Alyssa Moreno

Roster 12
Field observation videos

Video 6 

Transitioning to Trauma-Informed Practices to Support Learning

This video discussed the importance of understanding the effects of Adverse Childhood

Experiences. We have been taught to “play school” when attending class, which was compliance.

Trying to have all the students act a certain way and not fully develop and understand their

emotions and motives. The playing school method prevents the students from being present

emotionally and physically by not allowing them to release whatever they may be experiencing

at home whenever they feel it. 

They gave the students phrases to better understand their emotions and which ones come first

and how to deal with them. They teach 7 positive habits and have leadership classes that allow

the students to develop positive school behaviors for the years to come. They also allowed the

students access to a calm corner providing them paperwork to document how and why they were

feeling a certain emotion while allowing them to sit alone cozy, and with a small personal

activity for a moment. Everything from the principal saying hello and asking how the student

was doing in passing was a very inclusive and inviting environment. The school implemented a

social and emotional learning curriculum and built one to one relationship with students to

faculty. They have students that are on one to one mentor programs allowing a student to meet

with another member of staff before and after school allowing them to release and set goals for

the day and week. The students receive points that allow the student to track their own progress

and goals throughout the time mentoring. The teachers implemented other strategies such as

colors and smells in the classrooms. Creating an environment with lighting that can create an
inviting atmosphere will transform the learning. They also allow for essential oils to be diffused

to allow the students to use all of their senses when engaging in learning. The teachers have also

developed a tap on tap out system allowing teachers to send a text and a faculty member will step

in to the classroom for 5 minutes allowing g the teacher a mental break to breathe while also

giving the students a chance to reset before their teacher is back in class. I feel that allowing

teachers the support they need even just 5 minutes of it can have a huge impact on how the

learning environment will be for the day. 

I watched this video several times finding something new that I was inspired from each time.

Shifting to a learning experience like this would be beneficial for teachers and students for the

future.
Video 7 

Educators greeting 

This video was examples of teachers greeting their students virtually. This was a friendly

reminder of personal connections teachers were making with their students. This could be the

first positive interaction a student has for the day creating a positive impact on their experiences

at school. Putting extra effort into an intro once a week gives the students something to smile and

look forward to. Whether these greetings are individualized or directed toward the whole class it

establishes a strong connection. I also noticed some of the teachers sharing and asking about

feelings and emotions and getting all of the excitement out at the beginning of the day before

diving into learning. Greeting students when I used to teach in person was my favorite. I used

this time to understand how productive the day will be. I feel that this is a key part of the

learning experience, working in childcare and a preschool you often have children who all don’t

get along with the teacher kicking and screaming at the door. Creating a personal bond with each

student can prevent the student from feeling unheard or misunderstood and greeting them

properly gives them time to discuss proper learning methods for the individual.
Video 8 

Better classroom management 

In this video they review common classroom mistakes and how they can better them. They

discuss how if an assignment is too difficult or they are having trouble understanding the student

is more likely to act out, academic frustration can be recognized and adjusted personally based

on the needs of the student. 

They discuss public displays of misbehavior; I remember all of my elementary classrooms

having charts that were to show how we behaved throughout the week. The memory is stored

under traumatic experiences, from my own and one of a friend. I remember a student having to

switch his card and call his parents one day, we were 5th graders but his home life wasn’t the

best and calling his parents would result in negative actions at home. The video talks about ways

to address the student personally and allowing them a sliver of your attention to best satisfy their

learning needs and encourage the students to reflect on the wrongdoing and take responsibility

on their doing. 

Commanding attention often results in rebelling. The video also discusses the importance of the

teacher taking responsibility and being sure they are disciplining the students equally across the

board. Creating personal bonds with each student and taking a second to ground yourself before

dealing with the situation. 

I hope to create a classroom that is managed well with promoting students and celebrating

positive actions students take.

Video 9 

Promoting kindness 

This video discussed a positive reinforcement strategy for kindness. 

This teacher uses a jar of Pom poms and a basket to promote kindness in the classroom. She lists

steps on how to create the environment for the classroom and begins to share examples of

kindness. Each time a student does something kind they are able to go to the jar and move one

Pom Pom to the basket, once the pompom has been moved the teacher will acknowledge the

student and ask them to share what they did that was kind. This allows students to communicate

and celebrate positive behaviors and actions in class. Kindness makes you feel warm and fuzzy

inside and this encourages everyone to make this choice. Examples of kindness in the classroom

include, passing out papers, holding doors, helping students with spelling or helping another tie

their shoe. Once the basket is full of pompoms they are celebrated with a party. The teacher

doesn’t discuss the entirety of the party but depending on how often the jar is full this can be

adjusted. 

This is a simple yet powerful way to create positive classroom culture.

Video 10 

Learning to measure the size of the problem

This video reviews problems and problem solving while including parents or the home life. 

These are social topics that we are not always taught at home. In order to create an appropriate

reaction, you need to understand the importance of the problem. They discuss the size of

problems with examples while discussing how they might properly react to the problem. I feel

students and children are able to comprehend these situations at much younger ages than we

believe. If we present problems on their level, they are able to experience other and advanced

emotions if we are able to communicate with them what they are. I also feel that if you allow the

students to communicate the problem, they will easier find a way to solve said problem.

Frustration is often linked to misunderstandings and emotional outbursts. 

In the video they also have times that they allow the parents to attend class and see what the

students are actively learning. 

Although I do see this being beneficial for the students whose parents are able to visit but feel it

imposes students whose parents are unavailable to feel that they are not sharing the same

experience.