It's a New World

I am a curriculum student at Georgia Southern University and I have been assigned to a third grade class at an elementary school in Bulloch County. I have never been in a 3rd grade class before so this is a new experience for me because they change classes. In my opinion, I think it’s a little much for 3rd graders but they seem to be adjusting well. I guess it gives them a break from the same classroom all day long. However, I love it! On my most previous visit, I had more interaction with the students. It was my third visit and I finally felt comfortable in the classroom. As the teacher was teaching a lesson, I walked around the room to make sure that all students were paying attention and staying on task. It was a great class because I didn't really have to call on one student over and over again. They were also given a math timed quiz over division and multiplication so if they completed all of the questions in the given time, I was in charge of checking over the papers. That was fun to me because it made me feel like I had a little bit more initiative. It was good practice for me as well. After the timed tests were completed, the students followed Mrs. Rollins' instructions on how to make a math foldable. As she was giving the class directions, I walked around the room and helped those students who needed help. Needless to say, hamburger style and hot dog style folds on paper seem to confuse a few students. However, the process was quick and the students caught on fast and they began putting their multiplication and division problems that gave them trouble on the foldable so that they could study. Unfortunately, I had to witness Mrs. Rollin's take up a few students’ opportunity cards. I am not sure what it means when they don't get a sticker for that day but the students seemed really upset when it was taken from them. I am guessing the consequences aren’t very good. I also got a good idea from Mrs. Rollins. It’s a technique that helps children manage and control their behavior in the classroom. If a student was doing what they were told to do, if they were putting forth extra effort or if they did not have to be told what do, they were given a neon colored index card that had encouraging words on them. This technique seemed to really work. Some students would have 3 and 4 cards, while some had 1, and others had none. The students who received cards tried extra hard to get more. It is a very good strategy that she used. All in all, I enjoyed my visit to the school. The classes changed and Mrs. Rollins’ homeroom class returned. Some of the students came up and spoke to me. The students are so diverse and eager to learn new information, learn about me and much more. Needless to say, my scared feelings of being in 3rd grade have turned into pure love for it.

First Blog Post

I am a Junior at Georgia Southern University and I am a curriculum student. I was assigned to Mattie Lively Elementary School in a third grade classroom. Mrs. Cathy Rollins is my clinical supervisor and she is great at what she does. I can tell that she really loves what she does! I think this is great because teaching isn't just a job, it's a dedication! In the past, I have worked with both 2nd grade and 1st grade and I do have to say that I love all the grade levels the same. It would be really hard for me to choose which grade if I were presented with that option. It's a new experience with each grade. First graders are different than second graders and second graders are different from thrid graders. I learn something new with each grade level. I would like to teach first through third grade. However, I am going to take whatever I get offered. I can and will adjust and make it work for any grade that I teach. I would like to work in a small, rural town where I know all of the students in the school. I think knowing everyone in the school makes the success rate higher because everyone feels respected and comfortable around others.