Is teaching for me.

Ever since I was eight I always wanted to be a teacher. Any chance I could I would play school with my siblings or cousins. I loved making lessons, getting school supplies, grading papers, setting up my "classroom" and everything I could think of that a teacher does. Now that I had the opportunity to do my service learning I now know I for sure want to be a teacher. I have a one year old son so trying to find someone to watch him to get it done was hard. My husband took a day off work to be able to allow me to get most of the hours done in one day. When it was my last day I tried to think of ways I could still go and do more hours. I absolutely loved going when I was able to. 

Being a teacher is the path I want to continue to go on. I loved every second of being in the classroom and helping the teacher with anything she needed me to do. She let me help in so many ways that I truly got a feel for what it would be like. 

Service Learning helped solidify my decision to become a teacher. It made me 100% know that being a teacher is what I want to do in a career. It made me hope that I can get my degree done soon so I can start. In the mean time I can apply what I learn in teaching my son. 

My next steps are to finish as fast as I can. I still have quite a few classes to get into the teaching program and that might take me a couple extra semesters with having a one year old and moving every summer for my husbands job so I can't take summer classes. By the time I can apply for the program we wont be moving, and my son will be able to have someone to watch him full time to do all my classes and when I graduate he will most likely be in kindergarten or first grade. Those are my plans at least. 

Classroom assessments

 I am making connections between the course topics and service learning because it helped me understand why she was teaching the way she was and how it benefits the students. I like learning something then going to the school to see when and how she would apply it in her class and to see if it would be something I would incorporate into my classroom. I have been able to articulate my own learning and understanding. I probably wouldn't have been able to explain what a lot of the terms were before doing the class and blogging. 

By blogging I have been able to think and notice things in my service learning that I most likely wouldn't have noticed. I was able to learn a lot in the classroom I was in and got some great ideas that I have kept on a page I haven't published yet for future reference.  I think the most I have learned since my first blog post was that what ever I learn and continue to learn I can keep it all on this blog for a tool to always have and update with my thought's and ideas. 

Standards and Accountability #7

 What evidence of the standards being addressed do you observe in your placement?   

I was in the classroom when she was observed by the principal. The teachers are giving a list of 10 standards. Learning differences and learning environments is what I think stood out to me the most. She had all the children engaged in a "Fancy Nancy" book. After they read the book they all discussed all synonyms found in the book. Then they were all split into groups to work together on an assignment to brainstorm synonyms for a word each team was given. As they were doing that the teacher walked around the classroom to be a help to any group that needed it. 

Are there particular subject matter standards that seem to be given more emphasis than others? 

From what I observed I feel like there was a good amount of everything and not necessarily only focused on one thing. Every day went the same. I was only able to do half days but reading and writing was probably what was most time was spent on. 

What are the subjects that you are not seeing addressed?  

From the times I was able to be there I wasn't able to see science or social studies lessons. Not that she doesn't do them I just wasn't there on days or times that she might have done some of those types of lessons. 

Why do you think that is?

Science and social studies didn't seem like it was as important as math, reading and writing that it wasn't done on a daily basis. 

 How does your cooperating teacher feel about the standards and about standardized testing?

All she really said about it was teaching now is not like teaching was 10+ years ago. There is so much responsibility on the teachers which would be fine if most of the parents were helpful at home. 

Diversity in Today’s Schools #6

What areas of diversity do you see in your service-learning classroom and how is the teacher addressing them? 

I feel like there wasn't much diversity in the classroom I was in besides gender when you just look at the class. After getting to know the class, you can tell what kids (I believed) came from different social classes and different home lives. I feel like the teacher addressed the children that need more attention and help very well, but not where it was only focused on the children that struggled. She knew how to handle certain behaviors some children had. One boy in particular came from a home where he lived with his grandparents and would always correct the teacher when she would say "mom and dad" because he didn't live with his parents. He also had a very messy desk, crumpled papers, couldn't focus well, did some inappropriate things (for a 1st grader), and always needed reassuring for all his assignments. The teacher had his desk closest to hers just so she could keep an eye on him and knew she was right there watching him. It helped a little but still had some problems. 

How is the teacher differentiating instruction for the diverse learners in her/his classroom? 

There wasn't much differentiating instructions that needed to be given. At least not when I was there. All directions were given the same and maybe repeated a couple more times just as reminders. She would then have me help her walk around the classroom to see if there were any questions that a student had and needed help with. The only student she has the needs a little extra help is a Spanish speaker and she spends a majority of her day in another classroom. 

Historical Event and Laws

In the class I did my service learning with there were two little girls who were Spanish speakers. One little girl spoke English quite well and the other had a really hard time with Spanish. During the day they would both leave class to a class for Spanish speakers to help them with English. The one little girl who could speak English well was only there a third of the time that the other little girl that struggled with English was there. Utah go by the English Language Learners (ELL) Services. They have created a English learners master plan to help students learn english.

The result of Brown vs. School board I didnt see an exact result. In the class I was doing my service learning in there were no African American students. There were however some Hispanic children. All the children played and talked to each student no matter their race.

