Unfortunately I was sick last Wednesday morning and I was not able to attend my field experience. I heard that the students showed their completed inventions and their invention convention and I was sad I missed this. I am curious to see what the new unit will be when I return tomorrow!
I was feeling better by the time E339 started so I was able to attend class. We went through stations that dealt with poetry. There were many different stations that involved making your own poem, interpreting a poem through art and music, and writing a poem about a simple object such as a shell, button, or penny. The stations were fun and I think these would be great to use in my future classroom.
The MGRP was pushed back by one week, so now it is not due until the next Wednesday which I was very excited about. Thanks!
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Week 7
During my last field experience I was first in the 6th grade classroom. All of the 5th graders were gone on their trip to Bradford woods, which I think sounds like a great experience! My elementary school never went on a trip like that!
After we arrived to the classroom, we found out that the students were studying Greek characters as well as Eric Carle's art. The students learned that Carle creates his illustrations using tissue paper he has painted and then cuts them out to form his characters. So the class project for these two units was to paint the tissue paper and then later they will cut out the different patterns and colors to form one of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, or monsters they have been studying.
We all went outside to begin painting! This was actually really fun and it was cool to see how creative the students were! The teacher also seemed like she really needed out help since there were so many students and so many supplies to distribute. We hung up the student's art work on the fence when they were done and they all looked great! We went back inside after everyone had painted 2 or 3. There was a little problem with this project. A lot of the student's papers kept ripping when they painted them because the tissue paper was so thin. This is just something to keep in mind inc case I ever decide to do a project like this. I hope to see the finished projects next week!
After we went back inside, the teacher had the students read silently to calm them down from the excitement of being outside. After everyone was settled, the teacher started a PowerPoint on Eric Carle and some of his paintings. She would have students talk in pairs about their feelings for each of the painting that she posted and there was also a short class discussion.
Then it was time to go observe the writers workshop! We all went into the 4th grade classroom and paired up with a student. My student was very shy. I would be interested in finding out more about her. We talked about the first time she remembered doing something and the last time she remembered doing something. She came up with some good answers and she wrote them down in her writers notebook. The teachers also had a mini-lecture/lesson to help guide the students with their writing. It was cool to be able to see how the writers workshop was run and to interact one on one with another student.
After we arrived to the classroom, we found out that the students were studying Greek characters as well as Eric Carle's art. The students learned that Carle creates his illustrations using tissue paper he has painted and then cuts them out to form his characters. So the class project for these two units was to paint the tissue paper and then later they will cut out the different patterns and colors to form one of the Greek Gods, Goddesses, or monsters they have been studying.
We all went outside to begin painting! This was actually really fun and it was cool to see how creative the students were! The teacher also seemed like she really needed out help since there were so many students and so many supplies to distribute. We hung up the student's art work on the fence when they were done and they all looked great! We went back inside after everyone had painted 2 or 3. There was a little problem with this project. A lot of the student's papers kept ripping when they painted them because the tissue paper was so thin. This is just something to keep in mind inc case I ever decide to do a project like this. I hope to see the finished projects next week!
After we went back inside, the teacher had the students read silently to calm them down from the excitement of being outside. After everyone was settled, the teacher started a PowerPoint on Eric Carle and some of his paintings. She would have students talk in pairs about their feelings for each of the painting that she posted and there was also a short class discussion.
Then it was time to go observe the writers workshop! We all went into the 4th grade classroom and paired up with a student. My student was very shy. I would be interested in finding out more about her. We talked about the first time she remembered doing something and the last time she remembered doing something. She came up with some good answers and she wrote them down in her writers notebook. The teachers also had a mini-lecture/lesson to help guide the students with their writing. It was cool to be able to see how the writers workshop was run and to interact one on one with another student.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Week 6
My field experience was a little bit different today. We learned before we got to the classroom that the 6th graders would be taking standardized tests, so since I am in the 5th/6th grade class I knew things could be a little hectic and different today. My co-teachers and I arrived to the classroom and our teacher said we would be taking a group of 5th graders to the computer lab to work on some activities. I was excited about this because this was the first time we were able to work with the kids without another teacher in the room! However, when we got to the lab another teacher got angry with us because apparently she had already reserved the lab. So we took the students to two other labs, but they were full also. We finally got the situation figured out, but it was a bit hectic!
