Blog_3

1.      My advising teacher has two systems of classroom management.  One is a ticketing system.  The other is color coded cards that students pull to the front depending on how severe their behavior.  The ticketing reinforces positive behaviors.  The cards are pulled for poor behaviors.  After a student pulls a card.  The next step is spending time in another classroom.  If the poor behavior continues then a pre-referral is written.  The pre-referral may be escalated to a referral depending on the office personnel’s decision.

2.     The students as well as the teacher use several different visual cues to keep things running smoothly.  One example of this is when a student needs to get water he/she holds up one finger and the teacher can nod yes or no.  The student will hold up two fingers if he/she needs to use the restroom.  She also has all the helpers posted on a bulletin board so when it is time for a helper to do their job, she doesn’t have to call on them.  So, when there is a paper that needs to be handed out, she holds it up while explaining the direction and the helpers automatically come up, take the papers and begin passing them out.

3.     A.  Treat others the way you want to be treated.  Respect all living things.  Classroom management makes for a successful classroom.  Being positive makes for a more enjoyable learning environment.  An active environment promotes learning for all students.

B.  The room would be arranged with the student tables in groups of four (one high, medium high, medium low and low level student).  The teacher’s desk would be located at the front, in the center of the classroom along with a short filing cabinet for the teacher’s use only.  In the back, left portion of the room would be the group mat (used for a mini circle time and centers).  There will be student cubbies on the left wall where book bags, clothing items and anything else the students bring in will be kept.  The supply cabinets will be along the right wall, each labeled appropriately.  Chalkboard or white board will be at the front of the classroom.  There will be one table with two computers (students use) on it in the back, right section of the room.  I believe this would be a very productive classroom arrangement that would be safe for all of my students.

C.  Rule #1:  Be prepared.  Rule #2:  Follow Directions.  Rule #3:  Be Respectful to Yourself and Others.  Rule #4:  Cooperate in Group Activities.  Rule #5:  Complete Your Schoolwork to the Best of Your Abilities.  Rule #6:  Have Fun!

D.  Entering Classroom:  Students will enter the classroom quickly and quietly.  Proceed straight to their seat and prepare for the lesson.  If it is at the very beginning of the day, students will be expected to begin their bell work right away.  Homework:  Homework will be turned in as soon as the student walks in the room.  There will be a green basket labeled Homework on the teacher’s desk where they are to place their homework.  If it is a project too big for the basket then it should be placed on the countertop closest to the teacher’s desk.  Grading:  I will grade students using the schools grading system:  A = 90-100; B = 80-89; C = 70-79; D = 60-69; F = 0-59.  Restroom:  Students will be given the opportunity to use the restroom four times throughout the day.  One time will be during our walk to physical education.  Once will be on our way back from the cafeteria.  The students will be able to use the Restroom Hall Pass for the other two times, but only if they really have to go.  Traveling Through the Halls:  As a class students will be expected to walk in a quiet, strait line.  If they are using the Hall Pass, then they should walk quickly and quietly to their destination and back.  Helpers:  Each day six students will be the designated helpers.  They would have one of the following jobs:  Flag:  this person will held the flag during the Pledge of Allegiance; Pass Out Papers:  this person will pass out any papers/supplies throughout the day; Pick Up Papers:  this person will pick up any papers/supplies throughout the day; Clean Up:  this person will make sure the room is cleaned up at the end of the day; Door opener/closer:  this person will open the door, wait until everyone is out then close the door; Line Leader:  this person will be at the front of the line throughout the day.  Calendar:  Every day we will go over the different parts of the calendar:  Days of the Week; Months of the Year; Seasons; Day of the Month; Pattern; Weather.  Line Up:  Once the line leader is in position, the students will line up either alphabetically by first name or last name, or students will line up ladies first followed by gentle men.  Emergency Drills:  Once a month we will practice all emergency drills as a class.  The route will be posted in the classroom (both visual and words).  If there is no route a procedure with pictures will be posted.  Clean Up At the End of the Day:  Students will be expected to clean up their desk area, have their book bags packed, and their chairs pushed in.  They will stand by their desk until the bell rings to go home.

E.  At the start of the school year, I will have a method for teaching the behaviors I expect from my students.  I will first explain; show and tell what is expected of the students in great detail.  Then the students will have the opportunity to rehearse; practice several times what is expected of them.  Finally I will reinforce; praise those who did what was asked of them and have consequences for those who do not follow the procedure correctly. 

