When I would communicate with the students while reading books and doing activities I would talk to them so that it was easy for them to understand what I was saying. Sometimes I can speak really fast, but I talked slower and pronounced my words better than if I were talking to a friend. When helping the students pronounce a word I would sound it out slow for them and then have the student do it along with me and then have him or her sound it out by themselves. As far as the teacher of the classroom I did not have much time to pay attention to what she was doing because I did not have any observation time, aside from the one day I went and even then she taught two small quick lessons.
The children in the class socialized good for the most part, except for the few children that just liked to annoy each other all the time. There was this one little girl in particular, I never really saw her speak to anyone but she would just wander around the classroom and stop at each table. She also liked to push the other students buttons. I would hear every now and then Mrs.G Jessica won't leave me alone, but Jessica would just be standing there watching them or just take something off their table.
When it comes to culture I did not see major differences in the children. I mean obviously there is differences because everyone is brought up differently, but with little kids its the same between them all. They like to tell on each other, make up funny but untrue stories. They also like to annoy each other and would do so if they could all day! The teacher disciplined the children as needed, by having them work alone, etc. If they were acting up when I was working with them I told them nicely to please stop. Sometimes it worked others it didn't, for example yesterday one little boy kept mimicking the other boy I was working with. I asked him to stop, but he didn't for some time.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Prompt #5
If I were to be the teacher in the classroom I currently tutor in I feel like I may have a slight language barrier. The part of the city I'm in is a predominately Hispanic and mostly Spanish speaking. To break this barrier though I would try to make lessons for the class that involve the students helping others including me learn a new language.
As far as the lesson this would help the children to strengthen the skills in their native language because as we learned in Teaching English Language Learners, if you reinforce their native language it helps them to build their English skills better. I really believe that Goldenberg's article connects with prompt number five because it is about English language learners and as a teacher of a diverse class you need to know how to help the students succeed in English as well as help them continue learning their native language.
In being able to collaborate with my students parents to overcome the challenges I would also take a language class. This would to be to better my communication skills between me and the parents, as well as the students whom have less than average English speaking skills. I would hope that by taking this action it would demonstration of respect to the parents of my students! With respect for the children's culture I would also like to help build upon that while they are learning the curriculum of the school they are attending!
As far as the lesson this would help the children to strengthen the skills in their native language because as we learned in Teaching English Language Learners, if you reinforce their native language it helps them to build their English skills better. I really believe that Goldenberg's article connects with prompt number five because it is about English language learners and as a teacher of a diverse class you need to know how to help the students succeed in English as well as help them continue learning their native language.
In being able to collaborate with my students parents to overcome the challenges I would also take a language class. This would to be to better my communication skills between me and the parents, as well as the students whom have less than average English speaking skills. I would hope that by taking this action it would demonstration of respect to the parents of my students! With respect for the children's culture I would also like to help build upon that while they are learning the curriculum of the school they are attending!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Promt #4
Of course no one person can enter a classroom completely biased free because you have some background information on the children you will be teaching. If you happen to be a new teacher there is plenty of information on the web (infoworks) that provide you with information on the school and city or town.
Walking into my VIPS experience I wanted to be a close to biased free as possible. I did this by not looking up the school on infoworks, which left me to think on my own what the school might be like. The only real biased I had was of the location of the school, in which I had only heard bad things about growing up. I wanted to have an open mind walking into this experience and I wanted to leave it with knowing that I was part of the solution!
"You're either part of the solution or you're part of the problem." -Eldridge Cleaver
While I was growing up I attended a predominately white school. The school was 96 percent White, one percent African American, two percent Asian, and one percent Hispanic. The school I tutor in is 61 percent Hispanic, twenty percent White, 16 percent African American and four percent Asian. Its obvious this was going to be a new experience for me, but I was ready more than ever.
The advantages of teaching in this class would be that it is a diverse classroom setting, but a challenge may be a language barrier. I mentioned this in one of my other posts as well. I do believe that even though there may be a language barrier I would still try to find ways to make it easy for the parents and I to communitcate without it being uncomfortable.
Johnson's article Our House is one Fire, I believe fits in here! In Johnsons article he says " The problem with race is not a problem of difference. The problem is a society oraganized around differences that are significant only in relation to and oppressive system of privilege." I do believe that what I quoted from Johnson's article is completely true, I feel this way because when I think back to my political science class I recall when we talked about Brown v. Board of Education and the black codes and when there was cases brought to the surpreme court, they kind of denied what the laws really were saying and making up there own version of them to satisfy the court decision. One example would be when the law said to desgregate the schools, but yet there were students who were not allowed into white schools, or the state wanted to take its time instead of just doing it quickly.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Prompt #7
In many ways has this experience started to shape my teacher identity. One thing I have learned is that this is nothing like babysitting and entertaining a few kids and no where as easy as it looks!
