Reflections from a Third-Grade Classroom

After a short stint in a fifth-grade classroom, I have been moved into an amazing first-grade classroom. I plan to use this blog to document my experiences over the course of the next year. From now through December (1st semester), I will be focusing my attention on Science and Social Studies in the classroom. From January through May, I will shift my focus to Math and Literacy in the classroom. I welcome any comments, suggestions, or critiques as I move through my next year.

As far as my classroom goes, it is a moderately-sized classroom in a great district. It is the nearest classroom to a collection of apartments that cater to international graduate students and their families here at the university. Thus, it a bit of an anomaly. The median income is much lower at this school than in the rest of the district, and the classroom is fantastically diverse. I have students from Burma, China, Laos, an as-yet-unidentified Spanish-speaking nation, and Zimbabwe (and perhaps more!). Being that my personal focus is on critical pedagogy, I am thrilled to have such a diverse group of students! I hope that they bring out their own experiences and beliefs in the classroom, and begin to see other ways of viewing the world.

My coordinating teacher (CT) is an absolutely fantastic graduate of the same institution where I am currently enrolled. She graduated approximately five years ago, meaning that she has some experience in the field, but also totally relates to and remembers what I am going through. She has been great about giving me information, time, resources, and experiences, and I couldn’t be happier about my placement! In addition to her fantastic attitude towards me, she really applies all of the things that I am learning about in class. I am so lucky to be able to see her modeling the “theories” that I study.

With that, we’re off!