Even though we participated in an orientation for each of our summer placements, I really didn’t know what to expect on our first day (July 5th). At La Casa de Don Pedro, we had another orientation session on the 5th where we discovered that the schedule for each class had not been finalized because they were (are?) still waiting for parents to return permission slips. We also learned that there are only three classrooms for the six classes that we were assigned to, so there are up to four of us in each room, plus the two teachers, four high school volunteers, and the students!
Hazel mentioned that because there are so many adults in the classrooms, she would appreciate our help organizing the library, cleaning the supply closet, creating bulletin boards, etc. On Monday, July 9th, Deborah, Chamara, and I started work on cleaning, arranging, and organizing the library for the students. We pulled all of the books from the room so we could move around the furniture and create a more welcoming space for the students. We categorized the books by genre and reading level, and were able to find multiple copies of some of the books that in turn can be used for literature circles or book clubs. On Tuesday, Chamara and I took the categorized books and found homes for them on the newly arranged shelves in the library. Evan and Joe helped me store excess copies of books while Chamara tackled the storage closet, finding and arranging art supplies and other materials that we can use while working with the children.
On Wednesday, I assisted Joanne and Keshia with their lesson on money. It was the same material I was supposed to teach to my group the following day since their group was going to go to the pool. However, on Thursday we found out that the older group was not leaving until 11:00, so Joanne stayed with the older group and let them finish the Community Game they started the previous day. The Community Game is set up like monopoly, but instead of fake money, the students balance a checkbook, making deposits and withdrawals. They wok on their math skills, while having fun and gaining skills that relate to their lives outside of the classroom. Keshia and I took the younger students downstairs and taught them the lesson the older students participated in on Wednesday. I think we successfully worked together to co-teach the lesson and engage the students. After explaining the Community Game to the students, we let them go back upstairs to play it in their classroom. Keshia, Joanne, and I went around to the groups, helping the students when they needed it, and engaging them in academic and non-academic conversations.
I am very happy to be at Abington Elementary for my summer placement. The lead teacher, security guards, custodians, and the other employees I have come into contact with have been very helpful and friendly. After the orientation for the NPS Summer Program, I thought that activities for the children would be planned out everyday and that there would be a great degree of structure to the program. This has not been the case, but I think the students seem to enjoy the freedom they have to move from one activity to the next.
On the first day we had no supplies. Over the past week, we have slowly been getting materials delivered to us. On Thursday, Deb and I were surprised by the delivery of a curriculum we, along with the other teachers, are supposed to teach to the students. The curriculum is about Native Americans, their history and culture. I have no idea how we are going to get over 110 students of varying ages to write in journals, complete assignments, and want to learn about Native Americans when they have gotten use to the freedom the summer program has given them thus far.
Our lead teacher told us that we are supposed to incorporate the theme into all of the art projects and other assignments we do with the students. We were delivered art supplies to use with the students, but they do not clearly align with the theme of Native Americans. We received puff balls, a handful of beads, string, pipe cleaners (A LOT of pipe cleaners), as well as glue, scissors, and paint (with four paint brushes?!?). There doesn’t seem to be enough supplies for all of the students to participate in one activity, or enough supplies to last the summer. However, we are trying to work with what we have. Deb and I played around with the pipe cleaners and came up with the idea to make dreamcatchers with them. We placed one bead in the middle of it (instead of the little opening to let good dreams through), and attached ribbons to the bottoms of them. Before we left on Thursday the first groups of students were working with our lead teacher on their dreamcatchers. Because I was sick on Friday, I have not been able to see what the children created, but I look forward to seeing their creations tomorrow (even though I will have to keep a distance because my cold is still lingering).
Overall it was an interesting and thought-provoking week. I’m looking forward to the next two weeks and going on trips with the students to see how I handle the responsibilities of a field trip with the students.
The transformation of the library at La Casa is truly amazing. It went from the room equivalent of a junk drawer, to an inviting space anyone would be happy to curl up in. Your organizational skills are definitely a gift. Maybe once you retire from teaching, you can have one of those de-clutter home improvement shows!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you feel at home at Abington. It really is great that the kids are getting to know us all in a different way and that we'll already be able to give shout-outs in the hallway come the first day of school. I loved the pic that Deb sent out of you with the hoolihoops. You go girl!