Confusion in the School

Day # 6
When I went to Asa Messer Annex Elementary this morning, I found out that it was picture day. People were setting up in my room that I work in. I could not find anyone at this point to tell me what to do about it. My kindergartners went to take their pictures as soon as I had to take them. I had less than 10 minutes with them. This did not help them one bit because the other tutors haven't been showing up, and when they do, are not doing Reading Buddies appropriately. I went to my first grade room, only had one student out of three. I was able to work with him for about 5 minutes before he had to leave for pictures. I am feeling extremely overwhelmed because I feel the kids will be pushed behind because of all of this and that's not what I want. :-/

I really hope everyone else is having a good time in their placements.
I am also, its just getting hardwhen these kids need so much help and they can't get it.

Collier Moments at Asa Messer Annex

So I was at my elementary school and the teacher had 4 computers set up for the students to use. The homepages were all in Spanish. Considering every child is an esl student, this made me feel that the teacher is trying to embrace the students' culture.

Also in my first grade room, the teacher, who seems very white and has no accent, was speaking fluent Spanish with a student in her room. It seemed like he didn't want to do his work, but when she spoke to him in Spanish, he responded to her and did her work.

I thought that this was very relative to the class so I thought I'd share!

Third Day, and Delpit's Disappointment

Deplit in the Classroom

On my third day at Asa Messer Annex, if Deplit was in the classroom, she would of been very disappointed in my kindergarten teacher. She would always say to the children "Is it time to be talking?" "Is that the right way to stand in line?"

We learned from Deplit that teachers should be direct. "Do not talk" "Stand quietly and still"
I was surprised that my teacher made this mistake so many times. I know that you can slip up every once in a while, but to have this be a teaching habit seems inefficient to me.

Second day!

S.L. Project

My second day at Asa Messer Annex was much better. The only problem was that one of the teachers was snot even expecting me so it took her time to get materials ready. This extra time it took put me behind because we are on a very tight schedule in reading buddies at this school.

9:00-9:20 gather materials
9:25-9:55 observe in kindergarten class
10:00-10:25 bring students in room 4, go over sight words, do activity
10:30-10:55 bring 1st grade students to room 4, go over sight words, do activity

The teacher's schedules revolve around when I take these students from class. If something pushes me behind, the students have less time with me. Some of the students really need the help and to cut their time is unfair to them. I think that from now on the teachers will have a better idea of what I'm there to do and will have more materials for me and will be on time.

I feel better now about this school because I know I am directly helping students because I am working individually with them. I can tell that this one session helped them with some of their sight words and I feel they will only get better with time. I feel as though it will be a much better rest of the year now because the teachers have a better understanding of what I am there to do and how to help me to help the students.

First day

S.L. Project
Yesterday I had my first day at the elementary school. I am at Asa Messer Elementary. I am making a list of things I wish someone had told me before going to this school. I have worked in elementary schools before but I have not had to deal with this before.

-find an alternate route to the school, most of Providence is under construction and bridges are closed
-you may get to the school early, that does not mean the teacher will
-you may be assigned to a room, but it does not mean the teacher will have anything for you to do, even though you were expected.
-expect to have the children not talk to you and to feel awkward asking them for help because they are so shy
-beware of the teacher's teaching technique. (she uses yelling)
-students tend to run out of the school when they are upset
-expect no training for reading buddies even though you were told you would have it, you will be thrown into the classroom taking groups on your second day
-be prepared to be asked to sit down for most of the time you are in the classroom, you will not get a chance to help out much.

Overall, I was quite disappointed with my first day at the school. I was told we would be taking groups out by ourselves the next day we were there. We are receiving no training for reading buddies and I am afraid I will teach the students the wrong information. I do not really remember phonics and all that so I am nervous. I wish there would be at least one day of training for reading buddies so I have a general idea of what I should do.
In high school, I went through three years of child development. We had a play school in our room and I also went to intern at an elementary school where I rarely was able to do much for the teacher. But that was high school. I thought since I was in college, working towards my degree in elementary education, they would give me a little more responsibility so I can learn to be a teacher. This is supposed to be a learning experience so I hope that soon enough I am able to learn how to be a good teacher. I hope everyone else had a great first day and is at least learning something new.