completed this, I gave them another math assessment, but not timed, and let them work until they were all completed. By this time I was sure Mrs. Bartholomay would be back because it had been about 2 hours. So I went by her normal schedule and let the students go to recess, where after about ten minutes of them being out there Mrs. Bartholomay showed up. When we came back in, the students watched a film on germenation, and how to plant flowers. Then, the students went to computers where they took reading counts, or accelerated reader, tests. After this they went back to the class, and got ready for lunch. After lunch, the students started their reading, which consisted of Mrs. Bartholomay keeping a majority of the students in the room with her to read aloud to them, their new story in their reading book. I took 4 students in the hall with me and we did the same, while I asked them questions pertaining to the story. Then the students went to music and P.E., during this time I graded papers and put the students papers that were to go home in their folders. After they got back, they started their centers which I did not get to participate in for long because I was about to leave for the day. Before I left, I went to write down my time for the day, and the whole time log was gone from its usual spot. I about had a heart attack. So I asked Mrs. Bartholomay if she had moved it, then I wondered if Mrs. Luft had picked it up sometime when I wasn't there. We were frantically searching for it for about 10 minutes and finally Mrs. Bartholomay stumbled across it. Over the break, the janitor, for some odd reason, took it off the clip board that was hanging on a file cabinet, and put it in a pile of papers on the file cabinet. It was a close call.

3-10-09

I stayed for about 3 hours today. Had the usual day. There was a student who moved the previous Friday, when I subbed for the class. It was very sad to see her go because she was so close to her classmates. She had also been my neighbor when she was a little bit younger so I knew her pretty well. No one cried in the class when she left, but her sister is in kindergarten and you would have thought someone died over there the way everyone was crying. It was too bad to lose them. I did more observing this day than I usuallly do. I did grade some papers as well.

3-2-09

I stayed for most of the day this day. It was a pretty normal day including the following activities: a new spelling test, math assessments, and a new story in their reading books. Mrs. Bartholomay gave the spelling test, I checked them over, determining who all had to retake the test on Friday. They did their usual math assessments where they get to use a pencil for so many seconds and do as many as they can, then switch and use a crayon for the rest until the remainder of the time she keeps is gone. Then they do another math assessment that has more word problems than just simple addition and subtraction. They started a new story in their reading books today, being that it was monday. I took a few of the students out in the hall where I read the story to them, asked them questions, got responses, and discussed key terms. The other students inside the classroom silently read the story. Many students were gone with illnesses. One was having her tonsils taken out, which Mrs. Bartholomay planned on having the students make her "Get Well" cards, but never got around to it while I was there. She was also going to send her a gift from the class. I noticed something from eating lunch with the children sometimes, no matter who their friends are/aren't they sit by who ever happens to be next to them in line. They talk to that person during lunch, and get along well like that. It is a good way to mix things up instead of letting them stay in their comfort zone and never meet new people or have new friends.

2-23-09

Today I stayed the whole school day at my classroom. Mrs. Bartholomay rearranged the classroom and seating arrangements. When I first walked in I was a bit confused, just because I kept finding myself going to the old assigned seats of the students. I actually learned a lot today about what to do with a student who starts to get out of control. I believe Mrs. Bartholomay handled the troubled student she had very well. Even though the student was making a very big scence, she kept her cool and continued to do what she was doing(reading a story aloud to the other students). She also taught me how to give a math assessment, how you must read slowly, give students time to answer the question, but still work at a fast enough pace. I also learned about how students will react when they do not get what they want. For instance, all of the students participated in a quiz(not for a grade) to see which two students(a boy and a girl) will compete in a school-wide competition about George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Just by knowing the students, she already knew of the boys who would win and go on to represent the boys. The girls was a different story because so many were close to winning. There are a brother and sister in the class, which the brother is the one that won of the boys, so his sister feels that she has to be just as good as him, but she did not win the competition and was just devastated. The other girl that did win was having a bad day so it really brought her spirits up. It is just part of life, losing and winning, and being jealous I suppose.

2-17-09

I stayed for a longer time today. I worked for a while on my bulletin board. The students were very curious what it was and why I was doing it. I graded many papers, organized the bookshelf, and helped students find books that will help them on their research papers about animals. They were pretty distracted during their research due to the book fair being in the library. As a librarian I would have set books that might be use to the students in a different area. There were many students who threw tantrums today, and I felt Mrs. Bartholomay handled them very well. During the time she was reading, there were a few students who were being very disrespectful and walking around the classroom. For some reason today, the students were a bit wound up today. They were talking a lot, not listening to the teacher, or just bothering/tattling on each other.

