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Alternate Assignment for Field Observations

Ash Bragg

College of Southern Nevada

EDU 201

Susan Bridges

July 23, 2022

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Ash Bragg

Video One

How to Set Up a Learner-Centered Classroom

https://youtu.be/1OsQS7Sanxg

Setting up a community can be difficult on the first day of school, but a few strategies can

help set your classroom up for success. Incorporating your students’ voice and choice can

increase their confidence and engagement and provide a nurturing environment all year. One

strategy a teacher can do to integrate students’ preferences is to let them have input on the

classroom layout. The layout of a room can have a significant impact on power dynamics to

social values, and you should encourage a collaborative environment and peer discussions.

Decorating the classroom with student-made art will make the room feel more represented and at

ease. The following strategy is to create rules for the school and have students voice their

opinion. This will encourage community and accountability and make them feel empowered. As

a gentle reminder of their rights and responsibilities, hang a contract of the rules and have the

students sign it. Instead of a time-out area, a teacher should also include a safe place where

students can have personal space and reflect on their emotions. The last suggestion is creating

routines like morning meetings to encourage students to speak and practice active listening.

1. What will you include in your classroom to make your students feel safe?

2. How will you ensure every student will have a voice in your classroom?

3. How would an alternate seating chart (not facing the teacher) improve students’ work?
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Ash Bragg

Video Two

The Sensory Room: Helping Students with Autism Focus and Learn

https://youtu.be/zULwQUQDMuM

Having a sensory room in a school drastically helps students with autism or learning

disabilities learn and focus. Providing a space for children who cannot verbally express

themselves and giving them an outlet has been shown to be beneficial in this video. Equipping a

room with a soft floor, soft light, and vital tools and toys helps the students also develop their

communication and coordination skills. For example, punching bags can provide stress relief and

joint feedback, whereas a swing has a calming effect with vestibular input. There can also be

crash-pads to offer full-body tactile stimulation and a light wall to improve hand-eye

coordination. Sensory breaks should be incorporated into a predictable daily routine when out of

the Sensory Room and in your everyday classroom. There are countless ways to stimulate your

students to help them focus and learn better.

1. What exercise do you most likely see yourself incorporating into your classroom?

2. Do you think this she implemented in every school?

3. Can you think of any disadvantages this has?

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Ash Bragg

Video Three

The Importance of Recess

https://youtu.be/igqQ7GrcinE

Research has suggested that removing recess to make more time for academics could be a

huge mistake. Physical activity is essential for brain development, and recess provides this for

children. There are individual P.E classes, but kids aren’t graded on recess, and they feel more

free and relaxed. Exercising increases blood flow to the brain, which stimulates growth; it

improves attention and memory by altering the brain. Recess gives students a space to interact

with one another and practice taking turns, resolving conflicts, and working together. Pretend

play during recess also offers kids a place to express themselves creatively and imaginatively,

which has been proven to improve test scores. Investing in recess is investing in your students.

1. Do you think recess is necessary?

2. What physical exercises can you incorporate in your classroom?

3. How did recess affect you as a child? Do you think it helped you focus?

Ash Bragg
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Video Four

Making Students Feel Safe

https://youtu.be/iydalwamBtg

A Nashville school has implemented a new trauma-informed approach to meet the needs

of all students. They are ensuring students feel safe and supported by doing this. They also

implemented a social and emotional learning curriculum, adapted the physical space, and built

solid one-on-one relations with students. This helps teachers as well as the students because they

are better equipping themselves with the knowledge and support to meet the children's needs.

They teach the students the seven habits of leadership. They use strategies like dim lighting and

essential oil diffusers to help their students recognize their surroundings and to use knowledge as

a tool. This school also exercises teacher relief by utilizing a tap-in / tap-out system where they

can ask other teachers for help or assistance when they need a minute to gather themselves.

1. Out of the strategies discussed, which do you think is the most helpful?

2. Do you see yourself implementing these exercises in your classroom or school?

3. How can you, as a teacher, ensure your students’ mental health needs are being

addressed?

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Video Five

A Daily Support System for Systems

https://youtu.be/MyPUY38blZQ

A check-in / check-out system is where a student meets with an adult other than their

teacher for two minutes in the morning and two minutes at the end of the day. In Fall-Hamilton,

they identify students who are struggling. The adult buddy is there to help them improve their

education and social and emotional levels. Students create their own goals and point system in

collaboration with the teacher. Making sure a student knows that someone is excited to see and

talk to them could vastly improve a child's school experience. Recognizing a student's good

behavior helps motivate students. It also helps build trusted relationships and helps foster self-

confidence and accountability.

