CONTEXT SETTING Describe in detail the following aspects of your field placement for ED 321 this semester.

Keep in mind that some of your answers may be based on assumptions you are making about this school and/or these students. Be sure to distinguish between what you are assuming based on your observations and what you are able to verify based on some authority and identify your source(s) of information when writing your descriptions. Here are some ideas about where to begin your research: the school districts website, your schools website, the Department of Public Instruction has data on all schools in Wisconsin, and when you contact your school you could ask for more information from your cooperating teacher. School i.e. location, setting, facility, demographics of the neighborhood Grade Level organization of the school K-8, K-5, etc. and your particular classroom
placement

Class Size your classroom placement and other classes in the school Description of Students Gender Ratio Number of Fluent English Speaking Students Breakdown of Other Languages Spoken in this Classroom/School Socioeconomic Status Race and Ethnicity Description of School Culture please include your observations of adult to adult, student
to student, and adult to student interactions Range of Student Ability Levels students who are gifted and talented, high, medium, low, students with special needs. Please include any learning supports provided to students.

Use this chart to outline each component of context setting. Be sure to distinguish between what you are assuming based on your observations and what you are able to verify based on some authority.

ASPECTS OF CONTEXT
School

DESCRIPTION
Greenfield Middle school is located in a suburban, middle class neighborhood in Greenfield, Wi. The facility appears to be well funded and safe. Total enrollment for 2010 is approximately 732 students. Greenfield Middle School enrolls 6-8th with students fairly evenly distributed by grade level. My field placement is with 8th grade social studies students. Class size can reach up to 30 students; however, in general teachers expect 26 or 27 students in a given class.

SOURCE OF INFORMATION WINS WINS Ray Marolt

Grade Level

Class Size

Students Gender Ratio Number of Fluent English Speaking Students Breakdown of Other Languages Spoken in this Classroom Socioeconomic Status Race and Ethnicity Other

Slightly more males than females are enrolled, though the gender ratio is almost even. The majority of students are white (70.6%) followed by hispanic students (15.2%) and much smaller populations of black (6.8%), Asian (5.5%) and American Indian (1.9%) students. An estimated 65.6% of the population is not economically disadvantages or there is no data; 34.4% of students are economically disadvantaged. 12.2% of students have disabilities. Largely, the school is made up of English proficient speakers (94.3%) then followed by students who speak other (3.7%), Spanish (1.9%), and Hmong (.1%).

WINS

School Culture

Range of Student Ability Levels

The school appears to have a very relaxed, welcoming, and safe atmosphere. Teachers and staff are welcoming and approachableGreenfield Middle School appears to be very active in the community (Fox 6 news was on campus to look at the schools recycling efforts). Teachers often discuss the needs of students with each other and are comfortable seeking resources from fellow faculty. Students are encouraged to help each other in activities. They are very chatty and eager to share ideas. Students and teachers enjoy a friendly relationship, and students appear very comfortable asking for help. In addition, teachers seem to genuinely care about their students. Mr. Marolt had requested to take into his a homegroup a failing student who responded well to his personality. Students in Mr. Marolts class have a wide range of ability levels. In one particular class, one of his students was described as a genius and is taking high school courses in addition to his middle school work. In the same class, there are five special needs students. One of Mr. Marolts classes has as many as eight special needs students. A parent volunteer was present in one of the classes to help with students. ELL students are provided with special services during lunch and study hall, such as pre-teaching, teaching, post-teaching, and any time activities.

Field experience in 8th grade social studies

Mr. Marolt & ELL Department

Please answer the following question: How will the above information influence your lesson design this semester? It is clear that my lessons will have to be engaging and flexible. Because of the diversity (especially regarding ability levels) I will need to create lessons which appeal to a wide variety of learners. I may also have to create modifications for assessing special needs students. The text book is used to supplement lessons

rather than guide them. I will have to find additional resources at varying levels which will reinforce the desire learning goals and outcomes.