Field Experience

Trinity Christian College Field Experience Form

Context for Learning

Description of School and Students

About the School Where You Are Observing or doing Field Experience

School Name and City: Ridge Lawn Elementary, Chicago Ridge

Type of School: Elementary school

Setting: Urban

Write your responses to the three questions below in paragraph form.

1.     List any special features of the school or classroom setting (e.g., themed magnet, classroom aide, bilingual, co-taught with a special education teacher, pull-out program).

The classroom is co-teaching model, with a ELL support teacher. There is one head theacher Mrs. Johnson. In Mrs. Johnson's classroom there is a co-teaching ELL teacher, she is in the classroom for the 40 minutes of the reading period and then takes 7 children with her to her own classroom. There is an aide for half the day that assesses any IEP students. 

2.     Describe any district, school, or cooperating teacher requirements or expectations that affects the planning or delivery of instruction, such as required curricula, pacing plan, use of specific instructional strategies, or standardized tests.

The district currently uses McGraw Hill curriculum, WonderWorks. Their standardized test currently administered are MAP tests, and PARCC tests. The requirements have been set  by the Common Core State Standards for students to be ready for standardized testing.]

3.    For special education only: List any educators with specialized expertise in the school/district (e.g., specific disabilities, subject-specific pedagogy, English language development, speech therapists).

About the Students in this Class [Give a brief or one word response]

1.   Estimated percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch: 100%

2.   Grade level(s): 2nd

3.   Number of

a.   students in the class: 27

b.   males: 16

females: 11

c.   English language learners: 7

d.   students identified as gifted and talented: 5

e.   students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans: 2

4.   Complete the chart below to summarize required accommodations or modifications for students receiving special education services and/or students who are gifted and talented as they will affect instruction. As needed, consult with your cooperating teacher to complete the chart. The first row has been completed in italics as an example. Use as many rows as you need.

Special Education Category	Number of Students	Accommodations, Modifications, and/or Pertinent IEP Goals
Example: Learning Disability	Example: 4	Example: Close monitoring, follow up, and Resource Room
ELL Students	7	Aide is usually in small groups and assessments and worksheets are read to. They also have modified assignments, extended time on assignment as well.
Students with Developmental Delays	2	Aide is usually in small groups and assessments and worksheets are read to. They also have modified assignments, extended time on assignment as well.

About the Class You Observed

1.   How much time is devoted each day to instruction in the classroom? Describe the class periods (if applicable)? Choose a content area of your specialty or major. How much time is devoted to teaching that subject?

ELA and Math are scheduled for 120 mins each. Instructional time is only 20 minutes out of the 120 mins, some days are more about reading than math. However, the teacher utilized stations, each station has something for the students to benefit from the lesson. She would be sure to model each assignment of what the students were required to do. For science or social studies if it is part of the agenda for the day it is about 20 mins each if needed more time teacher will take some of the reading time from the day. 

2.   Is there any ability grouping or tracking? If so, please describe how it affects your class.

When teacher assigns groups she uses color coded based off of standardized testing. There will be 5 groups and each station lasts for about 20 minutes. Teacher uses this time to see the ability of all her students, but uses her time to go mainly to check on her ELL students and students with IEP's.

3.   Identify any textbook or instructional program you primarily use for instruction. If a textbook, please provide the title, publisher, and date of publication.

The district uses the curriculum of Reading Street, The classroom uses Lead 21 books and Writing Workshop.

4.   List other resources (e.g., SMARTBoard, manipulative, online resources) used for instruction in this class.

In the classroom, other resources that are used. We use a Smart Board/White board, a projector, chrome books, camera projector. There is even a classroom library that is full of  leveled readers, they are organized by student's interest. 

5. What do you know about what your students know, what can they do, and what are they learning to do? What do you know about your students’ everyday experiences, cultural backgrounds and practices, and interests?

      The students are from the Chicago Ridge area it has a very low income rate, many new comers come to the Chicago Ridge area. There is no parent involvement, parent involvement is usually low. The students are into Youtube, Fortnite, Slime, Video Games. Students come from different culture. 

  

6. Describe one teaching event. What best practices in teaching were used?

    One teaching event that really stuck out to me was the multiplication around the world. Teachers from both second grade classrooms played this game at the same time in their classrooms it was a competition which classroom can multiply the fastest. The teachers had 5 minutes on the clock and a stack of multiplication flashcards. The students are to stand in a line and say the facts. Each student will answer one and go to the end of the line and repeat. Once the timer goes off the teachers will count their cards that were correct and write it down on their charts outside their classroom. Every Friday this event occurs. This was a great way to get all the kids involved. The teacher always stated "competition is key."