Jennifer Lung

September 24
12:30-2:30

Today was finally my first day of service learning. Unfortunately, it was not all I expected it to be. The teacher had no idea I was coming and was therefore not prepared for me. Still, the moment I walked in the door, I was asked to read a story aloud and I did so. I was later asked to write the spelling words on the board and I did. I felt as if I was told to do the things the teacher did not feel like doing.

The students, what can I say about them except they are quite rowdy. There were very few if any moments of silence during the hours I was there. I began to analyze the situation to try and figure out why the students could not even pay attention long enough to hear instructions. First, I noticed how the seating was arranged. All of the desks were apart and facing the front of the classroom. I then realized how quickly the teacher began to yell and lose her temper with the students. I would assume that the students do not like the seating arrangement and do not respond well to being screamed at.

The teacher had reward at the end of the day for students who had collected five dollars. Whenever a student is good, they receive a dollar, when they are bad, they give up a dollar. If they have five dollars at the end of the day, they can buy a piece of candy. But even if the students did not have five dollars they could convince the teacher to give them candy anyways. The whole class suddenly is centered around fighting to get more money. This, in my opinion, did exactly what it was trying to prevent, which was create chaos. I am not so sure if this is a good system for this group of students.

My next weeks in this classroom will reveal more information as to what is causing the restlessness in the children.