Reflective Essay On Coperating Teacher

Cooperating Teacher - My clinical teacher, Jennifer Bradley, has taught: fifth, sixth, and seventh-grade literacy for one year, second grade for two years, and first grade for three years. She has a bachelor 's degree in mass media from Henderson State University and a Masters degree in early childhood education from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. Jennifer currently teaches first grade for three years, however, it has not been consecutive. She has taught in the current school she is employed at for three years as well. Jennifer uses a positive guidance approach in the classroom. She keeps her focus on good behavior, trying to reward it when possible. She practices democratic methods in her classroom such as voting, giving students …show more content…
I do take part in presenting ideas and helping with lessons. However, the actually planning of curriculum and lessons are out of my reach. They are usually always already planned out because she gets her lessons from another first-grade teacher, and then we make modifications to that lesson plan. These modifications are usually informal, we do not have an actual planning time set aside for this. The planning methods we practice are all informal. Normally we discuss them when we get a free moment in class, at lunchtime, during student pull-outs, and via texting. She tutors most days after school or has extracurricular activities to take her own children too, therefore, we are not able to stay after school and plan. Assessments are usually informal as well unless we are assessing to record scores or student progress for some type of record, which is usually only a couple times a week. If that is the case, we will take up and grade a worksheet relevant to the skill. Our informal assessment generally consists of observations during large group instruction or while students are working independently. At times, I wish that Jennifer and I had a more consistent and formal planning time, however, I am happy with how we do it now. It seems to work for both of us and we usually come up with the best ideas spur of the moment. There is formal planning time set aside for the Jennifer and the other first-grade teacher, I, however, …show more content…
Thirteen of the students are girls and nine are boys. The ability levels of the student population is mainly average and above average with a small number of students below average, including one student that has been retained. There is also one CBI student that only visits the classroom once a day for a short period of time. Of the three Hispanic children, only one receives ESL services, however, it is evident that the other two students do live in a home that speaks Spanish. Also, of those three, one is in the group of below average students and one is in the group of above average students. The student of Indian decent cannot eat pork. I met her mother at open house and she was wearing some, not all, traditional clothing. Child’s relationships with parents appear to be overall good. There are no red flags thus far. However, one child lives with father and step-mother, and they are currently in a custody dispute with her biological mother. It has been explained to us that the biological mother is unfit and in the past has manipulated the child to lie in court and make untrue accusations about the father. From what my clinical teacher and I have gathered, the general population of the class is middle and lower class. It is not released to us what students get free/reduced lunches,