Mrs. Paynter has a variety of ways of engaging her students in the classroom. One thing I noticed on the first day of observation was whenever a row (students sharing a row of desks) followed directions quickly and directly, they were told to "circle a smile" on their desks. After asking Mrs. Paynter what this was for, she told me that every time a row received 4 smiles on their desks, they were able to put a tally mark on the board under their row. After that row had 5 tally marks, they were able to make one guess in an ongoing game of battleship. Mrs. Paynter said she made it really hard for them to get there, and sometimes the prizes were not very big, but once a row had sunk a ship, they would get a classroom privilege. Just to keep it interesting, she also changed the ships positions regularly to keep the game engaging and challenging.
Mrs. Paynter also lets her students work in groups or pairs when doing different assignments. This gives them the opportunity to work with a partner and bounce ideas off of each other. It also keeps them from continually going to the teacher with questions. Mrs. Paynter also uses working with a partner as a reward. She lets the students work in partnerships only if everyone is doing what they should be and is actively engaged in the learning experience.
One thing I recently noticed in Mrs. Paynters classroom was her classroom chore list. Each student has a classroom chore they are to perform every day. The list rotates through the students so everyone gets a chance to perform the different tasks. When students behave well and are doing what they should be, they get more desirable tasks then those that don't. It is a subtle thing, but really helps keep students on track.
Today in class I saw her handing out candy to the class after the performed their wax museum skits. It was a small behavior reinforcement, but they students responded very highly to it. I believe it is the subtle things that help keep students engaged but also do no distract from the task at hand that are the most efficient and beneficial in the classroom.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Friday, February 21, 2014
The Importance Of Teaching
I believe there are many important roles a teacher plays in regards to being a teacher. One of the first important roles that comes to my mind is being there for them. Many children do not have a steady parental role model in their lives. As a teacher, you may be the only person in their lives who is continually there for them and wants them to succeed. I believe it is extremely important that as a teacher you stress to your students that you are there at all times for them no matter the issue. Let them know you are their friend, and you want them to be the best that they can be. That in itself is extremely important.
Another important role a teacher plays is that of preparing their students for what lies ahead; preparing them for the future. Of course it is much more than that, but one of the most important things we can do for our students is give them the knowledge they need for the future. It is our job as educators to relay information to our students in a variety of ways so that the students not only obtain the information, but are able to understand and apply it as well.
Being a teacher is most definitely not easy. I could go on and on about important roles that a teacher performs. In fact, I believe that every role a teacher performs is important. Without those roles, they could not and would not be a teacher. It is those important roles put together that makes a teacher who they as educators. I know it will be the hardest thing I may do in my life, but I look forward to the opportunity of holding the position of a teacher, and helping educate the minds of the future.
Another important role a teacher plays is that of preparing their students for what lies ahead; preparing them for the future. Of course it is much more than that, but one of the most important things we can do for our students is give them the knowledge they need for the future. It is our job as educators to relay information to our students in a variety of ways so that the students not only obtain the information, but are able to understand and apply it as well.
Being a teacher is most definitely not easy. I could go on and on about important roles that a teacher performs. In fact, I believe that every role a teacher performs is important. Without those roles, they could not and would not be a teacher. It is those important roles put together that makes a teacher who they as educators. I know it will be the hardest thing I may do in my life, but I look forward to the opportunity of holding the position of a teacher, and helping educate the minds of the future.
Friday, February 14, 2014
Preparation for the Classroom
From the first day in her classroom, Mrs. Paynter has been really great about keeping me involved in her classroom. One of the first things she asked me to do was go through a sheet of the students names and write down their new computer passwords for computer class later on that day. I went down the list and wrote down all the new passwords on little cards I made for each student. After that, she had me call students back one by one and give them their new password and made sure they understood what it was. It was a great one on one interaction with the students, and really helped me towards learning their names.
Another thing Mrs. Paynter had me to do for classroom preparation was making packets to send home to parents letting them know what was going on in the classroom for them month. She had me paper clip the papers together so that students could take them home. She was very appreciative to have me there to help her get all of her paperwork done therefore giving her more less stress.
I was also able to administer a "math facts" quiz to some of the students while Mrs. Paynter worked with a small group doing spelling. This math quiz is often full of basic multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. The students are to see how quickly they can do the math, and once 3 minutes are up, they are to stop the quiz. The goal is to improve a little bit week by week. I was able to time the children and watch them while they took the quiz. I know it was really small, but it was the first piece of authority I was given in the classroom.
