Anyway, this week I have been doing a lot of prepping for the final moments I will be spending in my clinical classroom. Though it is about 40 minutes one way (not everyone can avoid the speed limits), this has by far been my most enjoyable clinical field placement of my two years in the School of Education. Not only was my teacher voted Cleveland County Teacher of the Year (I can see why), but the team that Mr. Propst works with is amazing. There is so much synchronization and transfer of expectation that I have yet to see in any of my other placements.
Being at little 'ole Fallston Elementary School has taught me so much in just a short amount of time. If it has taught me anything, however, I have seen firsthand how a true PLC coexists. Mr. Propst allowed me to work with his other team members on other content areas, and I was really impressed with their ability to coexist as a team. Not to be sexist, but part of me thinks that this could be because there is a male teacher on the team. Typically, a group of all women have a harder time with acquiring different perspectives. Also, a male team member can probably break up any drama that may occur (which is entirely likely in any profession).
Another thing that I noticed about this clinical experience was that, in Fifth Grade at Fallston, students have two seperate ELA classes: Non-fiction ELA/Social Studies and Fiction ELA. Mr. Propst told me that test scores increased tremendously because there was that integration of Social Studies and ELA.
Several of the characteristics that stuck out to me thus far at Fallston correlate with several NCTCS Standards:
- 2a. Teachers provide an environment in which each child has a positive, nurturing relationship with caring adults.
- 2d. Teachers adapt their teaching for the benefit of students with special needs.
- I noticed that Mr. Propst and his team members genuinely cared about their students. There is one student in 5th grade who has physical disabilities, and they did not hesitate the differentiate every activity for this student. Their confidence in this student resonated from within, which allowed the student to see they were capable of learning through anything. I want to adapt a mentality of like this for my own classroom.
- 5c. Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment
- I saw this specifically in my PLC at Fallston. My CE set a great example for how to work within a team to accomplish a common goal. They made it very simple; have fun while learning. They always made sure students were up and doing things periodically. I want to bring this attitude to my future PLC. It was definitely a learning experience.
Additionally, I did some research on male elementary teachers just because of what I got to experience with my PLC at Fallston. I came across this article:
After reading through, I strongly believe that male teachers can be a positive influence for students, especially those who lack a father figure. My experience at my clinical placement school, combined with this research, has me drawing the conclusion that more male teachers are needed in our schools!
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteWow thanks for sharing! It sounds like we both had awesome clinical experiences this semester. I would love to hear more about you sitting in on the PLC meeting. I bet that was really interesting. I also like that the team you worked with incorporates Fiction and Nonfiction Literacy into the learning. We've talked about the importance of each of those genres in 306 this semester as well.
-Leslea
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteThis is a great blog! I love hearing about how your clinical experience is going. I think it is awesome that you have a male teacher to observe and work with, because I have not got that experience yet, but I am sure it is great! I loved all my male teachers, and they really do influence students who may not have a father figure, just like us as mother figures in the classroom.
Olivia,
ReplyDeleteI think that it is great that you were able to sit through a PLC meeting. It always great to experience these things before becoming a teacher. I also think that it is cool that you have a male teacher. Those are pretty rare but I loved all of the male teachers I have had in the past. I agree with you about how male teachers can have a positive influence on students because they act as a fatherly figure. Great blog.
Oh, I am so happy you had a great experience! I agree, those male teachers are wonderful! My brother-in-law is a 5th grade math teacher back in Tennessee, and he is a rock star to many of those students. I think that the PLC's are so wonderful and so many awesome teachers to learn from. I think if you look to the right or left of your tidal wave, you will find a few of us there with you. I have cried, had lots of coffee, and I'm always talking to Jesus! I wear his poor nerves out I am positive! Hang in there, we can do it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
That is awesome Olivia! Being a future Male teacher, I know that male teachers in Elementary is on the rise a little bit, but typically, I guess male teachers are not as prominent. My drive and passion comes from wanting to be that male figure in students lives that might need that in their lives. I think male and female teachers are equally capable of leading and inspiring, but I think more males need to be in students' lives whether that is a mentor, youth leader or 'big brother' type figure. Whether male or female, all teachers can learn from one another and all teachers can make a big impact. The team element you mentioned is everyone's dream I believe so I hope all of us start out in a great environment like that!
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, the last weeks have been super crazy, but we are almost there! :)