Those students that comply with the rules will ultimately be rewarded in the end, but as a teacher I would reward them throughout the year with the use of a ticketing system.  The tickets will be used for purchasing items from the treasure box.  Tickets can be saved or used up right away.  Here is an example; for ten tickets a student purchases a ruler, pencil, or eraser.  A student with forty tickets could buy a pencil pouch.  One-hundred tickets would be enough to purchase a slinky, yo-yo, poster board, or a pack of paper.  The tickets used to purchase items will be added to a large jar.  Once the jar is completely full, the class will have earned an in-class party time.  Since the tickets symbolize money, not only can the students learn a little something about working hard for their money, but it gives them that incentive to work hard to buy something they may want or need.

Students who are non-compliant with the rules, whether it is passive or directly defiant they will be addressed.  Since every student and every situation is different, I have multiple strategies of how to deal with them.  On some occasions a private discussion is necessary.  For this I would have the student meet me at my desk or just outside the classroom as soon as possible.  Another way is to approach the child and quietly point out the unacceptable behavior and clearly state the consequences.  The consequences would vary depending on the severity of the behavior.  As the teacher, no matter what the situation I plan to stay calm, objective, and avoid power struggles. 

If students are still not responding after explaining, enforcing and reinforcing, rehearsing could help these students.  Having students rehearse what is expected of them helps them to understand what is expected of them and gives them the opportunity to practice what is expected of them.

Blog_2

The first of the morning is a little crazy because a lot of the students come in late from safety patrol duty, morning show, and getting breakfast. Once all the students arrive they start their reading lessons, which are done in the same order every day. Between each lesson is a smooth transition of students opening their notebook to the section they are working on or students reading a book silently. After reading, they pack get their math and science items ready and line up to switch to another teacher. The other class that comes at the switch does their reading lessons. Then both classes go to lunch and specials. At the end of the day is either writing or teacher directed PE. Throughout the day my advising teacher expresses concern, care, and respect. She created a safe environment for her students. The students go to her with easy to express their concerns about schoolwork, other students, after school, and home situations. She keeps her voice low, calm, and smooth so that all her students can understand her at an upmost respectable manner.


I like how my advising teacher has the books for her students organized by level and by theme to help the students choose the right book for themselves. She has a restroom policy where the students write their name and the time on a sheet outside the bathroom door. This is so that if the bathroom is messy or nasty, they know who the last person was in the bathroom and how long it had been left that way. I like that students hold up one finger for water and two fingers for bathroom as a classroom management technique so there are less disruptions throughout the day. Something I found creative was when students sharpen their pencils they keep a paper towel under it to catch the shavings, then the student just tosses out the paper towel (so much less mess). All of these ideas among so many more she has and probably will demonstrate I plan to use when I begin teaching.


My advising teacher switches her methods of gaining the students attention which works surprisingly well. Typically I see teachers using the same attention getters every time and at first it works great, but eventually at some point in the year, they have to use a new one. I think using multiple ways of getting the students attention is a great teaching strategy. The reading specialist has the reading teachers using a “first twenty days” reading program. The consistency of the program seems to work really well except maybe that there are too many posters. I think posters are great, but when there are so many of them it can be overwhelming for the students and teacher.


Some of the things familiar to me were posters hanging on the walls, students conversing with one another, having the opportunity to talk with my advising teacher, and getting to know other staff members. What made me feel comfortable was the ease of getting to know the students, and the slow and smooth transition into working with the students.


I plan to teach one whole class lesson. Then I plan on working with small groups on their reading skills. After that I plan to teach half a day. Finally I will teach one entire day. I already have some one on one experience with the students and I have observed the teacher. I feel confident I will be successful in gaining positive experiences toward my professional development.

Blog #1

1. I have taken all the required education courses aside from level 3 internship and the course I am currently talking, level 2 internship. I have also passed the Florida teacher certification exam! Creative Experiences was the most impacting course for me because I faced my fear of speaking in front of my peers and I took several teaching strategies from the course. I learned how to create creative lessons and make the classroom environment livelier.

2. I have taught VPK for five years, toddlers for two years, was a summer camp councilor for school age students for six years, tutored a fourth grader for a semester’s time, babysat for two years with various school age, interned in a first, third, and fifth grade class through various internship programs. Teaching VPK has impacted me the most as I have gained many education experiences from the teachers’ point of view especially how to collaborate with parents.

3. I expect to gain a better knowledge of what it takes to be a fifth grade educator. I hope to enrich the lives of the students with positive education experiences. I fear that I am not prepared to teach fifth graders as I have little experience in the upper grade levels. My worst nightmare would be to disappoint the advising teacher in any way.

4. The best teachers I had were the ones that created a classroom environment where every student felt included and safe. Creative thinking was encouraged. Students were not afraid to speak up and no ideas were shut down as being bad or of poor quality. These teachers pushed their students to become the best student and person they can be. These teachers care for their students.