Task Five

Article: How to Keep Kids Engaged

This was a great article that offered 10 rules of engagement for any teacher. I think that this relates to the work that I do in my classroom because every year I always have a couple of students that seem unmotivated. This year in particular, I have one student that I cannot keep motivated for the life of me! I find something that works, but after a while it gets old and the student is unmotivated again. The article doesn't address how to motivate individual students, but a whole class in general. Along with each rule it had a section titled Here's How that would offer ways to implement it.

This article deepens my thinking about my domain. In the article, the author discusses that lack of engagement is dead time and dead time needs to be prevented at all costs. It really got me thinking about how I can change the culture of my classroom to eliminate dead time.

Video: Classroom Improved by Sign Language

In this video a lady spoke about how using sign language in her classroom helped her classroom management. I think that this is a fantastic idea! It relates to my work because it would be a way for students to communicate with me, but without speaking or even having to get out of their seats.

This video deepens my thinking about this domain because it helps me to realize that I can completely change my classroom environment without making a sound.

Blog: Classroom Management and Discipline

This blog relates to my classroom because it discusses the fact that teachers handle classroom management in different ways-what works for one teacher may be a disaster for another. My first year teaching, I found this out! It was easy to look at how someone else managed their classroom and say "Great idea, I'll try that!" Although others' strategies were great, it wasn't always as great for me. I learned that I have to find strategies that I am comfortable with and that work for me and my students.

This blog has deepened my thinking about classroom management because it discusses that discipline is not necessarily classroom management. It is a part of it, but discipline requires more knowledge of each individual student. To get at the root of a student's misbehavior we have to really tap into that student and learn more about them.

How does all of this fit into my inquiry plan?

The article, blog, and video really helped me to zero in on what I want to do for my inquiry plan. I know that I want to work on the culture for learning in my classroom. I feel that my established culture is okay but that it can improve. I'm thinking that a way to do this is to start using sign language. I think that the kids would enjoy learning it and it would allow us to communicate in a different way.

Task Four

The domain that I chose was Domain 2: The Classroom Environment. I chose this domain because the classroom environment is a very important part of our everyday functioning. I work very hard to create a positive classroom environment and also a very organized person, so this domain seemed like a perfect fit!

The component from this domain that I am most comfortable with is between managing classroom procedures and organization of physical space. Just as this book suggests, I spent a large amount of time in the beginning of the year establishing procedures and routines. Being a teacher of second graders, they are still very young and need to be taught what to do in all situations. I find it helpful to act out each of the procedures and routines at the beginning of the year. I also think that it is helpful to show students what is NOT acceptable. I'm also very comfortable with the organization of the physical space in my classroom. As I stated earlier, I'm a very organized person so I always keep my classroom in that condition. Everything has a spot and the student's do a great job of making sure everything is returned to the appropriate spot at the end of each day.

The component that I feel most strongly ties to my instruction is establishing a culture for learning. In this component everyone has a job to do at all times and everyone is working hard, knowing that anything less than their personal best is not accepted. This is also the component that I would like to zero in on in my own instruction. I chose this one because I feel that at this point in the school year the students and myself tend to overlook details (such as always using your best handwriting, etc.). Perhaps, I should have a discussion with my students about these types of things. Just a simple reminder that we all need to be putting forth our best!

Question: In this domain there is a component about managing student behavior. I currently use the "color change" system (If you are unfamiliar, please let me know so that I can elaborate). I only use it when necessary and would like to find something more positive. Does anyone have any suggestions? What different methods do you use?

Module 2 Task 2

The purpose of curriculum is to guide teachers in what they teach. Also, as stated in the Schwartz article, it is "to represent those things that children must do and experience in order to adequately perform as adults." As teachers, our role is to follow the curriculum and make sure to cover everything we are supposed to. Like it was stated in the articles, this is a very difficult task to do.

I personally feel that I do not have any control in designing the curriculum. I do have control over how I carry it out in my classroom, though. I think that teachers should have more control. I think it would be not only be practical, but it just makes sense. I love the statement in the Schwartz article about how curriculum writing should be shifted toward engaging and educating not only the students but the teachers as well.

In my classroom, I work very closely with another 2nd grade teacher. We collaborate and plan many subjects together. For math, we often give a pre-test for huge concepts such as telling time, two digit addition, two digit subtraction, etc. We then divided our kids up accordingly and one of us will take the more advanced group and the other will take the one that needs more support. Several times throughout the day, we mix our kids or get together for things. It works so well! Not only do my students benefit from her teaching style and vice versa, but it gives us the opportunity to better teach our students. She is a veteran teacher and I'm newer and that allows us to come up with some really neat ideas!