Reflection of my Field Experience

1. How many hours did you complete?

 

 I completed the 5 hours that were required for this course.

2. In a short paragraph or bulleted list, how did you spend your time?

 

I was able to work in a 1st grade room for 3 hours and a 4th grade room for 2 hours.  While in both 1st grade and 4th grade rooms, I was able to observe and work with the students during reading and writing. While in the 1st grade room I worked with a small group of students in their reading circle.  I had the students popcorn read the book that was assigned to their group.  I helped them sound out words and asked them questions before, during, and after reading the book.  I helped them with comprehension questions on a worksheet that their teacher assigned to them. Also I got to observe the teacher do the weekly word wall with the 1st grade students. This was very helpful because I have never taught reading.  I feel more prepared now if I ever do teach reading in the future.

While working in the 4th grade room, I helped the students work on their reflective piece that goes in their writing portfolio.  I conferenced with students one at a time and helped them insert punctuation in the correct places.

3. How did the experience help you to strengthen at least one Kentucky Teacher Standard? 

 

The field experience was wonderful because I was able to work one on one with the students and worked with them in a group setting.  The teacher and I collaborated together and I was able to ask any questions that I had about reading and writing. I used technology because I went over open response answer examples on the document camera.  I feel that I improved on the technology Kentucky Teacher Standard which is Standard  6.  I also improved on Standard 8 because I was able to discuss writing and reading strategies with a fellow teacher at my school.  Standard 8 has to do with collaboration with colleagues and parents.

 

4. Talk a little about one thing you learned because of this field experience. 

 

During this field experience I learned many new strategies in order to help children read and write.  I really enjoyed the small reading groups because it allowed me to learn how the teacher groups students for reading based on their reading AR levels.  It helped give me ideas on how to set up reading workshop.

 

Reading Log/Wiki Posts

 

Genre / Titles you read

          I.     Non-fiction/Informational (1 reflection required on blog)  

                   1) Eleanor Roosevelt:  A Life of Discovery

                   2) My Life in Dog Years

        II.     Poetry (1 reflection required on blog)

1)    What My Mother Doesn’t Know (required for discussion)

2)  Kentucky is my Land

3) Shout! Little Poems that Roar

 4) Witness

      III.     Modern Fantasy (1 reflection required on blog)        

1)    Babe the Gallant Pig (required for discussion)

2) Charolette's Web

3) The Giver

      IV.     Historical Fiction (1 reflection required on blog –can be a picture book)      

1)    Al Capone Does My Shirts (required for discussion)

2)  Bud, Not Buddy

3)  Number the Stars

4)  Henry's Freedom Box

5)  The Very First Thanksgiving Day

6) Pink and Say

        V.     Multicultural/Traditional (2 reflections required on blog – one can be a picture book)  

      

                  1) The Rough Face Girl

                  2) The Legend of the Bluebonnet

                  3) Through My Eyes

                  4) Paul Bunyan

                  5)  Black Like Kyra White Like Me

      VI.     Realistic Fiction (1 reflection required on blog)

1)    Laugh Until you Cry  (required for discussion)

2)  I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

    VII.     Picture Books (6 reflections required on blog)

1)    Knots on a Counting Rope (required for discussion)

2) Blueberries for Sal

3) The Very Hungry Caterpillar 

4) The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by A. Wolf 

5) The Mixed Up Chameleon 

6)  The Tiny Seed 

7) The Polar Express 

8) Faithful Elephants

9) Where the Wild Things Are

Wiki Checklist

Instructions: Write the number of entries for each category you posted into on the Course Wiki (requirement was four total posts, in four different categories)

__2__ Social Studies

__1__ Science

__1__ Math

____ Music

__1__ Art

____ Reading/Language Arts

____ Physical Education

____ Other

Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life of Discovery

Freedman, R. (1993). Eleanor Roosevelt: A life of discovery. New York: Clarion

 

This informational book tells the life story of Eleanor Roosevelt and all of her accomplishments during her lifetime.  Eleanor Roosevelt was married to the President Franklin D. Roosevelt and was first lady of the world. Many of her accomplishments include being a social activist, humanitarian, and a crusader for human rights. I learned while reading that she was raised by her grandmother after the death of her parents. Also, after her husband passed away she remained in the public light and helped the public. She became the delegate to the United Nations and as chairman of the human rights commission. 

 This book is a Newberry Honor book and is very interesting to read!!! Students will learn a lot about the first lady and all of the experiences while being married to the president of the United States.  The pictures in the book are great and show all of the activities and involvement in her community.  This book helps students realize that the wife of a president helps in many organizations and events. This book is great for ages 9 and up because they will be able to understand the meaning of the vocabulary words mentioned. This would be an excellent book for a student to write a report on!
BIG question..."Why is it important to have goals?"

Bud, Not Buddy

Curtis, C. P. (1999). Bud, not buddy. New York: Delacorte Press.

"Bud, Not Buddy" is a historical fiction story of a ten year old boy named Bud Caldwell.  He is an orphan during the Great Depression in 1936.  After having a very bad experience with a foster family, Bud sets out to find his father Herman E. Calloway. He believes that this man is his father and he hikes 120 miles all of the way to Michigan to find out. Bud discovers that Mr. Calloway is his grandfather and not his father. It takes awhile for Mr. Calloway to come to grips with this incident that has happened, but he eventually bonds with his grandson.

 Bud is the protagonist in this story and there are many different antagonist in the story.  The first antagonist in the story is the family in the unsuitable foster home.  They are cruel to Bud and make him sleep in a cold shed.  Another family of antagonist in the story is the second foster family.  This foster family tortures Bud for no reason and bullies him.  The third antagonist in the story is Mr. Calloway because he is a very unhappy man and is selfish at first.  He is convinced that Bud is lying to him about being his son and he thinks that Bud stole his rocks with his writing on them.

