On multiple occasions I have been there where my clinical teacher just throws a video on for the afternoon class because she was too tired from the morning class and "it was a Friday".
From my viewpoint I didn't see this as good teaching despite the videos or movies being educational and held the children's attention. After speaking with my Ms. Jay I learned that there is a lot of things going on in her personal life too. She isn't just tired from the morning class. She's tired because she wakes up at 4:30 am with her husband, gets her daughter and herself ready for school, and on top of that lives a half an hour from where she teaches. She has already had a long day by the time her afternoon class comes in at 11:15. I was most often there on Friday's and frequently Friday afternoons. I wasn't there to see her teaching all week most times.
She had expressed to me that she doesn't want to let herself get frustrated with the children when often things aren't there fault. She has many children who are ESOL and ESE and doesn't have adequate help with them. On top of that she is exhausted and knows that she can't take her frustrations out on the children. After a long week I now understand why she puts on a video for the Friday afternoon class. She views it as a benefit rather than letting herself get frustrated with the children who's homework isn't complete, children who still don't know the alphabet, and children who don't speak English. She knows these kids really well. She knows when she can and can not push them. Testing was finally completed Monday and she said that the kids are burnt out from practicing for the test all year. She still does work with them, but she feels she's reached the point in the year where's there's nothing more she can do. She has already filled out her retention and referral papers and seems to be ready for next year.
I have learned that there is a lot more that meets the eye in every situation.
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