UVUEDELjessica

 I have observed Mrs. Porritt engaging her class in many ways. Mrs. Porritt applied for a grant and received funds to hatch fish in a tank at the school. Once per week the students go to the tank and measure different metrics. They see if there is any visual change in the fish. Examples are: Have they grown? Are they more energetic? Are they being social or keeping to themselves?  They also take measure the temperature of the water and take water samples. When they get back to class they add chemicals to the water to measure the levels in the water and make sure it is healthy for the fish. They then broke into groups to discuss the differences they noticed and to predict what changes they may see the next week. The types of learning used in this multi-week activity are project-based, hands-on, and conversation. Another ongoing class project is hydroponic gardening. Mrs. Porritt wrote another grant to purchase a seven-foot-tall hydroponic growing center that is in the back of t...

My cooperative teacher, Mrs.Porritt, offered the students a choice as they began their Math activity. She explained to them that the project would take approximately 45 minutes. She explained that through rounding they would solve puzzles to help them figure out a mystery. She gave them the choice of solving the mystery on their own, with one partner, or with a larger group. She emphasized that the choice was theirs to decide if they wanted to work in a group and if they did how big it would be. I was interested to see that there were two large groups, many groups of three, and a few groups of two, and three students that chose to work alone. As I walked around observing they all had a different experience solving the mystery. I could tell the choices made them feel some control over the outcome of the activity.  Mrs. Porritt establishes a positive relationship with each student by taking a moment each day to connect with them. As the students came into the classroom in the mornin...

I am doing my service learning hours with Mrs. Porritt. I spent a full school day with her and learned that she uses a combination of all three learning styles.  Behaviorism- Positive behaviors are reinforced while negative behaviors are discouraged. She uses “class bucks”. When someone volunteers to answer a question, is on task, or does something kind for someone in their class she makes a tally mark by their name on the board. At the end of the day, a student is assigned to hand out class bucks for every tally mark. Negative behavior receives a fine that must be paid at the end of the day. There is a jar at the front of the class that is marked “smart cookie”. There are fake chocolate cookies that are put in the jar when the class as a whole is on task and following directions. The reward for this is a class-wide reward such as 5 minutes more recess or 5 minutes more read-aloud time.  Cognitivism- A lesson was taught about the 7 natural wonders of the world. A hook was used...