Blog #9 Assignment

     I have really enjoyed this online class. The service learning aspect of this course, provided me with a window into real time teaching. I was able to work with a special needs student as well as watch her interactions with normal peers in a classroom setting.
      While my student was working with her special ed. teachers, I stayed in the classroom and helped the class teacher do different projects. I was able to help in grading, assessments and providing extra help to students.  I did everything from lunch room duty to recess. I experienced firsthand the many hats that a teacher can wear in a day.
       I had my group interview last week to be accepted into the Elementary Ed. program.  I was ready to go into it full steam when I was pulled aside and told about the new grant that they have for those students wanting to major in special ed., with a minor in Autism.  Now I am a bit conflicted as to what I want to do. I plan on applying for the scholarship and see where that takes me. Without the service learning that I did for this class, I never would have had the opportunity to work with special needs and experience the joy and fulfillment they can bring a teacher.  

Classroom Assesment

   

Keeping a blog about my service learning has been so helpful in assessing myself.  I have grown and learned so much. I honestly had no idea what engaged learning was! Being in a classroom, I have been able to be an observer as opposed to when I  substitute teach where I am just trying to survive the day. I actually have used some of the tools that I have learned, to better help me when I sub.  
     My biggest growth has been the engaged learning. I have noticed how much better kids respond and learn when they are engaged. I love how the teacher in my class teaches a concept and then has them teach her. I love how she lets them know that there is no wrong way to solve a math problem and how proud the kids are when they actually come up with a different way to solve something. I remember back when I was in school that kids who learned differently just kept quiet for fear of being labeled different and therefor wrong.
     I have also observed how better behaved students are when they actually take a part in the reward system as well as the rules. Kids behave so that their peers won't be disappointed in them, rather than the teacher.
    I want to be a fun teacher who engages all students in learning. Who empowers and encourages their students and who go home every day knowing that I love them. I want them to not only gain knowledge but become kinder and gentler citizens both in the classroom and in the world.  

Standards and Accountability

   

 One standard that I have noticed in the classroom I volunteer in is the Math Standards.  I think that I have noticed it the most because it is a new way of learning. I really like how she teaches the students a concept in Math and gives them multiple ways of solving it. She then, turns around and has the students teach her and the class how they solved it.   When I was in school, we learned Math but never really why. We memorized our times tables but never really understood what 3x5 meant where with these new standards, the children learn the method behind a math problem and how all different kinds of solutions came come up with the same answer. It empowers children to think and know that different is OK as long as they understand the concept. they also use a lot of awesome programs like I-READY math that gages what a student knows and adjust accordingly so that students don't feel like they are failing but will get extra problems to help them learn.  
     One standard that I haven't seen much of in the classroom is art.  I don't ever see art projects hanging up in the classroom. Sometimes I feel like the teachers have so much  on their plate that they let something else go or else they touch on it just a little bit. I think they focus more heavily on the subjects that the students will be tested on.

Diversity In Today's Schools

   
 Some of the areas of diversity I've seen in my service learning classroom are 1. Gender Identity- the teacher in my classroom reads many books about both boys and girls being able to be anything they want to be when they are older. She has had parents come in to share what they do for a living.  Some of these included a male nurse,  and a women police officer.
     2. Exceptional Students-there is a blind student in our class. The teacher pre-plans her assignments so that they can be brailled  before they do the lesson. This way she can participate like everyone else.  She also has students volunteer to be her partner to help her with projects.  She teaches the students to call each other by their names so that she can become familiar with who her peers are.  She team teaches with  the special ed teacher to insure that she is being helped in all aspects of her education.
   3. Poverty- there are a lot of  students who come from low income families.  This teacher has bags filled with food that she keeps in her pantry and ALL the students know that they can grab one at any time to take home.  She treats everyone fairly and stresses that they all are special and can succeed. She also has a table of books that students can borrow to take home to insure that there are books in the home.

History of American Education

   

 Utah schools serve 51,249 (USOE Data Report, January 2014) K-12 English learners representing 134 languages. In my service learning placement, I have had the opportunity to work in the dual immersion  classes.  Because of Lau vs. Nichols, school districts receiving federal funds must help minority students. Allowing students with little or no English speaking ability to sink or swim is a violation of their civil rights.
     In my placement school, I see a tremendous support for the ESL students. For example, they take great measures to not only embrace their native language but to celebrate their culture. For the Mexican holiday, Day of the Dead, the students dressed up and they had a program where they invited all the parents as well as the student body and sang songs both in English and Spanish as well as showing a short video about the holiday. The kids loved it.  Through various assessments, they have a plan for each child. Sometimes, this will involve an aid coming in and helping them with their math or reading. They have peers who are older students that come in once a week and read with them.  The dual immersion teacher, lets the students work collaboratively which increases interaction and communication.
     The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ensures services to children with disabilities. With Mia, who is a blind student that I am working with, this has been invaluable. The state has provided her with a Braille computer and typewriter. All of her lessons are exactly the same as the other students and her teacher turns them in a week earlier so that they can be brailled and she can do the lesson right along with her class. She is in her regular classroom 90 percent of the day and participates in everything that her peers do.

Engaged Learning

I had the opportunity  to do some service learning in a severely special needs class this week.  The previous teacher "was not returning".  I witnessed many instances in which engaged learning was not being practiced. These children were not being integrated into their normal class rooms.  We hauled out boxes of toys that were neither engaging or appropriate in the sense that the children could not play or manipulate the toys.  Listening to other aides, it appeared that a lot of these children had digressed in their learning. I was only there for one week but it was amazing what this new teacher implemented. First, she brought desks in the room. Having desks in the room we were able to start teaching this precious children the difference between work and play time. One thing we did immediately was to integrate them into their normal class as much as possible. They loved it, as did the children from their class. They were so happy to talk to and help them. We also took lots of breaks in which we went outside together or did simple song and exercises to get them moving. How amazing to watch them singing Old McDonald and doing the Hokey Pokey! Oh, the joy on their faces as they were smiling and being ENGAGED! We also gave them small chores such as vacuuming and picking things up. Washing dishes and helping the janitor.   Such a small thing but what a big difference for these little souls to feel empowered. I can't wait to go back next week.

Creating Productive Learning Environments

 

 
I really have an amazing cooperative teacher. When I observe her in a classroom setting, it is clear why the kids love her. One thing I admire about her is how she offers the students a choice. When they started their reading groups, she called them back eight at a time to her corner desk. She pulled out three different books and gave them a moment to read the summary and flip through the books. She then let them choose what book they wanted to read and set up their reading partner according to what book they chose.
     Another thing she does that I absolutely love  is a "Web of Kindness".  She let's one student hold a ball of yarn and the student wraps the loose end around their finger. The student then pays a compliment to a fellow student and tosses the ball of yarn to the one who was complimented. When they are done, it makes this really cool web around the classroom. Her point is that kindness has no boundaries.
     The most important thing I've noticed is that she makes every student feel loved. She is at the door in the morning to great them as they come in. She gives them "knuckles" as they leave at the end of the day. Throughout the day as they are working on assignments, I see her walking around the class room and saying something nice or positive to all of them. She isn't fake about it either.  Sometimes it's just asking if their little sister is feeling better after having the flu, or how their new pet is.  She genuinely cares.