Observations | mysite-1

Cottonwood Point: Duty assignments

Every Monday I go to Cottonwood Point Elementary School for 8:45 A.M. to help with the kindergarteners. On the first day of duty assignments I got to meet the kindergarten staff. They were extremely friendly and always had smiles on their faces. The students get play time in the morning, so you see kids and toys all over the place. The kindergarten area was designed really well. They are in their own nook like area of the building so they can step out of the classrooms some to play. To assist the teachers I pull out select few kids at a time and help with their sounds and letters. We play games like puzzles or bingo. The kids light up when I pull them out to work. They always seem to want to show you that they are good and they can do their best. Watching them makes me so happy because I can see how involved they are and how I'm the one they get to be involved with. They have so much energy and personality, especially early in the morning, that they will tired me out some. Though, I do not let that stop me. I tell myself that they need my help and that it's exactly what I'm going to do.

Blue Valley High School: Observations

As of Friday February 28th 2020 t0 March 11th 2020 I participated in observations for a sophomore honors english class. I was there for the first period through part of the third period. This gave the ability to see first- and third-hour classes. It was very interesting to be able to see the difference between both of those classes in almost every aspect. My teachers second hour was her planning period which actually gave me the opportunity to see other English classes too. The classroom setting is very comfy. The teacher has a couch, a wide chair, and several barstool seating. She uses the alternative seating method to create a more flexible learning environment. She also has a lot of Christmas lights to use as substitute lighting for the harsh ceiling lights. Personally, in the room I feel really relaxed. Honors classes are stressful but she makes it so it feels the opposite. These aspects foster learning by giving them a more laid-back environment so they don’t feel as pressured to hurry with their work but to slow down so they can get it right. I started my observations during their prep for their midterms. If was very intriguing to see how the students interacted with how their teacher set up their lessons everyday in preparation. For example she creates big lesson plans. It is more straining and time consuming, though the tradeoff is that it gives her a schedule for several days at a time. Instead of having to create plans every day. It also gives her a good way to get one on one time with her students instead of missing that time that could benefit them. She teaches regular ELA 10. She showed me her plan for what they are working on in the afternoon. It is a hands-on project. Reading the outline for what they must do is very different from her honors. It seems a lot more laid back but still practices the lesson and other important skills within it.