2-13-09

Today is the day the students will get their Valentine's Day party. Many are full of energy and are impatiently waiting for the party. Moms are coming in and out bringing things early, which is a major disruption to the classroom. Especially when the teacher is in the middle of teaching, the students have to say hi to the mother and talk about what she is bringing. As a teacher I would not allow parents until possibly 15-30 prior to the party. The stuff will just clutter up the classroom and be distracting to the students. The students are also concerned what is in their bags they made. They really aren't focused on their work, just the festivities that are going to take place. I had to leave early to substitute up in the special education classroom, so I wasn't able to see how the party went or how the children acted during the party.

2-9-09

Today I stayed a bit longer, and got the opportunity to give the class a spelling test without the help of Mrs. Bartholomay. She told me I did well at it because no students had trouble keeping up. I then graded the spelling tests shortly after so the students would be able to study for the final test on friday. They get to have a morning recess that I think really helps the students let out some of their energy so they can focus better. Now, myself and other adults have to supervise the boys on their trips to the restroom. The students are great at being quiet in an instant. They get many compliments on their behavior in the hallways. Because it is getting close to Valentine's Day, a few mom's are kind of being a bother to the teacher about the party that will take place in the classroom. I would go insane as the teacher, and get tired of the phone calls or notes that the moms send with their children.

2-4-09

I only stayed a few hours again, but Mrs. Bartholomay was here today. She was trying to recooperate from being gone and getting her classroom back in order. I pretty much graded papers for a long time. I am now also helping the teacher check planners in the morning and pick up homework from the day before. Now I know all of the students pretty well, but as little girls are, they can be very clingy. They always want to hug on me. I learned that it takes a lot of patience to get all of the students attention at once. Mrs. Bartholomay was giving reading assessments, which she showed me how to give them and evaluate them. It was pretty boring but it is all part of the job. It targets not only the speech aspect of reading, but the comprehension as well. After I observed her giving a few of the tests, I went back to help in the classroom. The person sitting in for Mrs. Bartholomay was very impatient with the students. Mrs. Bartholomay gives fake coins out for positive reinforcement, and has students pull cards for negative. She also has a positive reinforcement for the whole class with a jar of marshmellows. If they fill up the second jar they get to have a special day. Also, after so many coins, they can trade them in to get a prize out of her prize box, use the leap frog learning book, or listen to an iPod. I like how she has both negative and positive reinforcement.

2-2-09

I only stayed for a few hours today, mainly because there was a substitute, which I was unaware of until I arrived. The sub had no clue what she was doing, and was not very nice to the students. I know how it is to be a sub, and one thing is not to treat people disrespectfully. If she wants their respect, they have to have her respect. I did get to tag along while they went to the local nursing home and read to the residents. I will definitely have my students do this, it was so amazing how much it touched the residents when they were read to. If the students needed help with a word, the residents could help them. For there being a substitute, I thought the students were quite well behaved, but I guess they ended up getting a bad note.

1-28-09

This time I stayed longer, and got to observe most of the day. I learned how to introduce students to a new subject or technique, and then let them loose to try it themselves. She gives students the opportunity to come up to the board in front of their classmates and work it, and if they get it wrong someone can come up and help them. I get to work with students one-on-one out in the hall, particularly those with learning disabilities or behavior problems. It takes a little bit to get the student to cooperate. Mrs. Bartholomay reads Little House on the Prarie to the students. They actually sit down, listen, and react to the questions she asks them while and after she reads. When the students go to music or P.E. it is kind of a peaceful time for Mrs. Bartholomay. I wouldn't say, though, that she gets to relax because she usually sorts and/or grades papers. She also plans ahead of what she wants to do exactly when they return. Things seem more structured now.

1-22-09

I came during the morning this time, when the children had some time to settle into the day. It seemed much more organized and the students were getting used to me. I think their behavior and how well the listened to the teacher improved as well. Now the students have become comfortable with asking me for help, and I've started helping Mrs. Bartholomay out also. I am still having the same feelings about the para professionals. Mrs. Bartholomay has explained to me how she sets up the classroom, by students ability levels. I helped her grade some papers and learned that as a teacher I need to keep up with my grading so it doesn't get piled up. I like the way Mrs. Bartholomay lets students who miss 4 or more on their worksheets a chance to correct their work. She has an area with the students numbers on it where she puts the work they can correct. The closet is a terrible mess. The teacher has assigned hooks for students to put their jackets and backpacks on, put the students just throw their stuff on the floor & walk off. Due to this, the closet is never closed, and it sort of takes up extra space with its double doors wide open.

First Day 1-20-09

Today was my first day of my practicum. When I first walked in, I noticed how small the classroom was & how it was a bit messy. Throughout the time I was there, I felt as if the classroom was a little disorganized. The children were also adapting to a new face in their territory. They wanted to know who I was and what I was doing there. I observed the para professionals in the classroom as well. I found them to be a little bit more pushy or irritated by the children they were working with. Really, I felt bad for those children whether they were misbehaving or not. Children don't want to be yelled at, they need someone to nicely tell them what to do or to behave.