Students feel safe and secure when there is a set of classroom routines. Please reflect upon what classroom routines your cooperating teacher uses in the classroom.
What are the established procedures in the classroom such as attendance, beginning class, ending class, clean up, etc? What is the physical arrangement of the classroom, tables, desks, positioning, etc? How does the teacher transition the students from one activity to another? Reflect upon the classroom routines - Are the routines providing a positive, safe, and secure plan to ensure student learning? do you agree with the routines that the techer uses? Why or why not?
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When I was in grade school my teachers had a routine of things. One of which I remember the most, was in Kindergarten. When we came in the classroom, we went over to the lunch chart. Every student has his or her own pocket on the lunch chart with his or her name on it. We would take a tally (red for "hot lunch" meaning "school lunch" or blue for "cold lunch" meaning "lunch brought from home"). Then, we would place our "take home folders in the basket so the teacher could take them and collect notes, permission slips, etc...that we brought home from the day before.
ReplyDeleteAnother routine, one of which I didn't particularly like, was in first grade. Every morning, the teacher would have work that we needed to re-do sitting on our desks (if we had any)that we needed to re-do before the day was over. She wasn't very helpful when I'd come up and ask for help. She'd just send you back to hopefully figure it out. I understand the concept of children having to think and figure things out for themselves by not giving them the answers; however, I believe that morning routines should be something memorable and stress-free, such as a journal entry. I can't remember what grade, but we had a journal we wrote in every morning before class. We had about 45 minutes before class to complete the entry. The teacher would write a topic on the board such as, "My favorite day would be....." and that would be our entry for the day. If unable to complete the entry in the length of time given, we were allowed to finish up during recess, free-time, or during short breaks after we had completed all assigned work or problems for the day. We then turned in our journals after we completed the entry or at the end of the day.
ReplyDeleteIn high school, I had one teacher that always had the same routine. Everyday you would come in, and turn in your homework in a basket, then take your seat..NO TALKING..and when she entered the room, she found it disrespectful if she had to say hello first. We usually just took notes, and she assigned reading as homework, or handed out a worksheet. The desks were in a straight up and down row, everything the same, with her desk up front. We usually didn't transition because the teacher only spoke of one topic the entire class period. I don't really agree with this teaching style because the students get bored, fast. It become too monotonous and some students won't learn effectively.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that completely, Sarah. I think that class should involve alittle bit of group discusion, or open discussion...something to keep students focused and attentive. My seventh grade history teacher did that and I felt like I was in a prison lecture listening to her sometimes bc it would seem as though for 90 minutes or so, she was the speaker, and if you missed the important parts while you were "listening", that was too bad.
ReplyDeleteMy teacher actually had her classroom in a circle, she would start the class by getting her attendence at her desk. then she would go to the middle of the circle and tell everyone what they where gonna learn that day, and what they needed to remember. Then she would get into it, she would have the kids read out loud from the book and after every few paragraphs she would stop the lession and get two or three of the kids in the circle and have them act out what was going on (she was a history teacher so she made them historical figures) after that she would wrap it all up and ask the kids what they learned and what they need to remember for the test.
ReplyDeleteIan - Neat idea about having the desks in a circle. Was it effective? I can imagine that it forced all of the students to pay attention because they couldn't hide.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the good work guys! I am going out of town tomorrow so I won't be able to check the blog until Sunday night. Trust me that I read everyone's posts - I love to read what you have to say. It is important to me that you are reflecting upon what you are seeing or have seen in a classroom. Don't forget to post two separate posts by Sunday night at midnight.
In elementary school, I loved my art class. The teacher arranged the room so that two students sat to a table, and the tables were in rows facing the front of the room. She would begin by taking attendance, and teach her lesson either from the front of the classroom or from a carpeted area where we sat in a circle on the floor. Sometimes she would even have us go outside for her lesson. After she showed us great works of art and explained our projects, she would always walk around the room helping out those who asked, and then sit in a spot where we could bring out art to her for more help. This teacher also let us talk quietly while we worked and even allowed us to move around to see what the other students were doing. If we finished our project early, she gave us free time to use markers, scrap materials, and paper to create whatever we felt like making. She also gave us a 10 and 5 minute cleanup warning.
ReplyDeleteHer routine was great because it allowed students to collaborate and discuss ideas with each other, and thus learn from one another. Moving around the room also gave students a chance to stretch their legs and fight the urge to fidget, so as not to disturb their seat partners. Free time allowed us to be creative and individual.
The teacher Ian described sounds awesome! I love the idea of students acting out their lessons and arranging their desks in a circle. The teacher was able to make a HISTORY lesson auditory, visual, and kinesthetic, so most students preferred learning styles were applied. In high school English, we also sat in a circle of desks during book discussions. It was helpful because everyone could see each other and hear others' insights and interpretations of the book.
