Reflective Journal
A very important component of EDUC 222 is to keep a journal of your experiences in the public school. You will write an entry each day that you are in the school, reflecting on what you observed and expressing your reactions. You should write each entry as soon as possible after the classroom visit, no later than that evening. Your journal should include very detailed participant observations—a detailed description of what you see, such as: 1. Physical characteristics of the room, the school, the children—everything you see. 2. Specific techniques (including words, gestures, looks, etc.) that the teacher uses to manage the classroom. Describe individual students’ reactions/responses. 3. Teaching techniques the teacher uses—how the children react. In addition to observations, you should include reflections about what you have seen. What excited you? startled you? made you laugh? made you sad? What do you wonder about?
Examples of Reflective Journal Entries I’m shocked! What a day! Why am I so shocked? I don’t know. I guess I just didn’t expect the kids to be so casual. Are all the schools in the U.S. this way now? How did things change since I was in elementary school? *********************** Guess what? I have had my eyes opened and I still want to teach. I love it! I guess sometimes we get so involved in just teaching we don’t stop to think clearly. When I think in this journal I think how much I have learned about teaching. I have a long way to go, but now I know that some teachers and some schools don’t treat kids like real people. The worst part is I don’t think anyone cares. *********************** ...Another problem is that the kindergarten kids have too much paper work and ditto sheets. Another thing…Hannah (fictitious name) says she can’t even teach the kids what she knows they need because she’ll get into trouble if she doesn’t follow the curriculum. Do you really have to follow a curriculum if it is not right for the kids? ************************** In the sixth grade group I had two new students. They hadn’t been there before due to absences. There was a constant chatter among the people in my group. I asked one of them to leave the group. He couldn’t be quiet and didn’t want to participate in the group activity. I guess that’s the way it is here. The kids have a lot of freedom. ************************** I did teacher dictation and they seemed to like that. We did seven sentences and they all participated, even the ones I had put out of the group would listen and follow along. I hope that was ok? After we did this I read The King Who Rained, by Fred Gwynn, and I explained it as I went through it. As usual, all is going well! Examples of Reflective Journal Entries At first when I arrived there wasn’t a soul in sight. The building looked old and broken down and it was very HOT! Soon after, people started coming so I went inside. You began our lecture and I learned different auditing (listening) strategies to use with children.
EDUC 222
Write a brief description of any students in the classroom with special needs and how these needs are met by the school. (Example: special teachers who come into the classroom to work with special need students.)
EDUC 222
On this page, draw a picture of the classroom. (Include desks, furniture, windows, doors, etc.) Turn in this assignment with your written journal.
EDUC 222
On this page, draw a picture of this classroom as you would arrange it. (Include desks, furniture, etc.) Turn this assignment in with your written journal.
EDUC 222 CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT Teachers think that one of the ―big problems‖ in teaching today is classroom management. Keep a record of all of the positive teacher behaviors you observe in the classroom to which you are assigned. Examples: Giving clear directions, low profile interventions. List 10 – 15 examples from your field experience.