blog #3

For one of the lessons, we did centers in the classroom.  There were four different stations.  One science, one reading and answering questions, one where they read on leap frog, and finally they did iready (a reading program on the computer).

I was in charge of the reading and questions section.  The students were in groups of five or six and they were in each section for 25-30 minutes.  The packet that they had to read had passages about all of the planets and then were followed by about six questions that varied from short response to multiple choice or matching.  The students were separated into groups by level (however I did not know that in the beginning of the lesson).

As the groups came and left, I realized that more and more of them were getting distracted by others, they had more questions on words in the packet and about the questions they had to answer, and eventually none of the group members could read.  However, because I did not know this, the student almost began to cry from frustration.  

Since the teacher never told me how to run my center, I would help the students when they asked questions on a definition or I would assist them when they couldn't find the answer to a question in the reading.

While I was doing this, my teacher would be on the computer doing work, however in the afternoon she was helping the students in the science center.  I really enjoyed doing the centers because it gave me the opportunity to work with the students and really see what they are capable of and what it is like teaching kids with disabilities.  When working with the students, it was obvious that many of them had disabilities because they could not comprehend the reading and because they could not concentrate.  I had to tell the kids to focus on themselves many times similar to my teacher when she is giving out a portfolio for the kids to do.  I felt bad having to tell the kids that because I never thought that it worked but it was the only thing that I could think of to do since I don't know them well.

In my own class in the future, I would be more involved in the centers this way I could help the kids with something if they need it or I would be able to congratulate them on something done well.