ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT

Isabel Barbosa
Helping Kids Celebrate Diversity Through Authentic Portraits
https://www.edutopia.org/video/helping-kids-celebrate-diversity-through-authentic-
portraits
And YouTube https://youtu.be/5PC31NA-BKM

Helping Kids Celebrate Diversity Through Authentic Portraits

Helping Kids Celebrate Diversity through Authentic Portraits by Doman is a subject I have
often questioned in both my mind and those of students. Students will show me a self-
portrait and the portraits look nothing like them. Doman made a good point that as
teachers we need to make sure we have art supplies that offer the different color
variations to support our diverse student population. The strategies she suggested are
helpful in supporting student self-evaluation. Partnering students to draw each other is a
strong tool in self-realization, however before this pairing I agree that there needs to be
several lessons on the different attributes each individual person has and how this
wonderful uniqueness needs to be celebrated.

Question # 1: Why do students draw self-portraits that do not resemble themselves?

Question # 2: What can you as teacher do to support the diversified artist (learner)?
Question # 3: What does the acronym BIPOC stand for? How does this acronym relate to
your current classroom/students?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT
Isabel Barbosa
The Sensory Room: Helping Students With Autism Focus and Learn
https://www.edutopia.org/video/sensory-room-helping-students-autism-focus-and-learn
And YouTube https://youtu.be/zULwQUQDMuM

The Sensory Room: Helping Students With Autism Focus and Learn
The Sensory Room: Helping Students with Autism Focus and Learn at Hanover School in Meriden,
CT was a very compelling five minute video. The whole time I watched this video I kept thinking
that this sensory room should be in every school around the world. This sensory room should also
be in hospitals to help people cope with life stresses. Just listening to how this school has been
able to lower behavior problems and increase academics and student growth I was in awe. I
watched the video several times to learn what it would take for a teacher to try and create
something similar in their own classroom. I walked away from this video thinking what a simple
idea could create such positivity and productivity for so many people.

Question # 1: What student objectives does the sensory room meet?

Question # 2: When you think of the Sensory Room, how could you as a teacher support one for
your school?
Question # 3: What benefits do you see in using a Sensory Room in general? How would a
Sensory Room benefit a teacher? How would a Sensory Room benefit a school?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT

Isabel Barbosa
The Powerful Effects of Drawing on Learning
https://www.edutopia.org/video/powerful-effects-drawing-learning
And YouTube https://youtu.be/hntHGr8JR7o

The Powerful Effects of Drawing on Learning:

This video answered a question I have had for a long time. When I draw out a problem or
concept I can better understand the reasoning behind it. The Powerful Effects of Drawing
on Learning video from Edutopia answered my question: students remember twice as
much by drawing than students who wrote notes. Drawing helps to incorporate several
learning styles at once at the same time using the same area of the brain. Drawing is more
than just fun, it's a game changing tool for all learners.

Question # 1: As a teacher can you reflect back to a time that drawing helped you
understand a subject better than writing.
Question # 2: Thinking of English Language Arts, how could you incorporate an interactive
notebook with your students?
Question # 3: What kind of relationship do you see between drawing and note taking? As
a teacher how could you help students explore this form of learning into your classroom?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT

Isabel Barbosa
Using Hand Signals for More Equitable Discussions
https://www.edutopia.org/video/using-hand-signals-more-equitable-discussions
And YouTube https://youtu.be/-9T99GAWuKE

Using Hand Signals for More Equitable Discussions

Classroom discussions are tricky when trying to listen to everyone's point of view or idea, but
add distance education and classroom discussions turn uncontrollable. The video from
Edutopia Using Hand Signals for More Equitable Discussions gave five basic hand signals that
can be incorporated into both online learning as well as face to face learning. I found several
of these hand signals very self-explanatory and appropriate for engaging students during whole
group discussions. This tool helps to engage both the verbal and nonverbal learners.

Question # 1: Explain how using hand signals in your classroom would help with student
accountability?
Question # 2: Are you already using some form of hand signals in your classroom? If so please
explain how this supports English Language Learners.
Question # 3: How does using hand signals help to reduce student interruptions during a class
discussion?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT
Isabel Barbosa
A Daily Support System for Students
https://www.edutopia.org/video/daily-support-system-students
And YouTube https://youtu.be/MyPUY38blZQ

A Daily Support System for Students

A Daily Support System for Students video had a unique way of supporting students with goals on either
an educational level or social and emotional level. It is a simple check in with another teacher on a
different grade level and discusses the student’s daily goals which are already set up from the student’s
current teacher in the morning. As the student progresses through the day each teacher or special gives
this student a score and at the end of the day you check out with your check in teacher. The biggest
benefit I see with this type of support system is building a teacher student relationship and bond. This
student has another adult cheering them on and helping them see different ways to achieve their goals.
This program offers student accountability as well as incentives for students to progress.

