Going to a public school through VIPs’ was a very delightful experience. I never had any problems with the teacher or the students.
I had payed a lot of attention to what the teacher was doing as well as what the students were doing. I have a lot of respect for this teacher as she always had her class under control and had everyone on topic. When she asked questions hands went up and students answered. The teacher wasn’t so strict but at the same time the students knew she was in charge.
It takes a lot of time to go through all the material that is necessary. Over the time that I was there students went through a few stories a weeks that were only about two to three pages long.
By going to this class I showed myself that I do have the patience to work with younger students. I wasn’t sure if I had it in me to spend a lot of time with kids, because of the past summer I babysat five kids everyday and it was extremely hard as they were often out of control.
Mrs. Gagnon was a fine example of the teacher I want to be. Having the students under control is such a big deal because if they are all over the place they really aren’t leaning anything. If they are there sitting down quietly and paying attention you know they are learning something.
When Mrs. Gagnon wasn’t there and there was a sub, the class was completely out of control. Kids were walking all over the place, no one was doing what they were supposed to be doing, kids were yelling out loud, going in and out of the class and being very disrespectful. I was so amazed with the difference when the teacher wasn’t there.
I want to be a teacher who will spend time to get to know her students and not push them through the grade like many teachers do. I want them to come out of my class knowing as much as they possibly can. I want all my students to have a voice and not feel like they have to be left out. I want my students to want to come to class and not feel as if they are being tortured. Learning can be a fun experience, but it all depends how it is presented. I want to be that teacher who a student can look back on and say that I was a good teacher and made learning a fun experience.
Monday, December 7, 2009
post 4 prompt 6
In this second grade class, about fifty percent was made up of Hispanic children. They all spoke very good English, but when it came down to reading, some had more difficulty than others. As I sat down one on one and read with each student individually I noticed that all they needed help with was pronouncing the word. They knew exactly what the word meant but saying it took a little more time.
One thing that I did was write down the words they needed help with on a blank piece of paper. I helped them continue reading the story but after the story was done, I went back to the words they needed help pronouncing and went over it until they were able to tell me the word without hesitation. I eventually went back to the story and pointed out the words they needs help with and had them read the sentence to me with the word. This helped them tremendously.
The teacher had me continue that with a few different students. On one particular day Mrs. Gagnon sat me down with one student for the whole hour and a half and had me go over about forty site words. We went down the list three at a time. Every time he got the three site words we went on to the next three but didn’t forget about the previous three as we went back to make sure he didn’t forget what those words were.
The boy did get frustrated after a while, but who wouldn’t. I know if I was him and I had to repeat a word many times I would have been very frustrated myself.
Goldenberg presents in his article the research study of English language learners. The study shows that teaching the student in their own language then in English it would help them be more successful. If they learned in their language it would be easier as they would transfer the language across and have a better understand of what they are learning.
This situation is different though; the students are learning in English and are getting all their instructions in English as well. What they are learning must be picked up almost immediately because they will fall behind, which I believe is unfair.
If they do not understand the material and keep getting pushed to learn different material in a short amount of time, they are most likely going to shut down and not want to try. If they are going to be taught in English and that isn’t there original language, that material needs more time to go over. I noticed when I actually spent time to go over the material a little more than what was already explained, they understood what they needed to do a lot better.
One thing that I did was write down the words they needed help with on a blank piece of paper. I helped them continue reading the story but after the story was done, I went back to the words they needed help pronouncing and went over it until they were able to tell me the word without hesitation. I eventually went back to the story and pointed out the words they needs help with and had them read the sentence to me with the word. This helped them tremendously.
The teacher had me continue that with a few different students. On one particular day Mrs. Gagnon sat me down with one student for the whole hour and a half and had me go over about forty site words. We went down the list three at a time. Every time he got the three site words we went on to the next three but didn’t forget about the previous three as we went back to make sure he didn’t forget what those words were.
The boy did get frustrated after a while, but who wouldn’t. I know if I was him and I had to repeat a word many times I would have been very frustrated myself.
