A look at my CT's classroom~

One thing I especially enjoy about the internship experience is hearing about all of the varied classrooms we are working in. As interns, we are working in several schools and grade levels and I feel like I have the benefit of learning things from all of these veteran teachers, by speaking to and sharing ideas with their interns. From some descriptions I have heard, I feel like I can really pictures those classrooms. That said, I wanted to share some photos of my internship classroom and some of the creative ways my CT uses spaces.


This is a picture of the classroom. It shows the five table groups we have for students to sit at. One thing my teacher is using this year (for the first time, I believe) is a table for the teacher in the front of the room - the table with the yellow tub on it in the picture. I see this as a sort of 'staging area' for the day. It's a place for lesson plans, photocopies of student activities and a place for students' work. My teacher rarely uses her desk, which is at the back of the class, and I really like having this space for getting things ready and having papers organized, while in front of the students.

This is our classroom library, which holds a variety of reading materials, from ABC and number books, books we've read aloud, big books, nursery rhymes, and a multitude of other books for students to browse. While there is time every day for students to read books that are specifically at their reading level, they sometimes get to explore books of their choice from the library

This is the word wall - posted on a wall lined with cabinets. Each letter is printed in upper and lower case, has a picture, sight words posted and in a pocket so students can remove the word to use as a resource.

This is a piece of 'equipment' in one of the literacy centers. I wanted to share it because I've never seen it in another classroom and I think it's really ingenious. It's a magnetic column (like you'd find for displaying magnets in a gift shop) that can be used for a variety of purposes. One side (on the right) has important info for the teacher (monitoring sheets, daily schedule, etc.). The other sides have literacy activities, such as ABC flashcards, and can be used for word sorts. Since it has multiple sides, a few students can use it at a time, and it doesn't take up too much space.

Personal Growth

“Prompt: You've been in your internship classroom since late August, assisting your Classroom Teacher in launching the school year. For your first blog post describe, briefly, one strong conviction about teaching that you brought to the classroom that has changed considerably during this time. What changed, and why is this a sign of personal growth?”

Before I started in my internship classroom, I had (like all of my peers) many experiences in different classrooms around the area. I had worked with students in a variety of content areas (literacy, science, math), but these had all been extensively planned out and relatively small units. I knew what it was like to teach, but I still had misconceptions about what it was like to be a teacher on a day to day, and year to year, basis.
When I envisioned an established, experienced teacher, I had a picture of the teacher pulling out last year’s lesson plans and daily schedule and recycling them year after year. I knew that in the first few years of teaching, teachers tried new things and made adjustments as they gained their bearings and “got into the swing of things,” but that after a few years you settled into a routine and kept using it. While this may be true in some cases, I now see that teachers are constantly adapting their teaching and daily format for the students they are serving at that time. Of course, teachers reuse a great deal of their resources (which is great – who wants to reinvent the wheel?), but it’s been eye-opening to see how much experienced teachers change and rework their lesson plans. I have the privilege of working with a very reflective teacher who tries new things with the daily schedule and planning style, even after years of teaching. This has helped me see how important it is to be constantly looking for ways to better myself as an educator and provide learning experiences that resonate with my students.

Welcome to my blog!

Hello!
Welcome to the blog for my elementary education internship in a first grade classroom! I hope to share my stories and reflections here. Thanks for stopping by!

Katelyn