Prompt #2

Within Joseph L. Smith Elementary school there are 501 students, who have very diverse racial/ethnic backgrounds. 26% of the students are African American, 5% are Asian, 35% Hispanic, 2% Native American and 35% White. So as the numbers show within this elementary school there is a larger percentage of non-white students than there are white students. 68% of the 501 students are qualified to receive reduced or free lunches.

Within Mrs. Blues kindergarten class there are 25 students, 14 female and 11 male. Within this small group of children there is at least one of every racial/ethnic background. The classroom is so diverse, so some students have similar linguistic, ethnic and sociocultural characteristics as others but then there are the few that are left without anyone. More than half of the students within this one class of 25 are qualified for reduced or free lunches because their families aren’t making a large enough income.

Some of these students of this classroom came into this setting at the beginning of the school year speaking very little English, if any. The student that Mrs. Blue said was having the most trouble, and I have come to the same conclusion is Erin. She recently moved to Rhode Island a few months before the start of the school year, her parents and grandmother speak very little English. I’m not positive what her exact language at home is but it is not English. So she has become very shy because she isn’t always sure what is being said to her of if she has the right answers.

While working with her a lot of pictures are used to try and get across what is being talked about. She will say it in her own language, and then we say what it is in English so she is able to hear and repeat what we are saying while making the connection with her first language. She also works within the larger groups just like any other student in the class. Mrs. Blue has them all participate in a sing along at the beginning of every class welcoming every student that is there that day. The student being talked about at the time steps into the middle of the rug and waves to the ones saying hello to them. They also make tons of crafts related to the materials being covered, allowing them to use their imaginations and creativity.

Mrs. Blue is a strong believer of student-centered teaching methods. She encourages them to think critically about the lessons she presents. This ranges from math lessons, to animal life, and even while reading stories. She will start reading stories, such as the one on Thanksgiving called Turkey for Thanksgiving, and instead of reading it all the way through in one shot she will stop every now and then. Asking her students questions like what should the turkey be thankful for, or what they think will happen next. She never picks on the same student that raises their hand to answer, in the hope that she will get everyone to feel comfortable sharing their ideas and thoughts. Producing the beginning stages of critical thinking that will formulate more and more as they progress through school to hopefully take with them out into society.