Students feel safe and secure when there is a set of classroom routines. Please reflect upon what classroom routines your cooperating teacher uses in the classroom.
What are the established procedures in the classroom such as attendance, beginning class, ending class, clean up, etc? What is the physical arrangement of the classroom, tables, desks, positioning, etc? How does the teacher transition the students from one activity to another? Reflect upon the classroom routines - Are the routines providing a positive, safe, and secure plan to ensure student learning? do you agree with the routines that the techer uses? Why or why not?
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In the pre-kindergarten classroom I observed in, every morning starts with the same routine: the children sit on the carpet, around their teacher, and talk about the calendar, the weather, they practice their numbers and letters, the "child of the day" does his/her Show&Tell, and the teacher ends the first part of the day with a story.
ReplyDeleteTheir is two big tables in the classroom where the children sit during lunch and snacks time. Each child has a name tag that the teacher set on the table, so the children know where to sit. In between each activity, the teacher ask the children to go sit on the carpet and to look at a book, or she reads a story while the other teacher sets the classroom for something else. Everytime they leave the classroom, the children know they have to stand in line and be quiet to walk in the hallway.
I felt like the childern felt very safe in the classroom. They are used to have the same routine everyday, and so they know what is going to come next. I liked the organization the teachers use, I think it is important for young children to have the same routine everyday. If they are sad and miss their parents, for example, they know that after recess it's time to go home.
This was my first day so this is what happened. I am in a school for the deaf so it is a little bit differently than a regular school. I am observing a class where they have little language. Each morning, the teachers take attendance of the little class. My teacher has 4 students. This is because these students need more one on one help and that is how these kids are successful. Each teacher has to check each students hearing aid or implant by taking them off and checking the battery, or they do sounds tests. After this they go to the discovery room where all the kids come together and do activities. After this they have "centers" where they play with different toys. Then they eat lunch and go to recess or take a nap. Then some students go and work on language. Learning how to pronounce vowel sounds and saying words correctly. Then have have music class where they sing and dance and then it is time to go home.
ReplyDeleteElise,
ReplyDeleteI am also in a pre-k classroom and it is very structured. I love how recess is at the end of the day because they get to play before going home because they won't be so wound up when they go home and they can focus at home when doing homework, if they have any. I think it is very important for structure and a good routine everyday because they will know what to do at a specific time. Your teachers structure seems like it is working.
Kaitlyn and Elise,
ReplyDeleteI observed in a kindergarten classroom, and it too had a great deal of structure. I agree that structure is important at such a young age, because it teaches the young students how future classrooms will be throughout gradeschool, high scool, etc.
Elise,
Your classroom's morning routine was exactly how my host teacher conducted her mornings. I loved how they talked about the weather, they would take polls, etc. My host teacher assigned students to each task of--decorating the weather penguin, talling the totals for the polls, etc.
I did my observation hours in a kindergarten classroom. Like Elise, my host teacher started the day off with discussing and weather, taking polls, etc. They would practice songs or she would tell a story. The students then would go back to their tables--theere were four tables, each had an animal of some kind in the middle, so she'd call them as the "mouse table" or the "kangaroo table" , etc. After they were at their tables, they would do some type of lesson. The lessons were usually science or math at this time. The class had a lot of "indoor recesses" throughout the day seperating their lessons, but they only lasted about 6 minutes, and it was just so that the students could get thier built up energy out before the next lesson. My favorite of all, was the clean up routine. My host teacher assigned "responsibilites" to each student to do at the end of the day. Because she called them something other than jobs, the students felt important and loved erasing the boards or dividing up lunch boxes. I thought that every procedure, routine, set-up, etc. were great! The students definately benefited in every way to how my host teacher set up her class room.
ReplyDeleteJulia, I agree with you on the "clean up routine", it is so funny to see how excited and proud the children are to pick up toys, pencils, markers, etc. for their teacher!! I also like the idea of the 6minutes indoor recess in between activities, even more at this young age, when the children have a hard time concentrating in an activity.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn, I am sure your experience is different than most of ours, but I'm sure it is very enrichissing and i hope you will have more stories for us in the future blogs!
