Running Head: FURTHERING MY LEARNING

Furthering My Learning Ashley Jordan Ivy Tech Community- College

INTASC Standards for Beginning Teachers

FUTHERING MY LEARNING Standard # 3: Learning Environments The teacher works with other to create environments that support individual and collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active engagement in learning, and selfmotivation. Name of Artifact: Service Learning Log Report #2 Date: March 09, 2013 Course: Education 101 Brief Description: For this assignment, I describe the observations pertaining to the climate/culture of Brookside Elementary School, the atmosphere and the programs that the school offers. I will get into detail about certain aspects of the climate, atmosphere and the programs that the school offers. Given this standard, I believe the environment that a child is brought up in school should be supported by individual and collaborative learning. Rationale: To document my Standard #3, Learning Environments, I included how the elementary school created environments that support individual and group learning, positive

social interaction, interest in learning, and self-motivation. This assignment helped me realize the environment that a student experiences in school is imperative especially to encourage interaction with others, active learning, and self-motivation; in the school and among classrooms. A welcoming and safe environment in schools help children build and grow to their full potential.

Introduction

FUTHERING MY LEARNING As a future teacher, it is my responsibility to stimulate social and emotional learning in my classrooms as well as in the entire school. In order to prevent violence, substance abuse and other issues in the school, I have to encourage my students to establish positive relationships, handle difficult situations in a productive way, make responsible decisions, manage their emotions, and develop caring and concern for their fellow classmates (Koch, 2012, p. 124). From observing and working with children at my Service Learning site, I have seen how important it is to have a welcoming environment, friendly atmosphere, and diverse programs for the students and the teachers. Climate/Culture Having a friendly and open climate or culture in the classroom and in the school community is essential for every school nowadays. When entering Brookside Elementary School, I automatically get the feeling of warmth and community; this is a great feeling when entering any school building. The office secretary seems to be very preoccupied, I just show her

my student ID and she tells me to go to my classroom; she is neither rude nor really nice, but she is polite. The only vending machines are located in the teachers lounge because students are not allowed to have drinks or food in their classrooms. Good behavior is rewarded when other teachers report it back to the students main teachers; the children are then given candy or some form of gift for their behavior (Roberts, 2013). Inappropriate behavior outside of the class is handled by Student Adjustment Centers (Detention), a behavioral specialist, two social workers, a mental health advisor, and midtown all of these services handle each child based on their need. Parents can be contacted daily, once a week or every once in a while depending on the students behavior; a school program called Connect Ed contacts parents once a week, a weekly newsletter is sent home and for most classes a weekly behavior chart is sent home for the parents.

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Brookside Elementary School has over 30 partnerships with other organizations of which include a couple church organizations, other elementary schools, food banks, a dentist school, Boys and Girls club, and even PNC Bank help fund and organize events or programs at the school. The culture at Brookside is very diverse, but based on students and teachers beliefs the school is open to different regulations for those that need it (Richardson, 2013). Welcoming, friendly and open describes the climate and culture of the elementary school that I attend for my Service Learning hours. Building Atmosphere When entering a school building one may get a sense of the climate of the school but more importantly when examining various areas of a school one can get a sense of the atmosphere. The atmosphere in the library in generally quiet because students are testing or reading, but there is also an art class that is held in the library due to a lack of room for an art class. As far as the atmosphere in the cafeteria, it really depends on which teachers are monitoring lunch, it really depends on the day; sometimes the atmosphere is talkative and friendly other times it is silent. The gym is often quite loud and the special areas such as music are loud depending on the day. The condition of the building is up to date and mostly accommodates the students and staff members; it was built only seven years ago. Pictures or flyers for after school programs are posted around the school along with rules for the school, the school phrase or code the school lives by, and fundraising information is noticeable on the bulletin boards. Student work is very visible throughout the school, there are pictures of drawings and projects hung outside each classroom, along the walls when entering the building and any wall space available one will see student work displayed (Richardson, 2013). Depending

FUTHERING MY LEARNING upon which area one may enter in Brookside Elementary School one can notice the atmosphere of each room. Programs Offered Surprisingly, for an elementary school, Brookside has tons of programs that are offered through the school year. Brookside has a full-time nurse, sadly no ESL teacher, two special education instructors that go to classrooms, two special education teachers that have their own classrooms, there is a behavior specialist and therapist in the special education rooms; and

Brookside has two gym teachers. Breakfast is served daily for all of the students, every students breakfast is paid for through state funding and breakfast is eaten in the classrooms. The students at Brookside Elementary School can participate in Art Reach, Boy Scouts, Girls Inc., Girl Scouts, Boners Center (similar to the YMCA), a cooking club and even Good News Club which is a bible study club. An awards program at the end of the year is the only honor roll program or event that the school acknowledges. Tutoring is available for any students that need extra help especially for ISTEP; depending upon the teacher, more tutoring opportunities may be available to students. Being an elementary school Brookside, does not have many athletic programs but they do have boys and girl basketball, soccer, and a flag football team. Ms. Richardson is the volunteer coordinator and Mrs. Harris is the parent center director; there is a meeting twice a month that parents can attend (Richardson, 2013). Brookside Elementary offers various programs for the students, teachers, and parents to get involved in throughout the entire school year.

