What I did and Where
Classroom Observation at Lighthouse
Classical Academy, Carrollton, GA.
Web: www.lchacarrollton.com
Phone: 770-830-9886
Stingrays Swim Club Observation at South
Georgia State College, Douglas, GA
Web: www.sgsc.edu
Phone: (CM Jenkins) 912-393-4617
Carrollton Bluefins Swim Association
Observation in Carrollton, GA
Web: www.carrolltonbluefins.com
Phone: (John Pepper) 678-429-3156
Time Stamps
Tuesday, August 29st, 2017
8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Friday, September 1st, 2017
11:00 am 12: pm
Total Hours: 4.50
Thursday, September 28th, 2017
4:30 pm 6:45 pm
Total Hours: 2.25
Saturday, October, 28th, 2017
7:15 am 12:15 pm
Total Hours: 5.00
Total Hours: 11.75
Overview
So essentially what I did at Lighthouse was I
observed the elementary and middle grade
classes, specifically a composition class and a
math class. What I learned was magical
because the kids were in small groups, and
that, I believe, is the source of rich discussion
and therefore, rich learning.
I sat and observed some middle school-aged
kids being taught how to swim all the strokes
and realized that a lot of them came to
practice because it was a routine that their
parents mentioned that worked best for them
and their family. Some of them were quite
aware that swimming wasn't what they
wanted to do with their energy and were very
verbal about it, however, their parents
seemed to be stifling them.
I sat through three consecutive practices at
my home club team in Carrollton one
Saturday when I went home for the weekend.
Things had changed since I was there last,
but the organizational and social skills that
the children picked up were pretty much the
same. I noticed that the coaches had been
trained a little bit more than when I was in
high school, which benefited the kids, since
the coaches knew how to teach the strokes
more clearly and knew how to deal with the
kids who had out of control energy. I was
invited to stay about 20 minutes after all the
kids had left so that I could help clean up the
pool deck and review with the other coaches.
 Reflective Reports

Lighthouse Classical Academy, Carrollton, Gerogia

If it weren't for places like Lighthouse, there would be hundreds of children without a place they could feel safe being themselves in an

academic environment. I admire the effort the teachers put forth in preparing lessons and healthy discussion environments for each of the

classes provided (3rd 12th), and know that the more time I spend in this kind of environment, the easier it will be for me to replicate that in

my own classroom. In the composition class for the elementary and some of the middle grade children, the teacher asked the children to read

aloud their homework from the previous week, which was basically a short story that they rewrote. I thought this was a good idea because it

allowed for the children to learn the style or the rhythm so to say, that a written story has. This allows for children who want to be story-

tellers to be inspired and to practice what their life's work might look like. The teacher also asked the kids to recite the grammar rules they

learned from last week as an informal assessment. There were two kids that had a hard time recollecting the grammar rules word for word,

but they understood the general idea of them. I made a mental note that if any of my children expressed difficulty in remembering rules, I

could incorporate arts and crafts into the lesson because sometimes just writing words doesn't mean anything to children, especially if they

have an undiagnosed learning disability.

In the math class, the teacher asked the kids to do some of their homework for the coming up week right there in the classroom. I think this is

a good idea because it allows for the teacher to make sure that they're doing everything correctly. Even though I plan on teaching language

arts, I can translate this into my lesson plan by letting the children do in-class work as I watch and critique as needed. Since the kids I plan

on teaching will be more comfortable with writing on their own sometimes, I want to provide them with as many opportunities to write and

reflect on their work.

Stingrays Swim Club, Douglas, Georgia

This swim club, run by CM Jenkins at South Georgia State College, is essentially a stroke clinic for kids who are interested in joining their

school swim teams, since Coffee Middle and High schools offer swim teams. Many of the children expressed fiery interest in the sport while

others struggled to maintain their attention to pool related activities. These children, if their coach struggled to maintain patience, were often

disruptions to the entire class. These children would splash their peers and the coach, pull others down in the water, or not do what they were

told. The parents of some of these children notified the coaches, as well as myself, that their child had ADHD, or ADD. Some of these

coaches, despite knowing about these conditions, expected these children to remain still and calm. I made a mental note that when I

encounter particularly hyper children, I will help channel their energy into constantly doing something, because I noticed that these children

could actually be pretty speedy children if they weren't always told to be quiet. And it's oftentimes easier, actually, to make these kids swim

constantly until the time is up. As long as they aren't being strained too much, this gives them the chance to practice what I want them to do

anyway.

One thing I don't want to ever happen is my patience running out. I already have the patience of a turtle, but I know that I will have days

when I just want everything to be perfect. I think that's why it is so important to realize that learning is a two-way street; it is not merely a

place where a mother bird shoves worms down her young's throat. The classroom is a learning environment for everyone present. I firmly

believe that being a teacher means you have to me humble. There are going to be times when even I, the supposed experienced one, does not

know everything, but even that is okay. The children need guidance and instruction, not a totalitarian ruler. Children figure things out on

their own much of the time, and with patience and acceptance, much can get done in the classroom and children can be inspired to do the

same with their peers.

Carrollton Bluefins Swim Association, Carrollton, Georgia

The coaches involved with nurturing these talented swimmers have one thing in common: they are always willing to learn something new

about the sport that they themselves never experienced. Honestly, the whole thing about teaching is humility in that there are going to be

newer and more relevant ways in going about doing something than there was before. It's so easy to think Oh, well, I never did that as a kid

and so it probably won't work, but in reality, changing up routine every no and then is healthy for both the children and the teacher. Comfort

in routine is dangerous because it does not stretch the mind to do things it could do all along.

Something I noticed about the kids on the team was that they were as involved as their coach was. There were three groups, named Bronze,

Silver, and Age Group 4, which had children ranging from 6 to 12 years of age. Essentially, what these groups did was that they would warm

up sometimes there would be kids who would come late, but the coaches were still welcoming to them because tardiness isn't necessarily

the child's fault at this age. The coaches would say Hey, how are you, or what did you do today or I'm sorry you're not feeling well, you

don't have to use a kick board if it hurts your arms. Too often, teachers tend to stay out of hallways and focus on what goes on in their own

rooms, but honestly, it's hard to manage a whole group of kids (sometimes these groups can be over 10 persons large) when they have had

something happen to them outside the class that makes them not want to do so much. It's mandatory that the teacher(s) assess how each child

is feeling at the start of a lesson so that they will know how to treat the child during that time. This is not saying that teachers should treat

each individual differently, but that there are days when it is necessary to be more gentle or more firm with a child when it comes to

completing tasks set before them. And there are times when the children need someone that believes in them. All too often, parents compare

their children in front of others and disregard the uniqueness of their own child. I grew up being told that no one is special because special

implies there are ranks but everyone is unique, and I want my classroom to know that sometimes reality is indeed magical and beautiful.