My Experience
Elementary Reflection:
My experience so far shadowing Mrs.O'Dea's third grade class at Alton Darby has been very
interesting. The first day I started out it was very hectic because we already had a student
teacher in the class and all the kids were very shy. The second day I was given the opportunity to introduce myself using my four slides. It was amazing how fast the kids were willing to open up about themselves. Once I told them about myself, they didn't want to stop making connections and talk about what we had in common. It was really cool to see how much interest they had in me. I think it was a little awkward at first because I didn't know what my part was in the class room because I didn't want to step any boundaries. Once I talked to Mrs. O'Dea about the role she wants me to make in her class, she said she would be expecting me to help the kids with reading and participating in class. The third day I was in a meeting with all the third grade teachers. We were talking about the kids in the classes and their skill level. The teacher were discussing how to get certain kids to a certain criteria. Afterward I went with the third grade curriculum coach, Mrs. Firestone, to the library. We did a difficult math problem with all of the fourth grade students. Overall has been a great experience!
My experience so far shadowing Mrs.O'Dea's third grade class at Alton Darby has been very
interesting. The first day I started out it was very hectic because we already had a student
teacher in the class and all the kids were very shy. The second day I was given the opportunity to introduce myself using my four slides. It was amazing how fast the kids were willing to open up about themselves. Once I told them about myself, they didn't want to stop making connections and talk about what we had in common. It was really cool to see how much interest they had in me. I think it was a little awkward at first because I didn't know what my part was in the class room because I didn't want to step any boundaries. Once I talked to Mrs. O'Dea about the role she wants me to make in her class, she said she would be expecting me to help the kids with reading and participating in class. The third day I was in a meeting with all the third grade teachers. We were talking about the kids in the classes and their skill level. The teacher were discussing how to get certain kids to a certain criteria. Afterward I went with the third grade curriculum coach, Mrs. Firestone, to the library. We did a difficult math problem with all of the fourth grade students. Overall has been a great experience!
Elementary Reflection:
Mrs.O'Dea makes the room safe by giving everyone an equal opportunity to share their answer. Physically, the room is very put together and everything is where it's supposed to be. The wires on all electronics are put away and hidden so no one trips on anything. One of the management techniques that Mrs.O'Dea used is the raise your hand technique. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but it's very affective. She would ask her students what they have down on their paper to share their answers. They all want to share their work, which makes some students scream out their answers repeatedly to feel validated. Even if it was a good/right answer, she wouldn't call on them because that would make them think it's okay to shout out the answers. Then the students started raising their hand and it was a great example for positive reinforcement.
Elementary Reflection:
I did a lot more interacting with the kids this week then last week. Mrs. O'Dea was behind on
classwork because she wasn't here yesterday because of all the meetings. I offered my help and
she said that she wanted me to lead their group discussion about the book they were reading. It
was a little nerve racking because she didn't tell me what to ask the students, or how long the
discussion lasts. I ended up just going with the flow and it worked out pretty well with the group I had. There was another student that my mentor told me was struggling with writing. She asked me to help her get her story started. I think my biggest challenge this week was remembering that they were third graders not high schoolers. So if they were typing really slow or their grammar was really bad, I had to remember to be patient. It was also hard because if I see an error in a students writing, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to correct it, or if they haven't learned that yet. Overall another good week of observations!
Mrs.O'Dea makes the room safe by giving everyone an equal opportunity to share their answer. Physically, the room is very put together and everything is where it's supposed to be. The wires on all electronics are put away and hidden so no one trips on anything. One of the management techniques that Mrs.O'Dea used is the raise your hand technique. I know it doesn't sound like a big deal but it's very affective. She would ask her students what they have down on their paper to share their answers. They all want to share their work, which makes some students scream out their answers repeatedly to feel validated. Even if it was a good/right answer, she wouldn't call on them because that would make them think it's okay to shout out the answers. Then the students started raising their hand and it was a great example for positive reinforcement.