1. What are the advantages of the buddy system?

2. Do you see yourself using this exercise somehow in your classroom?

3. How do you think this system affects students’ confidence?

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Video Six

Using Hand Signals for More Equitable Discussions

https://youtu.be/-9T99GAWuKE

This video explains how to have better discussions with your students by using hand

signals. A good conversation is inclusive and respectful, and using hand signals can reduce

interruptions and give other students time to think. This will create an engaging and safe learning

environment where students feel comfortable speaking. If you agree with the speaker, simply

hold your thumb and pinky like a fake telephone. If you disagree with the speaker, hold up one

index finger. Putting your fists atop one another indicates that you want to build off what the

speaker is saying. Raising your pinky suggests you have questions and air quotes mean you can

paraphrase. Be sure to refresh your students before each discussion.

1. Have you used any sort of hand signals in class to indicate your needs nonverbally?

2. Do you think this exercise would help or confuse students?

3. Do you see yourself using these tips as a teacher?

Ash Bragg
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Video Seven

Making Sure Each Child is Known

https://youtu.be/xjZx0VdmgkE

Students want to feel valued and vital and deserve to feel that way. A middle school in

Reno has created a system to ensure every student in their school is recognized and

acknowledged. At the beginning of the school year, they conduct an exercise on what students

they’ve connected with and what students they need to connect with. They join a name to a face,

academic status, personal stories, etc. It’s difficult for children to learn when they don’t feel

valuable. So they create plans to make sure they acknowledge the kids they don’t know. After

beginning this exercise, the staff noticed a massive improvement in student connections with

school and teachers.

1. How can you be sure every one of your students feels valued?

2. How does a child feeling unvalued affect their work?

3. Was there ever a time you felt unvalued at school?

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Video Eight

Homework: How Much Is Too Much?

https://youtu.be/MafcPHRJrR0

There is a standard 10-minute homework rule which basically means for every grade

increased, add another ten minutes to homework. However, research says that too much

homework is a real risk considering every child is different. Elementary students see little to no

benefit from homework, so we should keep the homework load light to ensure they have time for

playing and family. Middle schoolers benefit more than elementary students, but test scores start

to drop once you hit ninety minutes. High schoolers gain the most from homework, but too much

of it can be dangerous. It’s expected that these students have unhealthy stress levels, sleep

deprivation, and physical health problems. There can be very negative consequences to giving

too much homework.

1. Do you agree with the ten-minute rule?

2. How does homework affect students at different grade levels?

3. Has COVID-19 impacted your opinion on homework since school is often from home?

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Video Nine

Learning Walks: Structured Observation for Teachers

https://youtu.be/AUTIIOfma90

Teachers can benefit and learn from a structured observation called Learning Walks. This

gives teachers the ability to learn new strategies from one another and communicate problem-

solving. It’s essential for teachers to observe teaching techniques, and it can help you understand

what your students have experienced before entering your classroom. Participants are

encouraged to ask questions without judgment. Offering multiple stops on the walk with a five-

minute cap is time efficient and provides a glimpse into classrooms teachers might want to

observe again. Not only does this help teachers but students as well because the teachers are

trying to improve the quality of their work.

1. Why do you think there is a five-minute limit to each classroom?

2. Can you see this as a helpful exercise?

3. How can we incorporate something like this into virtual learning?

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Video Ten

News Studies Link the Art to Crucial Cognitive Skills

https://youtu.be/1D69mKyndEY

Art is an ancient form of self-expression, and studies have linked it to crucial cognitive

skills. Studies have revealed that participating in some state of the art may prime our neural

circuity for other critical tasks. Art improves our language, focus, self-control, and empathy. An

example of this would be from an experiment done in 2016 where babies were exposed to soft

strumming music and found that it made them more sensitive to the rhythms of spoken language.

Brain scans have shown how our body at different ages reacts to music. In 2019, 10,00 students

were study tracked as they participated in art programs and found they did better on written tests,

were better behaved, showed greater empathy, and were more engaged in school.

1. Did you participate in an art program? If so, do you think it improved your skills?

2. How can you encourage your students to express themselves creatively?

3. Do you think it should be required to take some sort of art course?