Week 4

Read Aloud
This week Jamie read Mr. Cuckoos Clock Shop written by Arnold Shapiro. I personally liked this book because it helped the kids learn a couple different things. For example, it had a clock where the class had to actually move the hands to the right time. It is interactive which helps the kids learn easier. Also it has rhymes which also is also a good tool to help teach the kids. This book is appropriate for first or second grade. This is because that is the age that kids begin to learn time and his book will help them understand the concept easier. 

Learning Experience 
This week in the tomorrows teachers class, we did many activities that I learned from. One, was in the beginning of the week, we did a type of test to see which side of the brain we use more. After finding the results out, we then got into groups and made a list of likes and dislikes in school. Surprisingly everyone who was left sided, like me, had very similar likes and dislikes. Another activity well partook in was making  list of good and bad qualities of teachers. It was  good way to see how not only me, but everyone else views certain teaching styles. It helped me get a better view of what I want to be like as a teacher and the qualities I wish to have, as well as the qualities I don't want to acquire. 

Current Event
 http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2012/10/03/06translation_ep.h32.html?tkn=RVXFR1PXkfD10AHRtG7S%2FrhzR6Cj7WmagB%2Fy&cmp=clp-edweek
This article, written by Leslie A. Maxwell, is about how there is racial discrimination in public schools in the south. It goes into detail how there is a Spanish speaking mother who knows little to no English. The teacher then at conferences has the 7 year old son translate what the teacher says. Even though the child is young, he is slick and told his mom his teacher was saying he was doing great in school when that wasn't the case. Therefore his grades were bad because the school did not provide someone to help translate for the students mother. Now it has become a case because they fell as if there are being discriminated against in the south.



Quote of the Week
"You can never be overdressed or overeducated" -Oscar Wilde
 This is a meaningful quote to me because I believe in what it is saying. I think that as a teacher there is no such thing as overdresses. You always have to look good because you are the role model for the kids. For example if a teacher came to school in baggy sweatpants and a big t shirt everyday, the kids would be less likely to listen or pay attention to that teacher. Also there is no such thing as over educated. Everyday there is something new to learn. No matter how much of a genius someone is, education never stops therefore you can never be over educated. 

Observation
 This week I observed something we went over in the tomorrows teachers class. We went over positive reinforcement and how it should be used as a good thing. In one of my classes I observed how my teacher used this method. We were writing essays on Google docs where it allows the teachers to write comments as you write. She wrote comment such as good job but to make the sentence make more sense do this. She let the writer know that they were on the right track but to make the essay the best t can be to change certain things. This is a good method to use because it doesn't let kids down if they do something wrong, and it also doesn't make kids cocky about their work.

Reflections
This week I went to Harmony to help watch kids during a PTO meeting. I was very excited planning some activities to do with all of the children while I was there. However, when I got there only two kids were present! One kid came into the classroom eager to read books and have fun. There was another little boy who at first seemed shy and didn't want to come. After he was nudged a little by his mom to come, he walked into the room. He got a book and sat by himself. I then went over to him and started to look at the Guinness Book Of World Records with him. He began to warm up to me and we were laughing and having a good time! When the meeting was over he didn't want to leave and even asked if me and Christina could hangout with him sometime! This made me extremely happy because observing him when he first came in he was shy and reluctant, then as I began to talk to him he became more comfortable and enjoyed reading the book with me!