Elementary Reflection:
I did a lot more interacting with the kids this week then last week. Mrs. O'Dea was behind on
classwork because she wasn't here yesterday because of all the meetings. I offered my help and
she said that she wanted me to lead their group discussion about the book they were reading. It
was a little nerve racking because she didn't tell me what to ask the students, or how long the
discussion lasts. I ended up just going with the flow and it worked out pretty well with the group I had. There was another student that my mentor told me was struggling with writing. She asked me to help her get her story started. I think my biggest challenge this week was remembering that they were third graders not high schoolers. So if they were typing really slow or their grammar was really bad, I had to remember to be patient. It was also hard because if I see an error in a students writing, I'm not sure if I'm supposed to correct it, or if they haven't learned that yet. Overall another good week of observations!
Elementary Reflection:
I feel like this week my teacher was having a very hard time getting her students to do their
assignments. She was having a bad week and was very frustrating with her students. Even
though it was more than understandable for my mentor to have an off week, I couldn’t help but to feel awkward. I could really see how much stress teachers have to deal with. Aside form that, a lot of kids were asking me for help on spelling and where to find stuff online. That was really cool because I felt like the students were finally warming up to me.
I feel like this week my teacher was having a very hard time getting her students to do their
assignments. She was having a bad week and was very frustrating with her students. Even
though it was more than understandable for my mentor to have an off week, I couldn’t help but to feel awkward. I could really see how much stress teachers have to deal with. Aside form that, a lot of kids were asking me for help on spelling and where to find stuff online. That was really cool because I felt like the students were finally warming up to me.
Elementary Reflection:
This week my classroom was assigned to write about something that they were experts at. I was supposed to help them brainstorm about their topics. I thought that the assignment was very creative because they were obviously more excited to write about something they wanted to write about. I also noticed that whenever they are transitioning into another subject, Mrs.O’Dea would ring the bell on her desk. Then all the kids would move to the next station. I had a great time in my class this week.
This week my classroom was assigned to write about something that they were experts at. I was supposed to help them brainstorm about their topics. I thought that the assignment was very creative because they were obviously more excited to write about something they wanted to write about. I also noticed that whenever they are transitioning into another subject, Mrs.O’Dea would ring the bell on her desk. Then all the kids would move to the next station. I had a great time in my class this week.
Elementary Reflection:
On Tuesday I spend the day with Mrs.O’Dea’s class but on Wednesday and Thursday Alton Darby, third graders were taking the air test. Mrs.O’dea let me choose another grade I wanted to shadow this week. I decided that I wanted to do fifth grade. The times that I went in is the time they do math. As you know I want to teach math so it was so much fun for me. It was also a very different experience because the fifth graders would actually ask me questions and help with their problems. I also loved how grownup and independent the fifth graders were. I think I might actually be interested in teaching fifth grade now.
On Tuesday I spend the day with Mrs.O’Dea’s class but on Wednesday and Thursday Alton Darby, third graders were taking the air test. Mrs.O’dea let me choose another grade I wanted to shadow this week. I decided that I wanted to do fifth grade. The times that I went in is the time they do math. As you know I want to teach math so it was so much fun for me. It was also a very different experience because the fifth graders would actually ask me questions and help with their problems. I also loved how grownup and independent the fifth graders were. I think I might actually be interested in teaching fifth grade now.
Middle School Reflection:
I had the best week ever with the students. On the first day everyone was very shy and quiet
because they didn’t know each other yet. The greatest thing about FCS and Personal Decisions
is that they are elective classes. Since the class is optional, most of the time it means that the
students are there because they want to be there. I’m so excited to keep working with these
students because they are genuinely excited to learn. On the first and second day, we played a
series of name games so that everyone gets to know each other. Mrs.Rodrick also went over the big main topics we were going to learn for the next 18 weeks and gave a little run down of the class. I honestly can’t wait to go back to Heritage!
I had the best week ever with the students. On the first day everyone was very shy and quiet
because they didn’t know each other yet. The greatest thing about FCS and Personal Decisions
is that they are elective classes. Since the class is optional, most of the time it means that the
students are there because they want to be there. I’m so excited to keep working with these
students because they are genuinely excited to learn. On the first and second day, we played a
series of name games so that everyone gets to know each other. Mrs.Rodrick also went over the big main topics we were going to learn for the next 18 weeks and gave a little run down of the class. I honestly can’t wait to go back to Heritage!