Goldenberg presents in his article the research study of English language learners. The study shows that teaching the student in their own language then in English it would help them be more successful. If they learned in their language it would be easier as they would transfer the language across and have a better understand of what they are learning.
This situation is different though; the students are learning in English and are getting all their instructions in English as well. What they are learning must be picked up almost immediately because they will fall behind, which I believe is unfair.
If they do not understand the material and keep getting pushed to learn different material in a short amount of time, they are most likely going to shut down and not want to try. If they are going to be taught in English and that isn’t there original language, that material needs more time to go over. I noticed when I actually spent time to go over the material a little more than what was already explained, they understood what they needed to do a lot better.
post 3 prompt 5
I went into Mrs. Gagnon’s class one morning and she had the class set up nicely and had a nice organized list of parent’s names. Next to each name was a time.
She told me that there was a parent teacher conference the night before and that there was suppose to be twelve parents coming and only two parents came. The two parents that did come really didn’t need to come as there was no problem with their child’s work.
I know she was disappointed by the outcome of the parent teacher conference. I just feel like there is a lack of support from the parents to help the teacher do a better job at helping teach their child.
I can’t really say that the parents don’t care about their child and their education because they probably do. The real problem might be is lack of understanding. As mostly all these students are bilingual, I’m sure a lot of parents have difficulties speaking English.
This is why I think it is important that people should learn another language other than English because it will help the teachers communicate with parents. And this goes for other professions as well.
I want to relate this to Delpit. One of her proposed aspects of power states “there are codes or ruler for participating in power; that is; there is a “culture of power.” She explains how there are different ways of dealing with situations. There are different ways of talking, writing, dressing and interacting.
A lot of parents are from different culture and might not speak English they might feel intimidated and might not understand the reason for communicating with the teacher if they are not going to understand what he/she is saying. It is not easy for anyone to go somewhere where there language is not spoken and the culture is completely different from their own. That could have been the situation in Mrs. Gagnon’s case.
It is very important that a child’s parents interact with the teacher because it will help the child’s parents stay on the same page as the teacher. The parents will be able to help their child at home. I’m sure all parents want to know how their child is doing in school and are interested in what their child is learning.
I know very little Spanish and speak even less than of what I understand. I would like to learn more because I know; knowing a different language is very useful especially in the teaching profession because I got to deal with a lot of parents and not all will speak English. But if I were to have a parent teacher conference night I would have pamphlets in multi languages and have a translator if necessary so that all parents have an equal opportunity to learn how their child is progressing.
She told me that there was a parent teacher conference the night before and that there was suppose to be twelve parents coming and only two parents came. The two parents that did come really didn’t need to come as there was no problem with their child’s work.
I know she was disappointed by the outcome of the parent teacher conference. I just feel like there is a lack of support from the parents to help the teacher do a better job at helping teach their child.
I can’t really say that the parents don’t care about their child and their education because they probably do. The real problem might be is lack of understanding. As mostly all these students are bilingual, I’m sure a lot of parents have difficulties speaking English.
This is why I think it is important that people should learn another language other than English because it will help the teachers communicate with parents. And this goes for other professions as well.
I want to relate this to Delpit. One of her proposed aspects of power states “there are codes or ruler for participating in power; that is; there is a “culture of power.” She explains how there are different ways of dealing with situations. There are different ways of talking, writing, dressing and interacting.
A lot of parents are from different culture and might not speak English they might feel intimidated and might not understand the reason for communicating with the teacher if they are not going to understand what he/she is saying. It is not easy for anyone to go somewhere where there language is not spoken and the culture is completely different from their own. That could have been the situation in Mrs. Gagnon’s case.
It is very important that a child’s parents interact with the teacher because it will help the child’s parents stay on the same page as the teacher. The parents will be able to help their child at home. I’m sure all parents want to know how their child is doing in school and are interested in what their child is learning.
