I am currently working as a Kindergarten special education instructional assistant. The classroom was arranged by the head teacher with the assistance of the instructional assistants who work one on one with the students in the classroom. There are areas in the classroom that I believe encourage student learning, while there are other areas in which I would reorganize when I receive my own classroom. The classroom environment and arrangement of the furniture and materials follows the theories of Maria Montessori. The classroom consists of well-defined spaces for each part of the curriculum, including language Arts, Math and Culture. Learning materials are child sized and are displayed on low accessible shelves in which foster independence as
…show more content…
The physical layout of the classroom allows students to collaborate in small groups. There are several different learning areas within the classroom including small-group area, whole-group area, reading area, writing center, cross-curricular center, computer station, creative arts center, communication area, and a listening station. The learning centers that have high activity, such as cross-curricular centers are separate from areas like the reading and writing centers where students need quiet to concentrate. There is a calming corner that was not set up because of a certain behavior reason. Instead, it was set up to help diffuse situations before they escalated into chaos, in which could lead to …show more content…
The curriculum explains that each student is required to complete at least two lessons a day without any assistance from the head teacher or instructional assistants. Also, since the classroom environment follows Montessori’s theory, the students are able to pick their own lessons and activities each day, as well as work at their own pace. I believe each student should work at their own pace. However, the freedom in the classroom that also applies to this online educational program can be challenging for certain students, such as students with behavioral disabilities, as well as the teacher. For example, Montessori believed that “students often can become more excited to learn because they’re learning about things in which they’re interested in” (cite) I agree with Montessori’s theory. However, this can be a common problem within a special education classroom. For example, a child in my class is highly interested in any technological devices, especially Reading Eggs. Yet, when it is time to transition into another lesson, such as taking a math test or going to health class, he becomes resistant and has a tantrum in which can sometimes lead to him being restrained. A Montessori classroom also consists of a strongly child-led, uninterrupted, three-hour work period” (cite). This is also something that I would change. I believe that students should be able to work at their own pace.
The physical layout of the classroom allows students to collaborate in small groups. There are several different learning areas within the classroom including small-group area, whole-group area, reading area, writing center, cross-curricular center, computer station, creative arts center, communication area, and a listening station. The learning centers that have high activity, such as cross-curricular centers are separate from areas like the reading and writing centers where students need quiet to concentrate. There is a calming corner that was not set up because of a certain behavior reason. Instead, it was set up to help diffuse situations before they escalated into chaos, in which could lead to …show more content…
The curriculum explains that each student is required to complete at least two lessons a day without any assistance from the head teacher or instructional assistants. Also, since the classroom environment follows Montessori’s theory, the students are able to pick their own lessons and activities each day, as well as work at their own pace. I believe each student should work at their own pace. However, the freedom in the classroom that also applies to this online educational program can be challenging for certain students, such as students with behavioral disabilities, as well as the teacher. For example, Montessori believed that “students often can become more excited to learn because they’re learning about things in which they’re interested in” (cite) I agree with Montessori’s theory. However, this can be a common problem within a special education classroom. For example, a child in my class is highly interested in any technological devices, especially Reading Eggs. Yet, when it is time to transition into another lesson, such as taking a math test or going to health class, he becomes resistant and has a tantrum in which can sometimes lead to him being restrained. A Montessori classroom also consists of a strongly child-led, uninterrupted, three-hour work period” (cite). This is also something that I would change. I believe that students should be able to work at their own pace.