The racial/ethnic make up of Hoffman School in Glenview where I am observing is primarily white, with 74.3% White, 1.1 Black, 12.8 Hispanic, 10.7 Asian/Pacific Islander and 1.1 Multiracial/Ethnic. Diversity is valued at Hoffman; they recently celebrated “International Night”. International Night is a time when students and families come together to celebrate diversity and share culture with their Hoffman School family. Parents volunteer work with students to share food, dance and other customs during this celebratory night.
In Ms. Clark’s class where I am observing, and from what I have seen at the school in general, the students are inclusive and respectful of one another. The children do not cluster along racial lines. They are taught to respect differences. Once a week a teacher comes to the room to teach a life skills lesson. The lessons I have observed have included, how tone and volume in talk can be disrespectful, valuing differences and “the ripple effect” of your actions. These little lessons are taught throughout the school and it sets a good tone for the school and will help the children in life long after they move on to Jr. High and High School.
The classroom I observe in has a child with learning and behavioral disabilities. He has an aid that helps him through his day. The students are part of a program called TREE where the children move from 3rd to 4th to 5th grade with the same children. They are in 4th grade so they have been together for since 3rd grade they are accepting and caring toward Peter, he is an important part of their class. He goes to a resource room for certain subjects where he is helped in an appropriate manner for his learning level and style. I am excited to start observing in the resource room in a few weeks for an Exceptional Child class I am taking.
Teachers in District 34 are required to participate in meetings for four hours per month. Two hours are fixed for all teachers in the district called “tight” meetings. The remaining two hours are called “loose”, they are flexible, to be decided by the teaching team. Regular classroom teachers also meet with resource teachers and other members of an IEP team to discuss plan for children with disabilities.
Ms. Clarke logs scores from assignments and tests on a chart. This allows her to look at and analyze each child’s progress. Along with regular classroom duties and meetings the teachers at Hoffman rotate outside morning duty and afternoon bus duty.
I believe a sense of belonging and ownership for class is extremely important. Hoffman school does an excellent job of this as was demonstrated on International Night. This event is similar to the ideas in the book Teach Our Children Well where the author suggests the different ways to cook rice or bread as, there were many different ethnic foods presented at the celebration. Sharing diversity and embracing differences is a great way to say, “you and I are different and that is what I like about you.”
Planning and preparing for success is as important as delivering information to the children. Building a rapport with students and students building a rapport with each other don’t just happen. Teachers need to have a plan on how they are going to build a rapport with the children. They also need to plan how they will help students build a rapport with each other. Whether it is “student-of-the-month”, class meetings or life skills lessons it needs to be thought out and planned. If planning and execution are done well the students will feel a sense of belonging and everything will run smoother as students will respect each other and themselves.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
ISTE / NET*S
THOUGHTS ON THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR TECHNOLOGY IN EDUCATION (ISTE) NATIONAL EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY STANDARDS (NETS*T) and PERFORMANCE INDICTATORS for TEACHERS
Today’s students are different learners than when I was in school. Technology is part of their life before they enter a classroom. Technology is integrated into our world today, so as educators, we need to understand and pass along technological tools so our children will be competitive in the global job market.
One-Way I would love to meet the standard of “Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility” would be to do a video feed to a classroom in another country. What a great way to promote global awareness, cultural differences and friendships. If time differences would not allow, perhaps a new version of pen pals using e-mail to connect with someone in another part of the world.
Using Excel appears to be the best way to organize information. Especially with logging grades, tracking progress and graphing information. I will definitely use excel for a grade book which is in line with ISTE standard, “Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments”. Excel is also a helpful tool to use during parent-teacher conferences or anytime you need to share data information with a student or parent.
As far as “Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity” I would encourage children to choose technology to work for them. For example, give a technology book report. I would let the child choose from several options to relate their book report information. These choices might be to create a movie, do a Power Point presentation or write an essay in Word. Then for their next book report they would have to choose a different way to use technology to present their book report. This would show children that there are many different ways to communicate information using technology.
The National Educational Technology Standards are like guidelines for teachers to follow; using the standards will assist teachers in preparing our children for the technology filled future.
Today’s students are different learners than when I was in school. Technology is part of their life before they enter a classroom. Technology is integrated into our world today, so as educators, we need to understand and pass along technological tools so our children will be competitive in the global job market.
One-Way I would love to meet the standard of “Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility” would be to do a video feed to a classroom in another country. What a great way to promote global awareness, cultural differences and friendships. If time differences would not allow, perhaps a new version of pen pals using e-mail to connect with someone in another part of the world.
Using Excel appears to be the best way to organize information. Especially with logging grades, tracking progress and graphing information. I will definitely use excel for a grade book which is in line with ISTE standard, “Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments”. Excel is also a helpful tool to use during parent-teacher conferences or anytime you need to share data information with a student or parent.
As far as “Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity” I would encourage children to choose technology to work for them. For example, give a technology book report. I would let the child choose from several options to relate their book report information. These choices might be to create a movie, do a Power Point presentation or write an essay in Word. Then for their next book report they would have to choose a different way to use technology to present their book report. This would show children that there are many different ways to communicate information using technology.
