Teaching and Students / Teaching and the Profession
What is the student body diversity and how is cultural diversity recognized in the school?
There is not much diversity in the classroom that I observe. I haven’t noticed much around the school either. The school is mostly Caucasian students, but there are also Asian-American, and Hispanic students as well. Throughout the school there are pictures that have children from different races and cultures. The pictures in the classroom also show pictures of children not only of Caucasian race, but other races and ethnicities as well. Each of the students tables are diverse, the teacher said she tried to spread the students evenly throughout the room. The student do not look at each other differently, they know that they are all different in their own ways. Diversity is definitely not an issue in this school.
How are children involved in the classroom; how do they relate to one another?
The students are very involved in the classroom. They interact with each other very well and work cooperatively often. The teacher very rarely will answer a question but will keep asking the students until one of them gets it right. When asked a question, the teacher usually will answer with a follow up question so that the student figures it out on their own. The students do a great job of interacting with each other, especially when they need help. Most of the time the teacher allows them to ask a neighbor for help if they are doing independent work. When she is lecturing the class she does not allow them to converse with one another. The teacher always asks for students help on questions, and has a special helper when she is passing out papers or anything else. They are allowed to put their artwork up and the teacher lets them put it where they want. The students are very patient with each other and when they need to use something that another student has, they politely ask and wait until the student is done. I haven’t seen any conflict between students at all. Some students are chattier than others but they interact with each other very well.
How are the needs of students with exceptionalities met in the classroom and at the school?
The school has a special reading teacher for those students that need it or struggle with it. She takes them out a couple at a time and then when they come back the other students go. Most of the children in the classroom speak English well, but for the ones that don’t they have a special teacher to help them with that as well. Time is set out each day for them for them to meet with their special teacher and learn what they need. They have certain classrooms that are dedicated for children that have certain needs. There are no special education students in the classroom I observe, but they do have a special education classroom along with a set of teachers that help work with them. The classroom is set up for the needs of everyone. Everything is accessible to all students. If there were a special education student or handicapped student they would be able to access everything the other students have. There are also things set out for students that are a little more accelerated as well. Some students get advanced work if they are not challenged by the work the other students are doing. The room that I observe has some advanced reading books because some of the students read at a higher level. When going group readings the teacher has the students come over in groups based on their ability. She has books for three different levels of reading for beginners, middle and advanced. The same thing goes for math. The students that really understand the work get two or three more challenging problems to keep their mind active so they don’t finish too early and disrupt the other. The classrooms are perfect for any kind of student.
How do teachers and other school personnel work together?
The teachers meet a few times a week to discuss activities and changes in schedules. They usually meet before school and during their lunch breaks. The principal usually meets with them once a week to give them new information of go over the events for the week. If a teacher has to step out for a moment he/she will ask the teacher across the way to watch the room for a second or two. In the room that I am observing there is a room divider and when the teachers need to borrow books or supplies for each other they just open the divider and slide it through. The teachers will bounce ideas off each other for various projects and ask opinions about what they should do with certain subjects. The meeting that I sat in on, on teacher couldn’t decide what project she was going to use for a certain subject and the other teachers gave their pros and cons to help her make sure she made the right choice. I observed at other schools in the past but in this school the teachers seem a lot more connected and discuss a lot more things in their groups. They all look out for one another and try to help out as best they can. I think the closer a core group of teachers are and building good relationships will really benefit the students.
How are families and other community members involved in the school?
The families seem to be very hands on. The school has a before and after school care for the students which seems like a lot of the parents take advantage of. It helps build friendships between the students and also gets the parents familiar with the teachers. The teacher reports things back to the parents if there child is having a good or a bad day. The teacher is available through e-mail and phone, which she says the parents use a lot. Most parents want to know how their child is doing via e-mail and to keep them posted on the child’s progress. The teacher also sends monthly e-mails to the parents to let them know exactly where there child is and what they need to work on. The school also has other activities that the parents get involved in like bake sales, book drives, and other school functions as well. They are encouraged to look at their student’s artwork when they come in or when the students take them home. Parents are encouraged to contact the teacher if the need anything or have any questions.
How does the teacher keep track of student progress?
Student progress is kept in a Microsoft Excel file. She tracks the homework, test scores, and all the other projects for each other the students. It is a lot like what we did in our technology class when we had to make a mock grade book. Everything is exactly the same. She sets highs and lows and get notifications is a student drops within s certain level. I really like the way it is set up, it is really easy to take thirty students test and put them in on place. She also keeps a handheld grade book just in case technology fails but it all ends up in the computer at the end of the day.
What extra duty tasks does the teacher perform? (meetings, bus duty, etc.)
The teacher has meeting with her other core teachers throughout the week. She also organizes when they are going to meet and what topics are going to be discussed.
