In the classroom I am placed there are students that are English Language Learners that may struggle with learning the language. How do the teachers of Timpanogos Elementary Handle these students in being able to understand English and the content that is being taught? Easy! Timpanogos Elementary is one of many schools in the area that have a dual immersion program. Dual immersion is where the students are learning Spanish and English at the same time. This helps those Spanish students catch up as the English students develop a second language. Well how do they go about that? The classes are formed to the best of their ability to creating a half Spanish speakers and half English speakers. Well how do the teachers go about this? Some classrooms have teachers that are fluent in both languages while other classrooms have two teachers where they are only allowed to speak in the language that they were hired for. So a Spanish teacher may know English, but they can only talk with that teacher in Spanish. I like this school and how it helps most of those students that struggle and turn it into a strength for all those that are trying to learn a second language. It seems to me that it is a good decision that levels the educational playing field between all the students. Friday, October 30, 2015
Diversity in Today’s Schools
In the classroom I am placed there are students that are English Language Learners that may struggle with learning the language. How do the teachers of Timpanogos Elementary Handle these students in being able to understand English and the content that is being taught? Easy! Timpanogos Elementary is one of many schools in the area that have a dual immersion program. Dual immersion is where the students are learning Spanish and English at the same time. This helps those Spanish students catch up as the English students develop a second language. Well how do they go about that? The classes are formed to the best of their ability to creating a half Spanish speakers and half English speakers. Well how do the teachers go about this? Some classrooms have teachers that are fluent in both languages while other classrooms have two teachers where they are only allowed to speak in the language that they were hired for. So a Spanish teacher may know English, but they can only talk with that teacher in Spanish. I like this school and how it helps most of those students that struggle and turn it into a strength for all those that are trying to learn a second language. It seems to me that it is a good decision that levels the educational playing field between all the students. 
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Lesson 5: History of American Education
Some of the historical landmarks I am seeing in the classroom that I volunteer in are the following:
Section 504. I see that there is a student that has difficulty in being able to form thoughts and place in on paper in a written format. Most people can pick up a pencil and write on whatever topic on the drop of a dime. This student struggles so the teacher allows this student when writing papers to draw out what story they want them to write about and put their thought process into creating a fictional story. This helps the student get their brain moving and the pictures are used as a key to help them in the creation of their story when they actually type it up.
American Disabilities Act. The school that I volunteer at is a triple story building and there are many steps to get up to all the floors. Those students that have wheelchairs there are elevators and doors that provide access for those that need such accommodations.
Individuals Disabilities Act. I am not an expert on all the laws that go into helping students that are at a disadvantage compared to their peers, but I feel like this law is the most helpful for those that struggle in their learning. This allows the teacher to build IEPs to the students own personal situation and be able to accommodate and structure lessons toward that student. I have seen this the strongest in the class that I observe in. I saw some students in the resource room that were first graders that were learning letters as if they had never seen the letters before when I know that students should be introduced to those letters in kindergarten but with this law teachers can help students get caught up that may be behind others.
Section 504. I see that there is a student that has difficulty in being able to form thoughts and place in on paper in a written format. Most people can pick up a pencil and write on whatever topic on the drop of a dime. This student struggles so the teacher allows this student when writing papers to draw out what story they want them to write about and put their thought process into creating a fictional story. This helps the student get their brain moving and the pictures are used as a key to help them in the creation of their story when they actually type it up.
American Disabilities Act. The school that I volunteer at is a triple story building and there are many steps to get up to all the floors. Those students that have wheelchairs there are elevators and doors that provide access for those that need such accommodations.
Individuals Disabilities Act. I am not an expert on all the laws that go into helping students that are at a disadvantage compared to their peers, but I feel like this law is the most helpful for those that struggle in their learning. This allows the teacher to build IEPs to the students own personal situation and be able to accommodate and structure lessons toward that student. I have seen this the strongest in the class that I observe in. I saw some students in the resource room that were first graders that were learning letters as if they had never seen the letters before when I know that students should be introduced to those letters in kindergarten but with this law teachers can help students get caught up that may be behind others.
