First Impression; Prompt 1 and Shor

Plugging in the address into the gps and still missing the school street wasn't the best start to my first day volunteering at the elementary school, but as I pulled onto the right street I was instantly reassured that today was going to be good. On the dead end street sat two elementary schools, buseling with children in bright jackets and character backpacks, bright buses and an entry way marked by huge crayons. It was like an elementary school out of a Hollywood movie, the inside reflected that atmosphere. Every wall has student artwork and large painted murals, promoting sharing, diversity and friendships. Meeting my teacher in the main office, she led me up to the classroom, friendlily greeting everyone. The classroom number 208 was a warm and comforting; student made quilt hung over some of the windows the back wall was covered with calenders, important African American people, the scientific method outline along with different categories of writing posters.
As the students filed in there was racially a good mix, I noticed a small number of non Hispanic white 3 or 4 out of the 20 kids. And before the child had entered the teacher told me that there were 11 special needs students 5 of them had behavior problems. So as I sat there watching them write a morning journal I tried to pick out the 11 with a disability, somewhere evident; a black boy, Samuel, constant tugged at the left side of his hair, there is was slightly thinner than the other side. Another boy Nicholas was getting frustrated as he tried to tie his shoe while still seated. This one I offered help. But aside from the few acting out at the moment I could not identify all 11 students.
It was at the beginning of math when I first saw the teacher teach. She had instructed the students to take out their textbooks and notebooks, and she spoke loudly to a girl Taya , accusing her of not being able to focus all week and threatened that if she didn’t do good today there would be no recess. She then assigned her to work with me. Taya was one of the special needs students as I quickly found out. But I was shocked to see the teachers react to the student, she had not acted out yet she was being punished, mostly for how she behaved all week, but even if she behaved badly or couldn’t pay attention earlier in the week why be yelled at now? I had learned from taking care of mainly autistic children before that every day is a new day for them really that a bad day doesn’t necesary mean a bad week.
This idea of punishing a student, over and over again or for something that happened earlier relates to the ideas by Ira Shor “Education can either develop or stifle their inclination to ask why and to learn.”(Shor pg 12 Not only with the girl Taya but within that class I saw the teacher harshly correcting students on what number they were on, not because they weren’t paying attention but because the teacher did not inform them in the first place. This negativity can and does make students “shut down” not participant in class or ask question. Shor supports this saying “students’ refusal to perform appears as low motivation, low test scores and achievement and a “discipline problem” I believe this is what I witnessed my first day in my school, students who had lost interest or had been coined as a bas student and therefore essentially given up. Not the great first impression I hoped for but I still have at least eight more weeks.

just finished making my blogspot

This will be from my fundamentals of education class I am taking this semster.
So a little about myself. my name is Christine and a freshman in college, this being my second semester I had a very easy first semester and decided this semester to take more credits so I'm taking 18 credit the full load, thats 6 classes and a lab, so I'm feeling a little overwhelmed. Especailly because I was hoping to rush a soroity on campus this semester, but we will see how things go. Good news I don't have to buy books for two of my classes. Yay! for saving money. When I'm not in class I love hanging out with my suitemates I really lucked out with getting them all of them are very calm and cool girls, alot like myself. On the weekend I travel home to spend the days with my boyfriend of three and a half years and my older sister and of course my dad. Ohh, I cant forget my cats Bella and Charlie thier my babies haha. Thats it for today have a list of things to accomplish already.

be back soon