Entry 7

Today was a prep day for the standardized state test. We handed out packets with sample math questions to the class.

The desks were setup like they will be for test day. The students had to work the math problems with no assistance from us.

Ms. L. had to go downstairs to get information for the exam on Wed. I was left with the class alone. As usually happens, the class started acting up as soon as Ms. L. left the room. It's aggravating when this happens. It sometimes feels like I'm not even there. I can keep small groups of the class together, but other pockets start acting up. I get them settled and then another group starts. When I try to address the class as a whole, they all start talking and acting up. I saw a teacher in the hallway I really respect and whom the students really listen too. I asked her to come in and speak with the students for me. She's wonderful and I love to watch her work with the students. The first thing she did was turn the lights off and ask the students to put their heads down. It only took seconds for them to comply. Then she said, "Good morning class.". They all responded, "Good morning Ms. V.". She then talked with them about being 5th graders and not needing to be told how to control themselves; that they should know how to behave and should be ashamed of their behavior. She talked to them about how they should listen to me; that Ms. L. should be able to leave the room and expect good behavior from them. After Ms. V. left, the students were fine, but it wasn't long before another staff person came in and stayed with me until Ms. L. came back.

It's not clear to me why the students don't respect my authority, but it is something I want to work on. I want to e.arn their respect.

Entry 6

We are settling into a routine in the classroom. The students recognize me and say hello when I come in.

Today Ms. L was getting report cards ready and I was able to help her. One part of report cards is attendance. I was amazed to see that some students had missed up to 24 days of school. Of course there were also students with perfect attendance.

One female student will often mouth-off at me. Today she asked me, "Isn't it time for you to leave yet?". Ms. L sent her to the principle. When the student came back she was humble and politely said, "Ms. B., I'm sorry.". I told her it was okay and I understood.

Many students do enjoy having me in the classroom and ask when I'll be back again and if I'll eat lunch with them. They are so sweet. I want to take them all home.

Entry 5

I met Sister Mary at her house this morning. She needed my station wagon to bring a ton of coats to school for a coat give-away. A mother at a local private school took up a collection for the children at the inner-city school and was able to provide a large number of coats. Sister Mary sent fliers home with students and contacted some families directly to let them know about the coats. She also asked teachers to identify students in particular need. The coats were very nice. There were all sizes and styles. Some were winter coats and a few were lighter. Clothing bars were set up and the coats were placed on hangers. I wasn't able to attend the actual give-away.

Entry 4

I wanted to write today about a few things I've observed. The students are obsessed with their pencils. They love their pencils and pencil sharpeners. They spend lots of time sharpening their pencils all day. They borrow sharpeners from each other. There is no sharpener in the classroom. There was one, but it broke.

The students are also particular about their shoes. I made the mistake of stepping on more than one student's foot. You would have thought the world was coming to an end. It seems to be a matter of respect with them. It's a boundary I'll be careful not to cross again. The student's reaction seemed extreme to me. Perhaps the reactions were extreme, because their shoes are one of the few items they identify as theirs alone.

These personal items, pencils and shoes, are important to the students.

Entry 3

Today when I got to school, I went straight to my classroom. The students were working on math.

I was able to go to Sister Mary's office during a break. I sorted socks and underwear for her.

School ended early today due to the teachers voting on the budget cuts. This allowed me the time to eat with my students for lunch. The kids were happy to have me sit with them and eat the same meal they were. I learned from a previous placement, eating with your internship subjects really helps put you on their level. It's a way of letting them know you consider yourself really "with" them and on equal terms.

One boy took this opportunity to tell me that no one in his class likes him, because they all think he is gay. I let Sister Mary know and she'll be getting in touch with the social worker at the school.

Entry 2

Today I started working with my 5th grade class. The teacher is Ms. L. The students are a delight.

We work on math in the morning and then move into reading.

The classroom itself is dirty. The floor is dirty. The desks need washing.

There are three computers in the room. There is a dedicated printer as well.

Basically I tried to be an extension of the teacher. I walked around to all the desks and helped the students. I'm learning some of the teaching methods used in the classroom such as "BCR" - Brief Constructive Response.

The class is getting ready for a state-wide test on english and math. This is the focus of our work right now.

Entry 1

My teacher suggested three possible internships to me today. I was most interested in the Family and Community Resource Center. This internship was the one I had my eye on when I first started this class. It's an internship with an inner-city school where ironically, the Catholic Church has a role. I placed a call to Sister Mary.

I was scheduled to come in on Feb. 4th. It was a snow day and we started two hours late. I knew the neighborhood this school was in was a known drug area. Ironically it's located near a world renowned hospital, but a few blocks away ... poverty.

Sister Mary introduced me to the program and filled out my fieldwork learning objectives. She shared a PowerPoint presentation with me and gave me a tour of the school. This school is a "full-service community school". A motto I saw often was "To succeed in school, children need a healthy family". Sister Mary works to meet this goal. She is involved with the students and their entire family.

I'll be working with a 5th grade teacher.

Inner-city School internship

I've wanted to write about an internship I did a few years back. I spent a semester at an inner-city public elementary school. I learned more at this internship about life and poverty than I ever have personally experienced. The saddest part for me; this was just one school. One small school. There are a 100 of these schools in our city and 1000's across the country where daily life is a struggle.

I believe "white-bread" America needs to spend some time in these schools. It would explain to them what is really happening in our country. Why our cities are the way there are. Why kids don't graduate from high school. Why drugs are an alternative. Why gangs are an alternative. Anything is an alternative if you life is daily chaos.

The names will be changed in my writing. I'm pulling this from a journal I kept while I was there.