Tell about an opportunity you had to work with a small group.
This was actually my third week in the classroom, and I was finally given the chance to observe and help out in the third grade! The teacher I was helping with, Mrs. Homer, just returned from a sick leave; a few days before school started, she tore her aorta. Even now, she can only be in for half of the day instead of full time because she is still recovering, so she needs all the help she can get.
I arrived in the morning and the kids were just finishing with their starters. I graded them, then Mrs. Homer had me help the kids in their workshops. There were five different assignments they needed to work on: one was a craft where they had to cut paper and glue it together to make a resemblance of themselves; the next was a worksheet of determining whether a sentence was a derogative or an interrogative; another worksheet was a story they had to read, then answer the following questions; along with the worksheets, there was one which required the student to alphabetize twenty flash cards and write them down; and the last workshop was reading in small group with the teacher.
Mrs. Homer had me walk around and help the students. A lot of them weren't reading the directions on their worksheets, so I had to hint to them certain words that changed the way they were doing the assignment.
There were two kids that were joking with me on their craft. I came into class with a high bun on my head. They told me that one of the hairstyles they cut out looked like a cinnamon roll, just like my bun.
One thing I noticed was that these kids treated each other for who they are, not what they looked like. I'm glad that we live in a generation where it's considered rude to judge other people based on their appearance.
I was sad when it was time for me to go - I enjoyed helping Mrs. Homer today. I hope they send me back to her class next week.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Wednesday, September 11, 2013
Week 1
What modifications for learners who are exceptional do you see?
Today was my first day of volunteering in the classroom. I decided to do my fieldwork in the elementary school down the street from my house, Park Lane Elementary. My grandma was a second grade teacher there (she retired last year) so she was able to reference me to some of her friends who currently teach there, whom are excellent to observe. Although it wasn't my top choice to observe this age group, I was put into a first grade classroom. I was aiming to observe a third grade class, but the teacher my grandmother wanted me to observe has had a substitute since the first week of school (she has a torn aorta, so she won't be returning for a while). I haven't been around any other grades to really have a set preference, but I'm sure first grade is the next greatest thing to third grade!
The teacher I observed (unfortunately I don't remember her name) is in her second year of teaching. She taught kindergarten last year, so she has a few students in her class that she taught last year. If she wasn't so young, I would have thought she has been teaching for a long time! She's very patient, organized, and works well with the children. After the morning rug time, she had me help out with her workshops; I helped the kids with the math/counting workshop. This workshop was great for the students who excel in visual and kinesthetic learning. Each student was given their own bag with the following items: two decks of cards with the number 1-12; three separate papers that say, "is less than", "is the same as", and "is greater than"; and small, stackable cubes. The students had to leave both decks of cards facing down, then pull a card from each pile. Then, they had to determine whether the first number was greater than, less than, or the same as the second number. If the student wasn't able to figure it out right away, they could use the stackable cubes and stack the amount for each number (this was good for kinesthetic learners). Or, they could read the papers aloud (which is good for audio learners). I noticed that the teacher set up each station so it usually required the students to use all three learning types. This also allowed her to see how the individual students learn best.
Today was my first day of volunteering in the classroom. I decided to do my fieldwork in the elementary school down the street from my house, Park Lane Elementary. My grandma was a second grade teacher there (she retired last year) so she was able to reference me to some of her friends who currently teach there, whom are excellent to observe. Although it wasn't my top choice to observe this age group, I was put into a first grade classroom. I was aiming to observe a third grade class, but the teacher my grandmother wanted me to observe has had a substitute since the first week of school (she has a torn aorta, so she won't be returning for a while). I haven't been around any other grades to really have a set preference, but I'm sure first grade is the next greatest thing to third grade!
