Dec.6th

HOW DO THE STUDENTS ACT UPON ENTERING THE CLASS? HOW DOES THE TEACHER ACT?

When students enter the classroom they usually walk in and sit at a large circular table, where Ms.R does demonstrations and informs them of upcoming projects. On occasion Ms.R will have the students artwork ready for them to begin working as they walk in the room. Ms.R is always very inviting when the students walk into class, she usually is standing until all the students come in and sit at the circle table.

HOW DOES THE TEACHER GET THEIR ATTENTION TO BEGIN CLASS? IS THERE A PROCEDURE FOR LISTENING?

After the students enter the classroom and take a seat Ms.R usually begins talking about what is on the agenda for the present day and upcoming days. If there are students talking or not listening Ms.R usually stops and asks them politely to pay attention. In the classes that I observe my cooperating teacher doesn't seem to have very much trouble with the students listening.

COMMENT ON THE TEACHER'S INSTRUCTION (HOW HE/ SHE BEGINS CLASS, DEMONSTRATIONS OF TECHNIQUES, INCORPORATION OF TECHNOLOGY, SENSE OF HUMOR).

I think that my cooperating teacher's instruction is done very well. The students are like trained sheep in that they always walk into the classroom immediately and sit at the circular table. I think that she also demonstrates her techniques well because the students projects always come out looking great. For the most part students don't have trouble working on projects. Ms.R does not incorporate technology in her classroom.

HOW DO YOU SEE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT BEING HANDLED? ARE ANY STUDENTS BEING OFF TASK OR DISRESPECTFUL- HOW DOES THE TEACHER HANDLE THIS? IS THERE A SYSTEM OF DISCIPLINE THAT THE SCHOOL USES?

 Ms. R manages the classroom very effectively. When students get off task she will always remind them to get back to work and if nothing changes then she will move the individuals. The school does use what they call major and minor reports if a student is misbehaving.

ARE THERE RULES POSTED? WHAT ARE THEY?

(Image to the right) There are rules posted in Ms.R's classroom. They are as follows:

• I will treat you with respect, so you will know how to treat me
• Feel free to do anything that doesn't cause a problem for anyone else
• If you cause a problem, I will as you to solve it
• If you can't solve the problem, or choose not to, I will do something
• What I do, will depend on the special person, and the special situation

"If you feel something is unfair, whisper to me, I'm not sure that's fair, and we will talk"

Be respectful, Be responsible and Be safe (school rules)

HOW DOES THE TEACHER ADDRESS SAFETY ISSUES?

Ms.R usually deals with safety issues separately for each project. For example, if the students are using scissors and glue, not to mix them together.

HOW DOES THE TEACHER HANDLE: BATHROOM BREAKS/ LOCKER/ DRINKS? RADIO/ IPODS? TELEPHONE? USE OF MATERIALS? BORROWING MATERIALS OVERNIGHT? CLEANING UP?

From my observation Ms.R usually lets students go to the bathroom and get drinks when they ask. I'm not sure if the elementary students have lockers but I know if the students leave their projects or materials in their classroom that they are allowed to get them as long as this isn't recurrent. As for the radio, Ms.R lets the students listen to it on occasion but if what they listen to becomes a problem than it gets removed. I pods and telephones are not allowed in the classroom. Materials are usually given overnight to students who are behind on projects. When it comes to cleaning up the classroom the students usually clean their own place. If a table is still messy Ms.R will ask the students who were sitting at the table to go back and clean their place.

DOES THE TEACHER USE A LESSON PLAN, CURRICULUM MAP, OR A CALENDAR TO PLAN UNITS? DOES HE/ SHE HAVE A WRITTEN CURRICULUM? WHAT DOES THE PLAN INCLUDE?

I know that Ms.R may have used lesson plans in the past but now when she teaches she does from memory. She has also talked about how she will make lesson plans up during a school year and implement them.