I know very little Spanish and speak even less than of what I understand. I would like to learn more because I know; knowing a different language is very useful especially in the teaching profession because I got to deal with a lot of parents and not all will speak English. But if I were to have a parent teacher conference night I would have pamphlets in multi languages and have a translator if necessary so that all parents have an equal opportunity to learn how their child is progressing.
post 2 prompt 4
Entering FNED 346 I knew that we were going to have to volunteer in a public school. I know a lot of people in this class hasn’t been to a Providence public school and probably had pre conceptions about how the students acted and how they learned. When I found out that we were going to Providence public schools, I didn’t mind at all. I myself went to Providence Public Schools from start to end (k-12). I was always the minority in the schools that I went to. There were never many white students in my schools. So when I started volunteering, I didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary. I knew there was going to be many different ethnic backgrounds.
The class that I went to had one white student and the rest were Hispanic and Black. Everyone got along with one another. The students enjoyed each time I came as they knew that I was there to play a game or help them individually with their work. It was so nice to sit with them individually because that is when I got to learn a little more about each student.
For example this one boy needed help with writing his sentences, because they were learning about verbs and different parts of a sentence. So to help him, I was asking him questions such as how many sister’s and brother’s did he have. When he answered I told him to answer me in a sentence and when he did that ended up being one of his sentences. So as I was helping him learn about making a sentence I was also getting to know him. When I started to connect with him, he started to open up to me and tell me stories about how he has four sisters and where he was going for thanksgiving.
It seemed that every child had a different story to tell me as I helped them with their work. It is true that no one enters the classroom without a story. Everyone is grown up in a different way and it reflects who they are. It’s interesting to see how every student has a very different personality from one another.
I feel that when I become a teacher, I will be prepared to work with multicultural students because I grew up with them. I don’t look at the students for what they look like and where they come from I look at them for Who they are and what they want to make of themselves. I feel comfortable around them and it’s nothing new to me. I believe by me being confident walking into this school knowing what to expect, I reflected a comfortable personality that showed the kids that I was there to help them and not judge them in any way.
Writing this I thought about Carlson and breaking the “Norm”. Our community is changing and there is nothing anyone can do about it. We need to start accepting what is becoming of our community because this is how it’s going to be. We need to start including multi culture learning in our schools and stop trying to exclude it from the text books. Things don’t have to be left out, its people wanting to leave it out, which causes a problem. Not everything is going to be perfect or how you want it. Everything is changing so the best thing to do is accept it and that will eventually help build a better society.
The class that I went to had one white student and the rest were Hispanic and Black. Everyone got along with one another. The students enjoyed each time I came as they knew that I was there to play a game or help them individually with their work. It was so nice to sit with them individually because that is when I got to learn a little more about each student.
For example this one boy needed help with writing his sentences, because they were learning about verbs and different parts of a sentence. So to help him, I was asking him questions such as how many sister’s and brother’s did he have. When he answered I told him to answer me in a sentence and when he did that ended up being one of his sentences. So as I was helping him learn about making a sentence I was also getting to know him. When I started to connect with him, he started to open up to me and tell me stories about how he has four sisters and where he was going for thanksgiving.
It seemed that every child had a different story to tell me as I helped them with their work. It is true that no one enters the classroom without a story. Everyone is grown up in a different way and it reflects who they are. It’s interesting to see how every student has a very different personality from one another.
I feel that when I become a teacher, I will be prepared to work with multicultural students because I grew up with them. I don’t look at the students for what they look like and where they come from I look at them for Who they are and what they want to make of themselves. I feel comfortable around them and it’s nothing new to me. I believe by me being confident walking into this school knowing what to expect, I reflected a comfortable personality that showed the kids that I was there to help them and not judge them in any way.
Writing this I thought about Carlson and breaking the “Norm”. Our community is changing and there is nothing anyone can do about it. We need to start accepting what is becoming of our community because this is how it’s going to be. We need to start including multi culture learning in our schools and stop trying to exclude it from the text books. Things don’t have to be left out, its people wanting to leave it out, which causes a problem. Not everything is going to be perfect or how you want it. Everything is changing so the best thing to do is accept it and that will eventually help build a better society.
post 1 prompt: 1
George West Elementary is located off of Mt. Pleasant Ave. The neighborhood seems quiet during school hours, but around the time school starts and ends there is a lot of traffic. It’s located right down the street from Mt. Pleasant high school and Rhode Island College.
