Post 4

Working with both kindergarten and first graders I have gotten to learn about their ethnic backgrounds.  The students I work with speak English but two of my kindergarteners sometimes will speak Spanish to each other and it bothers me at times.  I wish I could speak their language so they could understand what I am really saying to them.  When you can speak their language that is spoken at home they understand the feeling in what you say and can really undserstand the meaning.  Both the children can speak English but I feel like they have a better understanding when spoken to in Spanish.  In their classroom they have two teachers, one is the main teacher and the other is a teachers aid. The teachers aid is Spanish and has an accent when she speaks and at times she will speak spanish to those in the classroom that can.  The students feel a sense of comfort because they have someone that can speak to them in their native langauge.  

I had a few misconceptions of how the students would be at this school.  I thought they would be children that caused problems and wouldnt want to try in the classroom.  They are be behind in school compared to other kindergarten and first graders but these kids dont give up and they keep on trying.  It is difficult at times for them and I watch them struggle when they cant figure a word out or dont understand the material.  It also makes it harder when the parents arent doing their part at home with helping their children, when they come into the classroom and are struggling.  It makes me want to help these children even more. 

Post 3

Working in the classroom at Asa Messer I have come to learn a lot about the first grade teacher and how the classroom works.  The classroom has a very diverse group of students with all different ethnicity's.  The color of someones skin doesn't matter to the other children in the classroom or to the teacher, who is the only white person in the classroom.  The students participate well with the teacher and she always gives them a chance to figure out an answer when they are struggling.  She can be very stern with the students when they are not listening and when she is, the students change how they are acting very quickly.  For the first grade classroom I work with three boys, who can be very difficult at times.  They don't like to listen and for two weeks in a row I was starting to loose patience with them, until I spoke with the teacher.  We were reviewing their folders when she noticed the comments that were being written in their folder: Doesn't like to listen, doesn't stop talking, doesn't pay attention, etc.  After she saw these comments she spoke with the boys and they saw how upset she was.  Ever since then they have been more respectful to me and listen, and when I ask them to stop talking they do.  I don't wanna sound like the mean teacher to them because I'm not, it just becomes very frustrating when they constantly don't listen.