Running head: The Second Grade 1

Reflection of the Second Grade

Ashley Diana Simms

Paris Junior College

The Second Grade 2

Malcolm X once said, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to

those who prepare for it today.” I have had the pleasure of observing Ms. Bobbitt’s second grade

classroom at Anita Scott Elementary in Royse City, TX. Over my time as a guest visitor there, I

learned exactly how much teachers put into their students and classrooms. The teachers I spoke

to get to the school at 6:45am every day. Ms. Bobbitt would often stay late after school was

dismissed. She was either planning teaching materials, grading papers, or tutoring students. On

average Ms. Bobbitt spends an extra fifteen hours a week after the students have all left! I felt

that this was impressive since teachers are on salary based on a forty-hour week. Ms. Bobbitt’s

students had an excellent interaction with her. All the children had nothing than better to say of

their teacher. A teaching philosophy I noticed was essentialism. Even the children who were

struggling and going to tutoring said they liked Ms. Bobbitt and were happy she was helping

them. I am so thankful I was given the opportunity to observe Ms. Bobbitt so I could see what

teaching is about. It was extremely satisfying to be able to see what I was getting myself into

beforehand. If there was one thing that I would say I liked the most, it would be the children. I

have a love for children, and it was heartwarming to see them excited for certain activities. I had

an amazing experience doing my observation hours there. After my visit, I still want to become a

teacher more than ever. I feel more motivated and have more confidence within myself that I can

become a great educator. I think what made Ms. Bobbitt a great educator is that she uses all three

learning styles. For example, one day she was teaching the children how to tell time. She first

used auditory by teaching the students about time, and how to read a clock. Then she used visual

learning style by bringing out a big clock and showing everyone what she was telling them.

Lastly, she used the tactile method of learning by letting the children use individual clocks in

groups to do assignments. It is beneficial as a teacher to be able to appeal to more than one

The Second Grade 3

learning style so that the children who learn in all different ways understand the material. Along

with the leaning styles, Ms. Bobbitt taught lessons that were both teachers centered, and student

centered. The teacher would usually let the children do worksheets if they seemed to understand

the material faster, while other times she used group activities so that the children would have

fun learning more difficult material. The key is to teach the children without them realizing it. If

you can make learning fun and not seem boring, the students retain more information and learn

the material more quickly. If I take one thing home with me that I would like to implement into

my future classroom, it would be an RTI daily. Response To Intervention (RTI) is a daily one

hour session where teachers pull aside students into small groups for guided reading, math, etc.

this is mostly for the kids that are behind and not where they should be. I had never heard of this

until I saw Ms. Bobbitt do this with her students. It is not hard to tell that Ms. Bobbitt loves her

job as a teacher and puts much effort into her classroom so that her students will benefit the

most. The second-grade teachers all get together to help plan curriculums week by week. They

all seem to be a great team and have a special bond as coworkers. Throughout my observation

hours in the classroom with Ms. Bobbitt I have come to appreciate all the effort that the teachers

put into their classroom. I feel more motivated to become an educator and help as many children

as I can grow into mature, moralistic, educated adults. Overall this was a great opportunity that’s

benefits my future, and I couldn’t be more excited.

The Second Grade 4

Works Cited

BlackPast, B. (2007, October 15) (1964) Malcolm X’s Speech at the Founding Rally of

the Organization of Afro-American Unity. Retrieved from https://www.blackpast.org/african-

american-history/speeches-african-american-history/1964-malcolm-x-s-speech-founding-rally-

organization-afro-american-unity/