Relearning Education

The other day I met with the teacher I will be observing for my ED100 course. This course is designed to be an introduction to being in education. I was really excited to go get in the classroom to help and observe, and then the day finally came. I've been placed in a 6th grade Language Arts class at a school a couple of miles North of CC. As I was driving there, I was astounded at how quickly the neighborhoods changed from beautifully maintained old houses to more run-down ranches. I almost missed the school, and after I finally figured out how to get into the parking lot, I went to sign in at the main office. I guess I wasn't expecting what I encountered. I make it to the front door, which was locked. I had to ring a doorbell, wait for a click, and then entered the office. I was not met with the smile and "Good afternoon" I was used to when visiting a school in my district at home. Instead, a woman briskly asked me what I was doing there. I stood there with a smile plastered on my face, CC information folder in hand, and gave her my most cheerful explanation as I signed in. The woman slid a visitor badge across the counter to me, gave me brief directions as to how to find the classroom I was going to, and then shooed me into the hall.

*****

Needless to say, I began this post weeks ago, waiting to expand upon it until after my first observation day. I have since changed placement teachers and now I am working with two 8th grade Language Arts teachers. Yesterday, I went in for a full six hours, and it was quite an experience. I began the day in Ms. R's reading class, moving on to her advanced class, and then a period of Mr. M's American History class, finishing the day with two periods of Mr. P's Language Arts. Each class had a different personality, yet there were several things I noticed no matter the class I was in:

1. There are too many students. Each student needs varying levels of help, each vying for the teacher's limited attention. This basically mandates that students will fall through the cracks, which just causes more problems down the line.
2. The students who don't want to be there distract the teacher from teaching those who really do care. Teachers seem to be under the impression that the students who want to learn will just take care of themselves. This doesn't seem to be the case--these students want to interact with their teachers and their peers, but teachers get distracted by those students causing problems.
3. If you assume the kids are going to do something wrong, they probably will. Some teachers use the outside-of-school circumstances of students as an excuse for the students not doing well, and therefore they must rule their class with an iron fist. I observed students who in one class who acted out (the teacher was extremely strict and tyrannical) and then an hour later in another classroom and under the guidance under another teacher they were some of the most engaged students, volunteering to speak and contributing positively to the class.
4. If an environment is created in which learning becomes something fun, students will remain engaged. If kids are engaged, they will be positive and ready to learn. If they are just being talked at
5. Discipline has to be consistent.

I could not believe the differences between the three teachers. Each had their own preconceptions about the students, and I know the students were able to pick up on them. Seeing this really proved to me that the teacher's attitude directly influences the classroom personality and environment.

*****

And now here I am, after completing the program and my 30 hours. I wish I had been posting more consistently throughout my experiences, but unfortunately life and class got in the way. I do still have my journal from the class, so I have some stuff to reflect on. From this experience, I am reaffirmed in my belief that I want to be a teacher. The experience was invaluable--I was able to see aspects of teaching I had never been exposed to before. I don't really want this post to run on and on, so perhaps I'll go to my journal later and do another post of highlights. Perhaps I won't. We'll just have to see, won't we?