I have not started my observations yet so I will talk about an experience from high school. One of my teachers had the same routine everyday in class. At the beginning of class, my teacher would write a question on the board and we would all have to answer it in our journal. The question was always related to the topic of the day and we generally did not know the answer yet. Then we would discuss the answer and start learning more about the topic. Then at the end of class, my teacher allowed us to ask questions just to make sure we really understood what we learned that day.
ReplyDeleteJulia,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like your teacher does a great job at keeping the children's attention. Her routine seems successful and I am sure her students have fun in her classroom. Being able to get the kids to clean up the room and have fun at the same time is a big deal. A key to good teaching is getting the children to want to learn.
I start my observation next week, so this week I will talk about a LU teacher. As soon as students walk into the classroom, they sign the attendance sheet, put any homework to be turned in into the grading folder, collect the handouts for the day, and take thier seats. Next, she starts with the lecture for the day, and then we participate in class work and activities until the end of the hour. Everyone sits in pairs of two at tables facing the front of the room. I feel the most welcomed in this classromm compared to others. I like the structure of this class, the sense of community, and I also feel like an individual as opposed to another ID number. I like this particular teachers style and feel that I learn well in this class.
ReplyDeleteKaitlyn,
ReplyDeleteThe classroom you observe sounds intersting. It would be interesting to learn how your host teacher makes all of her lessons for only deaf students. I can't wait to hear more about your observations!
I have yet to go to my classroom right at the beginning of the day to see how that goes but after lunch when the students come in from recess, after they put their things down, they all sit at their desks and either lay their heads down or take out a book or some homework. During this time the teacher reads a chapter every day from the Boxcar Children series. This helps the students calm down and prepare for the next lesson, and they also get really into the books, which makes them want to read more. The students sit in pairs with their desks in rows. Usually the pairs are boy girl so they won't talk to much-the teacher said this is one of the more rowdy groups she has had. One thing the teacher does to get the kids attention is count to three and by the time she is at three all the students should be quiet and looking at her, this seems to work pretty well.
ReplyDeleteJulia,
ReplyDeleteI think the idea of the animal on the tables is really cute. Also I think it is a really good idea to have the mini recesses, as long as the students can calm down when the time is up. I have noticed that the students in my class love to do their classroom jobs too, maybe they like having a responsibility in the classroom.
When I was in high school, I had the opportunity to go back to my 5th grade teacher's classroom. Her room is setup in 5 groups of 5 kids and each group has 5-6 kids and has a different group name. When the kids come in the room from morning recess, she makes them sit at their desks and empty out their backpacks. After they have emptied out their backpacks, she calls on the group who looks the most ready to put their backpacks and whatever else in the cubbies. After all the groups are finished, she takes attendance and then begins whatever lesson for that day. The schedule changes each day depending on what special class the class has that day. She has each of the schedules posted, if the students ever wanted to know what they were doing for that day. I would usually come and pick them up from lunch. They would have to stand up in line and be quiet and once they were quiet I would take them back to the classroom and they would put their stuff in their cubbies. When the teacher did not call groups back to their cubbies, the students knew that only 5 students could be back in that area at a time. The students would then get out a book they had to read for that week. They would read for 30 minutes, then have a bathroom break. Then after their break they usually had a special class to go to and I would take them down there. This is usually the teacher's plan time, so she was usually grading papers or getting the next lesson prepared. Sometimes she would come down to the science class because she was fascinated with what they learned and the experiments they did. I believe the kids really enjoyed having a schedule that they could look at and follow. It helped the day move on and the students did not have to wonder what they were doing the whole day because the whole day is written on the board.
ReplyDeleteSince my observation has began, Im not sure that ive seen anything that helps the students feel safe. I do think however that the students are wanted to feel comfortable in class and feel like they can express their thoughts. which i think if the student can be comfortable to show their feelings that they feel safe.
