Service Learning

Service Learning from 09/25/07
12:30- 2:00

This was my first time being in this classroom this school year, I have volunteered previously with this teacher about 4 years ago. So far the teacher is pretty much the same as I remember, diorganized! When I arrived the teacher forgot I was coming and was getting ready to walk out the door to go to a meeting. The students were still out to lunch, but were due back in 10 minutes, with a sub. The teacher asked me to relay messages to the sub for her and handed me math tests to grade and letters to cut out. The sub was late, the kids came in yelling (and bouncing off the walls), the kids did quiet down when they saw me out of curiousity (I think). The sub read the kids a book, which for the most part the kids seemed to enjoy with little interuptions. The sub forgot to take the students to music so as soon as the teacher got in the teacher had to take them, and thus her frazzled day continued. After the teacher returned from taking the kids to music, she was able to speak with me for a moment. She explained the meeting she had to go would continue again tomorrow, because the schhol was implementing a new support system for new teachers and returning teachers(she took a 2yr. leave of absence). What it is, is "A step back and beyond". A new teacher gets to observe a classroom during their reading block for the grade below what they are teaching, and the grade ahead so they can see what the students have learned and what they need to learn. They do this at different times during the year. I thought this was interesting and am curious about how effective it will be for the new teacher. I think there are other bonuses to this, the new teacher can see classroom set up, class management....