Question # 1: Thinking of your own school, how do you see this type of support system working and
helping students?
Question # 2: What types of pitfalls do you see happening with this daily support system for students?
Question # 3: Reflecting back to when you were in school do you think you would have benefitted from
a support system like this?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT
Isabel Barbosa
The Power of Relationships in Schools
https://www.edutopia.org/video/power-relationships-schools
And YouTube https://youtu.be/kzvm1m8zq5g

The Power of Relationships in Schools

Research shows that students who feel safe and supported by adults at school are better able to
learn. This video stressed the importance of creating a positive learning environment for students.
Learning environments need to foster the following: trust, consistency-closeness, and student
teacher bonds. When applying this to school students they need the chance to build long term
relationships with teachers and adults so that they can feel as if they belong and are cared for. I
strongly believe that learning about a student is just as important as teaching a student. Reflecting
back to when I was in school I learned the most when I was in classrooms that I knew the teacher
cared and wanted me to be successful and learn.

Question # 1: How could you as a teacher build a strong relationship with your students?
Question # 2: Do you think it is beneficial for students to see their teachers as humans that struggle
the same as they do?
Question # 3: How does this affect a school district that has a high transiency rate with students?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT
Isabel Barbosa
Inviting Participation With Thumbs-Up Responses
https://www.edutopia.org/video/inviting-participation-thumbs-responses
And YouTube https://youtu.be/37CTCDTesWA

Inviting Participation with Thumbs-up Responses

Inviting Participation with Thumbs-up Responses video from Edutopia was very effective. This type
of response strategy is used instead of students raising their hands to answer questions or give
feedback. The thumbs-up response allows for students to think and respond without pressure. The
thumbs-up response was demonstrated by keeping your hand close to your stomach so that only
the teacher could see your response allowing for other students time to think and respond
accordingly. The value of this type of response is that the teacher will have more classroom
participation and students will feel less stress when answering questions. This strategy
accommodates all learners and how they process information.

Question # 1: As a teacher what other ways could you have students respond to whole group
question/answer learning?
Question # 2: Please explain how this strategy will increase classroom participation with your
students?
Question # 3: How would the Thumbs-up Responses support a positive classroom environment?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT
Isabel Barbosa
Prioritizing Teacher Self-Care
https://www.edutopia.org/video/prioritizing-teacher-self-care
And YouTube https://youtu.be/qPtsP7pBobI

Prioritizing Teacher Self-Care

The main priority of a teacher is students learning and growing. However as teachers we
often need to recharge or have a break from the classroom. The program Tap-in/Tap-out
allows for teachers to reach out to colleagues for support by taking a break from the
classroom to recharge. I think this is very important in supporting both the teacher and the
students. Knowing that there is a support system in place to help teachers achieve student
growth as well as teacher sanity is a win win for education.

Question # 1: Why is it important for teachers to have a strong support system both inside and
outside the classroom?
Question # 2: What other way could we help to prioritize Teacher Self-Care?
Question # 3: Since the pandemic many teachers are leaving the profession how can we
support educators so that they would not leave the profession?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT

Isabel Barbosa
Getting in Tune to Soothe the Nervous System
https://www.edutopia.org/video/getting-tune-soothe-nervous-system
And YouTube https://youtu.be/d6CJzVRE2ww

Getting in Tune to Soothe the Nervous System

Singing or humming can be a simple way to get the whole classroom re-centered when
things are out of hand. Music has been linked to resetting a de-escalation situation. This rapid
rest of singing builds resilience in both students and teachers. This exercise may be targeted
at a few students or possibly the entire classroom. What better way to bring harmony back to
a classroom than singing together. This method of soothing the nervous system has proven to
bring thinking brains back.

Question # 1: Do you think this strategy would be helpful in all grades?

Question # 2: How could you use this tool during a difficult math lesson?
Question # 3: Is music a universal language that helps soothe our mind and body?
 ALTERNATE FIELD OBSERVATION REQUIREMENT
Isabel Barbosa
A Project-Based Approach to Teaching Elementary Science
https://www.edutopia.org/video/project-based-approach-teaching-elementary-science
And YouTube https://youtu.be/wSDOQ7_AAdk

A Project-Based Approach to Teaching Elementary Science

The project based learning increases classroom participation and engagement. Students are
excited to learn and investigate the project. I know as a learner when I get to engage and
interact with the learning I will remember what I learned and apply it to other skills and
knowledge. Project based learning empowers the learner to grow and retain information for
further exploration. I liked how the teachers incorporated reading, math and science together
to help students to learn. The skills students learn from project based learning will be with them
forever.

Question # 1: How could you incorporate project based learning in your classroom?
Question # 2: Reflecting back on your own learning, did you learn more when listening to a
lecture on a topic, or when you were involved in a project about a topic?
Question # 3: Why do you think project based learning helps to support student learning
science?