Conclusion Brookside Elementary School is a well-structured school that offers many opportunities for all of the students that attend the school. Climate and culture inside of the school is very

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diverse while also being welcoming, open and friendly for the people that are associated with the school. The atmosphere in Brookside varies depending upon which area of the school one might engage in but overall the atmosphere is lively and accepting of its students. Countless, programs and services are offered for mainly the students, but even for teachers and parents to participate in. Personally, I enjoy spending time with the students in my first grade classroom at Brookside, and I look forward to aiding all of the students in the school!

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References Koch, J. (2012). TEACH (Vol. 13). (M. D. Kerr, Ed.) Belmont, California: Linda SchreiberGanster. Richardson, S. (2013, 02 20). Personal Communication. (A. Jordan, Interviewer) Roberts, L. (2013, 02 04). Personal Communication. (A. Jordan, Interviewer)

FUTHERING MY LEARNING Service Learning Log Report #2 Questions Climate/ Culture

1. What feeling do you get upon entering the building?

I get a feeling of community or togetherness. The school to me is very welcoming and everyone that I have encountered has been very nice and friendly.
2. How are you greeted by the office staff?

The front desk lady seems nice she isnt mean but she doesnt necessarily have a friendly nature to her. She is not rude though and is willing to help people.
3. Are there vending machines located in the common areas of the school?

In the teachers lounge

4. How is appropriate and inappropriate behavior handled outside of the classroom?

Student adjustment center- in school detention, behavioral specialist- watches children for issues, 2 social workers, mental health service, midtown-all students
5. How and how often are the parents contacted?

Connect ed- used once a week, weekly newsletter, notes sent home, parents called based on students behavior
6. What partnerships does the school have with the community?

Indianapolis Art Center, Big Brothers/Sisters, Boy Scouts of America, Brookside Neighborhood Association, Child Evangelism Fellowship of Indiana, Midtown Community

FUTHERING MY LEARNING Mental Health, NESCO, Northview Christian Church, PNC Bank, Real Med, Shepherd Community Center, The Group, United Way of Central Indiana, Reclaiming the Village, Indianapolis Public Schools IPSAC Basketball League, Dental Sealant IU School of

Dentistry, East 10th United Methodist Child & Youth, Foster Grandparent Program, Girls Inc., Gleaners Food Bank, Hoosier Road Elementary, Indianapolis Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, Ivy Tech Community-College, John H. Boner Community Center, Lantern Road Elementary, Learning Well Clinic, Marion County Public Library.

Building Atmosphere
1. What is the atmosphere in the library, cafeteria, gym, and specialty areas?

Depends on the teacher monitoring, library is quite, art class in library.

2. What is the condition of the building?

The building is quite a newer building so it is built to accommodate the staff and students. 7 years old built in 2006
3. What is displayed on the bulletin boards and the hallways of the school?

After school activities are displayed- posters, words of encouragement, pictures that the students have drawn rules are displayed. Fundraisers are posted.
4. Is the student work visible in the building? If so what and where?

FUTHERING MY LEARNING Yes, all over the school. Student drawings or projects that were done in the classrooms are outside the rooms, along with other student paintings/drawings are displayed all around the school.

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Programs Offered
1. Does the school have a full time Nurse, ESL or Special Education or Physical

Education Teacher? The school has a full time nurse through wishard, no esl teacher, 2 special ed teachers that go to the classroom,2 special ed have their own classroom. Therapist in the special ed room, behavioral specialist. 2 physical education teachers.
2. Is breakfast served at the school to all of the students? If not, to which ones?

Yes, all students eat in their classrooms. Builds community.

3. Does the school have an afterschool program? If so, what does it offer and which

students attend? Art reach through the art center-waiting list, boy scouts, girls scouts, girls inc, boners center (like the y), all students attend if they want to. Good news club-bible study, cooking club
4. Does the school have a gifted and talented or an honor roll program?

Awards day programs

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5. Does the school offer tutoring for students who need academic assistance? If so,

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when and with whom? Yes, tons of tutor, 100 students in there. Especially for istep. All after school. Teacher based
6. Does the school offer athletic or sports programs?

Boys and girls basketball, flag football, soccer

7. Does the school have a Volunteer Coordinator, Parent Center or PTA Organization?

Yes, Ms. Richardson- volunteer coordinator, No PTA for the school. Parent liaison- Mrs. Harris, parent workshops twice a month.