One thing that I have learned by tutoring is that children are on all different levels no matter the grade that they are in. Josh one of the boys I tutor had many difficulties and could just about read a book. Despite his difficulties he showed me that he was still eager to learn and made wanted to improve his skills. When he would try to read a sentence if there was a word or two there he didn't know how to pronounce he would add his own words. From this I learned to have more patience and understanding for children when learning something new. I feel this way because if you are not patient they may feel rushed and not concentrate and I am more understanding because I now know what it is like to be in both positions (tutor and student).
Other ways the VIPS experience is shaping my teacher identity is by just being able to interact with children on a different level. I'm there for them as someone they can look up too( hopefully) and someone to guide and help them with things they need help with! All of my students always ask me if I go to big kid school or some made up name for college! Then they tell me how thats where they want to go when they get older and thats makes me feel good because I feel like I've made an impact on them to want to continue with their education. Where as at home they may see people who may not have continued with their education or even left high school before graduating.
This experience has also helped to shape my teacher identity because I am able to see from a different perspective how the teacher presents her lessons and handles her kids. From this I have learned to not always give in to every child. That may sound a little mean but some kids do or say things just for attention. Michalya had a small paper cut and was mad that she wasn't able to go first in a game, when Mrs. Goncalves saw her she just told to stop crying and deal with it. Mrs. G then looked at me and told me that she acts like a drama queen over everything!
Finally the vips experience has helped to shape my teacher identity because I have learned a little bit of how I might be as a teacher. It's obvious that I wont know my teaching style until I start my student teaching, but this was definately a helpful experience and a slight insight of whats to come!
One thing that I have learned by tutoring is that children are on all different levels no matter the grade that they are in. Josh one of the boys I tutor had many difficulties and could just about read a book. Despite his difficulties he showed me that he was still eager to learn and made wanted to improve his skills. When he would try to read a sentence if there was a word or two there he didn't know how to pronounce he would add his own words. From this I learned to have more patience and understanding for children when learning something new. I feel this way because if you are not patient they may feel rushed and not concentrate and I am more understanding because I now know what it is like to be in both positions (tutor and student).
Other ways the VIPS experience is shaping my teacher identity is by just being able to interact with children on a different level. I'm there for them as someone they can look up too( hopefully) and someone to guide and help them with things they need help with! All of my students always ask me if I go to big kid school or some made up name for college! Then they tell me how thats where they want to go when they get older and thats makes me feel good because I feel like I've made an impact on them to want to continue with their education. Where as at home they may see people who may not have continued with their education or even left high school before graduating.
This experience has also helped to shape my teacher identity because I am able to see from a different perspective how the teacher presents her lessons and handles her kids. From this I have learned to not always give in to every child. That may sound a little mean but some kids do or say things just for attention. Michalya had a small paper cut and was mad that she wasn't able to go first in a game, when Mrs. Goncalves saw her she just told to stop crying and deal with it. Mrs. G then looked at me and told me that she acts like a drama queen over everything!
Finally the vips experience has helped to shape my teacher identity because I have learned a little bit of how I might be as a teacher. It's obvious that I wont know my teaching style until I start my student teaching, but this was definately a helpful experience and a slight insight of whats to come!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Prompt #1
The drive to the school seems to take me longer than it really should, but at the same time I am just trying to get a feel for the area I will be spending a great deal of my time in! As I come closer to the school the neighborhoods seem to become a little more run down. It was not the best experience when I had to take detours because they were doing construction on the roads. I do believe I witnessed some illegal activity while waiting in line at a stop sign. From that point I have felt not as safe driving though this part of the city, but oh well the experience I have had a chance to go through is definitely worth it.
As far as the actual school, when I pulled I could not believe how big it was compared to the elementary school I attended! There is also little parking and when looking for a spot before going in you want to find a spot where you won't be blocked in by the parents or the afternoon buses coming to pick up students. My tutoring session is from 1-2:30 on Mondays.
Fumbling to put me keys away and walking up to the door to buzz in you could say I was so nervous about what to expect on my first day with the kids. The office staff was very friendly and also walked me to the classroom I would be in for the next nine weeks! The time has come to meet the teacher and students! I was greeted with a warm welcome from the entire class. The size of the classroom is pretty big, but considering the amount of students it almost seems like the tables are close and kind of cluttered!
The four students I tutor are amazing young children and of course like any child they have their moments, but I am so happy to be with them! Out of the four students I originally began with I still tutor two of them and have two new kids!
Within this school there are certain things the children are expected to do. Such as during fire drills they must be quite and be in a straight line either single file or two by two. When leaving the class to use the bathroom they also must be quite as to not disturb the classes in progress. In Mrs. Adams class they have a basket they have to take and it has a hall pass (I believe), and hand sanitizer! If you follow the rules the students receive a buck in for the class or themselves. I forget which one it is! If the students don't follow the rules I'm not exactly sure what the teacher or principal will do as far as discipline. I haven't really grasped what the teacher does for discipline with students, but for rewarding I do believe the students are rewarded by the bucks as well.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
First Blog
Im maeghan. I am an elementary education major with a content major in history! So far this semester is going well, but we are only two weeks in so I still have to give it more time. On my free time I work for CVS/Pharmacy. I also like to hang out with my friends.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
