The Learning Curve

  Are you making connections between course topics and Service Learning?     I have made connections between course topics and  my service learning. A n example of this is the connection I made in blog entry number four. There are many practices in place in my learning placement that are in place because of historical events and laws. Some examples are h elp for children with disabilities and privacy policies.      I believe I have been able to articulate my own learning and understanding. Some examples of this are when I  addressed the topic of standards in my last entry.   I think blogging has been helpful throughout this process. It was interesting looking back at past entries and seeing how. much i have learned and how I have progressed.    I see growth in mu ltiple places, one being my understanding of the core standards and how they affect teaching. My service learning helped my understanding of different teaching...

From what I have learned at my Service learning placement, it seems that standards are pretty helpful. It helps teachers and schools to know what subject matter needs to be taught and who needs extra help. In my service learning placement math and language arts standards seem to be the most emphasized.  This is most likely because math and reading skills are very important in daily life. Science and social studies are less emphasized probably because it is more crucial to learn how to read. Between the two most emphasized subjects, language arts standards are addressed more. Math standards tend to be more specific and easier to measure. For example, a student can demonstrate how to divide or they can’t. With reading it seems to be a little more complex. My teacher doesn’t seem to be the biggest fan of standardized testing, but she believes there is a point to it and it has a place.

There are quite a few different areas of diversity in my service learning classroom. There are students that have learning disabilities, like dyslexia and attention deficit. There are students that wear glasses. There are a few students that speak English as a second language.  My service learning teacher attends to these areas of diversity by explaining directions thoroughly and asking students if they have questions.  Once students get to work she goes around the room to the students with learning disabilities to make sure there isn’t any confusion.  My service learning teacher makes sure to place students who have trouble focusing at the front of the room to keep them accountable and more focused. I have also noticed that students with glasses are placed towards the front of the room so seeing isn’t a problem for them. Students that are learning English as a second language also sit close to the front of the room. These students also get extra reading time with an a...

  There’s quite a bit of evidence at my service placement from historical events and important laws that we learned about this week .   I do see support for English learners. Students that are learning English as there second language get pulled out of class 4 days a week to practice reading and other language skills.  The fact that the school doesn’t have segregation is a result of Brown versus Board.    The most prominent or noticeable evidence is the services that students with disabilities receive.  There are multiple students in my class that have dyslexia, and there is another student who’s deaf. Before the Education of All Handicapped Children’s Act was put into place in 1975 , these students were legally not entitled to an education from the government . after  This law has helped millions of students with disabilities receive educations that they deserve.   

  The teacher I am working with definitely makes movement a priority in her lessons. It can be difficult to sit still and focus for a whole activity or lesson, so there are a few activities that have to be completed while out of your seat.  My cooperative teacher has created some activities that purposely get students up and moving throughout the classroom.  As I have watched, it seems that students are more focused and engaged when moving. I have also noticed that it is meaningful for students to be able to decide what they will work on at certain times. My cooperating teacher allows her students to decide what they will work on during the first hour of school. They can decide between a few different assigned activities and projects.  Each time I have observed students during this time they seem very engaged in their tasks.  Another way my cooperating teacher engages her students is through compliments and feeding their excitement and curiosity. She likes to le...

  Blog Entry #3    Describe a time your cooperative teacher has offered choice to students.     Students were working on an assignment and my cooperative teacher let the students decide between reading and coloring after they finished. Every once and a while I think it's important to let students choose what activities they will   participate in .     What has your cooperative teacher done to make students feel loved and safe?   My cooperative teacher has made a very safe and loving environment for her students by creating a space where students can share openly or one on one i f needed. It’s clea r her students trust her and space .   What clear routines are established in the classroom?  How do they support a productive learning environment?   Some routines that have been established are cleaning your desk/area after completing an activity. Tucking in your chair when you leave your seat. When leaving the class...