I had the opportunity to student teach in a first grade classroom in Oceanside earlier this year. I worked with these students for several months. I watched students grow as readers and commit new addition and subtract facts to memory, but there is one experience related to demonstrating knowledge that is truly memorable...
In science, we studied properties of matter. The students learned about the qualities of liquids, gases, and solids. During our explorations about liquids we put water in syringes and tested different levels of compression and pressure. Definitely concepts that a first grader may struggle with, especially when it comes to using the appropriate academic vocabulary. My science group included several English Learners. I used several different strategies to include and engage these students in the learning: choral responses, sentence frames, cloze activities, and constant use of language throughout my lessons. All the students were engaged in the learning of matter, probably because they had the opportunity to experiment with water. After a few lessons, one student approached me in the hallway. Running up to me he yelled, "Ms. Turner, Ms. Turner, I learned about science outside of school." He proceeded to tell me about how he held water in a straw at dinner and how the pressure was holding the water inside the straw. The smile on his face and the use of his science vocabulary filled me with joy.
I realized I can encourage learning outside the classroom. I can fill my students with the necessary knowledge to go out and explore the world. I want to reach students of all levels and ages. I learned that all the strategies I used to model, explain, engage, and share were working. I learned I need to continually understand and acknowledge the strengths of my students. This is one of my teaching experineces that keeps me enthusiastic and motivated to reach all my students.