Middle School Reflection:
Equity is when not everything has to be the same for everyone to succeed. Equality is when
everything is the same. Miss Rodrick shows equity when she modifies assignments to meet
needs of students who have A harder time (ability). She shows equality when she calls on as
many boys as girls to keep a balance. She also tries to go to the girl basketball games because a
lot of people don’t and are more focused on the boys. Miss Rodrick encourages children to be
fair with each other by telling a story about what happened one of the first years she was
teaching. There was a kid being disrespectful and then another kid stopped him and said we do
not do that here. When students are being disrespectful she stops them and talks to them. But
when she doesn’t see it, she expects the students to stand up for each other have each other‘s
back‘s. This week I observed the students of personal decisions learning about the six most
important decisions. I also observed the FCS students learning about and making smart goals of their own. Along with all of that, between the learning, we play name learning games for the teachers but also for the students to get to know each other.
Equity is when not everything has to be the same for everyone to succeed. Equality is when
everything is the same. Miss Rodrick shows equity when she modifies assignments to meet
needs of students who have A harder time (ability). She shows equality when she calls on as
many boys as girls to keep a balance. She also tries to go to the girl basketball games because a
lot of people don’t and are more focused on the boys. Miss Rodrick encourages children to be
fair with each other by telling a story about what happened one of the first years she was
teaching. There was a kid being disrespectful and then another kid stopped him and said we do
not do that here. When students are being disrespectful she stops them and talks to them. But
when she doesn’t see it, she expects the students to stand up for each other have each other‘s
back‘s. This week I observed the students of personal decisions learning about the six most
important decisions. I also observed the FCS students learning about and making smart goals of their own. Along with all of that, between the learning, we play name learning games for the teachers but also for the students to get to know each other.
Middle School Reflection:
Mrs.Rodrick follows state standards and the summative assessments to make sure the students
know what they need for tests. She doesn’t really use the common core. She uses the state
standard to plan what the students need to know in order to take their state tests. Her long range plan is for the students to lean in to their future. She wants them to find themselves and start thinking about what they want to be when they’re older. Well obviously parents have full access to canvas, home access, and all the assignments their children are assigned to do. Aside from that, Mrs.Rodrick calls home if she has any concerns or if she feels like a student has done
something great and wants to share it with their parents. This type of communication is very
effective and gives her a better understanding of each of her students. My middle school
experience was great. The most thing I loved about the observations was that during class we
would just have discussions about real world stuff. I also love how the last 10 minutes we were
there, Mrs.Rodrick had a lunch so we were able to talk to her and go over what we did right or wrong. There wasn’t really anything that I particularly didn’t like. I wish we were there while she taught personal decisions more then FCS but it was still great. In my 6 weeks of middle school observation, I learned that FCS and personal decisions is a very risky subject to choose to teach. The reason this is, is because FCS is one of those classes that can be cut at any moment. FCS also has so many different people at different learning speeds in one class room which makes it very difficult to teach all of them at once.
Mrs.Rodrick follows state standards and the summative assessments to make sure the students
know what they need for tests. She doesn’t really use the common core. She uses the state
standard to plan what the students need to know in order to take their state tests. Her long range plan is for the students to lean in to their future. She wants them to find themselves and start thinking about what they want to be when they’re older. Well obviously parents have full access to canvas, home access, and all the assignments their children are assigned to do. Aside from that, Mrs.Rodrick calls home if she has any concerns or if she feels like a student has done
something great and wants to share it with their parents. This type of communication is very
effective and gives her a better understanding of each of her students. My middle school
experience was great. The most thing I loved about the observations was that during class we
would just have discussions about real world stuff. I also love how the last 10 minutes we were
there, Mrs.Rodrick had a lunch so we were able to talk to her and go over what we did right or wrong. There wasn’t really anything that I particularly didn’t like. I wish we were there while she taught personal decisions more then FCS but it was still great. In my 6 weeks of middle school observation, I learned that FCS and personal decisions is a very risky subject to choose to teach. The reason this is, is because FCS is one of those classes that can be cut at any moment. FCS also has so many different people at different learning speeds in one class room which makes it very difficult to teach all of them at once.
Special Ed Reflection:
I am shadowing intervention specialist Jon Figel. During third period he’s in a US History class (consisting of 17 students) and during fourth he’s supported studies teacher. Most of his students have a SLD which means specific learning disabilities. This could be in the subjects writing, reading, and math. He also has students that have a Behavioral disability or an emotional disability. Mr. Figs makes the environment physically and emotionally by having
accommodations, which is small group instruction, increase in time, and read aloud. He also
does Modifications which decreases amount of work or complexity to fit the students needs.