This story helps one realize that "when one door closes, another door opens."  Similar to many foster children in America, Bud faces a lot of hurt and pain.  He has faith in God that things will get better and he keeps moving on.  He is hoping that things will turn out better somewhere else.

BIG Question:  Why do you think Mr. Calloway needed some time to be more kind to Bud?

  

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Angelou, Maya (2009).  I know why the caged bird sings. New York:  Random House 

This realistic fiction book is about Maya's life as a child and the hardships that she often faced.  At a very young age Maya and her brother were sent to live with their grandmother in a small town located in Arkansas. While growing up in Arkansas, Maya spends a lot of time in the general store that is owned by her grandmother.  Maya faces racism and terrifying lynch mobs while living in Arkansas. For instance, when Maya was ten years old she gets a job and works for a white woman.  The white woman decided that she didn't like the name "Maya" and calls her "Mary" instead. Another time that Maya faces racism is when she goes to the dentist for a rotten tooth.  The dentist was very rude and insulting to Maya.  He quotes,  " I'd rather place my hand in a dog's mouth." Maya's grandmother fears for her grandchildren's safety and decides to send them to live with their mother who lives in California. Maya faces more pain and danger when moving in with her mother and her mother's boyfriend.  
This book is one of the saddest books I have ever read because the situations that Maya faces are so devastating.  She learns at such a young age that the world is full of nice people as well as people who are cruel and selfish. Although Maya goes through many struggles, she remains strong and has a strong faith in God.  This book is a good book for middle school when students learn more about civil rights during history courses.  The book will help students learn about the time period when segregation and lynching occurred.  It will help them realize the pain and suffering that happened.  It will also help students realize that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect. She had a lot of bad things happen to her but she still followed her dream despite what others thought.  She became focused in her studies, learned to love herself, and became a wonderful book author and poet.  My big question for students would be...."Have you ever experienced yourself in a negative situation but had the strength to pull yourself out of it?  How did the negative situation turn into a positive situation?  How did your life change for the better?"    

Kentucky is my Land

Stewart, J. (1987).  Kentucky is my land. Ashland, Kentucky: The Jesse Stuart Foundation

 

Kentucky is my Land is a beautifully written poetry book that expresses the beauty and the nature in Kentucky.  The author of the book is Jesse Stuart, who is orginally from the Appalachian part of Kentucky.The poems in the book were written right after World War II.  Stuart is a very patriotic American and a proud Kentuckian who speaks through his poetry.  He believes that Kentucky is the "heart of the nation."  Throughout the book, Stuart discusses Kentucky's landscape and the changing of the seasons.  He writes with a concern of the land and how it's important for humans to preserve it.  In his poetry, Stuart also speaks of the tradition of horse racing and the state's role in the war.  The description in his poems really helps to paint a picture in my mind.  Someone who has never visited Kentucky can read his book in order to develop a mental picture of the beautiful landscape. One of my favorite descriptive lines in his book is..."and the leafless trees etched on gray winter skies were strong and substantial lines of poetry." If you close your eyes and hear this being read, then you can picture what winter looks like in Kentucky. The first poem in his book is called "Kentucky is My Land."  This poem is an introduction for the entire book.  It lets readers understand how Kentucky is "the heart of the nation."  In this poem Stuart mentions how other parts of the United States are wonderful, but are nothing compared to Kentucky.  While reading the book I noticed a few metaphors and personification.  An example of personification is, "Where the endless field of growing corn was a dark cloud that hugged the earth." (page 16) 

After reading a few poems to my students, I would have them write about their favorite season in Kentucky and to explain why it is their favorite. Students can be told to use many descriptive words to describe their favorite season and they can draw a picture to go along with their writing.  

A BIG question that I would ask students is..."Why is it important to take care of our land and resources?" 

The Legend of the BlueBonnet

DePaola, Tomie. (1983). The legend of bluebonnet. New York:  G.P Putnam's Sons
 
The Legend of the BlueBonnet is a multicultural and folk tale about a young Comanche Indian girl named "She-Who-Is-Alone." The story takes place in Texas and "She-Who-Is-Alone" is alone because her family died during a drought when it did not rain for a long time. The Comanche Indians pray and chant in song with drums to the Great Spirits.  They pray to the Great Spirits so that crops can grow and so that there will be plenty of animals for hunting.  "She-Who-Is-Alone" decides to give up her most valuable possession which is her corn husk doll made by her mother. She hopes that the Great Spirits will send rain because of her gift to them. Will the Great Spirits answer the prayers of the Comanche Indians?  
I think this is a beautiful story because the family of "She-Who-Is-Alone" are in heaven and are sending their blessings to their little girl.  The beautiful BlueBonnet flowers are a sign from her family that everything will be alright and will become peaceful again.  "She-Who-Is-Alone" also shows that she is not selfish when she gives the Great Spirits her favorite possession.  She wanted so badly to help her tribe because she cared about them and wanted everything to get better.
This book also teaches students about the culture of Native Americans.  Their passion for music is shown in the book while they prayed in a ritual to the Great Spirits. It also teaches students about how the Comanche Indians watched over and protected one another.  For instance, they became the new family to "She-Who-Is-Alone" and adopted her after her parents and grandparents died.   
BIG questions for students are...
"Have you ever done something nice for a friend or family member? Explain what you did."
"Why was it important for the Comanche Indians to have water?"
"Have you ever hoped for something big to happen? What were you hoping for and why?"