Monday, April 29

Today I decided to stray from my original plan a little to write about something that has been on my mind since the middle of last week.  This topic is the impact of individual teaching, and how it can shape or change the teacher's view of a student immensely.  I first would like to say that, as someone who has only been in classrooms for a few months at the greatest and not as the primary teacher, I am not certain if getting to know students as individuals is something that happens at the beginning of the year naturally and is a norm.  I of course know that it is important to learn about your students' likes and interests, however I think I'm beginning to realize how truly crucial it is.  The first time this realization began to surface in this class was when I began sitting down for observations next to a 'problem' student each day.  He seems to have a resentment built up toward the teacher and is often off task and disruptive.  For my first few days, I saw how difficult he was, and how much trouble the teacher has with him on a daily basis.  Once I sat next to him, however, I saw how productive and interested in the lessons he could be.  He definitely does have some behavior issues, but without giving him that individual attention and talking with him, I don't think I'd have seen him as anything but a difficulty.

The next time this thought came up was when I chose my case study students.  I decided to focus on one student because my teacher told me she wasn't sure exactly what was going on with her.  She was confused about the student, especially academically.  The student works hard and is often on task, and has no difficulty with her work it seems.  Yet my teacher is unsure if there is something she is missing about the student, and if there is some way she has not yet discovered that can really benefit this individual.  As she said, "I feel like there's just something missing, and something I'm missing."  I found this comment very interesting.  It doesn't seem like there's a lack of effort on the teacher's part, yet there's still something of a mystery about the student's learning.

I started getting to know the three students I chose through an interview.  One of them, a girl named Jazzalyn, has struck my curiosity.  She has some behavior issues and is not high achieving, although she is in the gifted and talented program.  She is off task much of the time, and seems sort of subdued.  I talked with her individually, and that's sort of when I realized it is likely that she is uninterested because she is not challenged enough.  Her attitude in class is still a curiosity to me: she can be peppy and excited one minute, then staring blankly and seemingly sad the next.  I look forward to spending more time with her, getting to know her, and giving her more one-on-one time.

This topic caught my attention on Friday as well.  My teacher is on a committee of faculty members who gather to discuss students teachers are having issues with.  The first student brought up was a third grader in another class.  He has intense behavior issues that are often far too mature for a grade school setting.  Besides language and bullying, he also has begun to make violent threats.  I could go on for some time about the things I have heard about him doing, as well as things I have seen him do or heard him say.  He is extremely rude and disrespectful to his teacher, but still wants to eat lunch with her.  He is a gem to any adult he is not in close contact with.  As the meeting progressed, the psychology of his home situation filled me in a lot on his actions.  This showed me again how important it is to know the student well, including their home life and difficult situations they may be going through.

I've only been in this classroom for a week.  I went through this thought process during my last placement too.  As I become more familiar with the classroom and the students, I am realizing again how intricate each one is, and how important it is to know as much about them as possible.  This helps not only their academics, but their comfort level, social development, and much much more.

Question of the Day

What is the best experience of professional development you have received?

My host teacher shared that the most valuable experience of professional development she has received was a seminar for tenured teachers on writing.  It was hosted by the new program going into effect in the school.  While all teachers were trained in it, she had an advanced knowledge of why the program was effective and why it had been chosen for her school.  She felt confident in the techniques, and was familiar with the program as a whole.  She expressed to me that often when new initiatives are implemented, there are small trainings that leave teachers with questions.  Her knowledge of the curriculum in this new program let her lead other teachers, as well as give her students the best teaching possible.

Tomorrow I will be working with a reading group and observing for instructional strategies.