Vegas Verde Classroom Observation

Tearra Camacho
Mrs. Ho
10/18/16

The classrooms I had the chance to observe were Mrs.Hertzfelds self-contained Pre-k
class, Ms. Frost and Ms. Chavezs, Title 1 Inclusion Pre-K and Ms. Langston, Kids Program
Pre-K. Each class was unique in a way as their students are but the instruction was the same. The
teacher's main job was for the students to grow motor skills, all teachers were also paying really
close attention to the students activities and making sure everyone is okay. I saw a lot of great
things today, one in the self-contained class it was recess and all the kids were waiting in line
patiently to go through the slide. I expected different, like having a student being impatient but
everyone was waiting for their turn. In the title 1 class they were doing centers and it was great
seeing students being disciplined to clean after each center and see what center interested the
kids the most. I think that was the most important to them because it shows the student's
character and what they like or don't. In the Kids Program there was one student, Sebastian and
what I saw the most was the way he wanted attention, hed jump around and talk loudly and go
up to us and do crazy moves and it was interesting to see what kids arent afraid and open their
shell to us. A challenge I saw in the self-contained class was when the two boys were fighting
over a stick, and I knew this problem would be resolved if there was another stick. Instead the
teacher took the stick and throw it away which solved the problem, because if two cant have it
no one can. In the title 1 class there were two girls on the music center and they wanted to listen
to their song but they did not know how to share it so the teacher came and said that one song
can go first then the other. I would have done the same thing as what the teacher said but then I
wouldnt know whose choice of a song should go first, but sometimes there needs to be hard
choices.

I observed the management theory of Skinner while my time in the self-contained class
when the teacher said there will be a consequence if the student wouldn't listen next time. Then
the next time the student stopped and did what he had to do. I dont believe there was a lot of
accommodations all the Pre-K class looked like they were doing the same things just at different
times. Their main focus was gross motor skills and getting the kids active and involved. In the
Kids Program it was a lot different and smaller and one kid was learning how to be vocal and it
seems as if their focus was to do more life learning like the autism kids in Clark. I think a great
challenge for teachers at this stage is paying attention to all students, students really like the
attention on themselves and dont like to share that. Also the students walk around a lot and it is
important that teachers can see all students at all times.