My observation location is in Round Lake; the school is called Round Lake Preschool Program District #116. I am observing and interacting with staff in a special ed classroom with children ages 3-5 years old. The teachers name is Stephanie Walker (Mrs. Walker) and the speech therapist is Ms. Val. During these two weeks I had the pleasure to interact with the teacher and the therapist in the classroom. I also enjoyed all the children in the classroom. The classroom consists of 10 children, the days that I went to observe there were only 6 to 8 children present. It was a fun experience, mostly all children in the classroom have a language barrier with the teacher, because she only speaks English and they speak Spanish. It worked out well, because I am fluently in Spanish it was fun starting conversations with my little friends.
“Do parents feel intimidated to make decisions when the team of supporters is present in the IEP meeting? This is one of my focus questions I have for our future research paper assignment we have for EDU 411. I was able to collect information from Mrs. Walker. During a conversation we had before class we were talking about IEP meetings, she repeatedly told me most of her students all came from Hispanic families, she also mentioned all parents were not aware what IEP documents were. Some challenges that Mrs. Walker has to faced daily is her language barrier she wishes she can do more for her students families but there is just so much you can do. My time there was meaningful to me, I was able to see that these children have a lot to learn and accomplish, I also know that these children need all the help they can get. According to the therapist Mrs. Walker has the lowest function children in speech and other concepts.
I was able to observe Ms. Val work with a whole group during speech. It was a great experience to see the positive effects she gave all students. The activities consist of repetition, which this is the best method to help young children.
I am able to make connections with one of my topics title parent involvement. I am able to see that most of these parents do not tend to work cooperatively with their children. I say this because out in the hallway of the school, they have a board title “family project” the two classrooms in special ed have all their projects in, as for Mrs. Walkers classroom none of the children have there project.I had a great time participating in her classroom during those hours. Mrs. Walker favorite phrase is, " hands-on experiences help children learn and explore" that is one of my biggest belief as well, that's how I absolutely love to learn.
Hi
ReplyDeleteGreat observation. It seem as those your host was very knowledgeable. She share a lot of important ideas on how you can help her parents, but also how you can make a great impact on your research.
I would like to know what other ways could your host communicate with her parents? Also do the school have someone who can communicate with the parents beside their children. Lastly, do they offer workshop for the parents so they may be able to communicate with their child teacher.
Hi Ana, I was too in a situation this week where there was a little boy that Has a Spanish transferring problem when reading and speaking. He often goes into Spanish. He and his mother speak Spanish at home, which he reads slower and also transfers his speech over to Spanish. I was able to also understand him and tell the teacher what he said and she told him to talk slowly so she could hear him. she stopped him when he started to transfer and said try that word again. So he would realize he was speaking Spanish. I think that it is good to have one person in each center that understands some Spanish so that communication can be a little more fluent between Parents and the Teachers.
ReplyDeleteHi Joyce,
ReplyDeleteIn the classroom I know they have parent involvement once a month. The parents come in for an hour and play with their children, it's plan differently each month. So far I know they do not offer specific workshop hours, but I know the district sends out letters to have parents come in to discuss certain topics the teachers pick out, but these meetings involve mostly all schools in the district, for example, elementary, middle, and Early childhood buildings. I think its great, but teachers think they should focus on different topics that actually relates to parent hood.
I was wondering if this time was for the parent and child or if teachers were involved too.
ReplyDeleteI had been supervisor in one center and set up an area with the owner’s permission an area for the parents to feel free and play with their child. It was an area with adult chairs and a few small chairs for the children to interact with the parents. I felt that if we put two chairs in the classrooms that parents would feel at ease and begin spending time watching and playing with their children in the class. They interacted with the children and the teachers and would enjoy seeing their children as they learn and play at school. I saw only a few uses the opportunity and we had put in our news letter that all parents were encouraged coming and spending time with their children and their class. I did not see a lot of parents use this but a few would come after they were done work and spend time in the classroom.
Strengthening families program came out and thought it was a great idea and used it for their classes for centers in need of helping other programs. They had classes that they used the idea for. They took pictures from our bulletin boards. This seemed to be a great plan for parent and children interaction in the schools I just wish we had more parents use it. http://destinationent.blogspot.com
Darlene
Your teacher that believes in 'hands on learning' is absolutely correct. There is a whole program on 'experiential learning'.
ReplyDeleteI think that in my career I have been advocating Hands on Learning Experiences. I think that this might be due to two of my professors who lecture about this in my community college days. . I know one of them even took us to a few places to pretend to be a kid we met for classes at these places that were easy to get to by bus. One was please touch museum which we were told to interact with the different things and toys that were there. The other was the Franklin Institute and another was the Zoo. We even were to make a children’s book from the zoo. I had a lot of pictures that I took and drew from the picture to make the book into a cartoon look. I remember my classmates asking for pictures I was not using so that they could use them in their books they made. I still use this book today with 2 and three year olds.
ReplyDelete