Some Interesting Things

What I saw in my field placement that I thought was the most interesting was how close the teacher was to her students.  She seemed to have a personal relationship with each and every one of them, and they all clearly enjoyed her class and her humor.  I loved how relaxed the classes felt, and the students were always on task while still having fun with the teacher and the people around them.

Most of the classes that I observed were senior classes, so I'm sure that fact has a lot to say about how she knew her students so well.  But regardless, the students should feel as comfortable as these kids did at any grade level, especially in the art classroom.  Some of her students would even go to her house for cook outs and dog sitting.  There were even a few who offered to help her move when she was packing and unpacking for her new house.

The school that I was assigned to had an interesting schedule that was new to me.  It included a period of time every day that allowed the students to roam the campus freely and socialize or work on schoolwork.  I was amazed at the number of students who would come into her classroom during this time and socialize with her.  I never saw but once, a student coming in to work on an assignment, but even this student took advantage of the time to crack jokes with the teacher.

After seeing this every day, I quickly realized how important it is for the students to feel as comfortable as possible in the classroom.  It allowed for a stress free environment where the students could come in to work without much pressure.  The students worked diligently and never hesitated to ask the teacher for guidance or discuss their work with her with the fear of being wrong or criticized.
I hope to have the kind of relationship with my students.  It not only benefits them, but also the teacher.  The school days are entertaining and the communication between the students is never hampered.

What I've learned from this is to try to be like this teacher.  I'll need to be sociable and approachable.  I won't need to get to know every student on a personal level, but it will help to know how to interact with them individually and learn the personalities and tendencies of each of them.  It will be beneficial to the students and the teacher in so many ways.