ReplyDeleteEmily,
ReplyDeleteI think you bring up good point I have seen professors outside of class and said hello and they just blankly stare at me and i hate that feeling. I want my professors to understand who I am as a person and what i try to bring to the table as a person getting into the real world.
I am observing a first grade classroom. Each morning when the students come in to the class, the teacher has already set out morning work on each desk for the students. This is just a simple review of things the students have already learned. Also, each week the teacher assigns a "helper". This person is responsible for coming in and getting a tray of markers and other things needed throughout the day at each pod. The helper also writes the date and what day of school (such as 134) on the board. When transitioning my teacher counts backwards from three to get the students attention, and then gives directions as to what they are to do next. The students are arranged in pods, with 4-5 students in each pod. This set up is particularly helpful because the teacher I am observing puts an emphasis on asking a friend for help before you ask the teacher. This helps the kids develop social skills, as well as independence. The students also have a file of books they read each day during independent reading time. The file provides them with options, but it also ensures they do not waste their time trying to pick out a book. The classroom I am observing is very routine. The kids all know what their responsibilities are every morning, and all seem very comfortable with what they have to do.
ReplyDeleteDerald,
ReplyDeleteI think it is very important for the students to feel comfortable in a classroom. The teacher definitely needs to take responsibility for making sure each student feels comfortable talking and sharing their thoughts with the rest of the class. I'm sure your teacher is doing a great job at this, and hopefully you will get to see more, and learn more about your classroom!
Even though, I have started my observations in the fourth grade classroom, I have not spent more than 2 hours at one time with them. Therefore, I would like to talk about the child care center I worked for. Being a Kindergarten teacher, I got to expreience what it was like to be that teacher "in charge".
ReplyDeleteAs soon as the kids came into the classroom, they immediately knew what had be done. The children hung their backpacks and coats up and retrived any papers that were in their cubby and placed them in their "home folders". They came back to their seat to wait for further instructions. We would then start the day off with an activity that went with the Weekely Theme. After the activity was complete, the students were given free time/recess, depending on the weather. We then came in and worked with flashcards, varying different subjects each day. After another lesson the students were given snack, then it was time for free time/recess again. This was an everyday routine. The students immediately knew what was expected of them in the classroom. This helps the teacher because I was able to prepare the activity, instead of walking the student through each step day by day.
Danielle,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the ideas of using techniques to aid positive behavior, as the teacher you observed did when the quietest group got to put their backpacks up...I observed a teacher in high school. She was a first grade teacher and when she wanted to get the class' attention, she would say: "da da da da da" and the class would say: "zip zip" and everyone would freeze and it would be quite. This was a great way to get the class' attention. ( I know it kind of sounds funny, because your reading it, not hearing it. But I you want me to tell you sometime, i would love to )
i love observing the fourth grade. I thought i was going to be observing the second grade but i was placed on the fourth grade. I enjoy watching the teacher handling all the students and the way she manages to keep the students interested. there is no bell, so whenever the teacher says that the class is over, they immediately know what they have to do and what books to put away and what books to get out. When it is time for recess the last person to go out turns off the light and closes the door. I thought at first that it was because he wanted to but i realized that it was a routine. The children are very polite and respectful. I love it.
ReplyDeleteI am observing a Spanish I class at a High School. The students have a routine at the beginning and at the end of class. At the beginning, the students have a question of the day that they have to answer in Spanish, then the teacher goes over any questions that the students have over their homework. At the end of class, the students review what they have learned, to make sure the there is no misunderstandings.
ReplyDeleteThe students have to be on time, and if the students or more than five minutes late, then they get a tardy. After five tardies they will receive a penalty.
The position of the desks are in a traditional manor. The desks are all facing the Smartboard, and the teacher's desk is at the front of the room. I agree with the teachers's routines and I ensure you that the students are learning effectively because they have to attempt to speak Spanish through the whole class period.
Ashley,
ReplyDeleteI do not know how you can observe first grade. My sister is in first grade and half the stuff she tells me is crazy. I give you a lot of props on wanting to teach at that level.
