Observations in the classroom
This semester I have been placed for two of my practicum's in a third grade classroom. I was very excited at first about this placement because I want to start observing younger classes, because previously I have been placed within fifth grade classes. However, the two days that I have observed, the classroom management has been so horrible that it makes me upset that I have to sit there and watch. The teacher will stand in front of the class and just raise her voice as loud as she can get it and then complain about how her voice is going away and how her throat hurts. She also has a tendency of slamming her hand on the child's desk. I personally feel that this way of discipline is in no way helping her situation, and it bothers me that the children are just getting yelled at everyday, instead of being properly disciplined. She also will not say anything positive about their work, the only criticism I have observed is when she tells them that they will never learn the information and that they are not going to pass their EOG's. I feel as if the teacher is so frustrated that her children won't pass the EOG's and it will make her look bad, rather than focusing on helping them to learn the concepts. Overall, my observations this semester have been eye opening and I hope no one has to sit through an observation such as this, however, it does teach you what not to do.
- Lindsay Lotman's blog
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WoW
I have never had a practicum experience like that before, but I bet it did open your eyes to what not to do. I agree that teachers should not be slamming their hands on students desks or always criticizing them. Patience is one thing that a teacher MUST have.
Similar experience
I observed last semester and I had a similar experience. I was in a high school business class and the teacher did not have control over her students. She would tell them not to do something and then turn around and let them do it. Children, even in high school, need consistency. She was teaching me how not to teach. I think these experiences help shape our attitude toward our teaching career.
Nothing New
You know, this type of attitude has been circulating in classrooms since I was in elementary school, and probably before. In fact, my spanish teacher in elementary school used to blow a whistle in the ears of children that she thought were being too loud. Wow...isn't that healthy. I think you covered the bottom line here...the teacher does not want to look bad. The government sure has done a good job getting this teacher to follow protocol..."oh no, I look bad and I won't get a raise." As bad as I feel for you that you have to witness this, atleast it is a learning experience in how not to handle your class room.
-S
WOW!!!
I personally have not had a practicum teacher that has shown that kind of attitude or disrespect to his or her classroom. I am I am so sorry that you had to go through that experience. I dont know what I would do if I was a child in that classroom. I think that I would be more scared to go to school than get excited to go to school to learn. I hope that your next practicums are not like the ones that you have had this year.
Um....
Do we have the same teacher? Because this sounds so familiar! I think it is sad how we are assigned to do Pracitcums with teachers who make us not want to be teachers!!! It seriously scares me to think about how my students will percieve me. But then again I guess it is a good opportunity for us to see how we do not want to act in our classrooms!!!
Laura Tart
Good Teachers
I think this is horrible and I am very sorry you had to go through this, I just finished my hours in a 3rd grade class, I was lucky I had a wonderful teacher, who was so possitive and only had great things to say to her students. Even when they messed up she would tell them they would do better and to keep trying. I have never had a teacher who yelled and degraded the students. I personally think this type of teaching is damaging to the students and makes them not want to learn. Who would want to go to school when they know they will be told they are going to not pass their test. By being patient and positive teachers are more affective.
Woah! Very Dissappointing!
Wow, I don't think I have ever heard anything so upsetting. It really sucks that you have been placed in this class and have to sit there and watch this teacher do and say all the wrong things. The only good out of your situation is the fact that you know it is wrong and you will know what NOT to do when you become a teacher. Being negative to any child is never going to make any situation better for you or the child. I also can't believe that she does those type of things in front of you and that makes me think that things are probably worse when you aren't there observing. I feel sorry for her students and hopefully they will be able to get out of a class like that. If you want to become a teacher you have to realize that patience has a lot to do with your job. You have to learn how to handle all things with a positive attitude and also keep a positive outlook on everything so that your students will learn to do the same.
Observation
Lindsay, sorry you had to see that but it was an eye-opening expierence to show you that some people may not be in the right profession or that they are overly frustrated. When the teaher raised her voice that was not a good idea becuase students may raise their voices louder. Some students may take offense at that and display a negative attitude. But who can blame them? We all have a weakness and for this teacher based upon what you described it's classroom management.
Practicum
WOW! I am so sorry that you had to have that kind of experience first of all on your practicum. The teacher i had for my praticum was in the third grade and she seemed to have a mojor problem with public humiliation. Whenever one of the children got in troule she had no problem yelling out their name in class and talking to them about it in front of the class where everyone could hear. It was not very profesional.
Practicum Placement
I was placed in a 5th grade class for my observation. In the school that I was at, the 5th graders change classes. I didnt like this concept because I dont think that that these children are ready to be switching classes. Well I went with them to each of the classes, and to every different teacher, it was like a completely different set of students. It was crazy.
Alicia Elmore