A result of sputnik I think there are more science learning activities. Although I was never able to be there for a science lesson, I know the importance of involving science into the classrooms.

In 1638 the first printing press came to america. With out being able to print assignments or anything it would be really hard to teach, write and read.

Last year Presidnet Obama replace the No child left behind Act with the "Every Child Succeeds Act" 

Some of the parts to the "No Child Left Behind Act" are:

It sets high standards and accountability for student achievement to make sure that all children are caught up to 21st century learning. We shouldn't have to have an "act" to tell schools that the kids need to be caught up to 21st century learning. Between teachers and parents who care about their children, we should work together to make sure the children are succeeding in learning to their full potential. 

Yearly state assessments are given to children to measure what they know. States can compare the scores of schools to determine which ones need more help. I feel like children are tested all the time. I dont know why we have to have so many standardized tests to rank what the child knows. I personally have a hard time taking tests. I get so nervous and my mind goes blank. That happens to so many children. I know we cant  and wont abolished test taking but I feel that if there wasn't so much pressure on the teachers to get their kids so a certain level in testing, teaching would be easier and the children would probably learn more in the long run. Teachers would also probably feel more comfortable getting the help that a child may need or hold them back a grade if they just have a harder time learning in school. I saw that in the class I did service learning in. There was a boy in particular that had a very sad story. Before even knowing he story I could already tell he struggled in school and there was a sad story behind it. A lot of time children need more focus and with a full classroom a teacher cant tailor to that student every time. Some children have learning disabilities, mental disabilities, or hardships in their lives that hinder them. They need more focus and attention to succeed in school and live. 

Report cards are given for each school and district to show if they are succeeding. This school I did my service leaning in had a B in the 2014-2015 school year. The school district has an average rating of a B as well. 

Reading First is a program funded by the act that provides that all children are at grade level in reading ability by the 3rd grade. Reading I felt was the biggest subject at the school I worked in. While I was there the teacher was testing each individual child's reading level. Over half the students were above the appropriate level for their grade. 

It provides funding for teachers to become better teachers. it also mandates that all teachers should be licensed to teach, hold at least a bachelors degree, and be highly qualified in the subject they are teaching. I think teachers should defiantly have a degree in to be a teacher. I also think that a Elementary teaching degree should be in like a trade school were students are taught specifically how to be a teacher and what they need to know. Some classes we have to take to become a teacher doesn't help us in the field. I want to be the best teacher but I also want to be knowledgeable and ready to teach. The teacher I worked with had a couple of training meetings she went to. She was also tested by the principal while I was there. Both of which I think are appropriate. The extent of what the teacher was being tested on was a bit excessive I feel. She had to teach specific things, Which she should be doing anyways. I just think the way they had it set up was making the teaching more nervous than excited to just do her job and teach her class normally. 

Those are just my thoughts and opinions. I just started taking classes for this degree so getting more into it might changed my thoughts and opinions and how I would like to teach. 

Engaged Learning

I got a lot of ideas from the teacher I did my service learning with. 
1. Movement
During the day there is a time designated for centers. There are about 15 centers around the room for the students to choose from. There are a couple centers in which the student work together.  I feel like using something like this has a chance for the student to get up and move around and choose something that they would like to do. 

2. Hands on: 
Each student has a classroom job that changes weekly. They are each in charge of something to do in the class. One job is calendar. That student has to change the date and point to the day of the week, month, day, weather, what's for lunch etc. Having the students have something that they are in charge of gives them some responsibility and they take more pride in their classroom. 


3. Choices
There was an assignment about penguins. All week they read about penguins. At the end of the week they had to color a penguin how they wanted and wrote a story about their penguin. This is a good way to let the children learn a subject and take what they learned and put that information into something  their own way. 


I didn't really have an experience of something not engaging. But I did notice when the teacher would have her back turned to do work on the smart board the students had a hard time wanting to follow along and do work. Showing the students how to do something, like a math problem, but they need to be involved or I feel like you loose their attention. If they had white boards where they could write out the problem and raise their board when they got the answer, I think would keep them more engaged in learning math. 

Creating Productive Learning Environments

These are the three questions I chose to respond to. 

• Describe a time your cooperative teacher has offered choice to students.  

She asked some of the students to help her get ready for parent teacher conferences and help organize her book buckets and make sure they are in the right letter bucket. After they were all done they where given the choice of a tootsie roll or a terrific ticket, which is a ticket they can use to go to the bathroom, get a drink, have their pencil sharpened, etc. 

• What does the cooperative teacher do to establish a positive relationship with each student?  

She knew a little background information on each student and their family and I think that helped a lot to know how to help each child individually and how to help them succeed based on their individual circumstances. 

• What clear routines are established in the classroom?  How do they support a productive learning environment?

Every day the have a certain schedule they go by. They have reading first thing when only half the class is there, when all the students arrive they do their morning meeting then go on through the rest of the day as scheduled and end with reading with the other half of the students that weren't there in the morning. I think having a schedule is the best way to have a productive learning environment because the students know what to expect everyday and they are prepared for it. They have an easier time succeeding when they know what they are doing.