January 28, 2011

Yesterday we went to Westwood again. My class began working with laptops in the classroom. The laptops were at one of their stations they rotated through and had a game pulled up where they had to type the letter they saw coming down the screen. It was interesting to see the different actions the kids went through to find the right letter and type it in time. Some were pretty good at it, while others had a hard typer controlling the keyboard and how to find the letter. I got to help the kids start up the game and show them how to play. It was really cool to see them using technology that way in the classroom. I also helped a few of the students outside with their addition. We played a game where they spun two spin wheels that had the numbers 0-5 on it and then they had to use ladybug models to show each seperate number and then add up the numbers. I am leaning towards being a math teacher so it was cool to get to help these students with their math and see the tools they use to practice their addition.

Jan 21, 2011

1) When we had the fire drill on thursday we were all in the auditorium and had to go outside to be safe. Everyone rushed out of the seats and went outside. We all went out to the front of the school and across the parent drive. After listening to Mr. Fernandez on tuesday, I felt the need to tell everyone to get on the grass and out of the driveways to be safe. I also began to think about how everyone was going to be accounted for and how the teachers would know everyone was out of the building. I realized how much work and effort actually goes into making sure everyone is safe and out of the building. Especially when the entire senior class was not with certain teachers and role sheets to be checked off.
2) Stereotypes. As a senior in high school, I have seen many stereotyping and judging throughout the four years. Asians are seen as smart students who should exceed at everything and be at the top of the class, which does not always prove true. Cheerleaders are stereotypically snobby and preppy students, but actually they are all different and unique in a way that that stereotype does not fit them. Football players are judged as jocks who only worry about football and not grades or schoolwork. But in our grade, a good amount of the football team is in the top 10% of our class, some even in the top 5%. White kids are seen as nerdy quiet students, but actually they are smart, athletic, and lots of other things as well. Stereotypes can take over a school, but I think as the four years have gone by judgy actions have dwindled to a minimum and become less than that of a stereotypical school. In the lunchroom, people do not neccessarily sit with their sport group or race, everyone is mingled in with their own friends who are usually in a different group or are a different race than they are.

January 14, 2011

Yesterday we went back to Westwood Elementary to begin our second semester. I was assigned to the same class again. The children were all very excited to see me and glad that I came back. It was cool to see how they still remembered me. I got to take a few of the kids away at a time and work with them. We worked on certain letters that are tricky and difficult for these specific students. I could see that the children had grown and worked on their letters over the break. It was amazing to see the progress some of them had made since the last time I worked with them, they almost didn't need me anymore. Although they were succeeding in all their work, the students did not want me to leave and asked me to stay and work with them all day. That made me feel important in their learning environment.