Blue macaroni

I would like to focus on classroom instruction in my placement, and learn more about how much direct and/or interactive instruction takes place in my placement classroom when I’m not there, and if this amount and type of instruction is beneficial to the students. I have not seen much instruction in my placement when I visit on Fridays, which isn’t a bad thing because it is important to have time in the classroom to review and do independent work, and to have a space to ask questions about the material. Still, I would like to learn if there is more instruction that goes on on other days of the week, and to investigate how this instruction specifically helps the students at the school and in the classroom that I’m placed in.

In my classroom, the environment is very student-driven in that the students usually work on assignments or larger projects on their own or with their friends, while the teacher is maily available for questions and making sure the students are doin what they need to do. While I was sitting with one group of students who had already finished their work on the class assignment (it is believed in this school that all students work at their own pace so students will often be doing different things in class), the topic of race came up.

It is the end of our work session with the 7th grade, the class has been challenging but productive. The students have collected their things and moved on to the next class. The three of us (students) are talking to Mrs Harris, the classroom teacher about our work today and which students surprised up by their great work. Aliyah*, one of the cheeriest and most students in the class, comes back to collect something she has forgotten. She get it and gives us a joyful “bye” as she leaves. Katie* commented that she had had such a good time working with Aliyah that day. Mrs Harris echos that she is joy to have in the class. Then she says: “You know, they beat her up last week?” We are all silent. “What? Who” we ask, confused. Mrs.

At the beginning of the first class I visited at my placement school, Ms C (a pseudonym for my placement teacher's name) gave the students a few do now problems on the smart board, and a Keystone practice worksheet. After letting the students work on these problems individually for a while, she got all of the students’ attention and they begin going over the problems together. She asked students to volunteer and explain their answers, and told them that she will give them a point on their next exam if they answer correctly today.

One thing I found interesting in The Nation's article about charter schools was this: "Advocates of charter schools frequently make the argument that by providing parents with 'choice,' the educational system—public schools and charter schools alike—will be forced to improve through greater accountability.