In the book I really liked how they did certain projects to open the children up to the different types of cultures. I think it is important for the children to be aware of the different cultures surrounding them and that they need to respect others and their culture. The more familiar the students become with different cultures, the less they notice it or make a big deal about it. They can also spread their knowledge of the subject to their own classmates so that they can become more familiar with it. As far the parental involvement goes, I think they should be highly involved. They should be able to contact the teacher about anything and know where his/her child stands at any given time. Some parents are way too over the top, but everyone gets protective of their children. I like the idea of sending a monthly update so that the parents are not left in the dark and they can focus more on what they need to work on and what their child’s strengths and weaknesses are. Keeping the student focused and on the ball is the most important thing to a good education.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Journal # 1- Domain # 1
Teaching and the Environment
How is the classroom physically organized?
When I first walked into the classroom, I felt like Goliath. I was hitting my head on everything and I hit my shins on everything I walked past. The room was very vibrant and colorful. The walls were filled with information and pictures. There were five tables set up in circles with five chairs around each one. Each table had a different color can in the middle, (green, blue, red, yellow and purple) that was filled with various utensils and accessories. On the northern wall where the students face, there is a giant dry-erase board with a pull down projection screen. Above the dry erase board is an alphabet line that shows capital and lower case letters. At the end of the dry-erase board there is a cardboard stoplight with the students’ names attached with clothespins. When the students misbehave or do not follow instructions they go from green to yellow. If the students get down to red they have to stay inside for recess. If the students get dropped down to yellow but cooperate for the rest of the class or follow instructions, they can get moved back up to green.
The eastern wall has a number line on it alone with numerous shelves and drawers with supplies in them. The cabinets are line with pictures, mostly of the solar system and the planets. The southern wall has a divider that separated two classrooms. Sometimes they do various projects and they open the slider and let the students work together with the other classes. On the floor of the south wall there are plastic tubs with books in them for the students to read. The tubs are filled with books that correspond with the subject they are learning. It just so happens that this month’s subject was the fifty states. The western wall looked out onto the playground and had a shelf with folders and the students spelling notebooks on it. In the corner of the west and north wall are two computers and a document camera. Hanging from the ceilings is the student’s art work of the different types of clouds. There is a chart on the eastern wall as well that has the students names and their jobs for the week. They have line leaders, paper passers, teacher’s helpers, and even a student of the week. That student gets to sit next to the teacher’s desk for a week. During that week they get to bring things to that they like and explain why they chose that item. They get to fill out a profile and after each week the profile is put up on the wall next to the other students until each child has gone. The room is set up very well and seems to be a great environment for the children.
Do children seem to know where things are?
While observing the classroom, it seemed to me that all the students knew where everything was. All the cabinets were labeled with what supplies we were inside, and most of the supplies that they needed were sitting in the cans in the middle of their table. I noticed that if one table was missing something or if another child was using it then the students would ask another table if they could borrow theirs. If they need paper or something that is not supplied at the table they get it out of their backpack or go to the cabinets to take one. They know exactly where everything is and help each other out at needed.
How do learners and teacher’s use the classroom space?
Most of the classroom work is done facing the dry-erase board. The teacher uses the document camera as often as possible because it enables her to interact with the students and even project worksheets on the dry erase board so the students can write in the answers. When the students are doing independent and finish, they are allowed to go to the reading spot and do independent reading. There is not a lot of free space but the space is used up very well.
Is the room more child-oriented or teacher-oriented?
In my opinion the room is geared more towards the students. Everything is bright, colorful and labeled. All the supplies are at the student’s level where they can reach them. The classroom has an alphabet line, a number line, and a poster with vowel sounds on them. Most of the artwork in the classroom is the students and their names are displayed on the wall. All the furniture is small and perfect sized for the children. Based on my observations, I would say that the classroom is more oriented to the students.
What resources are in the room? How do children and adults use them?
The students have a lot of things available to them. They have access to any supply that they need; scissors, paper, writing utensils, books, and all the regular essentials. There are two computers if they need them to look certain things up or use them for educational purposes. The reading corner is a great resource because the students can keep expanding their knowledge and keep their reading skills sharp. There are advanced books that the teacher gives to the students that are no longer challenged by the other books. The adults can use everything that the students can but the things that are readily accessible are more based for the students needs.
What techniques are used to get students’ attention, to transition them from one activity or place, to another?
What I really liked about the classroom is that when the teacher needs to get the classes attention she will say, “Spaghetti” and the children have to reply with, “Meatballs”, so she knows they are all paying attention and that all eyes are on her. She uses this often when she needs to address the class as a whole or when they are moving on. She also uses it to tell them when they are starting a different activity or leaving the classroom to go somewhere else. It is a really effective strategy that the students really respond to. If a student does not respond or continues to talk, they have to move their pin down a color from wherever it is.
What examples of technology are available?
