Rubrics

Rubrics

It is so nice to see that Mrs. Hampton has rubrics. Every day, after decodable words explanation students write a complete sentence that Mrs. Hampton dictates them a sentence so the evaluation criteria are: capital letter, spacing, punctuation, spelling, and neatness. Another evaluation example that used in class is a checklist for fact fluency practice.Students record their time lenght. They write It took me ___ minutes and ___seconds. The goal is 30-50 seconds for all daily problems.

Effective Classroom Management Strategies

Effective Classroom Management Strategies

Some of the strategies that I observe in Mrs Hampton are the following:

·         She has a daily routine: meet in the gathering place, sing songs, and reinforce three simple class rules, that are written in positive way: Take care of myself, take care of others, take care of this place. 

·         Each student has an important task to do for example:  clean up the desk, gather the students' lunch choice, carry the balls, etc.

·         The teacher has a special way to record students’ participation using craft stick that contains their numbers according to Mrs. Hampton’s list.

·         The teacher uses different and effectively ideas to get students attention without raising her voice and whisper instructions:  if you listen my voice clap one.  One two three eyes on me...one two eyes on you, freeze time, counting backward 5,4,3,2,1. among others.

·         There are some procedures that are very useful. If you are late just come in to the classroom. In case that you need to go to the bathroom, they do not ask for permission, just shows his or her pointed finger up and wait for the teacher′s eye contact. Students take turn to talk; they raise their hands, and wait until the teacher call on them. It is good to see how well students manage all the routines learned and put them into practice. They look like they are always a step ahead. This is something that really takes time, love, and patient because it is clear to see Mrs. Hampton’s effort.

    Most of these strategies I used to apply in my English's classes but there are  some of them that are new for me. I am so happy to share these last five days with Mrs. Hampton and learn many new things. She is really amazing and it is a pleasure to be her classroom. What a great week!

Ideas for Using Technology

Ideas for Using Technology

       There are a lot of technology at Monitor Elemtary School. Using technology as an educational resource  is fantastic for young learners so they love it. There is in the school  smart boards, a big clock, a big timer, an iPod for each single student, radio, CD player, among others. Students work different skills and practice math using the iPod. They play Kahoot solving math problems that are for their level but there is one that is a challenge. They also do fluency practices in a written and digital form so they can daily record their progress. In my contry there are som school that already have similar technology but there are still some others that they do not so teachers' pation, love and creativity are the main ingredient to make an effective visual aid and hands on recipe.

 

Interactive Teaching Strategies

Interactive Teaching Strategies

During the field placement, I observed many interesting aspects about Mrs. Hampston′s class my teacher partner at Monitor Elementary School. My teacher partner works in small group with children that really need it. In this way, she personalizes her lesson based on students’ needs. All of them have the opportunity to speak, participate and gain confidence. During the week students were learning about measurement and problem solving. They create their own ruler and label it. They also learn about how to split a unit, add fraction and how to convert fractions in units and vice versa. Students increase their vocabulary: fractions, congruent, equivalent. She scaffolds the lesson so students build up their knowledge. I really love these Math lessons lead by Mrs. Hampton using easy and understandable experiments. 

Guidance Counseling

Guidance Counseling

3/01/2018

Since the first that I received the public school placement interest survey, I checked Guidance Counseling because I am interested in observing this specific class, so today I have this great opportunity.

Ms. Hess is a retired teacher and a counselor as well. She works at Monitor Elementary School (part time job). She comes to Mrs. Hampton's Class to present a mini lesson because of her students’ confidentiality. She explains me about how she support students with academic, social, knowledge or emotional problems, school adaptation (nonnative English speakers) among others. Her classes are developed in small groups or individual consultation.

Here is my observation about Ms. Hess' class. She read aloud the story's title: "My Mouth is a Volcano" and makes a personalized question "Are there volcanoes in Panamá" followed my answer, some other students tell us about volcanoes in their own countries. Students pay close attention to Ms. Hess reading aloud. She shows students the story book’s illustrations. She makes emphasis using a great intonation and lot of gestures. Students are able to interact through their personal opinions. As soon as she finished reading, she checks story comprehension through a set of guided questions. The moral lesson of this story is that you have to wait your turn and do not interrupt people when they are talking because it is not polite. She also explains that you have to raise your hand if you want to talk and wait until the teacher call on you.

In the next activity, students get in group of three people and they have different rolls: one of them talks and the other interrupt his or her conversation. After this activity, Ms. Hess asks students “What do you feel when someone interrupt you?” Some of the students’ answers are: frustrate, angry, sad, mad. She also asks about “What is the lesson about? And what is the lesson learned?” What a great lesson, we have to realize that people need time to talk. Of course your words count and they are important but more important is respect others’ opinion and talking time. We have to treat others in the same way we like people treat us.

P.E. Class Observation

P. E. Class Observation

This is my first P.E. class observation. All students are involved in the class and they do not use any sport uniform and sport shoes. It seems to me that they have a lot of fun in a relax environment and nice music. Students do their warm up activitivity to get ready to jump rope. The class takes place in a big gym with all the required equipment. Each student wait for his or her turn and gets a rope. They are patient and wait in their rows in a fancy way until the teacher gives direction. Ms. Collier models the different ways to jump rope and they follow her. There is another teacher who is happy to help students. I am so glad to be here. I can say that this class is so interesting. I was about to join them. I am so glad to see children really engaged in this class.

In my contry the PE class has two fases. First, children learn about the theory behind any sport. Then, they have the opportunity to apply their knowledge in the playground. It is a requirement to use a uniform. Girls can not wear a dress for this class. Everybody have to use confortable tennis shoes. Panamanian children also love PE classes because, they have the opportunity to play different games and they also have fun. PE classes in Panama also includes Folcklore lessons and let children  to learn how to dance our traditional dances. At university level, PE class involves swimming classes. I took them when I was a student at college. As a conclussion I can say that both American and Panamanian Children love games, dances, and music. Hopefully, we have especial classes for them like Art, Music and Physical Education. 

ESL Support Class Observation

ESL Support Class Observation

Ms. Cantu has an ESL support class of 8 students sitting on a carpet in front of the smart board. It is a big room full of resourses and she uses the smart board  for the class. I can easily read the maing goal of today's class. (Students will use topic-specific vocabulary to describe the weather in the jungle). She begins her class with a previous lesson review (brainstorming). Students pay attention and the teacher expalins the importance of rain. She mention that rain gives plants and animals water to live. Plants can not grow without water. After this, students get in pairs (A and B partners) tell one sentence each one and rotate. Next, students get the writting spots and they  have to write 1-3 sentence (s) on a strip of paper following a pattern like: It's wet in the jungle. It's rainy in the jungle. Students write their names and today date independently. Finally, each student comes to the front to read his or her sentence aloud. The teacher motivate them through nice comments. Students look relax and they are not afraid to make mistakes. Students turn paper and line up in front of the door.

There are some facts that really call my attention. For example, it was a 30 minute class. They are just 8 students. They write sentences using a key vocabulary. I clearly see the use of four language skills: listening, speaking, writing and reading so it was an integrated class.