Documenti di Didattica
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Helfinstine
February 16 2011
I shadowed three different classrooms to complete my project; not only was it fun and
exciting but extremely informative as I learned so many new strategies regarding classroom
management. These new skills and techniques will further allow me to create a more orderly and
manageable classroom in the future. My findings are paragraphed below according to their
category in reference to what I feel like were the most important things I gathered from my
observations.
Classroom Arrangement – the classroom was tremendously different in all three classes I
evaluated. Primarily this was due to the age in which the class was prepared for. My third grade
class had basic principles all over the room that most elementary classes would try and inspire. I
noticed this teacher liked to use some of the latest trends regarding the cartoons kids that age
watch to help inspire learning around the classroom. My high school history class was much
different. Most of the items on walls and around the classroom had everything to do with our
American heritage; presidents, maps, important dates that expressed major turning points or
astronomical events taking place in our history constantly surrounded the students. My college
biology class – well this was tremendously overwhelming. Lab equipment, body models,
biological process maps, and too much cluttered regarding science seemed to fill the room.
Use of Technology – Technology was a hot topic in all three classes I observed. Each
shared a common-place by using a projector and computer with programs such as power point,
illustrations via the internet, and even youtube came into play! Naturally, the elementary class I
observed used much less, and seemingly the high school class used a little more. The college
class however used it the whole time and interrelated major points in the book together with the
slides. Neither of the classrooms used much technology other than what was stated above; a
for the day, and even rules on the board before and during class regarding that days agenda.
(High school and Elementary). The college class of course did not have any rules or procedures
other then what was established in their class syllabus. The elementary teacher had to bring the
students attention to the board more so to keep them focused at hand on what was to be done
witnessed many different relationships between the students and teachers evaluated. I was able
to witness the teacher incorporate fellow students helping other ESL students and Special Ed
students within the classroom of the third grade class as well as the high school class. I was very
surprised how well this technique worked. I was also able to witness a trouble-maker in both the
elementary and high school classes as well as a clear warning directed to a young man who back
talked the high school teacher very rudely. The warning was disobeyed, and he was escorted
Motivational Techniques – This was by far my favorite part of this assessment. If you
remember above, I talked about how a teacher even incorporated youtube within the class. The
high school teacher allowed each of the students to email him at the beginning of the year their
favorite funniest video they ever seen on youtube. As long as the content was clean enough he
filed them away and if the students completed their assignment and task on time, at the end of
the class period he’s use this as one of his reward techniques. It worked to say the least. The
elementary teacher used a timer, a bell, and even music to help her manage and keep the young
students attention.
In closing, this assessment really taught me a lot about management skills at different
levels of the teaching field. There was much less to manage on the collegiate level; students
were clearly instructed to come in and learn while the instructor gave the lesson. The high
school class had numerous techniques that I would strongly consider using in my field someday.
The elementary class, even though I never plan to teach students that young, probably taught me
more insight regarding management then any of the other classes I observed. I believe this was
the case due to the age; I would presume that a teacher who instructs students, especially
younger ones, would strongly consider multiple facets of organizational and management