Perspectives on Education
Field Observation (LBST 101)
Completed In-Person at Twentynine Palms Elementary School, 3 hours, Mrs. Diaz Classroom, February 29 2024
Things I Saw
Mrs. Diaz had the class prepared to start their rotations. The students understand their groups and go to the other teachers rom for their lesson.
She had lots of materials on the walls, including signs that showed students the different ways they could communicate their needs through sign language.
She had lots of materials on the walls, the room was colorful and bright but not overwhelming. All of the signs on the calls contributed to what they were currently learning.
Another teacher came in to provide some extra support, she walked around the room helping students who needed help.
Once the group finished the activity, they all lined up to the back of the room to put away their trays. They all stood in front of their seat or lined up to go back to their own classroom.
One student had hearing difficulties, so she sat in front of the classroom with a hearing helper on her neck.
When it was time for recess, the class was called in groups to grab their snacks and line up. They weren’t allowed to leave for recess until they were all quiet and ready to walk towards the playground.
As a fun activity they class did a Kahoot based on the lesson they were currently learning. She went over the ground rules the all students knew and they all had to speak it out loud as a group.
As she was getting the class ready to do their leapfrog activity, she picked the superhero of the day to pick some sidekicks to pass out the papers.
She didn’t start any instructions until the class was quiet, reminding them that this was on their time.
Things I Heard
A student who wasn’t following along the Kahoot activity, had to leave it. She repeated the rule of no talking or sounds during the game. She did this to keep her room under control and to prevent them from getting too crazy.
The assistant teacher who helped her was also checking in with students making sure they were on task and understood what they were doing.
Mrs. Diaz was loud and clear. She repeated what they were supposes to work on multiple times to make sure that each students knew what they were talking about.
She asked the class for someone to give an answer, she kept the room fun and involved students who weren’t participating.
During the leap frog origami activity, she delt with students who were arguing. One had come up to her crying and the other was very angry. She had a conversation with the two of them to figure out the problem, then split them up making one go to the teachers room next door and telling the other to take a breather.
When the student came back from her break she had her sit back with her group and told her peers to help her on her origami. If they got stuck she would come over to help.
As the video for the origami progressed, students would yell out that they didn’t understand and needed help. Mrs. Diaz would pause the video, quickly going over the rules and reminding them that they needed to be patient and that she couldn’t help them if they were all yelling at her.
The bell had rung in the middle of the class and calmly she addressed the class to start packing their things. She told them that they could make time to do it later and had them go in groups to grab their backpacks.
Connection to Chapter
“It is often the little things you do that build a sense of trust among your students. For example, elementary school teachers learn quickly that their young students, even in first and second grade, are capable of managing many of the classroom routines- and that doing so gives them a sense of community and responsibility.” Page 192
I felt this quote aligned very closely to Mrs. Diaz classroom. Multiple students had roles ranging from the phone operator, to opening the classroom door. She had a role called the “superhero of the day” and it randomly picks a student every day. Her room seems to have multiple routines that all of the students are aware of too. She does a good job of keeping her students aware of the consequences of their actions along with managing their emotions. Despite issues appearing throughout the day, she kept a calm demeanor that allowed her students to get their issues resolved. Mrs. Diaz maintained her rules that they had set up at the beginning of the year and used them to help manage her class.
Volunteer Work (LBST 201)
This section highlights the key certifications, security measures, and industry recognition that ensure reliability and trustworthiness.
October 11, 2024
Bob Murphy Community School
This time, the principal asked us if we could do two sessions, adding another class to our
list. I remember the week before him mentioning that this teacher is vey strict and old-fashioned,
and that he has had to leave the room before because of it. So to say the least, I was very
nervous. There is only one difference between the two classes aside from their teachers- this one
is a class with students who have IEPs. Like we did last week, we again introduced ourselves to
the class. This time, we only had one person really interact with us.
I think we all felt really nervous because of what we heard from the principal and because
of how disinterested this class was already being. We had tried to get them to read prompts
around but we only had success with one of them reading. We didn’t want to pressure hem to
much and make them uncomfortable so we were trying to find the balance. The session had gone
alright, they would rather talk about the prompts instead of write which wasn’t really a problem
to us but they weren’t that interested in taking either. Their teach would jump in and press them
to do stuff, so it was nice to have support but it kinda affected the vibe of our sessions because
we didn’t want them to be forced into participating and writing.
