First Webquest

                                                    I've made my first teacher blog!

My Adventures This Week

This week I partook in a great deal of activities. I worked on cutting out and gluing pictures of the children onto numerous objects, such as little stars to go above the children's artwork and poster boards with things about them. I've come to find I really enjoy the small crafting involved in the Kindergarten environment. 

I was able to run the classroom one morning because Ms.Price was called into the office and did not return. An adult was sent to the classroom but I was instructed to teach. I tried my best to go through the morning routine, but something about being put on the spot made me a little clumsy. Most of the stuff she uses in the morning was on the computer, and i was only able to find some of it. The kids were yelling what I needed to do, and I wasn't really sure how to handle it. The adult told them to be quiet which was very helpful. I believe i gave an adequate performance though. We danced to some songs, did the morning calendar, counted to twenty, sang the alphabet, and worked with money. When we finished the teacher still wasn't back yet so i read them a story and had sharing time. After that, she still wasn't back yet so i sent them to centers, circling the room helping them. When it was time for me to leave I felt pretty good. 

When I came in the next day, she didn't mention it at all, which I thought was weird. I think she was dealing with an angry parent or something. The rest of the week was uneventful. I continued to craft and interact with the kids. She said she'll let me teach a lesson soon, so I'll be prepared this time and hopefully master the lesson.

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Summation of the week

The classroom has fallen into a comfortable pattern, enabling the students to feel safe and excited for the day. This group of children are for the most part calm and respectful, doing their work willingly. They have been receiving many compliments. This is a system of reward in Ms.Price's class. When they earn the allotted amount of compliments, they get a gum ball party. I wasn't present for their first party, but I heard a lot about it from the excited kids.

This week was an exciting chapter in the story of my intern experience. The children participated in the first fire drill of the year. When the alarm first went off, the students were concerned, as many didn't know what was going on. While the fire drill was not communicated to the teachers in advance, Ms. Price promptly herded them together and out the door. I followed the end of the line to make sure everyone stayed together. When they arrived in the class's designated spot, Ms.Price told them to be very quite. She then explained it was just a practice fire drill, and nothing was really wrong. But it was important to act as if there was a fire so in the event of a real emergency they would know what to do. The kids behaved very maturely and when everything was over, they earned a compliment.

When we were back in the classroom, Ms.Price sat them down and explained everything about a fire drill and why it was important. They talked of what to do if you were in the bathroom when it went off and other possible scenarios. The students had a lot of questions. I left the room when there were still numerous hands in the air.

The next day was picture day. The kids were all dressed up and ready to be photographed. When they were told it was time to go to gym for the pictures, we had to line them up from tallest to shortest. The students found this a fun and enlightening experience. Once all their pictures were taken, they earned another compliment. They are a good group.

On uneventful days, i have observed the same pattern of activities, only really able to be hands on when they are in their centers. I make sure they are on task and sometimes even play with them. In the plato center, the girls found it very amusing to make little animals from cookie cutters and then squish them, continually amused as a pretended to mourn them. I thoroughly enjoy interacting with them.

I have started working on a poster for the classroom, and i find it's harder than it looks. I clearly need to improve my crating skills.

Here are some pictures I have taken of the classroom.

This is located in the writing center, where kids come to make a booklet, assigned to pick several words form the poster to copy into their notebooks.

The calendar they use for "Calendar Time" at the beginning of the day.

Colorful cats with the color names of them so students can connect the words with the colors. it's cute and educational.

I Am

Today in class the students went to new centers, transitioning into more academic activities. They had word bingo and placing letters in their names in spaces. After centers, students sat on the carpet and traced the letters "I" and "am", feeling the form of the letters on their hands. This is an interesting technique I took note of. i was sent to make copies of worksheets and deliver documents to the office. It was a day of positive interaction.

Technology in the Classroom

Classroom Computers

At this Elementary school, technology has remained at its basic form. Old computers are used in the classrooms. The smart boards however, are relatively new and a few iPads are being used in older children's classrooms. I helped some students use a computer for the very fist time the other day, so it is clear there is not a great need for the newest of the new technology in kindergarten classes.

Schedule for the day

Every classroom has a schedule followed every day so students and teachers feel ready and comfortable.

Ms.Price's schedule

7:45 to 8:20    Announcements

8:20 to 9:20     Reading Groups

                        9:20 to 10:25   Text based reading compression

10:25 to 10:35  Wash for lunch

10:35 to 11:05    lunch

11:10 to 11:30   Recess

11:40 to 12:10   Math

12:15 to1:00     Encore

1:00 to 1:20   finish math

1:20 to 1:30   snack

1:30 to 1:45   science/social studies

1:45 to 2:25   SOAR

2:25 to 2:35   daily review

2:35   Dismissal

Behavior Plans

Behavior plan
To the left is a picture of Ms.Holden's behavior plan.

A huge part of teaching is coming up with an effective behavior plan. Without a good system, student can become out of hand. To the left is an explanation of Ms.Holden's frog behavior plan, something she claims is an excellent system.

Behavior board

Ms. Price's Behavior Board

Every teacher has a different idea of what a plan should look like, mostly for the reason of wanting to have an individual flair. Instead of Fogs, Ms.Price uses bees. I have no copy of the plan so i will just have to explain.

Each child has a bee. The goal is to keep them in the "ready to learn" space. If the child's bee does not move he/she will get a sticker on his/her treasure chest sheet. After ten stickers a treasure chest toy will be awarded. If a student breaks a rule, the following consequences will occur.

1st time: misses five minutes of playtime to the "think about it space".

2nd: ten minutes. and a note will be sent home.

There is no discipline per plan sent to the principle, only the behavior sheets mentioned above are sent to parents.

Classroom Setup

Ms.Price's classroom setup

Ms.Holden's classroom setup 

Classroom appearance plays a major part in the learning of students. Organization of items in the room is crucial for a comfortable and easy learning environment. Ms. Price has selected a layout in which a carpet sits in the middle of the room and the teacher's chair facing the carpet. Students are assigned to a number so they have a routine and she is able to watch them while teaching. The smart board  is in front of the students, and there are bright, pleasing colors in the room.


Ms. Holden's classroom is almost identical, save for a different chair and a carpet with shapes instead of numbers. The similarities of the classroom's proves the teachers find is to be an effective design.

Reading and Observations

 Yesterday, I had the privilege of being able to read one of my favorite books, "The Magic Locket" to Ms.Price's class. The message of the story is that you can succeed if you believe in yourself. The students were engaged in the story. Ms.Price explained to me the importance of asking questions throughout the story to develop their thinking skills. I learned something as well as the students.

Today I observed when people are talking, Ms. Price counts down from five. She then explains if they listen, most of her questions will be answered. When taking lunch count, students are asked to raise their hands if they are buying lunch. The count is then taken to the cafeteria to see how much food will be made. The two helpers of the week bring the folder to the cafeteria. They also take a folder with transportation to the office. I also read "Chrysanthemum" today while Ms.Price was working, and i was able to help her out. I felt like a part of the classroom then.