First he looks at each students ieps and what they need. If a student has visual impairment in his IEP, he might sit him closer to the board, and have a projection of the notes rather than just the iPad.
I am shadowing intervention specialist Jon Figel. During third period he’s in a US History class (consisting of 17 students) and during fourth he’s supported studies teacher. Most of his students have a SLD which means specific learning disabilities. This could be in the subjects writing, reading, and math. He also has students that have a Behavioral disability or an emotional disability. Mr. Figs makes the environment physically and emotionally by having
accommodations, which is small group instruction, increase in time, and read aloud. He also
does Modifications which decreases amount of work or complexity to fit the students needs.
First he looks at each students ieps and what they need. If a student has visual impairment in his IEP, he might sit him closer to the board, and have a projection of the notes rather than just the iPad.
Special Ed Reflection:
I learned the difference between IEPs and 504s. An IEP is more dense. It comes with modifications and accommodations, related services, and transportation. 504 plans are just accommodation. Mr. Figs deals with students that have IEPs more than students with 504s. You would get an IEP if you have mother skills or speech disabilities. Figs says that background information can’t go a long way. Knowing what disability each student has is not the same as knowing how they learn and how they react when hit with a challenge. You can only know that by knowing the students and knowing their interests. Mr. Figs printed out these papers for me, which I can show you in class tomorrow, to give me a better understanding of the difference between IEPs and 504s. This is one of the pages.
I learned the difference between IEPs and 504s. An IEP is more dense. It comes with modifications and accommodations, related services, and transportation. 504 plans are just accommodation. Mr. Figs deals with students that have IEPs more than students with 504s. You would get an IEP if you have mother skills or speech disabilities. Figs says that background information can’t go a long way. Knowing what disability each student has is not the same as knowing how they learn and how they react when hit with a challenge. You can only know that by knowing the students and knowing their interests. Mr. Figs printed out these papers for me, which I can show you in class tomorrow, to give me a better understanding of the difference between IEPs and 504s. This is one of the pages.
Special Ed Reflection:
I learned that a special ed class is not that much different than a general education class at the
high school level. I learned that some intervention specialist have special case sets of students
that they are in charge of during school taking the parent role. Through this experience I learned that special ed might not be for me. I wouldn’t want to take the role of Mr. Figel because his specialty is social studies and I hate history. I would be open to observe a math intervention specialist because I want to see the difference of that and a regular high school math teacher.
I learned that a special ed class is not that much different than a general education class at the
high school level. I learned that some intervention specialist have special case sets of students
that they are in charge of during school taking the parent role. Through this experience I learned that special ed might not be for me. I wouldn’t want to take the role of Mr. Figel because his specialty is social studies and I hate history. I would be open to observe a math intervention specialist because I want to see the difference of that and a regular high school math teacher.
Elementary Choice Reflection:
1) When I observed third grade, I hated it. The one day I went to fifth grade because of testing I really liked it. I decided to observe Mr.Jones because he’s one of my favorite teachers and I want to see if maybe I do fourth through ninth grade in my future.
2) I am in JW Reason and this is the school I went to in elementary school. I also work here everyday after school so I know this building like the back of my hand. While I’m here Mr. Jones’s class does English so hopefully I find out if I like 5th grade English more than third grade.
3) Mr. Jones’s class picked an organization to raise money for. They chose CASA which is to
raise money for abused children that don’t have stable parents. I thought that was pretty amazing how much information the students knew about CASA.
4) This week I haven’t done too much because I wanted to observe, first, how the class was run
before i start doing stuff in the class room that would contradict what the teacher has been doing all year.
1) When I observed third grade, I hated it. The one day I went to fifth grade because of testing I really liked it. I decided to observe Mr.Jones because he’s one of my favorite teachers and I want to see if maybe I do fourth through ninth grade in my future.
2) I am in JW Reason and this is the school I went to in elementary school. I also work here everyday after school so I know this building like the back of my hand. While I’m here Mr. Jones’s class does English so hopefully I find out if I like 5th grade English more than third grade.
3) Mr. Jones’s class picked an organization to raise money for. They chose CASA which is to
raise money for abused children that don’t have stable parents. I thought that was pretty amazing how much information the students knew about CASA.