The National Educational Technology Standards are like guidelines for teachers to follow; using the standards will assist teachers in preparing our children for the technology filled future.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Journal Entry #1
Nancy Widlowski
Journal Entry #1
Teaching and the Environment
Hoffman School – Grade 4
The classroom I am observing in has many challenges. There are three doorways in the room, one from outside, one from the hallway and a double door joining the classroom next door. These doorways take up a substantial amount of space, as they all need to be accessible.
The children are arranged in three groups of six and one group of five. They sit at
tables, so their materials need to be kept on the table or in their “crate” in the hallway. In addition textbooks are stored on shelves or carts in the room. Each child is assigned a number and numbers are placed on textbooks and computers. So, when Ms. Clarke tells the children to get their science books, the children go to the cart with the science books and take the number that they were assigned. At first glance the room appears a bit cluttered however, every space is used in a productive way. The children know where to retrieve their mail, where to sign in for lunch, and get books among other things.
Ms. Clarke has definitely made the effort to create a child-oriented space for her students. Their world region projects hang from a thin wire that stretches from one end of the room to the other. Their names are on the “helper board”, lunch sign-in, birthday board as well as a mail slot for each student. There is a “places I have been” board where children bring in photos of a place they have vacationed. Recently, the children brought in a baby picture of themselves; the photos are posted on a board with a number next to each photo. The children are going to have a contest to see who can identify the most babies.
There are a number of technology items in the room. Ms. Clarke uses the Document Camera a great deal. This tool allows her to project onto screen worksheets as well as other things she wants to share with the class. The children also use the Document Camera when they are sharing their work with the class. There is a Smart board in the room however, I have never seen Ms. Clarke us it; I would love to see the Smart board in action. Computers are shared with the neighboring classroom, when the children use them they go next door and get the computer that corresponds with their assigned number. The children also had the opportunity to use a video recorder to tape each other’s oral book reports.
When transitioning from one activity to the next Ms. Clarke makes an announcement of the transition. There is also a daily schedule on the front board with a schedule of each activity/subject and the time that activity/subject will begin.
Teaching in the environment plays an enormous role in how effective the teacher is and how comfortable the children feel in their classroom. Displaying student’s names, photos and works in the classroom make the room their space; the children feel a sense of ownership and belonging. There will never be another space just like “their space” as it will change next year when a new group of students create a space that belongs to them. Physical space always appears to be a great challenge to teachers; there is never enough room. Creativity is key to making the space you as a teacher have, work to your advantage. Making things portable, such as the “portable word wall “ suggested in Teach Our Children Well. Or, a space that can quickly be created, for example moving some desks/tables and roll rug to create a “magic carpet area” for reading. Space will always be an issue, we as teachers must take the challenge of creating a welcoming and effective learning environment in whatever space we have to work with.
Journal Entry #1
Teaching and the Environment
Hoffman School – Grade 4
The classroom I am observing in has many challenges. There are three doorways in the room, one from outside, one from the hallway and a double door joining the classroom next door. These doorways take up a substantial amount of space, as they all need to be accessible.
The children are arranged in three groups of six and one group of five. They sit at
tables, so their materials need to be kept on the table or in their “crate” in the hallway. In addition textbooks are stored on shelves or carts in the room. Each child is assigned a number and numbers are placed on textbooks and computers. So, when Ms. Clarke tells the children to get their science books, the children go to the cart with the science books and take the number that they were assigned. At first glance the room appears a bit cluttered however, every space is used in a productive way. The children know where to retrieve their mail, where to sign in for lunch, and get books among other things.
Ms. Clarke has definitely made the effort to create a child-oriented space for her students. Their world region projects hang from a thin wire that stretches from one end of the room to the other. Their names are on the “helper board”, lunch sign-in, birthday board as well as a mail slot for each student. There is a “places I have been” board where children bring in photos of a place they have vacationed. Recently, the children brought in a baby picture of themselves; the photos are posted on a board with a number next to each photo. The children are going to have a contest to see who can identify the most babies.
There are a number of technology items in the room. Ms. Clarke uses the Document Camera a great deal. This tool allows her to project onto screen worksheets as well as other things she wants to share with the class. The children also use the Document Camera when they are sharing their work with the class. There is a Smart board in the room however, I have never seen Ms. Clarke us it; I would love to see the Smart board in action. Computers are shared with the neighboring classroom, when the children use them they go next door and get the computer that corresponds with their assigned number. The children also had the opportunity to use a video recorder to tape each other’s oral book reports.
When transitioning from one activity to the next Ms. Clarke makes an announcement of the transition. There is also a daily schedule on the front board with a schedule of each activity/subject and the time that activity/subject will begin.
Teaching in the environment plays an enormous role in how effective the teacher is and how comfortable the children feel in their classroom. Displaying student’s names, photos and works in the classroom make the room their space; the children feel a sense of ownership and belonging. There will never be another space just like “their space” as it will change next year when a new group of students create a space that belongs to them. Physical space always appears to be a great challenge to teachers; there is never enough room. Creativity is key to making the space you as a teacher have, work to your advantage. Making things portable, such as the “portable word wall “ suggested in Teach Our Children Well. Or, a space that can quickly be created, for example moving some desks/tables and roll rug to create a “magic carpet area” for reading. Space will always be an issue, we as teachers must take the challenge of creating a welcoming and effective learning environment in whatever space we have to work with.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
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