Friday, September 30, 2011

My favorite school today....

Today I've got a sub job at one of my favorite schools in San Pedro.  It's a regular ed. 3rd grade that I went to the La Brea Tar Pits with at the end of last school year when they were 2nd graders.  It's going to be a fun day, but not without some drama I'm sure.  The best part of the gig is the location, and the drive there.  There's a view of Catalina and there are always a few peacocks strolling around the neighborhood.

...update....I made it through the day.  I underestimated the drama factor.  Wow.  There was a hyperactive boy whose father showed up after school to ask the teacher why his behavior card was not good.  The kid was seated at a separate table in the back of the room where he read a novel for most of the day when he wasn't throwing bits of paper at those around him or when I sent him to the class next door so I could get through the math lesson.  Dad was thinking about putting him back on ritalin.

Then there was Z who was convinced everyone was talking about him. "Yes you are.  You said........!!," he cried at those who said they hadn't been talking about him as he sat in his chair 6 or 8ft away from his table for most of the day and did no work.  I could go on but I won't.  All day there was an undercurrent of tension, silliness, and varying types disrespect for others.  I was trying to figure out a way to smooth things out but I just couldn't come up with anything that would last for more than 10 minutes.  What was I doing wrong?  Was it the kids?  The principal gave them a talking to as we exited the auditorium.  I can't remember her exact words, but it was something like, "This isn't White Point behavior.  Blah blah blah."  They shaped up for about 30 seconds until we got a short distance away when they reverted to being loud, out of line and running ahead.  I was glad when 2:30 finally got there.  And this is the beginning of the year?  Now I know why I love special ed.

Although, if I could have "cherry picked" the kids that were well-adjusted, happy and with a sense of compassion and awareness of others and moved the rest somewhere else, I would have loved this group.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

My 2nd observation session was......


Observing today went well. I had been whining to myself about having to assume a passive presence, but today I felt better about my role in the classroom.  I'm just there to observe and that's all.  I also read the assignment more closely and realized I wasn't taking enough detailed notes to answer all the questions, so I looked and wrote more; and that made the time fly.  The teacher is great—very down to earth friendly. Not the case with some there; but I shouldn’t expect red-carpet treatment anyway. It is, after all, a bit of an inconvenience having us extra bodies in the room. 

I observed 6 kids painting at easels outdoors.  The teacher put smocks on them and they were told to paint something that inspired them from their morning story or any other idea they had.  Each easel was equipped with 4 pots of tempera paint and each child got a long-handled, stiff bristle brush.  The painting began.  The children worked for a short time (5 or 10 minutes) then started to look at their neighbor’s progress as closely as their own.  Next, some paintings began to become muddy because the children were putting their brushes into all the pots of paint.  “Look at mine.”  “What’s that?” “I wish I could do that;” were some of the comments I heard.

In manipulating the paint brush, the kids were using movements that would foster the development of their shoulder and arm coordination—both necessary skills in the sequence of proximodistal development that, in turn, lead to fine motor skills development involving the hand and fingers.  The children were also exhibiting or working toward the milestone achievement (for 4 year olds) of demonstrating the ability to paint or draw with a purpose as well as name objects even though they (the objects) might be unrecognizable.

As a follow up or continuation of easel painting I would simply repeat the activity—maybe with another “inspiration prompt” that, like the scenario I just described, came from the morning story about the monkey and his caps.  By repeating the activity it would help some of the kids overcome their timidity and build their self-confidence by becoming comfortable with the very daunting and involved process of putting on special clothing (smock); coming up with an idea of what to paint, and then manipulating the brush that moves the drippy paint to where they want it to go; and then finally “feel good” about their masterpiece.  

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

You may be wondering why all the nature photos...

For the last 3 summers I've worked for the California Department of Parks and Recreation.  This last summer I was in Marin County at Samuel P. Taylor State Park where I worked at the entrance kiosk as well as at Tomales Bay State Park in the Point Reyes National Seashore doing the same thing.  I had a nice little cabin in the woods with deer and chipmunks as neighbors.  Marin is the heart of the Tea Party Movement--sorta scary, but West Marin is an odd mix of liberal minded folks who engage in lots of organic farming.  Right up my alley, as they say.  Property values have crashed there, but it's still very expensive, and for good reason.  It's gorgeous.

Monday, September 19, 2011

My first day of observation...

 The school site is really nice.  There are lots of trees and green areas; and the classroom is set back quite a distance from the street so there's a bit of a rural feeling to it.  I enjoyed the kids, maybe a little too much.  I got "scolded" for being too interactive with them, but the teacher did say at the start of the day she'd like to use us to help--us being myself and the other person observing.  It didn't take too long before I was in teacher mode, which is what I do as a sub teacher anyway, but I had to put the brakes on that and withdraw.  4 hours is a long time to sit and do nothing.  Of course I am supposed to be observing and taking notes, which I did.

Friday, September 16, 2011

I'm ready

I've got my name tag ready for my first day of observation. I'm wondering about breaks (mine) and where I'll have my lunch, if I even get a lunch break.  Eating is a big deal for me.  I was told I shouldn't bring in even a bottle of water. It's going to be fun meeting the kids.  I'm still not sure how involved I'm supposed to become with them, but that will get worked out.