A screen shot of my Roles of Teachers project

Most Important Role

When I asked my teacher this question, she found it difficult to answer. She took a second to think about it, but eventually came up with a great answer. She said at her particular school, she plays a different role. But more specific than that, with each child she plays a different role; not one more important than the other. She explained that at the school she is teaching at, it is middle class. It is not extremely high end, so she has students who have financial problems as well as some students who have difficult family situations. To one particular boy, she said that her most important role to him is to be a nurturer, to show that she cares and will listen. She is almost a mother figure to this child. Then there is the another boy that her important role for him is to keep him engaged. He is a quick learner and absorbs things fast, so she always has to be ready with new material to keep him learning.
She explained that at she has a friend that teachers in Highland and they were talking about this same thing. Her friend explained that her most important, yet most frustrating role is that of a communicator with the parents. In the higher end school, there tends to be more parental involvement, and they want to know exactly what is going on and want to make sure their child is getting the best education possible. Although it is overbearing, keeping the parents satisfied and involved, yet not controlling the situation is her most important role.
I think that Mrs. Mazeika put it perfectly, that although there are lots of different roles we will play, the most important role is specific to each child and their needs.

Assessments

I was interested to hear about how my teacher does assessments in each subject. She said that in each subject she does it slightly differently. In reading and writing she does it very personal and meets with each of the children. She has spelling tests that work on directly what the kids need, and has a word program that adjusts to every child. It is actually a very interesting program. Where the kids go wrong, the program adjusts just to them. I would definitely consider using that technique. They also have to have specific words, write sentences with them and draw pictures to show that they understand. With writing, they write stories and draw storyboards to express and show what they are feeling. Writing isn’t tested as specifically as some of the other subjects.

            In math she does what they we learned in the module. She does pre and post tests. She said she finds that so beneficial in math and a lot of the kids like it because they can see the progress that they are making. It really makes a difference. In science, the have unit tests at the end and a few quizzes in between. Since it is fourth grade, they have a large comprehensive final at the end. Social studies isn’t something as widely regarded state and nation wide, yet they still do have tests throughout.

            Overall, there are a lot of different techniques that she uses and she adjusts them for each of the subjects

Exceptional Students

The class that I am in right now has a few children who are exceptional. There is this one boy who is such a sweetheart, but has some learning difficulties. He has a low reading level and Mrs. M told me he came with a psychiatric handbook. It is great how Mrs. M works with him, actually with all the children. In the fourth grade, there is a whole range of level. She has a program that she goes off of called words my way and has a reading program that is specific for those all level; whether it is below grade level average or higher.

This one child in particular has some difficulties, but she takes the time to work with him, or have me work with him during the studies throughout the day. It seems that with every presentation of a new assignment or idea, she helps him to understand exactly needs to be done. There are also some other little students that have some small difficulties learning, and Mrs. M is sure to always have them at the front of the class and easily accessible. She has additional assignments for him, as well as is more lenient with his behavior, yet still strict enough. She knows how to work with him in order to make him work.

            I asked Mrs. M if she has ever had some ESL students in her class, and in her three years so far, she has had some. She said that it was difficult, because some of them don’t know a word of English. The next thing that she said really stuck out to me. She said that if you are teaching the way that you are supposed to be teaching, than it really shouldn’t be that much different than what you are already doing. She even brought up the learning modalities (in different words) saying that you need to teach to all those different ways, and if you are doing that in your daily classroom asyou should be, then it should be not much different with those who are ESL. She also said that you never assume that your students know, you just explain it anyways.