The second class went by great again. We are still getting to know each of the students
and learning the comfortability of them all but it was nice to be able to talk to them. Theirteacher Mr. C is involved himself. He is always asking us questions about ourselves or deeper
ones about the topic. One student in particular is someone one of my colleges knows from past
sessions she used to do- he has been removed from both of the past schools she worked with. He
pretty much remained silent throughout the lesson but another one of my colleges connected with
him a bit and was able to get him to write. All of these students seem to have a good support system, all of the staff really care about them in their own ways. Ms. A runs her classroom on a tight ship and that might not work for everyone and may conflict students more but she does care.
October 18, 2024
Bob Murphy Community
It took me this week to realize the difference between the two classes. Because of the
difference between the two teachers the feelings of the rooms are way different. Mrs. A’s room
feels a bit suffocating and honestly a bit stressful. I don’t think she tries to do that but because of
her strictness and high expectations there’s a sense of pressure in her room. Mr. C’s room is a lot
different- its relaxed and brighter. I’m not sure if im explaining it in a way thats understandable
but the difference in the feel makes me more comfortable in Mr. C’s room. And I wonder if that
happens to the students too.
This week we try a different starter for the class. This first class seems to be super
withdrawn so we want to try and bring the energy up. This class we try playing four corners for
the first time. It takes a bit for the students to all get together but once we start, they seem to
really be enjoying it. They are all joking with each other and are chatting amongst themselves.
After we have them move around we again ask everyone to read the prompts and decide which
they want tot write about this week. We vote using each corner as a prompt number. Then, we all
split into different groups based on what prompt they want to work on. I had some good
conversations with some students and actually spent most of the class talking to one student in
particular. We discussed what her home like is like, her pets, and what she enjoys. It seems that
because the teacher is gone in a meeting certain students are more likely to talk but others are
not. Theres a weird dynamic in this class. One I cant describe.
We go to the next class and its clear to me the difference in the atmosphere of the classes.
I know that this class knows us a bit better so I don’t take it to hear that the other class hasn’t
warmed up to us as much. We all are giving the students helps, hi fives and fist bumps as we
walk in. Once again, we decide to play games at the start of our session. This week they are
pretty engaged. We split into our groups and this week they write about the way that relationships affect us. Who they look up to and why- along with their planned Halloween costumes.
October 25, 2024
Bob Murphy Community
Because last week we had a lot of success with starting with a physical game first, we
decide to play four corners again along with heads up seven up. As its Halloween weekend, we
had prompts based on that. We walked into the first class and they seemed to be a bit more
interested, giving us fist bumps and saying hello. Heads up seven up seemed to be a favorite, this
class became super energized because of it. We didn’t ask them to read aloud the prompts and
instead let them read them on their own again. The teacher made each of them speak about theprompt they wanted to do the most- there was also an argument over a computer. She made him
log off of it and put it away. The discussion went alright, I think a lot of them had just wanted to
get the day over with because they had big plans for Halloween.
We walked over to the second class after our hour went up and started with a game once
again. This time I also challenged them to the number game- they would have to count up to 20
by yelling out a number randomly. If another person spoke the same number at the same tine
they would have to start again from number one. They were more interested this class than the
last. I think they are overall more comfortable with us and the vibe of the room is just a lot
different. Theres another University of Redlands student who comes in before us for
observations and she started to become more involved too.
November 8, 2024
Bob Murphy Community
This was a really great session this week. We started again with a physical activity
because it seems to get the class to be the most engaged and ready. Our prompts this week were
about love and hate and the way pride can affect the way we interact with others. We got a
different person to read out each prompt for the week aloud and then we voted for what they
wanted to work on. We split into two different groups again to discuss it and write too. One of
the things we had learned when preparing our lessons was that we would be able to write for the
students if they wanted to talk. I had tried mentioning it before in other classes but they still went
ready yet. I pushed for it this class and I literally wrote for three students. I was so excited- they
were so surprised about the amount I had wrote but I had told them that it was purely what they
had been speaking to me. It honestly made me really happy. One of the students usually writes a
single sentence- I think its because he’s always lost at where to start but this week I was able tohelp him write a whole paragraph and he even wanted it published. I was really so proud of that
class this week.
The second class was successful as well. They are more independent and have a lot more
students willing to write but I wrote for one student again. He was also surprised and a bit
shocked that he had spoken that much. Even if they find writing difficult I want to give them a
way to write and express and share their feelings. I really feel like this is the start of them
beginning to realize the potential of what they can write. While there is a difference between the
teachers, I don’t think its done in a way that is meant to treat the students unequally. I just think
its two different teachers teaching styles- one I feel is more beneficial but I think Mrs. A really
cares too. I’m excited to keep learning with them and I know they have so much potential to
change the word.