While we were in the computer lab students worked on their Latin root words. They made a PowerPoint slide with the word done in word art and then wrote the definition and origin of the word. I actually learned how to put a picture into a word today on PowerPoint. It always amazes me how tech-savvy the students are. Sometimes I think they really know more than I do! Other students were playing games that helped them study the states and capitals. We just walked around and helped the students when they needed it.
When we returned to the classroom we sat in a circle on the floor and all had a piece of paper, r a writer's notebook, and we were instructed to write a sentence with exactly five words. We then passed our paper to the next person and they were instructed to write a sentence that went off our first sentence, but rhymed with the last word of the first sentence. We continued this for a few more rounds. Each time there was a new rule we had to follow when we wrote out sentence. After about 7 sentences were written each student then shared their completed story. Some of them were pretty funny! It was fun being able to do this activity with the students!
After this, the students got out large laminated maps. Every student got a dry erase marker and the teacher instructed them to find certain places on their map. I sat at a desk next to two students and just talked with them and helped them with the exercise.
Overall, I am very happy with my field placement and I am really getting more comfortable with the students and the teacher. I am really enjoying working with the 5th/6th grade class and I think this might be a grade I would like to teach in the future. It is hard for me to to say what I have learned about myself as a teacher of writing because we are never in the classroom when they are having writing or reading time. But I really liked the shared writing activity today. It was a good way to get students thinking while having a fun time writing.
In E339 class today we read The Important Book. She also showed us two books that her previous classes had made. I absolutely loved the books her students made and I would love to make these in my classroom. I had made these "books" in the past but they never actually looked like a real book, so I think it could really gets students exciting about reading a writing knowing that they would soon have their own "published" book.
We also talked a lot about our MGRP. I think I have a better sense of what the paper is asking for and what type of topic I would like. As of now, I'm thinking of doing my project on a country I would like to visit or someone famous that I admire. I am excited to start doing the research because it will be something I am actually interested in learning about!
While we were in the computer lab students worked on their Latin root words. They made a PowerPoint slide with the word done in word art and then wrote the definition and origin of the word. I actually learned how to put a picture into a word today on PowerPoint. It always amazes me how tech-savvy the students are. Sometimes I think they really know more than I do! Other students were playing games that helped them study the states and capitals. We just walked around and helped the students when they needed it.
When we returned to the classroom we sat in a circle on the floor and all had a piece of paper, r a writer's notebook, and we were instructed to write a sentence with exactly five words. We then passed our paper to the next person and they were instructed to write a sentence that went off our first sentence, but rhymed with the last word of the first sentence. We continued this for a few more rounds. Each time there was a new rule we had to follow when we wrote out sentence. After about 7 sentences were written each student then shared their completed story. Some of them were pretty funny! It was fun being able to do this activity with the students!
After this, the students got out large laminated maps. Every student got a dry erase marker and the teacher instructed them to find certain places on their map. I sat at a desk next to two students and just talked with them and helped them with the exercise.
Overall, I am very happy with my field placement and I am really getting more comfortable with the students and the teacher. I am really enjoying working with the 5th/6th grade class and I think this might be a grade I would like to teach in the future. It is hard for me to to say what I have learned about myself as a teacher of writing because we are never in the classroom when they are having writing or reading time. But I really liked the shared writing activity today. It was a good way to get students thinking while having a fun time writing.
In E339 class today we read The Important Book. She also showed us two books that her previous classes had made. I absolutely loved the books her students made and I would love to make these in my classroom. I had made these "books" in the past but they never actually looked like a real book, so I think it could really gets students exciting about reading a writing knowing that they would soon have their own "published" book.
We also talked a lot about our MGRP. I think I have a better sense of what the paper is asking for and what type of topic I would like. As of now, I'm thinking of doing my project on a country I would like to visit or someone famous that I admire. I am excited to start doing the research because it will be something I am actually interested in learning about!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)