ReplyDeleteThe teacher I am observing has a warm up every morning on the board for them to do. Then they discuss it, take notes, answer questions, and talk about homework. She has a certain day their test our on. The kids are really used to their routine, and live by it.
ReplyDeleteMs. Evans always starts the class by telling the objective to the class. She then takes attendance then starts the lesson plan. She usually has me grade papers or read to the class. The class room environment is very safe and fun. The class seems to always have fun and everyone is challenged.
ReplyDeleteto:Blythe Clubb: that would suck if the teacher forgot one day and didn't go the same route she did like the same routine. Then I think the kids would be like what? Do you ever get to make up ur own lesson plans and teach?
ReplyDeleteEvery morning the students will go to a chart and fill put their stick into which lunch they would like to have that day. then the children will ease into the day by starting off to write in their journal about a topic that the teacher will give them. after that, thats when the teacher will start the lessons. after lunch when the children come back from recess, the teacher has "quiet time." all of the children put their heads on their desks and sit in the dark and quiet for 2 min. in these 2 minutes the children are supposed to reflect on what they talked about and did at recess and lunch. I like this idea because it give the children time to relax and calm down. after this, the teacher then starts the math lesson.
ReplyDeleteian- i like the idea of the circle arrangement because then the children can see all of their peers along with the teacher at all times. I think that this gives the children more influence to interact with the topic that they are talking about and it would help with distractions.
ReplyDeleteAt FHN where I've been observing my teacher has had me observe several different teachers to get a better feel for the job teaching. Some I've been impressed with, others I haven't been at all.
ReplyDeleteOn thing that I do like about my host teacher is the relaxed nature of his class. It's very informal, with the teacher always asking the class questing and having group discussions. I think this is great because it gets kids involved and keeps them both interested and entertained.
Ian,
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like an awesome teacher. Considering I myself want to be a history teacher that is something I think I might try myself.
As I mentioned before, my host teacher is having me observe several teachers at FHN to get a better feel for the job. Several I was very impressed with, but one I most definitely wasn't. The teacher in question (not my host teacher) simply did not do much to keep any order in his classroom or keep the students interested.
ReplyDeleteIn one class I observed him he turned off the lights, sat behind his desk, and lectured on the powerpoint notes.
In another class he made no effort to take control of the room whatsoever, letting 3-4 students disrupt the entire class. It was so bad that several of the students themselves were complaining. I asked him about that class and he told me that they were honor students and actually got the best grades of all the students he taught. I remember thinking to myself:
"That's great for most of the class, but what about the few who actually need classroom instruction?" As teachers we have to keep in mind the needs of all our students, it doesn't matter if the material comes naturally to the majority of the class, there's always a few who have to work hard at it and we need to always keep them in mind.
I grew up in catholic schools growing up. Every morning we stood up, had a pray, said the pledge, and started class. I thought this was a great routine because it settled everyone down before class. Everyone became quit and everything started at a nice level. I believe this is a good idea. Even if it isnt a catholic school there should be some sort of routine put together to settle down the class. You dont want a crazy and loud classroom when you are trying to teach.
ReplyDeleteBrian, I have also experienced that same thing you were talking about. In high school the honor kids were always the worst when it came to classroom behavior. I do not understand this myself. The teacher tried to keep the class in line but it never seemed to happen.
ReplyDeleteIn most classrooms i have been in Elementary school the desks were in gorups of four or five depending on the clas size. and they would work in groupson certain asssignments. Other times when they were working on individual assignments they qwould still be talking to thweir neighbors and not working on their assignemnts. I think that haviong the desks in groups are good in sopme casesand bad in others.
ReplyDeletebrian,
ReplyDeleteidon't understand how a teacher can lecture with a power point all the time and let the kids do whatwever they want. That in my opinion is not a good, effective teacher.
I think that having a set syllabus for the first day of school, letting the class know all the rules and regulations is a very good idea. all throughout high school and college every teachers rules on attendence, homework and makeup work all differ. no matter what the rule though it is always stated and discussed in the syllabus. arrangement in classrooms is important, mostly every classroom has all desks facing foward to the front of the room. in younger grades however some teachers arrange desks in groups which in my opinion causes distraction. when i was younger my teacher in maybe 3rd grade, had tried our desks out in groups of 4 facing one another. all we did was talk to each other and laugh and pass notes. not so successful. a clean classroom is always a better learning enviornment for students. elementary classes i was in we always cleaned up all the paper/trash off the floor before anyone could leave.
ReplyDeleteIan,
ReplyDeleteI had a teacher in high school who also had us set up our desks in a circle. It was very effective because everyone could see each others faces, it made the attitude in the classroom much more laid back, and it enabled discussion within the class period. I loved it.
