Day Two

Well...two days down, many to go!

Today I was at school for another half-day, but this time I was there during the afternoon. I was much more active in the classroom this time, walking around from table to table as students were doing independent work and working one-on-one when necessary. I got to know the students much better today and (I think) I know all of their names!

My cooperating teacher is officially a rock star, by the way. Our class has a student with a brand-new behavior plan constructed by his teacher. This boy has had behavioral problems in the past, but excels academically (if I had a nickel for every time I've said that sentence...), so my CT wrote a rewards-based behavior plan in which he earns positive points (smiley faces) to earn a reward and check marks that don't deter him from getting the reward, but don't progress him any further either. I realize I didn't explain that well.  At all.

Anyways, my CT explained to me that the student always does really well behaviorally when he knows he's being watched/during carpet time, but once he's at recess or doing table work it all breaks loose. The students went to their normal afternoon recess as usual, and my CT and I stayed in to plan and chat and get the room in order - so we could not see how this student was behaving at recess. Once the students got back and sat down for math, my CT did something I would have never thought to do: discuss the child's behavior plan with the rest of the class.

That wasn't really what surprised me, though. What surprised me is how incredibly mature and self-accountable this class of 5- and 6- year olds is. My teacher asked them simply, "How did J do at recess?" The class responded honestly with a collective "Not so good." One student then recounted the story of what happened, to which all other students confirmed. The student on the behavior plan calmly admitted that he did not make the right choices at recess, and class moved on.

It was like I was in classroom management heaven.

Recess #2 of the afternoon rolls around and again my CT asks the class how J (we'll call him J) did at recess. This time, everyone responded with enthusiastic nods that "He did really good!" My teacher of course followed up with specific questions, but everyone was so honest and happy to be little reporters of information that my CT had gotten all of the information she needed to make a judgment within just a few minutes.

We had a nice discussion about this later. I complimented her on her use of that strategy and admitted I would have been wary to try it - but it went so well in her class and really demonstrated to me how incredible of a classroom community she has established. I just read an article for seminar tomorrow about teachers as "warm demanders," and this is my CT to a tee. She has nothing but the highest expectations for her students but also has such great rapport and trust in them. What a cool thing for me to get to observe on my second day in the classroom.

Other than that, the day went smoothly for me and the rest of the class and I ended up staying after school until 5:00 to put together a science unit kit to be returned and to go over some of the reading curriculum with my CT. Needless to say, I left feeling exhausted (and hungry!) but so satisfied with the hands-on work I was able to do today and the level of observation I was able to do.

Tomorrow is "100 Day," the 100th day of school, so I will get to eat lots of marshmallows and read a story to the class before I leave for seminar. It will most definitely be an interesting day!