Fourth Field Experience Visit

I had my fourth field experience visit and noted some observations, strategies, techniques and approaches that I agreed with and would implement into my own lessons. Again, I asked her a set of questions. Last week, I was supposed to teach a small group of students however she emailed me saying that she was sick and not coming to class that day and so I was unable to teach students. I hope that I will have another opportunity to do so.

Q: How much time do you devote to planning lessons?

A:  Plans bi-weekly. 2 hours a week.

Q: Do you think teachers assign too much or not enough homework?

A: Some give too much and some give none. It depends on the teachers.  Ms. X said that her assignments have to be relevant and that she doesn’t assign busy-work.

Q: Are there any areas you feel need improvement in your teaching?

A:  Ms. X said that she has to work on her time management skills. Also, she said that she is always a little behind; there is some part of the lesson she didn’t teach her students and that she takes a long time to grade papers, tests, etc.

·  Ms. X engaged her students by using technology and other mediums to get the information to her students. She had them listen to someone sing a poem about the Vietnam war and simultaneously read the poem.

·  Ms. X had her students fill out a poetry analysis handout in which they had to reflect on the title, summarize the poem, recognize different kinds of figurative language, observe the poet’s attitude, and identify the theme.

- I really liked the poem analysis handout because it made it clear to the students what Ms. Fernandez expected from them.