They have desktop computers available in the classrooms and if the teachers have planned assignments, they can rent out the laptop cart. They use the laptops to visit educational sites and expand their math or look up historical figures to answer questions about. They have a document camera in the classroom that is ten times better than an overhead projector. The clarity is better and it can be projected on the dry erase board so that the students can go up to the board to fill in a blown up copy of the worksheet. It is extremely effective and a great way to show anything to class; counting beads, coins, worksheets, buttons, anything.
A lot of things that I noticed in the classroom were touched upon in the book. The environment is a great place for the students to learn and expand their knowledge. Everything is accessible to them and labeled so they know where everything is. The classroom displays a lot of their work and drawings to make the room feel like it is theirs. They know the rules, what is expected of them and how to conduct themselves. The stoplight system is a great way to keep the students on task but to also show them that if they misbehave they will be punished. I also like the fact that the child can redeem themselves if they do something good. The room is spaced out so that everything isn’t cluttered and gives the students space to work. The students do not seem overwhelmed or enclosed and when they finish their work they can always read so they do not disrupt the other students. I really like the way the classroom is set up and the rules that are set.
How is the classroom physically organized?
When I first walked into the classroom, I felt like Goliath. I was hitting my head on everything and I hit my shins on everything I walked past. The room was very vibrant and colorful. The walls were filled with information and pictures. There were five tables set up in circles with five chairs around each one. Each table had a different color can in the middle, (green, blue, red, yellow and purple) that was filled with various utensils and accessories. On the northern wall where the students face, there is a giant dry-erase board with a pull down projection screen. Above the dry erase board is an alphabet line that shows capital and lower case letters. At the end of the dry-erase board there is a cardboard stoplight with the students’ names attached with clothespins. When the students misbehave or do not follow instructions they go from green to yellow. If the students get down to red they have to stay inside for recess. If the students get dropped down to yellow but cooperate for the rest of the class or follow instructions, they can get moved back up to green.
The eastern wall has a number line on it alone with numerous shelves and drawers with supplies in them. The cabinets are line with pictures, mostly of the solar system and the planets. The southern wall has a divider that separated two classrooms. Sometimes they do various projects and they open the slider and let the students work together with the other classes. On the floor of the south wall there are plastic tubs with books in them for the students to read. The tubs are filled with books that correspond with the subject they are learning. It just so happens that this month’s subject was the fifty states. The western wall looked out onto the playground and had a shelf with folders and the students spelling notebooks on it. In the corner of the west and north wall are two computers and a document camera. Hanging from the ceilings is the student’s art work of the different types of clouds. There is a chart on the eastern wall as well that has the students names and their jobs for the week. They have line leaders, paper passers, teacher’s helpers, and even a student of the week. That student gets to sit next to the teacher’s desk for a week. During that week they get to bring things to that they like and explain why they chose that item. They get to fill out a profile and after each week the profile is put up on the wall next to the other students until each child has gone. The room is set up very well and seems to be a great environment for the children.
Do children seem to know where things are?
While observing the classroom, it seemed to me that all the students knew where everything was. All the cabinets were labeled with what supplies we were inside, and most of the supplies that they needed were sitting in the cans in the middle of their table. I noticed that if one table was missing something or if another child was using it then the students would ask another table if they could borrow theirs. If they need paper or something that is not supplied at the table they get it out of their backpack or go to the cabinets to take one. They know exactly where everything is and help each other out at needed.
How do learners and teacher’s use the classroom space?
Most of the classroom work is done facing the dry-erase board. The teacher uses the document camera as often as possible because it enables her to interact with the students and even project worksheets on the dry erase board so the students can write in the answers. When the students are doing independent and finish, they are allowed to go to the reading spot and do independent reading. There is not a lot of free space but the space is used up very well.
Is the room more child-oriented or teacher-oriented?
In my opinion the room is geared more towards the students. Everything is bright, colorful and labeled. All the supplies are at the student’s level where they can reach them. The classroom has an alphabet line, a number line, and a poster with vowel sounds on them. Most of the artwork in the classroom is the students and their names are displayed on the wall. All the furniture is small and perfect sized for the children. Based on my observations, I would say that the classroom is more oriented to the students.
What resources are in the room? How do children and adults use them?
The students have a lot of things available to them. They have access to any supply that they need; scissors, paper, writing utensils, books, and all the regular essentials. There are two computers if they need them to look certain things up or use them for educational purposes. The reading corner is a great resource because the students can keep expanding their knowledge and keep their reading skills sharp. There are advanced books that the teacher gives to the students that are no longer challenged by the other books. The adults can use everything that the students can but the things that are readily accessible are more based for the students needs.
What techniques are used to get students’ attention, to transition them from one activity or place, to another?