I also helped set up homework in the students folders, as well as prepare plastic bags with numbers on them for a future activity. Mrs. Paynter is great at having small things ready for me to take care up to help with her classroom preparation. I really enjoy seeing the little things that it takes to run a successful classroom. It really helps me see what my classroom could be like in the future.
Another thing Mrs. Paynter had me to do for classroom preparation was making packets to send home to parents letting them know what was going on in the classroom for them month. She had me paper clip the papers together so that students could take them home. She was very appreciative to have me there to help her get all of her paperwork done therefore giving her more less stress.
I was also able to administer a "math facts" quiz to some of the students while Mrs. Paynter worked with a small group doing spelling. This math quiz is often full of basic multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction. The students are to see how quickly they can do the math, and once 3 minutes are up, they are to stop the quiz. The goal is to improve a little bit week by week. I was able to time the children and watch them while they took the quiz. I know it was really small, but it was the first piece of authority I was given in the classroom.
I also helped set up homework in the students folders, as well as prepare plastic bags with numbers on them for a future activity. Mrs. Paynter is great at having small things ready for me to take care up to help with her classroom preparation. I really enjoy seeing the little things that it takes to run a successful classroom. It really helps me see what my classroom could be like in the future.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Differnet Learners in the Classroom
At first when I saw the topic for this weeks blog entry, I didn't think I would have anything to write about. But after really thinking about it and paying closer attention, I realized that the reason I hadn't noticed any special attention in Mrs. Paynters classroom was because Mrs. Paynter is an excellent teacher.
My first experience I had with an English learner named *Anna. The class had been preparing for a math test for quite some time, and it was finally time for them to be tested. After the tests had been passed out, Mrs. Paynter came to me and asked if I wouldn't mind reading the test to Anna while she graded some papers. Of course I was happy to help! Anna came and sat by me at my table and I slowly read each problem and the answers to her on the test, often times repeating them if necessary. She was very timid, but really seemed to benefit from being able to hear the words out loud. I watched her from then on to see how she did in the class, and seemed to follow along very well. There were a couple of times she would raise her hand and ask for clarification on something. She seemed to very involved in the class and doing very well. I was impressed because I know that sometimes it is really hard for students who don't understand to ask questions all the time. Often it makes them feel inferior or stupid when they ask questions too much, but she did great.
Another experience I had with an exceptional learner was a student named *Samantha. Samantha has a really hard time focusing in class, and often seems distracted by other things in the classroom. I almost positive that she had ADHD. I noticed that Mrs. Paynter tried as often as she could to call on Samantha and keep her on the same track as the other students. After spending more time watching Samantha, I noticed that Mrs.Paynter had strategically placed Samantha by specific students that were able to help keep her on track and keep her involved in the class activities. She also placed Samantha on the back row so that there would be no students sitting behind her to be distracted by her movements. It really was a very simple thing, but seemed to have a huge effect on how Samantha acted in the classroom.
I learned this week that having different learners in your classroom doesn't have to interrupt or change the way your classroom flows, you just have to learn ways to adapt so that every student can have the same learning experience as the other students. I am definitely excited to learn more strategies that can help me in my future classroom.
My first experience I had with an English learner named *Anna. The class had been preparing for a math test for quite some time, and it was finally time for them to be tested. After the tests had been passed out, Mrs. Paynter came to me and asked if I wouldn't mind reading the test to Anna while she graded some papers. Of course I was happy to help! Anna came and sat by me at my table and I slowly read each problem and the answers to her on the test, often times repeating them if necessary. She was very timid, but really seemed to benefit from being able to hear the words out loud. I watched her from then on to see how she did in the class, and seemed to follow along very well. There were a couple of times she would raise her hand and ask for clarification on something. She seemed to very involved in the class and doing very well. I was impressed because I know that sometimes it is really hard for students who don't understand to ask questions all the time. Often it makes them feel inferior or stupid when they ask questions too much, but she did great.
Another experience I had with an exceptional learner was a student named *Samantha. Samantha has a really hard time focusing in class, and often seems distracted by other things in the classroom. I almost positive that she had ADHD. I noticed that Mrs. Paynter tried as often as she could to call on Samantha and keep her on the same track as the other students. After spending more time watching Samantha, I noticed that Mrs.Paynter had strategically placed Samantha by specific students that were able to help keep her on track and keep her involved in the class activities. She also placed Samantha on the back row so that there would be no students sitting behind her to be distracted by her movements. It really was a very simple thing, but seemed to have a huge effect on how Samantha acted in the classroom.
I learned this week that having different learners in your classroom doesn't have to interrupt or change the way your classroom flows, you just have to learn ways to adapt so that every student can have the same learning experience as the other students. I am definitely excited to learn more strategies that can help me in my future classroom.
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