Running head: Junior Achievement Reflection Paper

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper Amanda Karcher Duquesne University

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper Introduction My first experience in a classroom was nothing short of remarkable. My fieldwork was done in Moon Township at Allard Elementary, a small suburban school of about 200 students; this was a great area to start my first teaching experience in. I observed and taught Junior Achievement lessons to one of the two first grade classes at the school taught by Miss Rothermel. At a first glance, the school seems so perfect with such well-behaved students that are eager to engage in every activity and enthusiastic teachers, but there were a few things that I noticed even on the first day of our field work; As Moon Township is a typical middle class, suburban area, it is predominantly filled with white students. Another aspect of Miss Rothermels classroom that caught my eye was a particular little boy; it was absolutely intriguing to see how Miss Rothermel worked with his disability and integrated him into an everyday classroom environment. Reflection Out of the 19 students in Miss Rothermels class and the other first grade students that come into the classroom for math when they switch classes, there are only two black students; the rest are all white. According to School Digger, in total, there are 223 students that attend Allard Elementary School; of the 223, 6 are African American, 5 are Asian, 8 are Hispanic, 4 are two or more races, and the rest are white. As a small suburban school in Moon Township, I expected little versatility in the classroom I was going into to observe. Although there isnt much variety in the classroom, Miss Rothermel brings diversity into the classroom in a few different ways. On one observation day, they were learning about food and nutrition and she showed them

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper foods from different nationalities and what category they fell under in the food pyramid. Along with this, each day, on the whiteboard Miss. Rothermel writes hello in a different language, including konichiwa and bonjour. It was interesting to see how she was able to incorporate versatility into the classroom, in order to show her students a wide range of variation from their norms. What particularly interested me the most in Miss. Rothermels classroom was one of her

students and how she incorporated him into the class seamlessly. The class often shifts from their seats for drawing and writing assignments, to the front of the room to watch videos and utilize the Smartboard, and then to the back of the room to sit on the carpet for other activities. I noticed right away that prior to written assignments at the students desks, this boy put on a vest that covers his chest. My partner and I thought it was a little odd at first, but we didnt question why he did at the one particular time. As we observed more, we realized that at each time that the students sat down to do worksheets, he wore the vest. We then came to the realization that it was a sensory motor or deep pressure, weighted vest that is used on children with neurological disorders. These vests are used on children with disorders such as autism or ADHD, because the added weight and pressure helps children to concentrate better and stay calm. It was interesting to see how Miss. Rothermel worked with the whole class, in a way that was suitable for everyone. While the students worked on their assignments, she walked around to every desk, making sure each student was on track. The students themselves dont even notice that she spends a few extra seconds at the little boys desk to further help him, in case he needed extra guidance; only from an observer stance, would it be recognizable and that to me is important. It shows the students that each child is an

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper individual in the classroom that Miss. Rothermel is dedicated to equally, one not of greater importance than the other. LTP Connections Miss Rothermels classroom is a prominent display of each of the three Themes of the LTP along with the five Domains. She shows diversity through her activities that incorporate different ethnicities fluidly and a daily display of multiple languages. Her incorporation of diversity in such a way that it fits in with an everyday classroom agenda, makes her an expert in school context. She is an advocate for valuing individuals and the different backgrounds that they come from, even if she teaches at a predominantly white school. Her efforts as an instructional leader are shown through the connection of individuals in a diverse society.

Miss. Rothermel utilizes technology in her classroom frequently and can be looked at as a master practitioner. She has the students watch videos, and dance and sing along with songs as a different approach to learn the material at hand. This is a great way to reflect on the information that the students are learning in a fun way. She also uses the Smartboard often to make know, want to know, and learned list, and to do hands on activities with the students like playing matching games. This teacher also demonstrates leadership in the classroom along with being a learning theorist. She continues to develop different ways of learning the material necessary to the schools curriculum. With each subject, she has a hands-on activity, does a fun approach such as a sing along, and prepares a worksheet. On one observation day, she was teaching her math students about money. She understands it is necessary to learn about our economy today, even

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper for children, and incorporates that into her lessons as well; this also makes her a curriculum designer. Conclusion My experience from observing and teaching at Allard Elementary has furthered my excitement for my future career. It was a great experience to witness a teacher in her own environment and see how she reacts to different aspects of the classroom, like incorporating

diversity in a mostly white classroom and integrating a disabled child seamlessly into each lesson plan. I even picked up a few tips that Ill have to remember down the road that I found unique and beneficial. Miss. Rothermel does simple acts that make a difference such as taking away pebbles they have earned when they misbehave and having each student answer a final question before they can leave the room. Ill definitely keep this experience in mind when I have my own classroom too.

Junior Achievement Reflection Paper

References School Digger. (2006-2013). Allard elementary school district. Retrieved from http://www.schooldigger.com/go/PA/schools/1583005127/school.aspx