Choices in a Classroom Community

Last week when I went into a classroom for my service learning assignment, I was able to help the students with their reading. I pulled one student at a time to the back of the class where they read their book to me. I was able to pass them off or have them keep the same book to read for another night based on how good they read. The teacher had boxes of books grouped together based on levels. If they passed off their book they could choose another book from that level. When I was in elementary school, I remember just moving from one book to the next, I never got to choose. I liked how the student's got to choose a book that they were interested in. It gave them some control over their learning and gave them some independence. I also noticed how happy it made the kids to be able to choose their own book!

While I was there, the students were also taking a math test. Some students struggle with math more than others, as I found out the first day I was there. So those students who needed a little more help (whether it was with reading the math questions or the actual math) went to the back table where an aid was there to help. The teacher understands that some students learn at different rates than others, those who may learn a little slower receive a little extra help. I think this is an important thing to recognize in your classroom, especially in first grade because the students are all so diverse and their brains are still developing. 

When I first got into the classroom, the class was out at recess so I just kind of looked around the classroom to see if I noticed anything that caught my eye. I noticed that there was a schedule posted on one of the bookshelves. The schedule had the time of everything on it. When they were going to work on math, science, art, when recess and lunch were, when planner time was. For me personally, I like to know exactly what we are doing and when we are doing it, and I know younger students are like that too. I loved that they were able to see exactly what was going on. It also saves the teacher from having to answer the same question 28 times! I think when the students know what is happening next, it creates a smoother transition. There are no surprises. It also provides a visual representation of their day, for the visual learners. 

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