Portfolio #7: Reimagined Classroom

1. Five images (you can take them or they can come from the Internet [provide proper credit]). These images should reflect, in some way, what you imagine your classroom will look like once you are a teacher. Please annotate your images by providing a description of the image and how it relates to your future classroom.

This is an idea for a blackboard that will out help students to see what we will be learning this week. That we each day we can connect what we learned to what our themes are. It will help me as a teach to make lessons plans and will help us to stay organized and with a purpose in our learning. I like the idea of using the bulletin boards in the classroom as a way of displaying the things that we are learning. This bulletin board is just a springboard into what I want to do with the bulletin boards in my classroom. My students will be actively involved in helping make things to be displayed on the bulletin boards so that the bulletin boards can reflect the important things that they have learning in class rather then what I think is important.
(Picture credit https://www.pinterest.com/pin/488359153334702635/)

Reading is going to be a big part of my future classroom. So we will have a big bookshelf like this. This one is organized by letter but I will organize mine by topic so that students can easily find something to read that will interest them and they can learn to enjoy reading. And the topics of books in my classroom will be diverse. We will have all kinds of books so that each student will be able to identify with either the topic or the characters in the book. We will have a classroom library that allows kids to be introduced to many different things like people being of a different race or a different family background or where gender doesn't matter. All books in the classroom will seek to be ones that teach social justice because I want my students to be able to be introduced to many different topics in a nonthreatening way so that they can begin to accept things in a different way then adults. (Picture credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/488359153334702133/ )

Each student in my classroom will have an assigned rug spot so that when we are doing lessons up front they can sit in a set spot. It will allow for ease in doing group activities and allow me to control a where they are sitting and who they are sitting by so they can pay attention. I like the idea of having a set place to group students together to do things a class and the dots seen in this picture can help kids have their own space in a situation like this. However instead of me placing the dots on the carpet I will let the kids design their own spot so that they can express their own identity and likes. And then they will be able to choose where to put it on the carpet.
However their spot could move around if they are misbehaving or also for them to switch spots every once in awhile to get to know others in the class.(Picture credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/488359153334702127/)

This is a simple desk arrangement idea that allows for plenty of walking space to observe students and also allows all students to be able to see the front board. The fact that some students can be placed up front facing only forward is an added plus because some students are going to have a hard time paying attention. I like the back part of this desk arrangement because it allows for student to be placed in groups where they can get to know other students and also they can all see the board. Also by using only the back desk groups no one is singled out in the front row. It is important that all the students can feel comfortable in my classroom and especially in their desk. Also each desk will have the students name on it but names will not be put on desks until after the school year begins so if kids have a nickname they go by it can be placed on their desk and also so the kids can design their own name tag at the beginning of the school year. (Photo credit: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/183099541079031388/)

This door goes along with the idea of having a classroom theme each year. Based off what is on the door when the students come in then they will find a theme in the classroom which will allow us to incorporate this theme in the classroom all year. I would do this especially with books as the basis of the theme so we could use the book as a read aloud book. This will allow the theme to come alive in their imaginations as we read and learn together. At the beginning of each school year as a class we will come up with a classroom theme together. That way kids can identify with the theme that is in the classroom and they can be involved in making the classroom their own.(Photo Credit:https://www.pinterest.com/pin/AZiwuli-94T-N1jNsvMZAjPZJit4KbIIDxf8kL9oejVeSWcag5EZXIE/)


2. Imagine the surrounding in your classroom. What does the room look like? What resources are available for students? How are the resources used during the lesson? My classroom is well organized. All the desks are in a groups. Bulletin boards are decorated with fun colors and words and ideas from the students about our current study topics. Around the classroom are various shelves. One is a bookshelf full of books to encourage reading with each student keeping a book of their own choice there to read during free moments or reading time. Another is full of classroom supplies like markers, scissors, glue, tape, etc. for students to use to make crafts and do other assignments. This is used periodically throughout the day as we work on projects and assignments. Desks all have student made personalized name tags on them and are always organized in groups allowing for students to do group activities throughout the day.

3. Describe the students in your classroom. What are their backgrounds? What are their interests? What are they doing during the lesson?
The students are extremely diverse coming from many different cultures and life situations. Students are of many different ethnicities, some are poor and some are more privileged. Some have a mom and dad, some only one parent, and some have 2 moms or 2 dads. They are Each student is unique but are able to make friends within the class which makes their personalities very diverse as well as their interests. Some are shy while others are extremely loud. Two students always seem to be talking no matter what is happening in class and constantly need to be reminded to be quiet during lessons. They have wide varieties of interests. Many Some love to read, a couple some love math and science. They all love recess time and being able to play outside on the playground or play soccer. During reading time they all pay close attention as the stories make their imaginations run wild. During the math lessons some are attent and quick to answer, others eyes seem to wonder the whole lesson and when it comes time to practice the lesson they soon become confused and discouraged. And as always two students continue to talk and goof off during the lessons with only a slight idea of what is really going on. During lessons students are doing various things. Depending on the topic some are more interested and engaged then others. Some students like to participate by raising their hands while others blurt out answers. Other students remain quiet or find distractions in talking with other students or playing with things in their desks. Some days are better then other days with certain students that struggle with anxiety or depression or ADHD.

