My Ninth Visit

Today April 30 was my ninth visit at the elementary school. I realized that this week that since I get early to the school now, I would really take the time to notice things inside the school that could relate to the readings. One thing when I first walked in the door there was a big banner saying be responsible, be respectful, and be ready to learn, with the name of the school underneath the message. I found that this related to Delpit. I felt that this is relating to Delpit because when I was working with my group on the service learning project one thing that Delpit talks about is rules that are inside of the classroom. I feel that this banner is telling the kids that enter how to succeed in school and telling the rules of the school. After I saw the sign I went into the office to sign myself as usual and walked down to the class. I got to the classroom as the kids were walking in the classroom. I noticed that before they walk in the classroom that Mrs. B stands outside of the classroom and shakes each kids hand and says good morning. I did not know what to think of it but I guess it’s was just something that the teacher always does. Since it was an hour before intervention, I decided to observe the classroom environment for a little then prepare on what I was going to do today. While I was looking around the classroom I noticed that there was a sign stating on how to be a good listener. It said to sit flat, listen with your ears, and raise your hand to talk. I also felt that this related to Delpit on how explaining the rules and it teaches them how to do something.

After I was looking around the room, it was time for me to prepare on what I was going to do with the kids today. While I was doing that the teacher, Mrs. B was feeding the classroom animals which happened to be worms. She came over and showed the other volunteer and me the worms and she happened to tell us that it was part of the science curriculum. I happened to ask her where they got the worms from and she said that that the school provided for it. I felt this was a class based thing which is talked about in Johnson because I have realized that there are certain things that the school provided for and other things where they do not provide for. From what I can tell, this is not a middle class school, based on the things I have observed. After that it was time for me to tutor my three little girls. Once all the kids were moving around for intervention, it was time for me to begin. Today I decided that we would be playing a new game today which involves letter sounds. What you had to do was give each student a list of words and have them sound out what the word was and they had pieces to put the words together. As they had to change the words, they had to tell me the sound of the letters they would be changing. At first they were not happy because they were saying that it was too hard for them and they have never played this game before even though they did this for the half of the time I felt that now they know how to pronounce words/letter sounds and make new words that are similar. After that I decided to read with them since we just did letter sounds. This helped them because they identified the words that we played in the game. I felt that they were happy with themselves because usually when I read with them they get discouraged and do not know the word. I feel that since I have helped these kids that they have learned more and they seem to be happy with it. It was time for me to leave and I told Mrs. B that I would be back next week because I am a half hour short of my hours and she was happy to hear that.

I was going to my first grade class and I was not sure on what I would be doing because I feel that I am always unorganized when I teach these kids. Today was different because of what was ahead of me. When I walked me the kids ran over to get my box and I decided to go over and get games that the teacher had in the classroom. I decided that I would play a similar game that I had done the last time I was there. With this game you had to put three different letter flash cards on the table and I would hold up a picture and they would have to tell me which categories to put the picture in. As I was signing the kids in on their sheet, the teacher, Mrs. R came over and told us that we would not be tutoring the kids, but she told us we could stay and observe the mini lesson that she would be doing with her students. By the time everything got back situated there was only ten minutes left until lunch time. She decided that she would have different words on the board and the kids would have to tell her a word that would rhyme it. It really was not much because of intervention being cancelled because of two of the teachers being out. It was time for me to go and I told Mrs. R and my kids that next week would be my last week coming because of school ending and the kids seemed sadden by me leaving next week.

Overall today was good day and I noticed more than I would ever have. I felt from today that me helping out the kids have benefited them from the experience they had with me. I will be saddened to leave them next week but this experience has been unforgettable. I cannot wait for next week even though it will be sad to leave the kids that I have had a bond with.