4th week in Mrs. Martin's 1st grade class

This week in Mrs. Martin's 1st grade class Tiffany taught her Literacy lesson. She did an excellent job presenting the lesson! I shall teach my lesson this week as well. When Mrs. Martin teaches the vocabulary words of the week to her students, I noticed that she has a computer program that is a fill in the blank game. I know that this is a fun way to get them to learn their vocabulary words!As a teacher, it is necessary to keep up with the technology that can be used to help you teach lessons to your class. Technology is a great resource to utilize!

Teaching my Math Lesson

Today in Mrs. Miller's firt grade class I taught my Math lesson. It was about introducing a new Math text book that the students had never used before. The book is a part of the "Everyday Math" curriculum and it is called "My Resource Book." Inside the book are definitions to different math concepts that the students have learned or will learn throughout the year. I took the time in my lesson to go over the table of contents with them to show them what kinds of things were in their book. I explained to them that the book was to be used as a helpful resource for them to look to when they need help with a math concept. I made up a scaveger hunt game for them to do to help them have fun going through the book. The lesson, I believe, went really well. At first I was nervous because I did not know how much fun this lesson was going to be for them, however they seemed to really get into it!

Field Experience Day 3

I am steadily becoming more familiar with the students in my class at Drayton Hall. I am beginning to understand where each child's strnegths and weaknesses are. There is one kid in particular who soars in Math. The teachcer acknowledges this when she calles on him to do the more challenging probems. I was able to spend alot of time today with one little girl who has speech problems. I worked with her on her writing worksheet that the class was doing when
I walked in. I found myself recalling and using some of the literacy teaching methods that we learned about last semester as I helped her with her worksheet It is so fun being able to use what I learn. I gain more and more confidence in myself in knowing that I will be able to be a great teacher one day!
Tiffany taught a great lesson today on using "Function Machines" in math! I was very impressed with how well she developed and presented the lesson to the class! Great job!!

2nd Day in Ms. Martin's First Grade

Today I found myself at ease as I interacted more with the students in my field experience classroom. The first activity the students worked on was their phonics worksheets and DOL assignments. They did these independently and would raise their hands for my help if they needed it. The phonics worksheet was again focused on distinguishing the difference between short and long /u/ vowel atterns. I had a great time helping kids who were struggling with this.
Next Ms. Miller moved onto whole group instruction when they did their calendar time. She had a pocket chart from which she moved a plastic straw from one envelope that was full of straws to another that already had 2 in it in order to designate that this was the third day in February. I was impressed with the students engagement and interest in helping Ms. Martin figure out todays weather, including the temperature, and wind chill for today. I was so impressed with how much technology they use in their classroom. As I look back on my own elementary school days, I can definitly see a huge degree of advancement in technology from then to now. I cannot wait to learn ho to use the Smart Board as it seems to be such a great tool to have in the classroom.
During Math, the students worked on using Factor Families. The students did a pretty good job with understanding this concept. I was pleased to help those who needed it.
After Math, the students moved onto their Reading lesson where they each took turns reading aloud as the teacher called on them. During this time, two students were called out of the room to go to "Speech." I noticed that these were two students who struggled with reading and I am interseted to find out if their speech has an affect on their confidence to read. I would propose that it does, but it will be interesting to see if their reading improves over time as their speech does.

I'm loving the 1st grade!