Hoelzel

Grace Hoelzel
Professor Suk
EDUC 230-01V Education Field Experience
Spring Semester 2021
Rationale Statement Standard #3

Standard Three: Learning Environments

The teacher works with others to create environments that support individual and

collaborative learning, and that encourage positive social interaction, active

engagement in learning, and self motivation (NJ Professional Teaching Standards,

2014, p.4).

Artifact: Observation #1 Setting

Date of Completion: Spring 2020

Course Completed in: EDUC 212 Foundations of Education

This artifact is an observation document where I specifically observed the setting

and classroom procedure in a Montessori classroom. When observing, I noticed how

the classroom setting is not only different from a public classroom, but the function of

the classroom runs differently. Montessori learning revolves around students

independently learning to fit their own needs. This artifact specifically relates back to

standard 3.iii.3 as it says, “The teacher is committed to supporting learners as they

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participate in decision making, engage in exploration and invention, work collaboratively

and independently, and engage in purposeful learning” (NJ Professional Teaching

Standards, 2014, p.5). This is demonstrated throughout my observation as I note down

how each student is learning in the class. Students are able to work on their own

learning lessons to progress at their own pace and develop their own capabilities, while

being able to interact with their peers and work together to learn as well.

When observing, I learned how crucial a classroom set up could be to student

learning and how different a Montessori classroom is compared to a public one. After

taking part in an observation, it made me notice that the little things matter and

something as simple as the set up of a classroom is important. Something that I had

noticed about Montessori is their environment seems to be more simple looking with a

set up of wooden or glass material as well as little to no desks or group tables. I think

that something as simple as the foundation of a room reveals a lot of the kind of

learning students are having in a classroom.

My observation is something I would use in the future because I was able to

teach myself how to look closer into why classrooms are set up in specific ways and

what they can reveal with how students are being taught and how they are learning. I

think it is also important to acknowledge that a Montessori classroom and their

classroom environment is different from others, and there are various learning

philosophies. It is about choosing one that you believe is right and could benefit your

child the most.

Reference
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New Jersey Professional Standards for Teachers Alignment with InTASC. (2014, August
4). Retrieved from New Jersey State Department of Education:
https://www.state.nj.us/education/profdev/profstand/ProfStandardsforTeachersAli
gnmentwithInTASC.pdf