Monday, September 29, 2014
Field Day #4 Week of Sept. 29-Oct. 3
This week some of you will go early in the week. However, if your day is Friday, you will have Monday to do your field, as we will not be in class (I have a workshop with Columbia Public Schools). I have notified Linda Williams that we do not have school Friday, but that all of you can come Monday morning as an alternative. You may arrange another time, however. Share what you did, when you went, if you went at a different time, what different things did you see, etc. Don't forget to respond to at least 4 classmates!
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This week, I visited Ms. Brown's classroom again. She had been gone from the morning due to attending a teacher training. While she was gone, the substitute teacher reviewed the spelling words with the students for the week. For the hour that I was in the classroom, I helped a student read a book about Henri Rousseau. It was challenging for him because there was not only the English language but a few French terms. Luckily I was able to help explain to him the meaning of the words and which words were French as apposed to English. But I was nervous that there was going to be a word that I did not know in the book. What would you do if a child is reading a book with two languages, but you do not know one and you are helping the child read the book?
ReplyDeleteThat is one of the big challenges for you. If I were you it could be very hard seen I am not native speaker. But I would try my best to answer him by using the technology that I have with me like phone or laptop. I used to be nervous most of the time while I am reading or teaching American students. This because of my English pronunciation. But all I did just keep smiling and being positive.
DeleteI would suggest looking up the word on google translate or even use a translator with the students so you both can hear the words and know its meaning.
DeleteI think I read Henri Rousseau until middle school and I had trouble with it then. That's great that you could help him, but I think it could be a good learning experience if you didn't know the terms. Students think teachers know everything and what if you didn't know those French terms? I'm not doubting your French speaking/reading abilities but it could've been a good idea to be in a situation where you didn't know the answer.
DeleteI would look it up on the internet/other sources or maybe even asking other students if they know. Also context clues in the book help with the meaning of the word.
DeleteI think now a days it is a lot easier to combat situations like that due to the instant access of the internet which is at our finger tips. It could be interesting to see if there were students in the class itself that could hep out with the translation, like Caitlin proposed.
DeleteWhy was the child reading a book with French in it? I'm not saying that is a bad thing. I think it is good that they are open to other languages, especially at a young age since they can learn a lot quicker, but I am just curious of the reasoning for it? Well since a lot of classroom's are one to one now I would look for apps to help with other languages.
DeleteFriday, I went to my Practicum placement at South Callaway and spent the whole day. I almost forgot what it was like to go to school for a full day. Since I spent the whole day things were different, one thing that really stuck me was the fact that I saw some subs that were my subs in school.
ReplyDeleteI sat through a reading lesson during the day, and Mrs. Beers places her students in different categories based on how well they read and their reading comprehension. Her better readers she only reads with them when they start a new book. Her lower readers, she reads with them, one on one, once a week. She calls it "dibbling". She sends a progress report home to the parents every week. When they are done reading the story she asks them a series of questions. I liked this lesson or activity because its hard to do a reading lesson because not all students are on the same reading level. I wish she would've read with her better readers just to reassure that they were doing okay and can also send a report to their parents to tell them how well they're doing. I still don't understand why they call it dibbling though..
Wow. I haven't spent a whole day at school in a while. That sounds like such a great experience! What did you learn about the full school day? Was it hard or easy for you to stay the full day? I think that makes a great point that regardless of whether the teacher is worried about a student or not, it is always good to check up on them. You should ask your teacher why they call it dibbling though. That would be very interesting to find out.
DeleteI would love to work the whole day in school too if I have a chance. I want to know how does it feel to spend full time with students. That would be a great way that you can learn each personality from students and get to know them more. "Dibbling" could be a word that I learned after reading your field today. Reading comprehension will be one of activities that I will focus on my future classroom. I think it is the right way that Mrs. Beers places her students in different categories based on how well they read.
DeleteDibbling is such a funny word to say.. anyway I agree that her way is a good way to have students read. I remember I loved to sit on the read alone chair in high school to go over a book I had to read mainly because I am a fast reader and hated reading aloud or with some one else.
DeleteThat is awesome you got to spend the whole day there. I can tell the teacher tries to read with all of her students and probably really difficult to do. One thing I would do is pair a good reader with a poor reader and have the good reader work with the poor reader on reading. So it is like they are both reading but there are helping each other at the same time. I would do this with a class that is accepting and has a good community!
DeleteI think that "dibbling" may be in reference to this https://dibels.org/dibels.html
DeleteI've heard a reference to this assessment before and there may be a connection. In my elementary school we had a similar system of groups though my teacher would meet with (at least the groups) once a week.