Courtney,
ReplyDeletei understand how you feel because the students from my class are almost the same. they know what they have to do and are very polite and everything. I'm sure you'll keep enjoying as much as i know ill keep enjoying.
The routine in the kindergarten classroom is the same everyday. The students arrive and place their backpacks and coats in their cubbies. Then the students go to the smart board and take attendance. They use the time that they take attendance to practice counting. After attendance is finished the teacher designates jobs for the students. Then the move in to centers which are designated by the teacher. Centers are different areas in the room where the students can work on different skills. Such as a writing lab area, reading area, or a computer area. Since the students are young and it is hard to keep their focus, the subjects re studied often and for short periods of time. For example the students will learn math for 3 times a day for 30 minutes at a time. I like the way the teacher breaks the class time up, because it allows for the students to be engaged in what they are learning.
ReplyDeleteThe room is arrange in tables with 4 to 5 students at them. But the majority of the day the students are not in them. They spend a lot of time on the carpet, centers, or scattered around the room on the floor in an area they picked out. The teacher transitions the room by turning of the lights and gives verbal instructions for the room to cleaned up so they can move on to the next subject. Or the teacher will begin to sing a song that has to do with what's next on the agenda. I like the way the teacher utilizes the time and the space of the class. She has the kindergarten room under control where learning can take place in a fun, safe, and positive way.
Brittany,
ReplyDeleteThe spanish class that your observing sounds a lot like the one I took in high school. The desk face toward the smartboard. But our routines were very different and not very effective. I can say that after 3 years of spanish i still know nothing.
i dont think the way u arange the desk can affect a childs learning or how you take them from class to class.
ReplyDeletei dont think arranging the desk in a certain way or the way you take them from class to class affects thier learning.
ReplyDeleteI observed in a 3rd grade classroom and every morning the teacher had a good morning message for the students with lunch choices and assignments for that day up on the smartboard. Each week a student is chosen to be the "dude" of the week. That student asks each student in the class what their lunch choice is and turns it into the front office. After morning anouncements the students either go to P.E. or music class.I have only stayed in the classroom till the students go to lunch so I haven't seen a typical end of the day for them. In this particular elementary school, the classroom a cubicles. For instance there are 4 3rd grade classrooms altogether and they all teach in one room that is seperated by lockers and filing cabinets. In the classroom I was in the teachers desk faced the classroom and the students had their desks grouped together by either 5 desks or 3 desks. It was a small class for this teacher this year. I do think that the classroom was distracting because the students could look into other classrooms and were always looking around. The students were pretty much in a routine and new what was coming each day and what they were expected to do. The teacher taught math after the P.E. or music class and then it was recess. After recess they did guided reading and then independent work and then went to lunch. I think the teacher's routine was positive, safe, etc. I do agree with her routines and it makes sense to group like subjects together for an easier transition.
ReplyDeleteBecca,
ReplyDeleteI have never had a teacher do that before and it sounds like it got you more interested in the subject. It is a very good idea and I wish some of my teachers had done that.
The teacher has the classroom set up like a standard high school room. Her desk is up towards the front of the room with the board right behind her and all of the students' desks in front of her desk. Attendance is mandatory. If you skip her class, she gives the students detention. She doesn't really transition from one thing to the next because she only has the kids for around 45 minutes every day so she focuses on one particular thing for the day. I do agree with her routines. It does provide the students with an effective way to learn for the most part. The students who try do very well in her class.
ReplyDeleteTrey,
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree with you slightly. I think the way the classroom is set up effects learning. If the kids are facing the board, they are going to more likely look at the board and absorb the info regardless if they are trying to or not. If the desks are not arranged that way and are in clusters, some of the students will not be able to see the board and take notes effectively.
