Setting & Context

By:



Nick Sawyers











The School Community:
Im working at Rocky Mountain High School with the Family and Consumer Sciences
Department. The culture inside Rocky is a relaxed but active environment, with students playing
hacky sack in the hallway, interacting with teachers, but also being members of multiple
student sponsored clubs.
Along with the number of student sponsored clubs and organizations, Rockys athletics are
excelling, with the football team currently ranked in the top 10 for 5A and girls softball making it
to regionals. Athletics and student involvement isnt the only thing that Rocky has to offer its
students. They also offer a counseling and career center, out of state and in state college fairs, job
workshops, and links to report a bully or help seniors find resources after school.
Along with counseling and career centers offered for students, parents have the option of
utilizing the college in Colorado online resource to help them plan, apply and pay for college as
well. They also offer links to help parents cope with teen drug abuse and forms for student
insurance.
The overall learning environment encourages students to try new activities, courses and to come
out of their comfort zone, helping them excel academically and career wise. Also, helping to
influence the learning environment is the natural acceptance of everyone, regardless of their
economic or ethnic background. With multiple ethnic backgrounds represented at Rocky, its
encouraged for students to know they are in a safe learning environment where all of their
opinions are respected and listened to. This environment is also reflected in their Mission
Statement, Rocky Mountain High School inspires, guides, and supports students, faculty and
staff to reach their maximum potential in a caring, challenging and safe environment.

Students and classroom:
The students I directly work with are in the Family and Consumer Sciences Personal
Relationships course. There are 11 students, 10 girls with 1 boy and they range from sophomore
to senior, with a student retaking the course, so there is a slight range in developmental levels.
The students abilities reflect their work ethic, when they are physically present and motivated to
learn they show their ability to comprehend the material.
The students out-of-class interests are as wide as the demographics inside the school. Some play
sports and are active in multiple clubs/organizations, while other students inside the class are
more passionate about their band or car outside of school. The wide range in interests presents a
unique need for each student, some just want to come in a do their own work without interacting
much with myself or the head instructor, while other students show up early to a 7:30 A.M. class
just to talk about life or the challenges they are facing.
The open environment and classroom culture offered by the head instructor allows for all
students to feel comfortable asking questions or for help. Mrs. Underwood also coaches
volleyball, while her husband coaches football, so students see her around the school
environment constantly.
She also offers a unique classroom culture, only lighting the room with lamps instead of
florescent lighting, giving the room a more relaxed and comforting feel. Her desks are set up in
rows, facing the Smartboard, and students are allowed to sit wherever they feel comfortable.
Lessons are prepared with a lot of interaction, student-to-student and teacher-to-student. The
students know their objective or learning target for the day because its written on the board
along with that periods schedule.
Below is a layout of the classroom:


Student desk
Smartboard
Teacher
desk
Lamp