The teacher I observed (unfortunately I don't remember her name) is in her second year of teaching. She taught kindergarten last year, so she has a few students in her class that she taught last year. If she wasn't so young, I would have thought she has been teaching for a long time! She's very patient, organized, and works well with the children. After the morning rug time, she had me help out with her workshops; I helped the kids with the math/counting workshop. This workshop was great for the students who excel in visual and kinesthetic learning. Each student was given their own bag with the following items: two decks of cards with the number 1-12; three separate papers that say, "is less than", "is the same as", and "is greater than"; and small, stackable cubes. The students had to leave both decks of cards facing down, then pull a card from each pile. Then, they had to determine whether the first number was greater than, less than, or the same as the second number. If the student wasn't able to figure it out right away, they could use the stackable cubes and stack the amount for each number (this was good for kinesthetic learners). Or, they could read the papers aloud (which is good for audio learners). I noticed that the teacher set up each station so it usually required the students to use all three learning types. This also allowed her to see how the individual students learn best.
Introducing...the one and only....
My name is Ms. Bennie, according to the students of Park Lane Elementary. I am studying to become an elementary school teacher (preferably to the third grade). I guess I can be considered the next step up after "rookie" when it comes to working with kids. I had absolutely no interest in working with kids until December 3, 2012.
It all began with talking to a friend of a friend - Josh Palmer. It was December of 2011 and I was sitting at a table in the school cafeteria, when suddenly, a boy dressed in a golden Sherwani approached my table.
"Hey guys! How's it going?"
The rest of my friends got up and bro-hugged him. "Josh, you're back from India!"
India? I thought to myself. What was he doing in India?
After Josh and my friends had their reunion, I asked Josh why he was in India. He explained to me that he went with a nonprofit organization, Youth Making a Difference, on a humanitarian trip to West Bengal, India. There, he and twenty-four other high school seniors taught English to the children in rural villages. Along with teaching them English, they brought newborn kits, educational supplies, winter clothing, first aid kits, and other supplies for the children and their families.
I thought that was the coolest thing I have ever heard. Like, ever.
Josh told me that YMAD was accepting applicants, and the next expedition would be leaving in November.
There was no way I was going to pass up that opportunity.
I applied, the leaders of YMAD accepted me into the program, and after a year of leadership training, myself and twenty-five other kids ventured out to the Himalayan village - Chamba. For two weeks of November into December, my life was changed. My eyes opened to a new understanding of love, compassion, humility, and charity. I never thought I could love a group of people so much, despite cultural differences and the language barrier. I didn't want the feeling to end; the feeling that I got when I saw children succeed and desiring to learn more to have a brighter future.
Before I left on the expedition, I wanted to become a veterinarian. After my life changing adventure, I am now determined to become a teacher.
It all began with talking to a friend of a friend - Josh Palmer. It was December of 2011 and I was sitting at a table in the school cafeteria, when suddenly, a boy dressed in a golden Sherwani approached my table.
"Hey guys! How's it going?"
The rest of my friends got up and bro-hugged him. "Josh, you're back from India!"
India? I thought to myself. What was he doing in India?
After Josh and my friends had their reunion, I asked Josh why he was in India. He explained to me that he went with a nonprofit organization, Youth Making a Difference, on a humanitarian trip to West Bengal, India. There, he and twenty-four other high school seniors taught English to the children in rural villages. Along with teaching them English, they brought newborn kits, educational supplies, winter clothing, first aid kits, and other supplies for the children and their families.
I thought that was the coolest thing I have ever heard. Like, ever.
Josh told me that YMAD was accepting applicants, and the next expedition would be leaving in November.
There was no way I was going to pass up that opportunity.
I applied, the leaders of YMAD accepted me into the program, and after a year of leadership training, myself and twenty-five other kids ventured out to the Himalayan village - Chamba. For two weeks of November into December, my life was changed. My eyes opened to a new understanding of love, compassion, humility, and charity. I never thought I could love a group of people so much, despite cultural differences and the language barrier. I didn't want the feeling to end; the feeling that I got when I saw children succeed and desiring to learn more to have a brighter future.
Before I left on the expedition, I wanted to become a veterinarian. After my life changing adventure, I am now determined to become a teacher.
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