My cooperating teacher treats her students very much like friends. It makes them more comfortable with her. Their desks surround hers on three sides and she sits behind them at her desk. They all face the front of the classroom. At the beginning of class she writes the agenda on the board and has students pass papers back. She takes attendence and makes sure everyone has their ids on. This takes about five minutes or so and gives the students a few minutes to settle in. She then hands out whatever they are doing that day and ususally gives them the rest of the hour to do it. She sits at her desk and is open to any questions or concerns her students have. It is a very laid back classroom, but I believe the students are more comfortable with her like that. I'm not sure if I'd run a classroom like that or not. I wouldn't want to be taken advantage of by the students.
ReplyDeleteIt is so fun for me to read what you guys are experiencing or have experienced in your classrooms. Reflect in your journals how you feel about the classroom routines. Do they work? Will you use them? Why will you use them?
ReplyDeleteWhen I taught 8th grade I used to have the desks in traditional rows to start the class period. After our routines of attendance, warmup, grading homework, and new lesson, I would then allow the students to move their desks into groups of 4. The students were so used to moving their desks into groups that they got really good and fast at moving in and out of groups. I believe in cooperative learning. I used cooperative learning strategies often and my middle school students enjoyed it. I wonder if you guys are observing any cooperative learning. I would love to hear about your experiences.
I hope you guys have a great week! Keep up the good work:-)
Ian,
ReplyDeleteI also in High School had a Teacher that had our desks set up in a circle it always kept us on task and I felt that there was no other distractions because your eyes were always pointed towards the teacher or our class mates.
Some established procedures in the classroom as far as attendence were calling out all of the students' names and marking if they were absent or not. The arrangement of the classroom is as simple as rows facing the teacher. The way that this teacher transitions from topic to topic is by making each topic relate to the other. Somehow she ties it all together so that the students understand it all. I believe that the approach that this teacher is taking is very effective. She has the mentality that class shouldnt be strict or too serious. She likes to get the students involved and have them have fun while they learn. I would have to say that I agree with her strategies.
ReplyDeleteI like the way that Bailey's teacher set up the classroom. That seems like an awesome way to keep the kids attention and eliminate major distractions
ReplyDeleteI had a history teacher in high school who would start class off by asking if anyone had anything interesting to share about what was going on in the world. I personally loved starting off the class like that. It not only got us involved right away but it implemented what was going on in the world today, rather than just focusing on what happened in 1889 or something. it was always interesting to see what other kids had taken out of the news or internet.
ReplyDeleteIan,
ReplyDeleteI think the circle classroom is a great idea. It breaks up the boring general classroom. Kids like to interact and being able to see one another and talk face to face more comfortably, I think would get people to enjoy class more and get more out of it.
Ive had both teacher ones that use rutines and ones that dont. i feel like i learn better when we dont use rutines and we dont know what were doing so i feel like were actually participating and its not mapped out for us.
ReplyDeleteTo every one: i loved the circle idea too, considering that i was in that same circle when i was in 7th grade and experienced it first hand. My favorite part was acting out the parts tho, she had costumes and everything, It made you actually see history happening right infront of you, sometimes she would take us outside and put us in troop formations like a roman leagon, or drawl out a boat shape in the floor and pack us into the small space by stacking us like they did during the slave trade to america. The circle thing i think was just a way to keep control of the class and she could see what everyone was doing...but it also got the kids more involved by talking about the subject more
ReplyDeleteMy teachers have some what of a routine they use. Everyday before they start the class they always do what is called "Check In". This is where they ask the students a question, anything like-- what are you doing on your weekend? That kind of thing, that helps to get the students focused on the teachers and helps the teachers to know if the student is going to participate in class. The teachers will even answer the question as well.
ReplyDeleteI think students like their every day routine. They are comfortable with that, and it helps them to relax in an environment they have grown used to. It sort of gives them a sense of security. Plus i feel that some students get a long with the teacher better this way.
ReplyDeletei believe it is very important to have a daily routine whether as a student or a teacher. we all have daily routines such as getting up, showering(hopeufully), brush the teeth, get dressed, etc. having a routine is key to success because it get you prepared to what you need to get done on that particular day. if you miss one of the normal aspects to your daily routine, you feel lost. we all know the feeling. it is not a good one. so keep the routine and you will successful, for the most part
ReplyDeleteWhile observing in my assigned classroom, I have noticed that almost every aspect of the classroom experience is apart of a routine. For example, when entering the classroom, the students are to unload their backpacks, hang them up, go and put their white binder (filled with all inportant papers such as syllabus and homework, etc) in the designate shelf, get their nametag out and stick it onto their table, then they are to look at the center chart to see which center they are in (they are assigned by table group for example: there is a yellow starfish table, a blue dolphin table, etc) then they play in those centers until it is time to clean up and then the students all walk to the caroet where they do the calendar portion of their curriculum. and that's just in the first 20 minutes!
ReplyDeleteJordan, I agree! I also have a daily routine and if I miss one part of it I do feel scattered for the rest of the day! and I also believe that having a routine makes you successful, because having a routine means you're organized, and if you're organized, then you should for sure have a lot of success in your life
ReplyDelete