Blog # 2

It is noble to teach oneself but still nobler to teach others." -Mark Twain


Positive Observations in the Classroom


 In this classroom setting, I see many positive things that help the children succeed.  First, there is mutual respect between the teachers and the students and vice versa. This respect respect makes it easier to provide a positive learning environment for students. There is also, constant communication between teachers and students about what they should be doing. The student always are aware of what they should be doing at every moment during the say. Third, the behavior management plan is successfully implemented throughout the school day. Fourth, the students are actively involved with their learning with hands-on activities and read a louds. All these factors are positive situations that I have seen throughout the classroom setting. 


Comparing Teaching Styles


Being in a co-teach environment, I have 3 different teaching styles that I compare to my beliefs as a pre-service teacher. The first teacher is hard to compare to because she uses an old style teaching by using lectures and having students remain silent. I do believe that the students should be doing as many as hands-on activities as possible and that students should sometimes be allowed to talk quietly at their tables. The second teacher creates a positive learning environment by allowing students to be active in discussions and providing a variety of examples during discussions. Another thing that this teacher does is read a loud to students during reading periods, which introduces different literature genres and different reading strategies to students. I agree with read a louds is an important part of teaching students throughout their educational career. I enjoy reading to students because it helps them find a love for reading through the eyes of the teacher. The third teacher is the teacher I connected with the most due to the balance she creates during her instructional periods. The teacher uses hands-on activities and lecture in equal balance that creates an open environment where students want to learn. I think that students need to have a teacher who provides opportunities for them to become excited about learning. I try hard to create lessons to incorporate hands-on activities with interests the meet the needs of my students. I am making these observations only being in the classroom for a little over the week. I think there is more to learn about their learning styles over the semester. 


What will I take with me?


Looking at my teachers learning styles, there are a number of things I will take and incorporate into my own learning styles. First, I want to incorporate the hands-on activities during most planned lessons. This is an important part of teaching in my eyes. Second, I would take with me the creative ways they develop vocabulary in different subjects by using word walls for the different subjects. The kids seem to really look at the various words that are added to the wall during the various units.  As of now, in the internship, the two ideas is something that I would take with me into my very own classroom. I am excited to learn many more techniques from my internship.


Things that were new


The biggest thing that I have seen that was new to be was the behavior management reward system. They use a point system based on tables and individuals at the same time by deducting and adding points when students are misbehaving or behaving. This system was the newest thing I have seen in the classroom. I have been a in a co-teach environment before and have also seen the majority of the strategies being used in the classroom so far. Once again, this is only the beginning of the school year, so I believe there is still a lot of new things to learn. 


Familiar or Comfortable?


I actually felt very comfortable walking into the classroom on the first day, most of my jitters were released when I completed my first internship. Even though, I was put into a unique internship experience, I felt comfortable because my first internship was also in a ESE co-teach environment. Also, the supervising teachers made it extremely easy to walk into the classroom and begin working with the kids from the first day. The teachers and students were very open to having us in the classroom and keep is involved in plans and lessons when ever possible. I am excited to be in this environment for my internship.


What's Next?


In terms of the internship,  I am beginning to plan lessons with my cooperating teacher and will have my own small reading group to work with over the next couple of weeks. The teachers are beginning to have us be be involved in regular classroom routines and instruction. In terms of my future as a teacher, I will be using all my experiences as an intern by learning from both the good and bad experiences. I will take the time to make lessons that will keep the students engaged and interested in the various content that needs to be taught. I plan to push myself to become the best teacher I can be and make a difference in children's lives.