Cecilia Andrade Salcedo (1)

(13) FIELD EXPERIENCE ASSIGNMENT #2

Areas of OBSERVATION to include:

1. e. From your perspective, what would you do to improve the classroom’s physical
layout? Would you add anything? Would you eliminate anything?
-From my perspective, I really liked the layouts of Coach Hale’s classroom, and
the reason for that being is that the way he arranged the desk was different every week. His
theory behind this is was that since his class is for high school credit, he will treat his middle
schoolers as high schoolers; therefore he does not create seating charts. His way around the
seating charts is moving the desks around every week, so when the students come in, they are
confused on where to seat and will move themselves around and seat with different students
without the need of a seating chart. I would not eliminate anything to his idea, as it seemed to
really work as I observed the students arrange themselves differently every week.

2. Now analyze your drawing. To what extent does this classroom reflect the following
five keys to good room arrangement?
a. Use a room arrangement consistent with our instructional goals and activities.
 Yes, the room arrangement is consistent with our instructional goals as it allows the
teacher to lecture and teach, and allows students to participate and help each other
learn.
b. Keep high traffic areas free of congestion.
- Yes, because there is plenty of space between the desks and the computers, doorway
and board, facilitating the movement of students throughout the classroom.
c. Be sure students are easily seen by the teacher.
 As I walked around the classroom, I confirmed that yes; all students are easily seen by
Coach Hale while he teaches.
d. Keep frequently used teaching materials and student supplies readily accessible.
-Yes, all materials, books and computers are kept along the right wall next to the door
ensuring easy accessibility by every student.
e. Be certain students can easily see instructional presentations and displays.
 Coach Hale displays all his information over the projector, which is visible from all
aspects of the room. He also displays student work all over his wall to encourage
students to do their very best in every project they do.
3. What are any strengths and/or weaknesses of this arrangement? Would
rearrangements make this classroom a more effective learning environment?
 I truly believe that Coach Hale’s classrooms arrangements are very effective and seems
like every different arrangement he moves his classroom to have been perfected
throughout his 13 years teaching. Therefore, I personally would not rearrange his
classroom; the effectiveness of his classroom is visible in every class through the
participation and focusness of his students.

4. OBSERVING STUDENTS IN THE CLASS:

a. How many and what age and gender are the students in the class?
 Coach Hale’s Algebra I classes range from 25-30 students, around the ages of 13-14
with a ratio of 3 to 2 girls over boy.
b. Are there students who appear to be isolates? What behavior (s) let you to believe
this?
  In all 4 of his classes, all students are focus and participating, there are only 2 students
that from time to time drift off, but after talking to Coach Hale about those students, he
told me that in those students it's normal. I asked why, and responded that they gifted,
those students zone in and out of the lecture because they know 95% of what is being
taught to them. I asked Coach Hale how he handles that, and he told me that he bought
a book for them, so while they already know the concept being taught, they can read
about the history of mathematics and why it works and makes sense.
c. Which students appear to raise their hand often?
 Since Coach Hale’s classes are mixed grades, it seems like the younger (7 grader) raise
their hands more often than the 8 graders… I think this has to do with the older kids
trying to be “cool”, but that will be my personal opinion.
d. How is the behavior of those students who sit in back of the room?
 Those students that sit in the back tend to be quieter than the students in the front. They
socialize less and focus on notes and homework more than raising their hands to
answer questions. It is also the 8 graders whom seat in the back, and are quieter than
the 7 graders seating in the front of the room.
e. Which students appear to receive the most praise?
 The students in the front of the classroom seem to get the most praise from Coach Hale,
because they participate more than the rest of the students.
f. Which students seem to be ignored?
 No students are ignored, if a student is distracted, Coach Hale will call them out on it,
usually in a funny matter to try to entertain as he teaches to help students not get bored.
Summarize what you have found about the students in this class. Who are they and what
is it like to “live” in this school?
 The students in this class are very smart and hardworking students. They are very
focused in school and engaging in advanced academic classes. They are magnet
students who look to proceed their education in advance and technical schools in the
valley. They are high school ready and highly orientated of their surroundings. They are
self-driven in learning. The students are “nerds” in a good way. The life in this school is
very diverse and has high educational standards. The magnet school is also a title one
school but the things they done with the school such as offering different language
classes, such as Japanese and French, is incredible to me. The students are also
required to take part in their community, so they have to do about 15 hours of community
service hours per year. Roy Martin MS is great at helping out the community as well as
the community is great at helping them.