Release Hours April 8th

On this day, I released Mrs. Stewart in the third grade. Since I have previously been placed with Mrs. Steward, I am familiar with her routine and behavioral management system. I did learn something new though. She is using a three finger system for having students to raise their hand. She asks the students raise their hand and one finger if they need to tell her something. Then, raise their hand and two fingers if they need to ask a question. Then, the third finger to ask to leave the room for some reason. For example, restroom or drink at the water fountain. I found that I really like this system. It allows for more instructional time and more time on task. Students know that they cannot (well should not) get out of their seat before raising their hand and using the finger system. I believe the only exception to this system is when the students are taking a test.

I also had to give students check marks for not following directions, talking our, or being disrespectful. In this classroom, there seems to be a great deal of special needs and differing learning levels. Some of the students were talking out and being disrespectful in questioning why when asked to do simple tasks like put their library book away, because it was time for social studies. I learned that you have to be firm because some of the students became very upset and one even started crying after I had given her checks, but it was a necessary because of her behavior.

The last thing about this classroom and something that I really liked was the system of helpers. Each morning, Mrs. Steward selects a helper by going alphabetically through the class roster. I feel that this is something that I would use in my classroom in the future. I think that it is a good system because if you have a student helper for the entire week, the student may by one that isn't enthusiastic or someone that goes to deliver the lunch count only to return 20 minutes later. I think that having one helper everyday is something that would be good to prevent this problem, at least for a week's period of time.