I would love to spend an entire day with my students, I a really curious how they conduct themselves in other subject areas. the name "dibbling" does sound very strange. I like that the teacher sends progress reports home with the students, I too agree that both the struggling AND the exceptional readers parents should be informed of their child's progress. I agree with Brittany and think it could have been beneficial to pair a strong reader with a weaker reader and have them build off each others habits.
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DeleteI like that she still works with the good readers and gives them attention too. I also like how she has time to work one-on-one with the struggling readers. Does she ever put a good reader with a struggling reader though? I believe this can help both the good reader and the struggling reader, but I would not choose any struggling reader to go with a good reader. It takes a special person, who is a good reader, to work with a struggling reader.
DeleteI went in on Monday during our free class period. I worked with a student who has trouble comprehending his text. He was reading a book about tanks and it had different facts and such on each page. There were some really big, weird words in this book that were hard for him to pronounce. I think that distracted him from being able to comprehend what he was reading. I believe the book was too hard for him. I would ask him what he remembered about what he just read every couple pages and he would only be able to retell one fact. He also didn't seem very happy to be reading the book. He seemed interested in the topic of tanks, but the book itself was not a very good fit for him. He didn't like to read every single part of the pages and when I'd tell him to go back and read a section he missed he would grumble and say he didn't want to and just want to be done with the book. I think maybe a fiction book about war may be more interesting to him.
ReplyDeleteDo you know if the student picked the book or if the teacher picked it for him? It would be interesting if the student had picked the book but was unhappy with his choice. I remember doing that quite often when I was little and I was very discouraged from reading; however, I continued the book because I felt like I had to read it. Does the teacher encourage or discourage students dropping books?
DeleteSometimes, it's hard for me to read the book that I don't like and have to pronounce difficult words. I think it is better if he could talk to the teacher and get some help. I think the teacher will understand him more seen she lives with him everyday and she could solve this problem out.This could be another way that makes students hate reading. On the other hand, it can good for him to try something hard.
DeleteI agree a war book may be something he is interested in. Not only would he learn about tanks he will learn about a historical event as well.
DeleteI, also had a reading comprehension problem when I was younger. I was always told to read slowly and keep a dictionary close by and when you found out what the word meant reread the sentence. It's definitely hard to do that at a young age especially if you have to get done with a reading within class time.
DeleteIt sounds as though the student picked a book that was beyond his comprehension level which adds to the reading issues that he already has I agree that it would probably be beneficial for the student to have a fiction book about war or even just an easier text about tanks.
DeleteI agree with danielle in saying that it sounds like the student is out of his readers comfort zone. I like that you also made the inference that since the student liked the idea of tanks but didn't want to learn about the facts of tanks, he would like some fiction during times of war. I do this a lot at camp with my campers; if they are in the mood for one thing but we can only conceivably do another at that moment.
DeleteSince I did two hours of observation today (10/10/10) I will write about my first hour in this blog. The first 40min or so the students were at a school wide assembly. During this assembly each teacher from each grade was asked to share a student of the month to the class and why they felt the student deserved to be recognized. As an intermission (before the 4th and 5th grade teachers gave their recognition) the students were presented with a pet robot in which box tops will be placed in for two weeks in order to raise $4,000 in box tops.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite part of the assembly was when three girls presented their teacher with a gift. This gift was money raised by the girls during their birthdays (the girls asked for money instead of gifts). They raised the money to help the teacher pay for funding her daughter who has Cystic Fibrosis.
I like your favorite part. It's interesting how students think of helping people and I believe that it is one of the best things that the student should do.
DeleteLearning how to help people is one of basic rules that student should have and they would feel proud after helping her.
The Box Top Robot was my favorite! It was such a good idea to get the students excited about raising money as well as responsibility!
DeleteYes it was amazing that those three girls raised money and sacrificed birthday presents. This really shows a lot about those individuals especially at that age.
DeleteWhat a neat thing for you to experience! That was so sweet of those girls! I bet that was the same teacher Erin Wang raised money for last year!
DeleteI got a chance to go to preschool this afternoon because one of my class gets cancelled. They were surprised to see me this afternoon because normally I go to see them another time. What they did during that time was counting numbers. there was one boy who led the class to read the number that he was pointing and counting in both languages. There were English and Spanish, which I was surprised by that. I understand how hard to learn two language at the same time but I think learning when they are young will be the easiest way for them to remember and practice. Today, Mrs. McDaniel had a special guest who shared the story of butterfly. The lesson plan of today was about butterfly and they were so excited about that.
ReplyDeleteAfter that they had some free time for reading their favorite book so I decided to choose a book about butterfly and read it for them. It was a great experience that I had today. I really enjoy spending time in this class and I didn't want to leave today.
