RachelTraneEDEL1010

It's hard to pick just one thing I learned during fieldwork observation.  The most obvious thing I learned is that if you want to have a successful classroom, you have to be organized.  The state of your classroom sets the tone for your students from the moment they walk in.  I feel like a disorganized classroom gives the impression that the teacher will accept disorganized and messy work.  It seems to me that most students will rise to meet the teacher's expectations, so the teacher needs to be the example of the work they are expecting their students to do.  I also think that being organized is a great way of showing your students and their parents that you really care about the education you are providing. Another important lesson I learned was communication with parents is very important.  The teacher I observed told me that its almost like playing offense.  If the teacher is open and clear with the parents, many issues can be avoided.  For ...

The teacher I observed was very organized. She had the day's schedule outlined on the board every morning before the students arrived.  I think it is so helpful for the students to know what they are doing from the start of the day.  Then, when they think they can't stand to do math anymore, they can look at the schedule and see what time they are moving on to the next subject and know that math isn't going to last all day. It was clear to me that the teacher had been consistent all year long because when it was time to transition from one activity to the next, the students knew exactly what to do.  It would be interesting to compare the transitions at the first of the year and the end of the year.  As I watched this class I could clearly see that consistency is one of the most important aspects of classroom management.

 When I observed in a fifth grade classroom, the students were presenting their State research papers.  They had to follow a specific rubric and include certain facts in their presentation.  One of the things they were required to include was why they chose that state. I think the teacher was smart for letting the student decide. That way the student had an active role in choosing their state, and they usually had a personal reason for choosing that state. Another requirement was that they student had to bring a snack or treat to represent their state.  In general kids love food, so they were all very excited to share their treats and they were all equally excited to eat what the other students brought. At the end of their oral report the student had to answer three questions about their state from their classmates.  I think the teacher did a great job of engaging all the students from start to finish.  It was a project that involved multiple mini-proje...

I think the most important role a teacher plays is that of being a constant, reliable part of a student's school year.   It is important that student's know that their teacher will be there, and that the teacher shows the students that their education is important to them.  A teacher can do this by not missing a lot of class time, taking an interest in what is important to them, and setting consistent boundaries and expectations.   Consistency is so important because it helps the students feel safe, shows them that you care, and lets the students excel if they know what is expected of them. The most challenging role for teachers is trying to manage all the roles they are expected to fill.  In a single day a teacher can be an educator, a cheerleader, a mediator, a coach, a friend, the list is almost endless.   I think managing all of those roles and keeping a positive attitude and staying sane is what makes a great teacher.