Fifth and Final Field Experience Reaction

This was from my last field experience visit.

Q: Do you plan new lessons each school year or do you re-use them?

A:  Ms. X said that she changes the novels she teachers some years so that she doesn’t get bored. Ms. X also attends workshops every year, and she takes the knowledge she learns that she likes, and changes minimal things within her lessons.

Q: Is there a limit as to how many students you can have per class?

A: She said that the limit is 25. However, if two teachers are in a classroom the limit changes to 50.

Q: What are the most common academic barriers you see within your classroom?

A:  She said that it depends on the classroom, even in the honors classes, but she said she notices barriers of access. For example, a lot of them don’t have internet access or they lack experiences. Ms. X also said that a lot of students are on free or reduced lunch, and so those demographics usually lend itself to students who haven’t been exposed many cultural experiences which can affect their academics. She also said that there isn’t a lot of reading material at home, and their reading skills suffer.

Observations & Reflection

·       Ms. X's students were talking very loudly and not doing their in-class assignment. She was able to re-focus them by using appropriate levels of dominance. She let them know that class-time was not for socializing but for learning.

·       Ms. X uses proximity to her advantage. When a student is not on task, she walks over near them and they quickly got back to work.

·       Upon arrival to the classroom, Ms. X was shouting at one of her students, I felt that this was inappropriate and could have been dealt with in a better manner. I would definitely never shout at a student as I feel that it is not only inappropriate but not conducive for the kind of classroom and relationships I want to have with my students.

·       In a sarcastic manner, Ms. X said to one of her students that had not been in class for a while “oh how I’ve missed you”. I thought that was rude and probably didn’t make the student feel welcome and so I disagree with how she handled this. I felt that it became obvious to the student and the rest of the class that Ms. X was not fond of this particular student. While it is natural to be more inclined to some students more than others, it is not okay for the teacher to express it and remain neutral.

·       During an assignment that Ms. X was guiding them through, she told her students that if they could not come up with an example of a paradox that they were “brain-dead”. I was shocked that she said that because I felt that it was inappropriate and I would never say that. This is not conducive for a positive, encouraging classroom that motivates students to try their best.