That is awesome that the students are allowed to explore and express their knowledge of two different languages. It also helps other students explore different languages and cultures when someone is bilingual or is learning another language.
DeleteIt's great that you really enjoy the classroom that you get to attend! Also good job in trying to find a book that ties in with something that the students already expressed an interest in!
DeleteThe fact that you didn't want to leave is a for sure sign you are in the right profession! And how neat it is that they were reading in two languages! Super cool to witness!
DeleteI'm starting to really enjoy my 3rd grade class enough to want to change my level of instruction haha. But seriously, it is like turning a key in a lock, once you find the correct fit, you're golden. i believe middle school is that for me even though i enjoy the elementary level extensively. i too think it was thoughtful that you tied the book you read to the kiddies back into the lesson!
DeleteI went on Friday morning and they had an assembly during half of my observing time. It was interesting to see how they did their assemblies. Each teacher picked a student of the month and told why the student was chosen.
ReplyDeleteWhen the assembly was over I observed my class. They did a spelling test which was very similar to spelling tests that I took when I was a student. The teacher read the word and then a sentence. She walked around the room and observed each student. I noticed that she went faster than I expected and I think some students were getting frustrated because they were working on one word and then she would say another. After the spelling the test they joined groups and went around the room coming up with sentences that had their, there, and they're. I walked around the room joining some groups and I noticed that some students weren't comprehending the differences. They reviewed the differences between there, their, and they're before they worked in their groups.
Do you think that the teacher you work with was rushing because of the assembly? The students probably were frustrated with the rushing. How did the teacher approach teaching the differences?
DeleteHow did the assembly go for the students? Were they able to stay engaged the whole time? How long would the teacher give each student to work on each word? What would you have done, as a teacher, to improve the lesson stating the differences?
DeleteI feel like the assembly shouldn't have been an excuse for rushing through a spelling test! The teacher should have planned ahead or adapted to the situation. And it's good to see the students point of view when they are struggling with a topic. You will be able to use the experience for when you do the same thing in your class!
DeleteDanelle: She probably was rushing because of the assembly but the teacher didn't slow down even though you could tell the students were struggling. The teacher really didn't engage in the activity to see what the students were discussing and writing in their groups.
DeleteMeredith: The front of the room for the assembly the students were engaged but the back the students seemed distracted. The teacher would give about 30 seconds for each word. As a teacher I would go around the room engaging with the students and make sure every student was participating and fully understanding the differences.
I went on Friday 10/10/14. Mostly I watched an assembly in which each teacher (or class in one instance) picked a student of the month based upon behavior. During the assembly a group of students presented one of the teachers with $440 that was collected to help the teachers child with CF. Mrs. Brown informed me that the assemble was intended to take only 15 minutes but ran 45; disrupting the schedule of the day, which is something that every teacher has to take into account.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a lovely event and a great cause. I hope the presentation went well. I am sorry it ran so long though. What did Ms. Brown decided to do in order to adjust her day accordingly? Were you frustrated that the assembly lasted so long? How were the students? Did they pay attention?
DeleteWow quite the delay! However you have to work with what you get and adapt to the situation. And wow that's a lot of money raised! What a great thing those girls did for the teacher!
DeleteI believe it is still observing even if you were only watching an assembly. It is part of the community of the school and something you should experience too. One day you will have to do something like that. Did you enjoy the assembly? Could you see yourself standing up and talking about a student? I was there and I was very impressed by the two girls who raised money to give to a teacher instead of getting birthday presents. It was very touching.
DeleteI went and did this weeks observation on the following Monday (6th). I screwed up a little and forget to let my teacher know i was showing up. i have learned my lesson because when i got to Ms. Downey's room the little ones were working on mathematics. This is not even close to being my favorite subject or my jive but i pulled up my boot straps. We were working on addition and subtraction. As Ms. Downey conducted and tutoring session for the students that were struggling i walked around the room and kept my eye on the groups that were working on problems in their workbooks. I would have to answer some questions every now and then when Ms. Downey was busy. It felt really good for the students to trust me as an equal to their real teacher. They called me by name and would discuss the issues they were having with the adding and subtracting very maturely, I was actually pretty impressed, because i have seen these students before during their reading hour not be as composed. Maybe math was their thing. That took up most of my hour and them I bid the class a farewell and I got several hugs before departing. It really made me feel accomplished for the day.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you learned your lesson and will communicate better with the teacher sometimes. I know how it is though, I feel like the teacher is always busy and i don't want to disturb her by always emailing her to set up the right times to come in the classroom. It's cool to see the students already trust you and are comfortable with you after such a short time. The students in the classroom I go to call me Miss Erin and it's such a good feeling when they remember your name. I believe it means you really made an impact on them.
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