Shannon+Fitzsimmons

=**This wikispace logs 's experiences in the classroom during the fall 2009  (choose one) 296 ****Paraprofessional Experience **=

 This is the first field experience of the teacher education program. Its purpose is to provide insight into the real world of teaching in the K-8 and 7-12 setting. It provides a “hands-on” experience in which students may ask questions and share concerns they may have regarding the teaching profession. The experience will provide an opportunity to observe, record, and assess student behavior, effective teaching practices, and characteristics of different learning environments appropriate for children. This course will provide structure and guidance for the students as they observe, gather information, and reflect on teaching as a career. John Dewey, one of the most famous American educators, wrote extensively about reflective teaching. He defined reflective teaching as avoiding the “routine” and “impulsive” behaviors in favor of taking the time to “give serious consideration” to our actions. According to Dewey, the intelligent person thinks before he or she acts, and action becomes deliberate and intentional. In order for students to secure knowledge and insight from the field experience, their observations and participation have to be made with careful, analytical, and deliberate planning. Paraprofessional students develop their leadership skills while contributing to, learning from and influencing the learning of others.




 * 's Fall 2009 Paraprofessional Placement**
 * School: || Alcester-Hudson Middle School ||
 * Field-based supervisor: || Tim Rhead ||
 * Content area or grade level: || 7th grade Geography ||
 * FBS e-mail address: || Tim Rhead@k12.sd.us ||
 * FBS phone: ||  ||
 * USD instructor || Mary Collins, Phone: 605-677-5155, e-mail: mary.collins@usd.edu ||


 * 30 hours of field-based classroom participation **
 * **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Date **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Hours **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> || **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Description of my activities/participation in the classroom.... **<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> ||
 * 9/28/09 || 2:15-3:30 || I had my first meeting with my supervisor Brian Haak. We took a tour of the school. Then we supervised his weight lifting class and talked some more. ||
 * 10/7/09 || 2-3:15 || I had my first meeting with Mr. Rhead. The 7th grade Geography class took a test at the beginning of class and then watched a movie related to Geography. I corrected the tests after the class was finished. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/9/09 || 1:30-3:30 (2 hours) || We read a section over the New England States. The students checked the answers on their worksheets. Then they started working on the next assignment. In PE, they ran laps at the park and then played mat ball. I was first base umpire. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/14/09 || 2 hours || At the beginning of class, Mr. Rhead went and checked to make sure their homework was finished. They then started going through the section their worksheet covered. Mr. Rhead had a powerpoint, and it was over more of the New England States. In PE, we once again walked to the park. They did their laps and then played mat ball. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/16/09 || 2 hours || The students finished the rest of the lesson from the day before. They then worked on their review sheet while a movie over the New England states played in the background. At PE, they did their conditioning in the gym and then they played frisbee. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/19/09 || 2 hours || The students took a test today in Geography over the New England States. I graded the tests. In PE, they played mat ball at the park again. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/23/09 || 2 hours || Today the class covered a new section on the South of the United States. They read throught the text as a class. Afterword, they did their homework assignemnt in groups. In PE, they did their conditioning and played frisbee. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/26/09 || 2 hours || The class watched a video over the South today. It was suppose to be a relaxing day and a chance for them to catch up on their homework. They did their conditioning in PE. Then they played wiffle ball. ||
 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 10/28/09 || <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> 2 hours || We covered a lesson. The students took turns reading paragraphs in the textbook. It was over Canada. Then they worked on their assignments while watching a video over Canada. In PE, the students did their conditioning and played volleyball. ||
 * 11/2/09 || 2 hours || We went over the review sheet. In PE, the teachers made a deal with the students that if I made a shot with the basketball, the students would only half to do their conditioning. I was really nervous becaue I had not played basketball in over a year. But I made the shot and the students treated me like a hero. It was funny. Then the students shot free throws. The group with the most got pop. ||
 * 11/4/09 || 2 hours || I taught my lesson today! It was so exciting. I taught it over the Caribbean Islands. I made a powerpoint and had them open their books so they could follow along and look at some of the pictures. I played some Bob Marley music for them and the Banana Boat song as a part of the music and culture section. The kids really enjoyed listening to that. At the end, I passed out a worksheet that they could do with their desk partner. They all got finshed so we went over the answers. The timing ended just right. I had so much fun. At PE, they did their conditioning and played basketball. ||
 * 11/6/09 || 2 hours || Class was cut short but they got their tests back. We then watched the music video by Big and Rich called the 8th of November to give a little lesson on the importance of that day. The kids enjoyed it. Then we went to a pep rally for the Volleyball team. The band played, members of the team talked, and the students did some cheers. ||
 * 11/9/09 || 2 hours || We went into the computer lab so the students could start their pamphlets over Mexico. Each student picks a city in Mexico and creates a pamphlet over that city. It was fun because I got to help the students out a lot. During PE, we went to the park to play kick ball because it was really nice out that day. I was the first base umpire. ||

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 * 11/11/09 || 2 hours || We finished up working in the computer lab today on the Mexico brochures. If the students were done with their brochures they did web quests. In PE, we did conditioning. After that we played basketball inside. ||
 * 11/13/09 || 2 hours || Today, we watched a video on the Western states. Just like most Fridays, he wanted the kids to relax and catch up on homework. I helped grade papers. In PE, the students did conditioning and then played wiffle ball. ||
 * 11/16/09 || 2 hours || In Geography they started a new section on South America. They read through the text book as a class and at the end of class they worked on their worksheet. In PE, the students did their conditioning and played volleyball. ||
 * 11/18/09 || 2 hours || The students went over another section on South America. Mr. Rhead lectured on the section. The students worked on the worksheet for a few minutes at the end of class. In PE, they did their conditioning and then had races. ||
 * 11/20/09 || 2 hours || In Geography they took a test over South America. I graded the tests. In PE, the class did their conditioning and since the girls had a basketball game there were only boys. The boys played basketball. ||
 * 11/30/09 || 2 hours || In Geography they went through the section and worked in groups on their worksheets. In PE, they did their conditioning and played dodge ball. ||
 * 12/4/09 || 1 hour || I met with Mr. Rhead for the last time. He filled out his forms and we talked about the experience. I really enjoyed the experience and learned a lot. It was really sad to say goodbye to the kids. This class was a lot of fun. ||