Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
(B-1) Objective: To observe and make note of the whole classrooms learning
environment and its value to students and teachers.
Mrs. Carroll has created a learning environment that is comfortable, inviting,
organized, and full of information. This classroom is one that is rich in reading and
writing, where students have access to a vast assortment of materials to aid in their
learning. Mrs. Carroll has her classroom set up so that students have easy access to the
things that they need.
I believe the most important qualities of this environment would be the
organization of the classroom and the wealth of information that the environment offers
to the students. In Mrs. Carrolls classroom, there is a specific place for everything,
which makes it so that students know exactly where to go to find the things they need.
The walls of the classroom are filled with colorful charts that provide students with easy
access to important educational information and strategies. By observing this classroom,
one can tell that Mrs. Carroll wants to provide her students with a classroom in which her
students can have the resources and information they need at arms reach.
There are many important symbols and sites in this classroom. There is a library
with a large assortment of books grouped by genre and topic, as well as stools where
students can sit and read; a writing area where students have access to a variety of writing
materials; a round table where Mrs. Carroll conducts her guided reading groups; student
writing is displayed on the walls; and there are a number of informational charts on the
walls as well. I would definitely say that literacy is most valued in Mrs. Carrolls
classroom.
Mrs. Carroll definitely places high value on literacy. She shared with me that she
has her Masters degree in Reading/Literacy, so she has a lot of education and experience
with teaching literacy. Mrs. Carroll is an all-around great teacher, but I can tell that she is
most enthusiastic and passionate when she is teaching reading and writing.
In this third grade classroom, I can tell that students value their independence.
Mrs. Carroll allows her students to complete their work at various places around the room
they do not always have to be sitting at their assigned desks. She stresses to students
that they are being held responsible for their work. Also, students value the time that they
are allowed to move around through activities like Go Noodle. Go Noodle is a
website where teachers can access a variety of videos that lead students in movement
activities. Mrs. Carroll lets students have Go Noodle Time in the classroom at least
once a day.
After observing the type of environment that Mrs. Carroll has created for her
students, I realize the kind of learning environment I wish to have. I hope to create an
environment for my students that is comfortable and inviting, while fostering their
learning. I want my classroom to be organized and structured, while allowing students to
learn in a way that is enjoyable and (when appropriate) laid back. I want my students to
feel at ease and compelled to learn from the moment they come into my classroom.
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley
(D-9) Objective: To determine how the school is structured to meet and assess the
literacy needs of students.
Interview with Assistant Principal, Mrs. McGhee
To meet the literacy needs of students, Stovall-Shaw Elementary has put
guidelines in place that require teachers to assess their students and submit the data from
those assessments, and group their students by reading level. Teachers are also required
to create Personal Education Plans (PEPs) for students who are at risk and in need of
intervention. Once students are identified as needing intervention, they will be pulled out
by the literacy specialist for a period of time each day. Teachers are also required to
assess their students at the beginning of the year (BOY), middle of the year (MOY), and
end of year (EOY) via mCLASS and Read to Achieve programs.
To accurately determine whether or not the guidelines are effective for students,
the administration requires that assessment data is frequently checked for validity. They
do this by having the same students be assessed by multiple teachers. They will compare
the results from the assessment administered by the other teacher(s) with that of the
students classroom teacher to check for accuracy and rule out any unintentional bias of
the classroom teacher.
If the guidelines are found to be ineffective, the administration will converse with
the teachers about their methods of progress monitoring to make sure their results are
accurate. They will also discuss any changes that can be made to provide for better
student outcomes.
Mrs. McGhee had two suggestions that she would give to beginning teachers to
help them become a better reading teacher. First, she said she thinks its very important
to do walk-throughs in the classrooms of veteran teachers to observe their methods of
progress monitoring. Her second suggestion was for beginning teachers to pick 3
meaning that beginning teachers should choose 3 students that they will progress monitor
from beginning to end. They can focus on learning to monitor them accurately because
they will only have 3 students to focus on. After they have mastered the three, then they
will be able to add more.
Parents do become involved in this process if their child isnt meeting the
standards. Teachers will have meetings with these parents and will ask them about their
childs interests, and anything else that would help the teacher determine how to best
meet the students needs.
Support for beginning teachers is first given by the county. In Granville County,
when a new teacher is hired, the teacher will go to a New Teacher Orientation that lasts
three to four days. During this period, teachers are given a crash course in all things
literacy, such as how to administer certain assessments. From there, beginning teachers
will be required to attend various training sessions during their first few years of
teaching.
It is mandated that all K-3 students be assessed via mCLASS, and that the
assessment be completed by a teacher other than their classroom teacher. Granville
County requires teachers to use Discovery Education. It is mandatory for 3rd grade and
expected in 2nd, 4th, and 5th grades. The reading program that they use school wide is the
Fountas & Pinnell Leveled Literacy Intervention Program.
Megan Pulley
Megan Pulley