The morning started off really well. We switched groups this week so I had a brand new group of kids. The kids were well behaved and they really listened to me and respected what I was saying. They were not distracting and didn't try and get me off task. They had exceptional behavior and really listened to my suggestions. I was really impressed with how they read the text looking for clues and analyzing the pages. When it was time to do the activity, they didn't complain or make excuses. They were very diligent and used the book as a resource. During recess I was able to observe how the kids interacted with one another. I saw a lot of kids getting along and showing respect. But I did observe some girl drama and some rude comments. For 4 summers I have worked at a summer camp in Spokane, WA. For 3 summers I was a camp counselor and for my 4th summer I was in a leadership position. Every single summer I have observed the same behavior with boys. They simply cannot refrain from touching each other. I don't know if its genetically programmed into the male psyche but, boys cannot resist grabbing each other, touching one another, pushing and shoving. This is what I observed on the playground.  Boys touching and grabbing. Now I understand it's all fun and games but the touching and grabbing aspect can escalate pretty quickly if not dealt with. Back to my job, this camp caters specifically to low income families, foster kids, etc. So I have seen fights escalate from just a playful shove. It's always a good idea to make sure that we respect our boundaries and not touch anyone. At the school, I observed a lot of playful touching and I almost wanted to run in and break it up. That's one thing that I really get nervous about, we need to make sure and teach our children to have boundaries and respect our bodies. because I've personally seen the aftermath of just a playful shove or touch. It can lead to a full on fight. So, with that being said overall my experience was very good and i am slowly but surely beginning to become more comfortable in the classroom.  

The second time in the classroom I was a lot more comfortable with my teacher and my surroundings. I was more comfortable speaking up and letting my voice be heard in the class. We started with group work again and I was placed with the same group I had the previous week. Needless to say it was extremely frustrating. My experience with the kids was the same as last week. The kids were not showing me respect and were very disruptive. However I was not about to let them run all over me. It was still very hard because, one of the female students put her head down on the table and started to cry. She wouldn't read or speak to me. Now, I knew she was doing this to get attention and so I ignored her behavior. I wasn't about to let her get the rest of my group off task. I was still feeling discouraged as we headed to lunch. But right before we headed to lunch the teacher came over and had a private meeting with our group. She told the children that there behavior was disruptive and disrespectful. She asked the children whether they wanted to have teacher partners or not? She encouraged the children to think about there behavior and what they can do differently next time. I felt slightly embarrassed but also very supported. She told me how I was doing a good job and encouraged me to keep them more on task next time. I was receptive to what she was saying and took away a lot of good tips. Overall, it was a better experience. I felt supported and cared about. The teacher emphasized that the classroom is a team we are a family that looks out for each other. I am slowly but surely becoming more assertive and direct in the classroom.

Practicum Blog September 9, 2015

On Wednesday morning I was very nervous and excited to be in the classroom working with students. This was my first step into the teaching world. Overall my experience was bittersweet. I enjoyed working with the kids however, the teacher assigned us small groups and needless to say my patience was tested. I was working with 5 kids in a small group setting and it was extremely hard to keep them on task. The group was very chatty and very noisy. I tried to redirect them back to our assignment but  the chatting continued. I was firm and patient with my group and gave them direction. However, I would help one student with a problem and the other 4 students would immediately copy the other students work. I specifically stated that cheating is not ok and I would not put up with it. But on the next problem same thing, I felt like the group was not listening to me and not taking direction well. I was having to constantly redirect them because, my group was trying to get me off task. Small groups can sometimes be frustrating because, you may have one student who just zooms ahead of the other students and doesn't follow along in the group. You also can have a student who is struggling and who is really behind and then, you would have to work one on one with that student to catch him/her up to speed. While your working with this student all your other students are getting off task which makes it very hard to concentrate on the specific student you are working with. The teacher was all business, I felt very intimidated by her. She was very straightforward and to the point. I got the feeling that her class was run like a well oiled machine. She seemed very stern. When i look at teachers I'm used to seeing bright smiling faces and happiness. There is a glow I get from teachers a certain aura that surrounds them. No disrespect whatsoever but I felt like this teacher's motto was all work and no play. Overall my experience was good. There was a lot of good feedback i received from the teacher. But, It still felt bittersweet. I wanted to be more serious with my group but i didn't want to overstep my boundaries in her class. This presents somewhat of a problem because it limits my ability to redirect kids.