Schools have progressed so far from what they were a hundred years ago, Brown vs Board of Education was a landmark that includes all races in the process of learning an education and that all are entitled to it and I believe this can even extend to those students that may be disabled. Even schools are helping those of different cultures that may be at a disadvantage due to language barriers be able to overcome their differences so that they can learn the topics taught in school. The school that I observe is a duel language enrollment which students learn English and Spanish and this is good for those students that have no idea about english and helps those born here to learn a second language. I think this is good to help students not feel ostracized for their language differences and puts all students on the same level as each other.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Engaging Learners in Today’s Classrooms
I was able to see the use of technology. Students would trace their name over and over to get into the rhythm and precision they would need to make a legible name that they would need to use in their futures. Sometimes the students would get bored over the repeated and dull tasks so the teacher would then place the students on iPads and there was a game/app that students would practice tracing letters and words to help them in their writing abilities.
Another use of engaged learning was another activity with the use of names. Instead of tracing the letters in the name the teacher had them afterwards as a reward dump dozens of tiles with letters on them and the students would search through the mess and find the letters in their names. This would help them become familiar with what letters are in their name and what letters they need to anticipate in the creation of it.
The last activity I found interesting was one where the teacher was trying to get this special needs student to write a short story. The student was very intimidated and could not formulate their story like most people normally do on paper with pencil. So the teacher gave the student paper and pencil and they would draw out a story similar to a comic book or picture book and then use that as an outline in the creation of their short story.
One activity that I found was engaged in learning, but I didn't think it engaged the learning part, just the engaged part. The teacher every week would try to teach the students new letters of the alphabet, They would play this game with the students where they would scatter the letter they were focusing on with other cards that had symbols such as % $ & # signs and students would need to hop of the letters that they were mastering. So the first week they needed to hop on the letter M across the carpet. Then the next week the teacher could have them hop on both or one letter being M and P this week. I feel like the activity did not stretch the learning and that it was just a game that required remembering patterns as the students would jump to different letters and miss every now and then. Plus I thought it was not good to have other symbols when they should be using all letters to develop the ability to differentiate between letters.
Another use of engaged learning was another activity with the use of names. Instead of tracing the letters in the name the teacher had them afterwards as a reward dump dozens of tiles with letters on them and the students would search through the mess and find the letters in their names. This would help them become familiar with what letters are in their name and what letters they need to anticipate in the creation of it.
The last activity I found interesting was one where the teacher was trying to get this special needs student to write a short story. The student was very intimidated and could not formulate their story like most people normally do on paper with pencil. So the teacher gave the student paper and pencil and they would draw out a story similar to a comic book or picture book and then use that as an outline in the creation of their short story.
One activity that I found was engaged in learning, but I didn't think it engaged the learning part, just the engaged part. The teacher every week would try to teach the students new letters of the alphabet, They would play this game with the students where they would scatter the letter they were focusing on with other cards that had symbols such as % $ & # signs and students would need to hop of the letters that they were mastering. So the first week they needed to hop on the letter M across the carpet. Then the next week the teacher could have them hop on both or one letter being M and P this week. I feel like the activity did not stretch the learning and that it was just a game that required remembering patterns as the students would jump to different letters and miss every now and then. Plus I thought it was not good to have other symbols when they should be using all letters to develop the ability to differentiate between letters.
Sunday, October 4, 2015
Should we still have older leaders in the church?
These ordinary men have undergone a most extraordinary developmental process that has sharpened their vision, informed their insight, engendered love for people from all nations and circumstances, and affirmed the reality of the restoration (of the Gospel),” Bednar went on to say. “I have witnessed repeatedly my brethren striving diligently to fulfill and magnify their responsibilities while struggling with serious physical problems. These men are not spared from affliction. They are blessed and strengthened to press forward valiantly while suffering in and with affliction.”
-David A Bednard
Oct 3, 2015
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