1. The grade that I am observing is 5th grade.
2. The name of the site I am observing is Carrie Busey Elementary.
3. There are 21 students in the class.
4. There is 1 computer in the classroom itself and the school has a computer lab with about 24 computers in it. The teacher feels that there are enough computers for the class to use between the classroom and the lab at the school. The teacher also said that each classroom has at least 1 and no more then 2 in it.
5. The classroom computer is located in a back corner of the classroom.
6. The computer in the classroom is an old apple computer that the class received from the library at the school. When they upgraded the computers in the library they received the old one.
7. There is an Epson stylus color printer in the classroom as well.
8. The classroom computer is connected to the internet.
9. The teacher said that the students do most of their computer work in the labs. In the classroom they use computers for word processing and tutorial programs as well as the internet.
10. The instructor is not able to connect the computer to a network.
11. The teacher uses 2 main software programs for drill and practice. These programs are Claris Works and type to learn.
12. My observations with this teacher has been very disappointing
thus far. In all of my education classes at U of I, I am being taught
different ways of teaching. In these classes I am told to do A B
and C and not to do X Y and Z. All I have seen this teacher do so
far in the classroom is X Y and Z. This is very discouraging because
I want to be able to better relate what I am learning and what I am observing.
This teacher seems to be very intimidating to the students. He has
repeatedly said and done things to the students that I feel is unacceptable.
He threw a piece of chalk at a student who made a simple math mistake.
He has used the student as an example in front of their peers on several
occasions. The only time he smiles is when he takes attendance.
He seems happy if a particular student is sick openly in front of the class.
He told the class in a history lesson about the revolutionary war that
he “hates the French.” He did not say why he said he hated them.
Although he does all of these activities the students seem to understand
his actions and laugh. I am sure that he has made a certain rapport
since that beginning of the year that I am unable to see. I can assume
that the kids understand him better then me however I questions his actions.
One day he had a conversation with me where he stated that teachers should
not care about their students because that is their parents job not the
teachers. I disagree with him on this as well. One thing that
I did like about him is that he will eat lunch with the students if they
do their homework. The students seem to like this and it motivates
them. I can truly say that I am having a unique experience.