Jennifer Lung

October 15, 2007
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm

I was once again in the fourth grade class. As soon as I walked in the door all the students were so excited to see me. They were all begging for my attention and I felt important. I felt as if I was really beginning to be welcome in the class and the students were starting to like me. I also know now that I have a greater burden on my shoulders. Now, it will be even more important for me to care for these children and help them the best I can. These students were going to now be depending on me to come in week after week and give them everything I have. I am ready and willing to rise to the challenge.

Today the teacher asked me to work with an intensive reading group. I worked with three students. We sat and read a text book, chapter after chapter. It was incredibly boring and I honestly don't see how this was helping. How could reading a text book help a child learn to read better? I am concerned for these students and their ability to succeed in school. It was difficult for the students to stay focused and I can understand why, it was boring. And that was it. I sat there for an hour and a half while the students read to me.

October 22, 2007
12:30 pm to 2:00 pm

I am starting to catch on to what's happening. At the times I am in the class is when the students are reading. So, today I went in the class and the students were reading and doing workbooks. Also, there was a substitute in the room because the teacher was in a meeting. Yay! I just walked around and helped the students that needed it. I was shocked at what one student asked me. He said, "Do cat tails grow?" I told him I didn't know. He then read the sentence to me. I realized what was going on! The story was talking about marshes and it was referring to the plant cattails. I never really realized how much students do need background knowledge to understand stories. This interested me and I have been thinking about what the child thought the whole time.

The substitute insisted the students remain in their seats and make no noise. She would not allow them to do many things their teacher allows. She told them it was because she wasn't used to it. I then thought about the children. They are not used to all of your rules. So, who is right here, the students or the sub? They both have the same exact defense! One student in the class was continually talking. She looked at him and said, "you're disappointing me." He just stared blankly back at her. I wondered if he really cared. She wasn't anyone important to him, he hardly knew her. Why would he care if he disappointed her? I now wonder if her tactics were successful. The class was quiet for the most part but what did she accomplish? A quiet, bored class that probably didn't learn anything.