While working towards a teaching degree, it is required to spend quite a bit of time in the classroom. Makes sense, as this is where you are going to get the hands on experience, hence the name of this component of my schooling, “Field Experience”. This last semester, I completed my first 40 hours of field experience. The class I was assigned to was a fourth grade class. I learned a lot from the kids, and the veteran teacher that I has able to observe. This entry will share some of the highlights.
Give me a “Time out”
I noticed that one of the main running themes, in teaching children, is to have a variety of regrouping methods on hand. One that I watched worked time and time again was when the teacher I was observing asked for a “time-out”. When the teacher would ask for this, the student’s response was to put their hands in the air in the form of a T, similar to how you see basketball players do. Once all of the children complied, there would be a moment of silence, and then she would move forward with her lesson.
Classroom Rug
I have always worked hard to make my home a comfortable place for myself, and others. I do not think a classroom should be any different. The teacher I was able to observe did an amazing job at making her room feel very inviting with plants and books everywhere.
My favorite part was in the front of the room there was a rug. She was great at bringing the kids to this rug a few times a day. This is where they were allowed to relax a bit more, even lay down if they wanted to.
The best part was right after lunch everyday she would have them come in, take a sit or lay down while she read to them from a chapter book that they had been reading from for a while. I have to tell you, I started getting into the book myself.
Don't Stop Moving
After my first day of observation, I told the teacher that it might help to be a bit ADD if you are a teacher. All day everyday this woman was moving NON STOP!!! From one subject to the next, from one child to the next. She started the day running and did not stop until the end. To be honest I think she probably did not stop then either. :)
It was amazing for me to see her in action. What a real day in the life of a teacher looks like.
Real Life Examples
School can be boring sometimes, we all know that. There is so much stuff that we have to learn. Real knowledge is deep and takes years of building up, which means there is always some lame stuff to learn before you can get to the fun stuff. One way to make this entertaining for the children is to show them how the information is tying into their lives. Show them WHY they need to know this, or point out to them how this looks in their life. Then let them share how they are able to relate it back to their lives.
The teacher I observed was a master at this. She did not just teach what the text was telling her to teach. She was amazing at bringing it all back around to real life. With anything and everything she would stop, right in the middle of the lesson and say, "you know kids, this reminds me..." or "You know kids, what else are we learning that sounds like this...". It was amazing to watch this pro in action.
Collaboration With Other Teachers
The newest concept I learned about teaching this last semester, was the importance of collaboration. The teacher I watched showed me that using the wisdom, and experience of veteran teachers, the strong skills of all of my colleagues and sticking together as a team will be invaluable to me in years to come.
I have been putting this into practice in many other areas of my life, and see why it will be some important. I watched as her, and the other teacher that taught the same grade, shared responsibilities. One taught Science while the other did the Social Studies, for both classes. This helped the kids not get bored, as well as socializing with all the kids in their grade. And it helped the teachers have one less subject to create a lesson plan for. Genius!
Respect For The Students
So I am not sure how many of you have been in an upper elementary room lately, but it is no joke. There are your normal kids, who get a little too rowdy. You have your class clowns, shy girls who won't talk, busy bodies and know it alls. But now there is another breed. There were actually kids there that I was a bit leery about making eye contact with. Kids who cuss, throw things, refuse to do work, and many other things that you would not think you would see in an elementary. But it is there. And through it all there are these things called "students rights" protecting these children from the reality of the consequences of their actions.
As you can tell this was probably the hardest part for me to swallow. But I think with some work (and an amazing support team made of other teachers, principals, librarians and other staff) it is possible to learn how to show respect and still demand it from all of your students.
All in all it was a great experience, where I learned a lot. Even with the scary kids, I think I might keep going towards this dream of mine.
Thank you to the teachers and the school for allowing me into their lives.
Give me a “Time out”
I noticed that one of the main running themes, in teaching children, is to have a variety of regrouping methods on hand. One that I watched worked time and time again was when the teacher I was observing asked for a “time-out”. When the teacher would ask for this, the student’s response was to put their hands in the air in the form of a T, similar to how you see basketball players do. Once all of the children complied, there would be a moment of silence, and then she would move forward with her lesson.
Classroom Rug
I have always worked hard to make my home a comfortable place for myself, and others. I do not think a classroom should be any different. The teacher I was able to observe did an amazing job at making her room feel very inviting with plants and books everywhere.
My favorite part was in the front of the room there was a rug. She was great at bringing the kids to this rug a few times a day. This is where they were allowed to relax a bit more, even lay down if they wanted to.
The best part was right after lunch everyday she would have them come in, take a sit or lay down while she read to them from a chapter book that they had been reading from for a while. I have to tell you, I started getting into the book myself.
Don't Stop Moving
After my first day of observation, I told the teacher that it might help to be a bit ADD if you are a teacher. All day everyday this woman was moving NON STOP!!! From one subject to the next, from one child to the next. She started the day running and did not stop until the end. To be honest I think she probably did not stop then either. :)
It was amazing for me to see her in action. What a real day in the life of a teacher looks like.
Real Life Examples
School can be boring sometimes, we all know that. There is so much stuff that we have to learn. Real knowledge is deep and takes years of building up, which means there is always some lame stuff to learn before you can get to the fun stuff. One way to make this entertaining for the children is to show them how the information is tying into their lives. Show them WHY they need to know this, or point out to them how this looks in their life. Then let them share how they are able to relate it back to their lives.
The teacher I observed was a master at this. She did not just teach what the text was telling her to teach. She was amazing at bringing it all back around to real life. With anything and everything she would stop, right in the middle of the lesson and say, "you know kids, this reminds me..." or "You know kids, what else are we learning that sounds like this...". It was amazing to watch this pro in action.
Collaboration With Other Teachers
The newest concept I learned about teaching this last semester, was the importance of collaboration. The teacher I watched showed me that using the wisdom, and experience of veteran teachers, the strong skills of all of my colleagues and sticking together as a team will be invaluable to me in years to come.
I have been putting this into practice in many other areas of my life, and see why it will be some important. I watched as her, and the other teacher that taught the same grade, shared responsibilities. One taught Science while the other did the Social Studies, for both classes. This helped the kids not get bored, as well as socializing with all the kids in their grade. And it helped the teachers have one less subject to create a lesson plan for. Genius!
Respect For The Students
So I am not sure how many of you have been in an upper elementary room lately, but it is no joke. There are your normal kids, who get a little too rowdy. You have your class clowns, shy girls who won't talk, busy bodies and know it alls. But now there is another breed. There were actually kids there that I was a bit leery about making eye contact with. Kids who cuss, throw things, refuse to do work, and many other things that you would not think you would see in an elementary. But it is there. And through it all there are these things called "students rights" protecting these children from the reality of the consequences of their actions.
As you can tell this was probably the hardest part for me to swallow. But I think with some work (and an amazing support team made of other teachers, principals, librarians and other staff) it is possible to learn how to show respect and still demand it from all of your students.
All in all it was a great experience, where I learned a lot. Even with the scary kids, I think I might keep going towards this dream of mine.
Thank you to the teachers and the school for allowing me into their lives.