Blog #3

a. How would you describe your teaching style (i.e. how would your classroom run)? 


I believe that students learn best when having fun, so we will play many "games." These games will all be used to teach or reinforce content areas, or to aid in transitions. For example, mini games or Simon Says gives students a short mental break from learning, as well as a physical outlet to get out pent up energy. Getting out required materials or moving to a new area can all be incorporated into the game. This makes the time fun and productive.


b. Are you more authoritative and teacher centered or collaborative and student centered? Why?


I am a student centered teacher, because I believe that student-centered teaching helps students to develop important critical thinking and problem solving skills. I am capable of using teacher-centered method, which I frequently do in this internship. In my classroom, I am in charge of the reading lessons, as well as read alouds, which tend to be teacher centered by nature.


c. What types of routines will you establish in your classroom?


I will establish a morning routine that will include unpacking, preparing for the day, turning in homework, and any other necessary morning activities. Things such as reading, taking AR tests, or other grade-level appropriate activities will be the last part of the routine, which can take up an indefinite amount of time. This allows for students who come in as soon as they are able, as well as students who come in right before the bell. There will also be bathroom routines, end-of-the-day routines, and lunch time routines. 


d. How will they be useful in creating a positive and productive learning environment?

Routines allow students to know what is expected of them, which helps the day to run more smoothly. Routines are very beneficial for children, both in the classroom and at home. When the students know and follow the routines, there is more time left for learning, instead of constantly giving directions for the same things that are done every day.

Blog #2

1. Describe what you observed in your classroom.

The classroom is very structured. The teacher has the same subjects covered on the same day at the same time. However, the teacher is not so rigid that she will not allow a lesson to be moved around if time allotments do not occur as planned. The class size is pretty small, but that may be changing soon. The students are working at different levels, but they all seem interested in learning.

2. How does the teaching style compare to yours?

The teaching style, while not the same as mine, has many similarities with mine. She does not use games as teaching mechanisms as much as I do, but she is always open to me using them. She is open to trying new strategies, which I think is wonderful. I have approached her with some ideas that I learned in a class that I had been wanting to try out, and my supervising teacher is constantly open to trying new things for the betterment of the classroom, which is something that I try to be as well. I want to make sure that I don't fall into a "rut" with my teaching, but that I mix it up, so that the lessons remain interesting for the students.

3. What elements of your supervisor’s teaching style will you incorporate into your style? Why?

I have already adapted her discipline strategies, for if no other reason, to at least provide consistency to the students. However, I feel like her discipline strategies are effective and logical under the setting of this particular classroom. She uses a "card" system, where if the student misbehaves, their card turns from green to yellow to orange to red. At red, the student's parents will receive a call home. This system seems to work well with this group of students.

4. What instructional/curriculum elements were new to you?

Teaching whole class lessons is not entirely new to me, but it is something I have less experience in. The curriculum that has been covered thus far has all been familiar to me.

5. What was familiar and comfortable for you? Why?

Working with the students one-on-one was very comfortable to me. I am used to listening to children read and tutoring in a one-on-one setting, so having the opportunity to pull students aside and work with them individually was well within my comfort zone. I hope to do more of this in the future, because I believe that it benefits the students immensely, particularly the students who are prone to falling behind.

6. What do you plan to do next in your professional development?

I plan to work with the students more and more, and continue to try new tactics with the students. I am also in constant communication with my supervising teacher: asking for feedback, as well as asking about new ideas to try. This is proving to be incredibly beneficial, because it allows me to have another, more experienced professional offer her opinions about what went well and what could have been improved. Constructive criticism is incredibly important for personal and professional growth.

Blog #1

1. What education courses you have taken and are currently taking this term. Which one most impacted you and why?

Thus far, I have taken Child Learning and Development, Classroom Management, Social Foundations of Education, Measurement for Teachers, Health and Physical Education for Students, Teaching Math I, Teaching Math II, Teaching Science, Teaching Social Studies, Teaching Writing, Reading and Learning to Read, Children's Literature, ESOL I, ESOL II, Level I Internship. This term, I am taking Integrating the Exceptional Student, ESOL III, and my level II Internship.


I have learned and grown as person and educator through every class, the classes that have had the greatest impact on me have been my internship, because of how much I got to work with the students. The teacher let me jump in, tutoring students in small groups and one-on-one on the first day. On the last day, the students were crying to see me leave, and it was so moving to see what an impact I had in only one semester, only once a week.

2. What teaching and other educational support experiences have you had with children (include the approximate age/grade levels). This can include teaching, tutoring, babysitting, mentoring, etc… Which one most impacted you and why?

Through courses here at USF, I have tutored small groups of students in first and third grade, as well as a single fifth grade student. I also worked with a whole class of fourth graders. I have been babysitting for many years, for children of all ages. I have nannied the same two girls every summer for the past for years, tutoring them in the subjects they were weakest in. This has probably been the most impacting, because I got to see them grow up and learn so much over time.

3. As you look ahead to your internship, what are your expectations? Hopes? Fears? Worst nightmares?

I hope to learn and grow as much as a teacher and a person throughout this internship. I also hope to impact the lives of these students in a positive way, even though I will only be in their lives for such a short time. I expect the students to be somewhere in-between the first graders and the third graders I worked with. I am a little apprehensive, because I generally work with older students, but I look forward to learning how to work with second graders. My worst nightmare is getting lice. I had them TWICE when I was in elementary school, and that is not an experience I would like to repeat. I will attempt to avoid this by tying my hair back everyday and using hairspray.

4. Think back on all of the teachers you’ve had in your life. What teachers and what experiences stand out? List the behaviors and qualities of the best teachers you have known and explain why you think they were exceptional. Explain what they did that made them so memorable in how they taught.

I was blessed with many wonderful teachers throughout the course of my education, but the one that stands out the most is my AP English teacher from high school. He challenged us and forced us to think. I was never bored in his class, because my mind was constantly at work. I loath boredom in the classroom, and I want to challenge my students intellectually, and force them to think. I want to make learning fun for my students, just like it was for me in AP English.