4. Describe your classroom policies. What are your classroom rules? What is your discipline plan? What are your homework policies?
Our classroom policies include respect for each other,and an inclusion policy. We will recognize and accept the differences between individual students and seek to have a classroom environment in which all students feel comfortable. When students must be disciplined it will be done in such a way that they are not singled out. If necessary students will be pulled to the side quietly to be talked to one on one about behaviors that need to change. students must line up in a straight line and be still and quiet before we can leave the classroom to go anywhere else. Students must be on task in class or they will be spoken to individually in order to understand why it is important for them to do their work. We will be open to the ideas of others and be understanding of their points of views. Discipline will include students being moved if they are being disruptive. It that does not work then students will be placed by themselves for a time to complete the assignments and work. If students do not complete their homework they will be required to stay in for recess in order to finish it. Homework will be minimal as most assignments will have time to be done in class but if not finished it will be required to do them outside of class and bring them the next day. If students will be asked to do their best on homework but it if they cannot figure out to do a few things but have done their best effort they will not be penalized and will be given time to ask questions and receive help in class the next day. On some assignments such as reading assignments a parent or legal guardian may be required to sign off that homework has been completed. However home situations will be taken into consideration and if a student has a valid reason for not being able to complete homework outside of class because of a situation at home they will not be punished.

5. Describe a typical lesson you will teach in your classroom. What will you teach? What is the topic? Why did you choose this topic? How will you teach it? What is the main thing you want students to learn during this lesson?
In my classroom we will focus on math. I have chosen this subject because I want to help my students understand math in an easy way. They need to start off with a good basis in order to excel later on in other classes. Today we will be focusing on addition. We will be using black beans for them to be able to count out the number and then add them together so that they can learn visually. While they do this they will have to fill out a work sheet with their answers to addition problems. Hopefully by doing so they will be able to get a hands on approach understanding of what it means to do addition and they will fill confident in their abilities to take a test on addition tomorrow. For homework they will be given a bag of black beans to take home along with a worksheet of story problems. These story problems will be simple such as Tommy and his 2 fathers have 2 apples and bought 4 more. How many apples do they have now? That way students can be introduced to different family situations while practicing and mastering addition.

6. Imagine your work as a teacher during this lesson. What are you doing during the lesson?
As the lesson begins I will be in the front of the classroom explaining what it is we will be do. Then after my example I will walk around and make sure that all the students are on task and are actually working on the assignment. I will give help when asked questions or when I see a kid that is struggling so that they are all able to get the assignment done. Also I will encourage students to work together and help each other if a nearby classmate is struggling. I will constantly be making sure that our classroom rules of respect and inclusion are being enforced and that all kids feel comfortable regardless of their ability of mastering the math lesson as some will probably struggle more then others.

7. Imagine your students again, what are they doing during the lesson?
During the lesson most of the students are working on the assignment but a few are just playing with the black beans while talking completely having forgotten of the math assignment they are supposed to be working on. But in general all of the students are happy to be learning something in a new way and to be able to do a fun activity. During the lesson my students are doing various things. Some kids are focused on listening to the instructions while others are playing with the black beans on their desks. And when given the assignment some of the students are finishing quickly while others are getting frustrated because they do not understand what is going on. Some of the students that understand are helping those that are struggling. We have a few students that are having a hard time focusing on the lesson because they keep playing with the black beans but when reminded of what they need to be doing they are able to start working on the assignment once again.

8. Imagine how you will assess your students' learning and achievement. How will you know they have learned?
In this lesson I will assess learning based on how well they have done on the assignment but also they will have a worksheet for homework to assess how if they really understood the lesson and will be given a small quiz in class the next day. I will know what they have learned and what they are still struggling with based off of how well they do on the assignment and quiz which will allow me to see if I need to reteach things or if we need more practice until all the students have mastered the basic ideas. We will assess learning in many different ways since each student will learn and achieve differently. Sometimes we will have in-class discussions of the topics that we went over the day before so students can review the things that we talked about the day before. Sometimes we will have tests or quizzes so students can see their progress in certain topics. Sometimes we will have writing assignments where students can write about the things they learned. And this will constantly be changing based on how the students do in these different activities. I want to keep an open mind as a teacher and realize that not all students learn and relay information the same way. So I will use this activities to see how well they have grasped a topic. If students can show me that they have learned something new or they have mastered a skill like spelling or addition then I will know that they are learning and making achievements.

After taking this class my whole perspective of being a teacher has changed. I have come away with a completely different perspective of my role as a teacher and I was able to change a lot about my classroom so that it could be a space in which my students can feel comfortable regardless of their race, class, sexual orientation, religion, etc. I want ALL my students to feel like they have a place in making our classroom and that they can identify with our classroom in some way with it be in a classroom theme, the bulletin boards, books in the classroom or any other thing. I realize that I have to be a teacher for my students not for myself and in doing so I have to focus more on what is right for them and what will make them feel comfortable. What will help them learn, how can I help them to include all people and not have prejudice, is my curriculum inclusive of all students? These are going to be questions that are constantly on my mind. So in all the sections of this assignment I added something that allowed for me to expand my horizons as a teacher while at the same time taking out ideas that I have come to realize show my white privilege and desire to control everything.I have realized that I have a lot to work on personally and it is going to be a long process of working to be accepting off all people but I have come to realize how important and necessary this is in order to give my students the chance to succeed. And I want to make sure that a student is never singled out for being different or for something going on in the classroom so that they can learn. I hope that by creating a safe and inclusive classroom environment that all my students can learn and grow. And that together as a class we can succeed.