During my second visit to the high school classroom, I was assigned (again) to my previous class and my cooperating teacher Mrs. S. During this visit, I had to examine the class from a different prospective. For example, I had to analyze her lesson presentation and the way she engaged her students throughout the lesson. I noticed how when she wants her students full attention, she goes to the front of the classroom and ask her students to put their ipads away. Then she uses her computer to mirror everything she is explaining on a LCD projector and she asks students to provide their opinions about what she is saying.

     After she explained her goals for the new book and movie they were going to watch, (How to Kill a Mocking Bird) Mrs. S. asked them research online about the movie and the book. They needed to look up for information regarding guilt, innocence and fairness connected to the settings and the plot of the movie. The students also had to make personal connections to the theme and experiences related to the movie and the film. Once the students have finished their research Mrs. S. ask them to share their information in four groups of four. This way Mrs. S. have the time to walk by the groups and over hear the conversations and the students understanding of what the movie and the text book are about.

     Mrs. S. likes to use the technique called “Jigsaw”. This is a technique used to develop communication. By using it, Mrs. S. helps the students to understand and retain information. The jigsaw is used to develop collaboration in groups and help the students to become “experts” on a specific text or body of knowledge. It also asks the students to share that material with another group of students. This strategy is most effective when students know that they will be using the information they have learned from each other to create a final product, participate in a class discussion, or acquire material that will be on a test.

     After this type of discussion Mrs. S. starts playing the movie and tells the students that they need to compare, and find the differences between the movie and the book. What is missing from the book?, What is different from the book? And what is necessary from the book that the movie did not provide? Mrs. S. asked them to type an essay that includes answers to the previous questions. This is the way for Mrs. S. to grade the students about their ability to read and comprehend literature. Also, Mrs. S. ultimate goal is to help her students to be able by the end of grade 11 to write complex essays, independently and proficiency.

     While they are typing their essays Mrs. S. likes to bring them one by one to talk to her. She likes to start with those who have the hardest time writing essays and she explains them for approximately five minutes what they are missing on their thesis or what they need to improve, etc. For those who Mrs. S. was able to review, I felt they were also the ones who want to improve their writing and are taking this class because they need it to graduate.

     Although, there are others who even thought Mrs. S. provides plenty of time to write and prepare their essays, they are not taking advantage of this time as much as they should. Some of the students are playing video games on their ipads, others are more concerned about shopping online, and others are just talking or wasting valuable time!

     I know this is valuable time because one day, or I should say: soon! They will be in college and they will not have someone to sit with them, and help them to correct their writing on a one to one basis. Some day, they will look back at the great work their teacher was doing with them and for those who took advantage of it will be a great memory. However, for those who just wanted to have a “good” time and relax in this class; they will be the ones who will regret and feel the pain of being in a non-credit class because they did not take high school seriously.

 

    As part of my assignments from my class Field Experience, I had to observe one high school class for five weeks. I was assigned to observe an English class at one of the high schools where my sister graduated a few years ago.  My family and I had bad experiences and memories from this school and the perception and the opinion I had about the school was not the best. However, when I walked into this school and the English class that I was assigned my opinion changed completely.

     I experienced a warm welcome by some of the staff members of the school. Also, the students and my cooperating teacher. Mrs. S. welcomed me into her classroom of seniors, freshman and juniors very nicely. I remember the first thing that Mrs. S. said to me that day was: “don’t let “my” student scare you because they are full of dreams and they are very nice”.  This showed me immediately how much she cared about her students.  Also, as I walked into her class, I felt the room was very quiet and empty! Or I should say very white and without any decoration. I thought that was going to be a boring class where I was going to sit and just learn nothing! It made me think that probably students were not going to be very respectful about the class and I was not going to enjoy my next five weeks. Again, I was wrong! I was truly amazed when I witness the students as they walked into the class and they were greeting Mrs. S. asking her questions about the previous class and what they needed for their future homework. I found this very interesting because it made me feel that all of them, or almost all of them were engaged and they were showing her the rapport they maintain in her class.

     One of the best moments I had during this experience, is what I call the “aha moment”. This happened when I observed how the “white and boring classroom” I walked into that morning was transformed into a place where students felt confortable and in connection. The students knew that Mrs. S. maintains hand cream, candy, pens and other supplies in her desk and they all take them when they need anything. They are allowed to go in her desk and use what she keeps there.  This simple aspect of her classroom made me realized that students feel so comfortable in it, as if they were in their own house. Although, they did maintain the respect Mr. S. asks them for.

     Until this moment, I could not appreciate how something so simple could make a difference on a student’s life. When Mrs. S. explained to me how the classroom feels very dry during winter and they need hand cream, lotion or anything she can offer them to “wake them up” at 7:30 am, I finally understood why she had her classroom guidelines set up that way. This is the approach she likes to use to get the students ready for her class. Everything she had in the places she chose had a purpose for the students, but not for a visitor like me. Though, I was there for the first time with curious and careful observation, I was able to identify the great work and love Mrs. S. had put into this class; where “her” student and this little school community shares time for one hour and four days a week. This may sound like a lot of time, but when you need full attention from your students and provide individual attention to them, this time is precious and it flies so quick that when the bell rang and no one was ready to go all Mrs. S had to say is don’t forget to check your email!