This week was definitely one of the craziest of the week so far, the children just didn’t really want to listen and were running around and causing lots of problems for other students who were trying to learn
Most of my day there was when the students were practicing their reading and writing abilities. The way Mrs. Pradinuk organize this was very interesting (and was quite fittingly for this week) open to all different ways of knowing and was helpful for the students since they would have time 2 practice different things in different ways. The class was split up into four groups and each group for a short time of about 10 to 15 minutes would practice a different skill. There was listening to a book, reading a book, practice writing, and practice spelling. The great thing about this was that each group kind of had their own gimmick which excited the kids. If you were to listen to an audiobook you would be able to use an iPad. If you are reading a book you would sit in these little plastic rocking chairs. If you were practicing writing they would have fun tracing the letters. And if they were learning about spelling and sounds that letters can make, they even got to practice the different sounds out loud. Even though everything’s still was focused on the idea of reading and writing it was still touching on ways of knowing through the different activities which gave the students different ways to obtain knowledge. It also gave the kids a bit of a brake each rotation. since they have such short attention spans, it seemed very helpful to keep them on track.
The ways that she gets her knowledge for the class seems to be a bit all over. She told me that some things she will find online such as new ideas and lesson plans. While other things she finds in books, some of which I had to look at and they were filled with different activities and ways to get classrooms engaged. She also has lots of different assistance coming in to help her better handle her hectic classroom. these teacher aids can talk to the students on a more one-on-one fashion and then relay that information to Iris so she can maybe find different ways to accommodate them a little better. There are a few students who often go on frequent walks since they get a little antsy in the chairs.
Though these things may be small in the grand scheme of things I can definitely see how it can help affect the classroom and how important it is to have good teaching resources and knowledge of your classroom and student requirements.