BLOG ENTRY #9

I have learned so much about teaching through my service learning opportunity.  Before I took this class I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I start the program at UVU in January 2016.  It's a 2 year program and I can't wait to start!

I've learned it's a lot harder than it appears.  The teacher has a lot of responsibilities its a busy day in this profession. It seems like it's one thing to the next, ALL DAY LONG. 

BLOG ENTRY #8

My service learning placement has sadly come to an end.  I sure miss those kids! I definitely had the chance to make some connections with what I've learned in this class and what I see in a real life classroom.  I've learned a lot about my own learning style and future teaching style.  I like to have FUN!

As I look through my older posts from this experience I realize how much I've done.  I have a new appreciation for teachers and the difference they can make if they give it their all.  I love how technology can be a teacher's best friend, like a personalized tutor and reporter for each student.

I have learned that concepts take time to teach and I don't like rushing through things just to check them off.  I like to have the time to immerse the students in an idea and not hurry on to the next task.  With that being said, I've realized there is NOT ENOUGH TIME to fully cover everything the teacher would like to.

BLOG ENTRY #7

While I attend my Service Learning Placement, I get to witness how standardized testing affects teaching.  One particular day in the classroom the teacher is reading two different passages and then students are comparing them.  The students are involved and participating.  The teacher announces that these types of scenarios will be on the end of year testing and the students go into panic mode.  "What will be on the test?"  they ask.  "Which question is on the test?"  they ask.  Later on the teacher tells me their reaction is the same when she mentions end of year testing.
The teacher feels like the pendolum will eventually swing the other way and standardized testing will be eliminated as a way to assess students.  She feels like they should be assessed individually on achievement and advancement, not on one test.

BLOG ENTRY #6

Service Learning has been a great opportunity to be in a classroom.   There are many things the teacher does behind the scenes that I wouldn't have noticed until now.  When the teacher gives student Z, a different book than the other students, I realize she is making the effort to give him what he needs.  When she helps student J with a different worksheet, I notice his worksheet has some spanish words and some english words.  At certain times I notice the teacher quietly telling student C and M to go to the resource room so they can get the extra help they need.

Blog Entry #5

I've been saddened and humbled while researching the historical events that shaped our public schools and made them what they are today.  I've also been inspired by their strength and courage.  Their courage paid off and I see it every time I go into my service learning classroom.

When I see the black kids in my class, I wonder if they know if they would've been born 60 years ago, they would have a much different school experience.   Before the supreme court case, Brown vs. The board of Education, schools were segrated by color.  The fight didn't end when the court case was won, blacks had to continue the fight and I'm so glad they did. 

When I'm reading to a little boy in the class who doesn't speak any English, I realized the impact of court case, Lau vs. Nichols.  The little boy in my class would be pushed to the back of the room, left to fall through the cracks. Some brave child before him, fought for change and won. 

I feel proud of my country and priveledged to be a future teacher. 

Blog Entry #4

My service learning assignment has given me several opportunities to witness great teaching....and a few times that weren't so great. 

Here are a few examples of when the teacher used great ideas to engage learners. 

To help them understand the ones place and the tens place, she gave them all a large squared graph paper and 2 different colored pens.   Then, she put the same paper on an overhead projector.  She wrote the ones place in red and the tens place in blue.  Then the lesson moved to adding 2 digit numbers on top of 2 digit numbers.    25 + 32.  She had them arrange the numbers in vertical positioning to make sure they were in the correct place. The students loved having their own markers and paid special attention to which column and place they were writing in. 

Another day the teacher pulled out a flip book for each student she had made.  It had a sound a letter or a combination of letters made, along with a picture that you would use the letters in. 

UI

Here is an example.  A picture of fruit, with the combination of letters UI.
The students were actively engaged at looking at the pictures and making the sounds.  She showed them what she expected them to do and then let them work with a partner. 

Another day while I was helping out, during math she got each student a mini white board, marker and cloth for erasing.  First she had them draw a line.  Then she had them label the line with a #1 at the start and #10 at the end.  She asked them to draw a dot that would cut the line in half.  She asked them what number they thought would go there.  She told them to raise their hand when they thought of the answer.  She then went on to explain rounding up and down, using that middle mark, which now had a #5 on it.  The students were very busy focusing on their white boards, it really made the learning individualized. 

Then there was a time when I thought the teacher could've done a better job at engaging her students. (What do I know, right?)  She was having the students do "packet" work for social studies.  When they were finished filling out all the information they had to color the picture of the solar system on the back, she told them to "color neatly."  I noticed some of the students seem to enjoy coloring, they took it very serious to color neatly.  Most of the students hurried and got it done and then wandered into the "DEAD TIME," which was discussed in this chapter.  I remember in school I HATED coloring, I thought it was such a waste of time!  

Blog Entry # 3 **Service Learning Placement**

Blog Entry # 3

During my first  visit to Mrs. Hutchinson's classroom, I noticed that she doesn't waste any time!  She is a Special Education teacher (resource), so children come and go from her classroom all day.  When they walk through the door she tells them to grab their box and what color folder they need to pull out and start working on. Her room is tidy and well organized.   Her routine and tidy classroom promotes a productive learning environment.

One of my classroom visits was during math.  Mrs. Hutchinson told them they had the choice of grabbing a mini white board or to grab the counting cubes, whichever they preferred.  This let the student choose whichever method worked for them to complete their math assignment.

Mrs. Hutchinson makes time for each student to make them feel safe and loved.  One student asked her when he would be on grade level for reading.  She assured him that he was working hard and she was working hard to make sure that happens soon.  She told him how well he was doing and that she was proud of his hard work.