Jessica McCrea Claflin University Dr.

Bettie Hicks EDUC 323: Instructional Strategies September 20, 2012 KNOWING THE CLASSROOM The classroom that I am assigned to is a Pre-Kindergarten class of 20 students at Whittaker Elementary School. The teacher that Im assigned to work with is Ms. Amanda Dinkins. The organization of this Pre-K classroom is systematically assembled. The teaching materials and equipment are kept in labeled containers located on the various shelves in the classroom. These teaching materials/equipment consist of learning manipulatives, puzzles, game pieces and more. The computers in the media stations are neatly spaced on the side of the classroom. The teachers resources and curriculum materials are neatly kept on a shelf behind the teachers desk. Equipment, such as students nap mats, is kept stacked in the corner near the teachers desk. For naptime, the teacher has designed a layout of where each students nap map is placed. Administrative papers are kept in a systematic filing cabinet, where each student has a labeled folder. The classroom schedule and standards are posted on the white board that is located in the front of the classroom. The students personal possessions are kept in their respective areas. Each student has a designated cubby hole labeled with their names in which they place their books, notebooks and other possessions. Students also have backpack racks on which they hang their jackets and book bags .

The arrangement of the classroom is set up to maximize the limited space in this classroom of 20 students. Instructional space in the classroom includes a math and science center, pretend and learning center, art center, listening and library center, writing center and a media center. Each center has tables and chairs that are the appropriate size for young children. The core learning centers, such as the writing, math and science center and the pretend and learning center, include tables that can accommodate 10 students and 1 teacher. Integrated centers, such as art, listening and library, and media accommodate 6 to 7 students at a time. The media center consists of 5 computers and a printer. The arrangement of the teachers and students space is sufficient compared to the actual size of the classroom. The teachers semi-circle desk is located in the corner of the classroom away from the students desks. Students spaces at the core learning center tables are closely positioned next to each other. Large group instructional time takes place on the giant carpet located in the front of the classroom. On the giant carpet, each student has a designated square to be seated. I was very impressed with the organization and the arrangement of the classroom. The way the classroom is set up allows space to be maximized in a classroom of 20 four-year olds and 2 adults. Even though a lot of materials and equipment are in the classroom with limited space, the classroom is still functional and productive. The behavior management in the classroom is appropriate and effective in the classroom. The classroom behavior expectations, behavioral consequences, and rewards and incentives guidelines are posted on the white board in the front of the classroom. The disciplinary system that the teacher created is effective and the students understand where their behavior needs to be.

The teacher created a green, blue, yellow, red chart that keeps up with each students behavior record each day. All students start in the green section (good section). When a child has a behavioral issue, the teacher warns them of what they are doing wrong the first time. The next time an issue in behavior occurs, the students name card is moved from the green section to the blue section. If the student still misbehaves, the students name card moves from the blue to the yellow and the students parents will receive a phone call regarding the students behavior. If the students name card gets placed in the red section, the teacher will set up a conference with the parent to discuss the students behavior. As an observer, I was very impressed with this color system because it is an innovative way of showing students what will happen if classroom rules are broken. As an observer, I can tell that center time transitions and student movement in/out of the classroom are well managed. Center times are initiated when the teacher rings a bell. When the bell rings, students quietly line up by their table. The teacher rings the bell again and the students smoothly transition to a different center and sit quietly with their heads down on the table until the teacher comes. Students only move out of their seats when they quietly raise their hands and are acknowledged by the teacher. If a child needs to use the restroom, the child raises his/her hand until acknowledged by the teacher, and stands on the bathroom square and waits until the bathroom is unoccupied. The student responsibility system is an orderly way of getting jobs done in the classroom without chaos. The student responsibility chart is located on the white board in the front of the classroom. This is simply a way to assign students to everyday classroom duties such as the door holder, lunch basket carrier and the pencil sharpener person. When entering and exiting the classroom, the door holder holds the door as the line leader guides the rest of the students out of

the classroom. As the students walk quietly in a single file line, their hands should be place behind their backs or in their pockets. I was impressed by how effective this procedure worked. This system is very helpful in a class of 20 young students because it eliminates unnecessary chaos between students who want to be the line leader and etc. Overall, I was very pleased and impressed with the teachers management and arrangement of the classroom. The classroom runs smoothly because everything is orderly and scheduled accordingly. Behavior issues and student movement are conducted in a way that the teacher is accountable for what happens in the classroom. As a teacher candidate, this classroom is a good model of how I would like to run my classroom.

Appendix 1: Organization & Arrangement of the Classroom

Appendix 2: Display of students work.

Appendix 3: Storage containers & shelves.

Appendix 4: Teachers desk and work station.

Appendix 5: Daily Display of Class Schedule

Appendix 5: Systematic Map of Naptime

Appendix 6: Storage of students possessions

Appendix 7: Media Center

Appendix 8: Outline of the Classroom

Appendix 9: Display of Standards, Rules and Consequences.