Blog 5: Discussing Poverty

I created a program that I am spear heading in my classroom this year to teach my students about the Holiday Season and that we all are not from the same walks of life.  That not everyone will get an iPod or new video games this Christmas.  There are those out there that would cherish a jacket to stay warm on those cold mornings here in Arizona.  So I created a gently used jacket drive to help promote the idea of giving to others and thinking of others before themselves during this Holiday season.  I have created some discussion already in the classroom and my students seem really excited. The idea that children will come to school in a warm coat to start the day off sets a tone for the rest of their day. 
The idea that not everyone around you in class comes from the same background is something that can be very hard for students to understand and even more in a special education setting.  Students need to know and understand that no matter the background, if others live in a house with four other families or they share clothes to make things work...that's ok.  We do not judge on that, we are at school to learn and to grow.  Not to judge.  I teach a lot about respect and everyone being equal in my classroom and to always be supportive of each other and that includes the fact that we do not all come from the same background.  I hope that in teaching respect, kindness, and equality it helps my students grow to understand no matter where they are to always treat people fairly and to never look down on someone for what they might or might not have. 

Blog 4: Formative Assessment

As I stated on my video, I couldn't video tape my student this quarter but what I did do was take a test that was to be above grade level for him from last year.  I had him take this test because I felt from other classroom work, he was working at a higher level than what was given to me by the past teacher and if he tested above, I want to "push" him to work harder and excel.  I gave him a second grade test and he got 90%  I was so proud of him.  As I stated, I am going to start teaching him the beginning of multiplication so that we can get him caught up to his current grade level in math.  It will take some time as he needs breaks, but this is a student that I know he can do it.  His mind works in a mathematical sense and I want to help him be stronger and have more confidence in his work.  He went from just sorting coins to now he is adding dollar amounts and creating change.  My goal is to continue to push his "limits" so that he becomes stronger and sees his accomplishments and can be proud of them.