stove, refrigerator, table, mop, broom, baby dolls, and play dishes. Along the back wall of the classroom are the students cubbys with book bag hooks under each one. Beside the cubbies are two desktop computers each with their own pair of headphones. The last thing along the wall is full sized refrigerator for juice, yogurt, and other snacks the children have for breakfast. In front of the cubbies is a second rug, surrounded on either side by shelves holding wooden and Styrofoam blocks. In front of this, moving towards the front of the room sit three rectangular tables used for eating breakfast and the arts and craft center. Moving right behind the rug/SMART board area, there are two rolling shelves with the shelves divided up into squares. These hold things like Legos, blocks, puzzles, and other manipulatives the children are allowed to use during center time. The walls are decorated, particularly in the front of the classroom with the alphabet, numbers, and a calendar area. Beside the SMART board is the calendar area with weather, calendar, letter of the week, and counting sticks that count the days they have been in school.
There are two computers with internet access that allow the students to go to educational sites that are interactive. There is a SMART board at the front of the classroom that is used as a center and to give instruction. There is also an iPad that is in a protective stand that can be used for drawing, colors, and letters/numbers during center time. Everything in the classroom is age appropriate for the children, from the size of the tables and chairs to the height of the shelves with things such as blocks, puzzles, and magnets on them. There is a wide variety of Legos, blocks, kitchen toys, books, and coloring material available to the students.
Learning Environment
The majority of the learning/teaching takes place on a carpet in front of the SMART board. There is also an easel where the teacher can place large books, poster paper for practicing spelling, and the daily message that is read every morning. In addition to this area there are two kidney shaped tables where the teacher does individual or small group work.
Parent Involvement
Parents are always welcome to come into the class to conference with the teacher or observe lessons. One parent came in and watched her son play in centers, and then during a lesson because he had trouble sitting still and she wanted to collaborate with the teacher on what she could do to help. The main form of communication between parents and the teacher is through the folders that each child takes home every day. If the parent needs to tell the teacher the student will be a car rider instead of bus rider that day, or any other important information they normally leave it in the folder and the teacher sees this when they check it in the morning. The teacher will also give each student a happy or sad face depending on how their day went to let the parent know about their behavior.
Grouping patterns
Children are grouped as class in the morning for quiet reading on the rug, and then move together to tables for their breakfast. They will all be together again when the teacher does her daily lesson. Children are allowed to choose which
center they want to go to, and often there will be three or four children in a center playing together. When the students need to do small group work the teacher calls them from their center and works with them one on one with two or three students sitting at the table.
Student Characteristics
Description Female Nos. of children 7 Age Nine years old Ten years old AfricanAmerican Latino White 10 2 2 0 5 0
Male 13 10 1 5 4 4 1
Total 20 20 3 7 4 9 0
Race/ethnicity
The four students who are Hispanic are all males, and tend to stick together during center time and lessons. They are outgoing and willing to make new friends, but their lack of English skill most likely restricts this. The classroom aid speaks pretty fluent Spanish and has taken it upon himself to improve in this area, and he acts as the main communication means between the students and teacher. The one child with an IEP has a speech impediment for which he receives speech therapy.
Classroom Rules/Expectations
Practicing Safety Acting Responsible Listen and follow directions Watch out for others Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself Only enter and exit when an adult is present Use appropriate language Find it; Put it back Try your best Follow proper cleanup procedures Working Together Showing Respect
Listen and follow directions Watch out for others Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself Only enter and exit when an adult is present Use appropriate language Walk Watch out for others
Listen and follow directions Watch out for others Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself Only enter and exit when an adult is present Use appropriate language Take turns Share materials
Listen and follow directions Watch out for others Keep hands, feet and objects to yourself Only enter and exit when an adult is present Use appropriate language Work hard Take care of our school Talk softly Chew with your mouth closed
Breakfast/Snack Expectations
Face the table Stay on your seat Remind your friends of good table manners
Bathroom Expectations
Walk Put soiled tissues in the toilet Flush the toilet Wash hands with soap Use time wisely Keep restroom clean Honor personal space