Overall Reflection

Throughout these seven weeks visiting Mitchell Math & Science Elementary School, I can honestly say I learned a lot. I was assigned one specific teacher to work with weekly, where we learned and studied to become a master teacher with proper techniques. Since Mitchell Math & Science Elementary School is a partial magnet school, their curriculum, activities, and environment revolves around the subjects math and science. Each teacher candidate worked differently in their particular classroom, but my duty when I came to Mrs. Lackeys second grade class was to assist with particular students during their reading groups and help with other activities led by Mrs. Lackey. This experience was considered a Level III Field Experience because of our activities, responsibilities, and tutoring one-on-one with the students. I really enjoyed this opportunity to travel to Charleston County each Wednesday to work with students from another area of South Carolina. This really opened my eyes to the different areas of the State and how children from Orangeburg compare to students from Charleston. After this culminating experience in children, I was able to see how children in different areas of South Carolina are similar and different. I was also able to experience two different school systems with different structures within. Mitchell Math & Science Elementary School has many amenities, so I saw how the students benefitted from all of those experiences. EDUC 421 requires all teacher candidates to complete and record micro-teaching lessons, which I was accustomed to because, as a third year Elementary Education major, they are required of us for each subject. Everything was very exciting for me because this was my first time ever working with second graders. I fell in love with each and every student in that class. They captured my heart the first day when I walked in, and they all wrote me a Welcoming Friendly Letter. Mrs. Lackey made this semester a true learning experience because she was always giving me helpful hints while working with students. Her teaching style, classroom management, and classroom structure was absolutely amazing and commendable. I learned from Mrs. Lackey from just watching how she interacted with the students and how she spoke to them. Each and every Wednesday I dressed professionally as I entered Mitchell Math & Science Elementary School to observe, assist, and tutor students. After working with Mrs. Lackeys second grade class once a week, they came to learn my principles and respect my authority. The students were very respectful children, whom for the most part had a desire to listen and learn. I really enjoyed the whole process throughout this semester and would recommend receiving some of their Field Experience Hours from Mitchell Math & Science Elementary School.