4) This week I haven’t done too much because I wanted to observe, first, how the class was run
before i start doing stuff in the class room that would contradict what the teacher has been doing all year.
Elementary Choice Reflection:
1) This week, a student kept talking and being disrespectful. Mr. jones sent him out in the hallway and told him to come back in when he was ready to behave. Mr. jones didn’t have to go out and talk to him because 5 minuets later he walked in quiet and payed attention because he thought about what he did.
2) Mr. jones assigns his students projects because he believes his job as a teacher is to give the
students the freedom to be creative and create what they want to.
3) The students have a group that read the same book and they have group meeting to discuss
how they felt about the chapter they decided to read. I was very impressed how much freedom
they have referring to their book. They decide as a group how they're going to read, when to have their meetings, and they even have their meetings with out mr.jones’s supervision. His
students are very responsible and stay on task.
4) This week Mr.jones had reading evaluations so he was in the hallway. That left his students to finish up work they have not completed and it was an independent working day. Some of the students had to compete their geometry modules so I help those students with math. I was super excited to teach math because so far all I’ve been doing was English.
1) This week, a student kept talking and being disrespectful. Mr. jones sent him out in the hallway and told him to come back in when he was ready to behave. Mr. jones didn’t have to go out and talk to him because 5 minuets later he walked in quiet and payed attention because he thought about what he did.
2) Mr. jones assigns his students projects because he believes his job as a teacher is to give the
students the freedom to be creative and create what they want to.
3) The students have a group that read the same book and they have group meeting to discuss
how they felt about the chapter they decided to read. I was very impressed how much freedom
they have referring to their book. They decide as a group how they're going to read, when to have their meetings, and they even have their meetings with out mr.jones’s supervision. His
students are very responsible and stay on task.
4) This week Mr.jones had reading evaluations so he was in the hallway. That left his students to finish up work they have not completed and it was an independent working day. Some of the students had to compete their geometry modules so I help those students with math. I was super excited to teach math because so far all I’ve been doing was English.
Middle School Choice Reflection:
This week I observed the students review for their midterm. They reviewed with several different games and activities to help them remember the content. Something really cool that I noticed is when the students start zoning off or getting off task, Mrs. Roderick would do something to gain their attention. For example, last time the students started getting sleepy she made them get up and do a physical exercise to wake them up. She also does these things called bell ringers. It is sorta a hook to begin class and start a discussion. She will have a prompt on the board and the students will answer it with a couple of sentences. Then they will have a discussion about it after ward as a class.
This week I observed the students review for their midterm. They reviewed with several different games and activities to help them remember the content. Something really cool that I noticed is when the students start zoning off or getting off task, Mrs. Roderick would do something to gain their attention. For example, last time the students started getting sleepy she made them get up and do a physical exercise to wake them up. She also does these things called bell ringers. It is sorta a hook to begin class and start a discussion. She will have a prompt on the board and the students will answer it with a couple of sentences. Then they will have a discussion about it after ward as a class.
Middle School Choice Reflection:
As soon as I walked in the classroom I remembered all the memories I had in FCS. I felt like I
was back in the classroom as a seventh grade student. As soon as I met the students I realized
how different every student is. There were some students that were very shy and quiet and there were some students that were talkative and outgoing. The biggest difference between the middle school and elementary school kids is that everybody’s learning pace is different in middle school. While in elementary school they kind of grouped the slower kids in a class and the gifted kids in a class. Another thing is that middle school students are a lot more tired than the elementary school students. You need to try extra hard to keep the middle school students engaged. In fact, whenever the students would zone off my mentor would make them get up and do an activity to wake them up. I also observed the students making tacos this week which was cool because they actually enjoyed class.
As soon as I walked in the classroom I remembered all the memories I had in FCS. I felt like I
was back in the classroom as a seventh grade student. As soon as I met the students I realized
how different every student is. There were some students that were very shy and quiet and there were some students that were talkative and outgoing. The biggest difference between the middle school and elementary school kids is that everybody’s learning pace is different in middle school. While in elementary school they kind of grouped the slower kids in a class and the gifted kids in a class. Another thing is that middle school students are a lot more tired than the elementary school students. You need to try extra hard to keep the middle school students engaged. In fact, whenever the students would zone off my mentor would make them get up and do an activity to wake them up. I also observed the students making tacos this week which was cool because they actually enjoyed class.