Running Header: OUTCOME #2 1

Outcome #2

Morgan Melia

College of Western Idaho

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Outcome #2

While observing Mrs. Richmond classroom, there were many amazing things that I

learned that I could do while teaching my own classroom. Mrs. Richmond is a hardworking,

caring, nurturing teacher. She cares about the students that are in her class. She puts forth a

positive attitude every day. She treats everyday as a new day and comes in each morning with a

new fresh smile. Not only did I get to work with and observe Mrs. Richmond’s wonderful

teaching styles, I also got to work alongside some students and help them. Many days that I was

observing, I was able to sit next to some students and help them with academic work if they

needed help. I felt that while being in Mrs. Richmond’s class, I learned a lot.

Mrs. Richmond has many teaching techniques that I will bring to my classroom one day.

One of my favorite things that I will take to my own classroom is the way she rewards children

and keeps them accountable for their actions. I know that many teachers have different styles

when they hold expectations, but I really like hers because it seems to work. She holds each child

accountable with a clip chart and she also keeps the class accountable using a marble jar method.

The clip chart that she has children use if very affective because they always want to be on the

“Great Job” or “Way to go” colors (green, yellow, blue, etc.) but when the children are not doing

what they are supposed to be doing, she tells them to move their clip down. I have seen that

when children are told to move their clip down, they want to try harder to be on the good colors

again. When they are acknowledged in the hallway or when they do good in a special (music,

computers, physical education, etc.) they get a marble. Once the class gets to one hundred

marbles, they get to have a Fun Friday. They get to choose what they want to do with their Fun

Friday. While I was there, they reached one hundred marbles and they got to choose what their
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Fun Friday afternoon would look like. Would it be pajama day while reading books or would it

be an educational film such as Magic School Bus?

Many students have classroom jobs that they are going to be in charge of that day.

Everyday there is someone new that will be in charge of jobs. For example, some jobs consist of

door holder, paper passers, line leader, caboose, and many more jobs. Each child feels that they

are in charge of something and have a part in the daily jobs. This makes them feel that they have

a responsibility for the day’s work. The children respond to these really well and if someone is

falling behind, they will help the other children out and remind them. I feel that children enjoy

their jobs. If one child does not want to have a job that day, they can choose someone who would

like to help them out. I think that having jobs in a classroom, keep children attentive and

responsible.

I just loved observing in this classroom because I got to see how Mrs. Richmond got to

interact with her students. I love the way she ran her class schedule. I really enjoyed watching

how her schedule runs. First thing in the morning, she has her students prepare for their day by

completing their morning bell ringer worksheet. The morning bell ringer consists of math,

grammatical errors and weather/seasons. They complete one side of the page on Tuesday’s and

the other side of the worksheet on Thursday’s. She has them start on it while she is taking

attendance and getting the lunch count done. Then she has the class come all together and work

on the worksheet as one group. After that is completed, they go to the restrooms as a class. That

way nobody will ask to go to the restroom during class time. After the restrooms, she has the

students go find a seat on the carpet for calendar time. I like that they get to find a seat next to a

friend they think will work well with them that day. If it doesn’t work out next to the partner the

student chose, then Mrs. Richmond will have the students find a new buddy. I really like the way
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that she runs calendar. She picks one student to be calendar helper every day. The student that is

chosen that day, gets to help set up calendar. The class goes over calendar (days of the week,

weather, seasons, how many days they have been in school, etc.). Calendar is a repetitive

schedule in the morning, but the children love it.

After calendar is complete, then children usually learn about the words to know for the

week. The children then go to their Language Arts lesson where they read their book of the week

and answer questions each day. Once that is over then they go to recess. After their recess is

over, the children go to their centers. This is one of the ways that I really hope to run my

classroom when I become a teacher. She has four different groups. Each group has a task to do at

their work station. At the rectangle center, there is normally a worksheet or an activity with their

spelling words that they study each week. At the computer station, they go on ABCYa or Starfall

and get some free educational time on the computer. At their desks, they have a worksheet

following what phonogram cards they are using that week. This helps them a lot when it comes

time for their teacher table station. Here they get one on one time to read to their teacher and

have her help the students with whatever reading level they are at. This allows each student to

feel important and not rushed when it comes time to learning how to read. I know that in her

class there are children that can read chapter books and other kids who are reading in the

Kindergarten level books. This station gives the children a place they can express what they need

help with without having to impress their peers. The other children at the station are practicing

the books they will read to the teacher once they get to front of the line. I really enjoy watching

how these stations are run. With each station (4 stations in all), they spend about twenty to thirty

minutes with the teacher and then then switch stations. Each child gets time at every station.
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Once that it over, in the afternoon they get to enjoy their specials (music, computers,

physical activity, etc.). When they get back from their specials normally it is time to get ready to

clean up the classroom and pack up for the day. The children really seem to enjoy their day. The

thing I liked most about their school days is that they have a routine, but every activity seems to

be different and entertaining for the students.

I really enjoyed getting to observe Mrs. Richmond’s classroom this semester. I believe

she is a great teacher that I learned a lot from her. I am definitely going to use some of the

teaching styles and methods she used when I have my own classroom. I feel that I really made a

connection with the students in her classroom. I cannot wait to go back and see the class again in

the future!