The school building is very large and has a good size recess area. Inside the school is very nice and it’s well maintained but the lighting is kind if dim. The classrooms are a good size as well. The halls were aligned with lockers for the students and the library had a mural that contained encouraging words.
The class that I volunteered in was very nice and organized. There were about five rows of desk facing the board, there was a reading area with a nice rug and a large variety of books to choose from and there was a D.I area that had chairs so that the students could read together and correct work in groups.
To me it felt like I was going to my old elementary school, except for the lockers. I think it’s a little unnecessary for students so young to have lockers. In the class, the teacher decorated the room and had cute little curtains on the door so it felt a little homely. Walking into the school I felt that it was more like a school for older students. The only part that made it seem like an elementary school was the mural in front of the library. In the class I had a very different feeling from being in the hallway. When I was in the class I knew I was in an elementary school. There were visuals for students to look at for help and the reminders.
Mrs. Gagnon, the second grade teacher was a very nice teacher and made sure that her students were always doing what they were suppose to and kept a constant reminder of where they were and why they were there. She was very well organized and always had the class in control. When students got loud she raised her voice and the students immediately settled down and got to work. She made sure that students were on the level of which they were working on and didn’t pretend that the students knew what they were doing when they didn’t know.
The students were very respectful to the teacher as they knew she didn’t mess around. They did their work when they were told and made sure they had what they needed to be done in time for D.I.
Education is mostly valued in this school and is especially in the class room. Knowing that education is very valuable, students are pushed to their limit so they can get the most out of their education. I can tell education is valued because of its strict manner in order to have students on task. Students are pushed to the most of their potential. As an example not all students in D.I groups are from the same grade. There are students from all grade levels above and below, so that they are getting the proper education and that they are not falling behind or not being challenged enough.
The school building is very large and has a good size recess area. Inside the school is very nice and it’s well maintained but the lighting is kind if dim. The classrooms are a good size as well. The halls were aligned with lockers for the students and the library had a mural that contained encouraging words.
The class that I volunteered in was very nice and organized. There were about five rows of desk facing the board, there was a reading area with a nice rug and a large variety of books to choose from and there was a D.I area that had chairs so that the students could read together and correct work in groups.
To me it felt like I was going to my old elementary school, except for the lockers. I think it’s a little unnecessary for students so young to have lockers. In the class, the teacher decorated the room and had cute little curtains on the door so it felt a little homely. Walking into the school I felt that it was more like a school for older students. The only part that made it seem like an elementary school was the mural in front of the library. In the class I had a very different feeling from being in the hallway. When I was in the class I knew I was in an elementary school. There were visuals for students to look at for help and the reminders.
Mrs. Gagnon, the second grade teacher was a very nice teacher and made sure that her students were always doing what they were suppose to and kept a constant reminder of where they were and why they were there. She was very well organized and always had the class in control. When students got loud she raised her voice and the students immediately settled down and got to work. She made sure that students were on the level of which they were working on and didn’t pretend that the students knew what they were doing when they didn’t know.
The students were very respectful to the teacher as they knew she didn’t mess around. They did their work when they were told and made sure they had what they needed to be done in time for D.I.
Education is mostly valued in this school and is especially in the class room. Knowing that education is very valuable, students are pushed to their limit so they can get the most out of their education. I can tell education is valued because of its strict manner in order to have students on task. Students are pushed to the most of their potential. As an example not all students in D.I groups are from the same grade. There are students from all grade levels above and below, so that they are getting the proper education and that they are not falling behind or not being challenged enough.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
1st BLOG =)
My name is Katie Chamberlain. I think I am a sophmore not sure becuase I might not have all the credits I need ( I have to look into it). I would like to apply to the school of education this year if possible. BTW I am an elementry ed major with a concentration of special ed. This semester i believe has been my semester so far. All my professors are nice and im having any difficulties with my classes. Previous semesters I wasnt too smart about picking classes, which i got so fustrated with becuase it seemed like i was on campus all day everyday. Outside of school I like to spend time with my friends and family.
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