Field Experience

Hi All,
I'm so excited to finally be able to contribute to the blog! Yesterday was my first day in my field experience and it went really well. My field cite teacher, whom i'll refer to as Ms. X, is one who I had observed last semester as well. She teaches both 7th & 8th grade. I observed both a 7th grade English Methods class and a 8th grade English Language Arts class.
In the 7th grade class, it was particularly interesting. Ms. X explained to me how this year South Miami K-8 decided to implement a class designed to strictly reinforce concepts commonly found on the FCAT. They work out of a textbook that is partnered with individual workbooks. Each chapter the class reads together and then does the accompanying work on that chapter in their workbooks. The chapters vary and are completely random. I lucked out that the chapter the students were reading was one I personally have an interest in--basketball.
Ms. X let me help out and move around the classroom as the students filled out their workbooks. They read a passage on Kobe Bryant and his desire to "up his game" enlisting the aid of Michael Jordan's former trainer. For a solid two paragraphs, as well as the topic sentence, of the chapter spoke of Bryant's desire to "up his game." However, the discussion quickly changed to how the way to do that was by focusing on his nutrition. The chapter went onto discuss: digestion, energy, vitamins, and overall nutrition. The students were asked simple questions of: what is this chapter about? however, many students did not have the desired answer of "nutrition." Instead they wrote things like: Kobe wants to up his game, Kobe wants to be like Mike, etc. While their answers were humorous and endearing (in terms of their pop culture references), they nevertheless were deemed "wrong."
I experienced my first real dilemma in providing a rational to the students. I explained how the text repeatedly referred to Bryant's nutrition as the basis of his self proclaimed "under performance." However, the 7th graders were quick to point out the topic sentence is about his desire to up his game. I couldn't just openly admit that, that was a huge fault in the writer. Or the FCAT in general.
Overall, my first experience was an interactive and enjoyable one!
--Brittany