What I really liked about the classroom is that when the teacher needs to get the classes attention she will say, “Spaghetti” and the children have to reply with, “Meatballs”, so she knows they are all paying attention and that all eyes are on her. She uses this often when she needs to address the class as a whole or when they are moving on. She also uses it to tell them when they are starting a different activity or leaving the classroom to go somewhere else. It is a really effective strategy that the students really respond to. If a student does not respond or continues to talk, they have to move their pin down a color from wherever it is.
What examples of technology are available?
They have desktop computers available in the classrooms and if the teachers have planned assignments, they can rent out the laptop cart. They use the laptops to visit educational sites and expand their math or look up historical figures to answer questions about. They have a document camera in the classroom that is ten times better than an overhead projector. The clarity is better and it can be projected on the dry erase board so that the students can go up to the board to fill in a blown up copy of the worksheet. It is extremely effective and a great way to show anything to class; counting beads, coins, worksheets, buttons, anything.
A lot of things that I noticed in the classroom were touched upon in the book. The environment is a great place for the students to learn and expand their knowledge. Everything is accessible to them and labeled so they know where everything is. The classroom displays a lot of their work and drawings to make the room feel like it is theirs. They know the rules, what is expected of them and how to conduct themselves. The stoplight system is a great way to keep the students on task but to also show them that if they misbehave they will be punished. I also like the fact that the child can redeem themselves if they do something good. The room is spaced out so that everything isn’t cluttered and gives the students space to work. The students do not seem overwhelmed or enclosed and when they finish their work they can always read so they do not disrupt the other students. I really like the way the classroom is set up and the rules that are set.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Photo Editing
After messing around with all the different programs, I found a few that stood out from the rest. I really liked FotoFlexr. I thought there was a lot of accessible tools for a free program. I liked the fact that you could invert colors on the various photos. A lot can be done to a photo just by using simple tools and I think that this application does a very good job of that.
Another program that I thought was very cool was the PHIXR. There was a lot more provided that FotoFlexr did not have. There were tools for millions of different editing types. I am always looking to add cool effects to photos and I think this program will definitely get used again. There are what seems like endless possibilities and tons of ways to make your photos stand out.
The last one that I chose was Pimp Your Photo. I thought it sounded cool so I thought I would try it. Yes i do realize that it doesn't sound cool anymore but I still liked it. I liked that fact that you could edit the photos with clip art and spice it up without as many coloring effects. It almost turns the picture into a cartoon and adds a different type of humor too it. I really enjoyed the three programs I chose and will totally use them again.
Another program that I thought was very cool was the PHIXR. There was a lot more provided that FotoFlexr did not have. There were tools for millions of different editing types. I am always looking to add cool effects to photos and I think this program will definitely get used again. There are what seems like endless possibilities and tons of ways to make your photos stand out.
The last one that I chose was Pimp Your Photo. I thought it sounded cool so I thought I would try it. Yes i do realize that it doesn't sound cool anymore but I still liked it. I liked that fact that you could edit the photos with clip art and spice it up without as many coloring effects. It almost turns the picture into a cartoon and adds a different type of humor too it. I really enjoyed the three programs I chose and will totally use them again.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
ISTE Reflection
As a student myself I feel that it is really important to focus on learning and creativity. Not every student learns from lectures and books, many students are "hands-on" learners. I learn a lot more when I can do things myself and apply myself than to just read it in a book or listen to someone talk about it. It is always a good idea to challange students and get them to think outside the box and have them use resources availble to them so that they can always learn more information. Giving them different activites and letting them work with technology or each other expands thier minds and lets them have a little more fun with the learning process. As a teacher you can give the students certain projects where they have to go online or use other forms or technology to get information that they can't find in a textbook. The world is rapidly changing and there is so much more ways to obtain information now then ever before. A lot of people are scared to use it because they simply do not know how. There is a lot of garbage out there, but there is also some great infornation as well. Letting the students explore certain applications and websites lets them find information within a few clicks instead of flipping through countless pages. Although there is a lot of good information, there is also too much information. You have to address to students that they have to complete thier own work in thier own words. If you let them abuse resources they will find ways around it. As a teacher you have to set boundaries and make sure they know all the legalities that exist. When turning in papers, someone could easy take one from the millions placed online and claim it as thier own. Plagerism happens way too often because it is an easy way to get out of an assignment or a lst minute ditch effort. You have to execute with the rules and place and make sure the students know the seriousness of them. Teachers can collaborate with each other to make rules, give assignments and find positive ways that thier students can obtain information from resources. Teachers can even take a day or two and walk them through certain resources and show them how they work. The web can be a wonderful tool if used correctly but a dagger if you choose to abuse it.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
My First Blog
Who am I? This is a very good question. Apparently my name is Tim or Tim Tom as people call me. I am blogging so I can complete the assingment for today, so I guess that makes me a blogger. This teal font is hurting my eyes but it's too late to turn back now. I feel the need to just ramble because well I can...
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