I have no yet started my observing (i will be starting next week) but i did take a peak into my cousins kindergarten classroom and for the morning routine she has them sit at their "special" places on a mat and they do reading and spelling activies, along with going over the date and the weather. Between each activity she has the students get up and do a dun stretch because after a while little ones can get antsy. For clean up routine she just gives prasie for what ever table cleans up first. The physical arrangement in her class consists of Five Tables and each table is labeled a different animal. She transistioned the students by letting them know what the next activity is and what ever tabel is prepared for it the fastest gets praise. Also, she puts excitement when telling the next lesson so they kids can feed off of that and get excited as well. The environment in my cousins classroom has a positive feel because she puts excitement in lessons and gives every child a chance to show their ideas and knowledge. I could tell that the students felt special when they were called to comeup to the board and demonstrate something. They interacted with each other in a friendly manner and when it came to independent work they were determined and worked hard because they knew after their hardwork would come something fun and rewarding.
ReplyDeleteNick, I like the traditional high school setup classrooms. Im not a big fan of change when it comes to my learning so i think that is good that teacher has that. Also, since they are in highschool they should have a better responsability about getting to class on time.
ReplyDeleteWith my first week of observations in the classroom I have seen how a few teachers hold their classroom. I have been observing two to three teachers each day. One of the teacher's starts with a warm up exercise after taking roll. After the review of the last class period they move on to the next section with notes, class exercises before homework is given, and the teacher takes questions any students have and tries to re-explain a math concept if they don't understand.
ReplyDeleteThe classroom is arranged in the traditional style, teacher's desk is at the front of the room by the board and students desk face the board.
The teacher transitions from each concept by starting out with a simple stept of the days lesson until the students have that down and are ready to move on and apply another step.
In the classroom the teachers allow the class to talk as long as its at a low level. Even though the students talk they seem to still be learning and those who speak up in class seem to grasp the idea that is presented.
Over all I agree with a few teachers routines, one teacher said that some of his students don't pay attention so he lets them talk in class and the next class period gives them a pop up quiz. I disagree with this teachers approach, pop quizzes can get students attention to be more driven in class, but just giving notes and then a quiz without making sure the students understand the concept is not being an effective teacher. Students should be taught a concept and understand it, not just told a concept and then move on.
Tiffany,
ReplyDeleteI don't see how you can be observing or have the patience for Kindergarten. Anyone who can be in a classroom full of children at that young of age I am greatful for. It takes a lot of time and patience, and attention to each child to be in a kindergarten classroom from what I have heard.
I am actually observing 3 different types of band classes: hs concert bands, hs jazz bands, and 5-6gr concert bands. For brevity sake, I will comment only on the jazz bands for now.
ReplyDeleteI don't know the prep that has gone into this group, but I love the way they are so autonomous! The ensemble comes into class, without being instructed, they get out their chairs, stands, music, and instruments. The Drummer counts them off and they start their 10 min warm-up. They each take turns improv soloing before finishing up on their own. The director never enters the room, but can see/hear them from his office. It is so cool to see the kids take this responsibility so seriously!
once they are completely finished warming up, the director comes in, has them start playing their charts and for the most part lets them play through a tune before stopping them to fix things.
He has a great grasp on different styles of swing, funk, rock, jazz... and it very articulate at explaing to the students.
He offers the students opportunities to suggest changes or ask questions and is open to their ideas. He is willing to let them try and then decided amoungst themselves if a changes grooves right.
I love this man's teaching style. it is not a dictatorship, but rather a collaboration between, teacher and students to bring the music to life!
Carrie that is great this guy sound like he really know how to relate to the kids and let music just find its way to their hearts. It also sound like he has great control over the class room but at a level where the students respect him and vice versa! The class room i am observing is the also three different groups but mine are choral groups.All three of the groups have respect for the teacher and she for them but the most impressive element of all for me is when the students are getting to rambunctious the teacher says:
ReplyDeleteTeacher: Eyes!
class: On you
Teacher: Ears!
class: Listening
Teaching: Minds
class: focused
It was like freakin clock work! But i also really enjoy the fact that she uses technology in her teaching style and moves from one piece to another with out so much as a hiccup in the time spent doing so!
Oh I forgot! lol her policies are given to the students at the beginning of the semester and she holds her students to them very closely and encourages the other students to hold their classmates accountable as well!
ReplyDelete