Prompt 7

Everytime I sit and observe in the classroom I go to, i imagine how I will be as a teacher. Will i be like her? Will I respond to the situtations she comes in counter with the same as her? How would I respond to different situations in general? Children arent afraid to speak their minds and ask you anything thats on their mind. Am I ready for this? I get anxious and nervous thinking about some of the situations I will have to encounter. I learn everyday. By watching and listening to her, I learn and am able to prepare myself for some of the things that I will need to address(poverty, bullying, etc).
Tutoring and observing in this diverse school has definately better prepared me for the future. This experience has been very successful with teaching myself something about who I am and want to be as a teacher. It was a struggle for me to relate to most of these children since I have had very different childhood then some of them. It has opened my eyes into knowing that not everyones childhood experience is the same as mine and I need to understand that and be flexible in my teaching styles to make sure I can relate and successfully teach every child.

Prompt 5

It's apart of the everyday morning rug routine to collect ice cream money from the children in my first class that I visit. ALot of the students seem to "forget" their money and I have seen the teacher get discouraged. She has said to me that this is an everyday occurance. She continuously reminds the parents not just to bring in ice cream money, but return signed assignments and other things that she has sent home for the parents to read and sign. She says that most of the parents dont have the time to meet with her for appointments about concerns she has for their children. She also says its like "pulling teeth" to get in touch with these parentss and to get the necessary things she needs from them.
Also, I have heard that the parents arent as involved in their childs education as she wishes they were. Some select students dont do required homework and bring in the right materials. But that goes along with any school. Its hard to get full attetion and cooperation from a class of 20+ no matter where you are and waht socioeconomic background you come from.
I would imagine the best way to address problems like I mentioned above would be parent/teacher conferences. I have learned that giving children flyers and memos to bring home to parents is not the awy to go when you expect a response on an important issue. I have seen that contacting the parent yourself is the only for sure way that you know that you are getting the mssage to the parent. sending it through the children isnt the best way to do that.

Prompt 2

As I walked through the hall, I got a chance to see what kind of teachers and faculty work there and also, what kind of students attend Asa Messer Elementary School. The faculty that I had a chance to meet and see are mostly white(the school seceratary is spanish, and one of the aids in my kindergarden is black), and all female. The two teachers I work with are both white. I noticed that most of the children who attend are black or of spanish culture. 4 of the The 6 children (3 kindergardeners, and 3 first graders) are black, and 2 are spanish.
My 6 students listen, but to an extent(they are kindergardeners and first graders, I expected them even before I met them to be a little crazy but it definately could be worse). They love the activities, but some are very easily distracted. There is this one boy who I already know is going to be an issue. He is always looking around, getting up out of his seat, doesnt follow directions and distracts the other boys in our reading group. I hope by the end of my time there I can get the respect from him and actually have him listen to me. The other 5 boys are eager to read, love to play the activities, and for the most part, listen to what I say.