Context for Learning Description of School and Students

Trinity Christian College Field Experience Form

Context for Learning

Description of School and Students

About the School Where You Are Observing or doing Field Experience

School Name and City: Elim Christian School

Type of School: Elementary school, Middle School, High School, or Other: School and adult services  

Setting: Urban, Suburban, or Rural: Suburban

Write your responses to the three questions below in paragraph form.

                        In this classroom there is a teacher an assistant teacher and 5 paraprofessionals. Each student has their own desk where they go and do work as well as work on goals the teachers has created for them. Students get pulled out of the classroom on Wednesdays and Thursdays for Speech, OT, and PT. The classroom has 6 desks, a smart board and a sensory room for the students.

 Standardized tests are required by the state of Illinois to be given in the schools based on their grade level according to their age. Even if the student is not academically ready to take the test the teacher is still require to give it to the students.

In the school there are a number of different educators with specialized expertise such as Speech Therapists, Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists and Behavioral Therapists.     

About the Students in this Class [Give a brief or one word response]

1.    Estimated percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch: 33%

2.    Grade level(s): k-2nd

3.    Number of

a.    students in the class: 7

b.    males: 6

females: 1

c.     English language learners: None in this class

d.    students identified as gifted and talented: None in the class

e.    students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans: All 7 students have IEPs  

4.    Complete the chart below to summarize required accommodations or modifications for students receiving special education services and/or students who are gifted and talented as they will affect instruction. As needed, consult with your cooperating teacher to complete the chart. The first row has been completed in italics as an example. Use as many rows as you need.

Special Education Category	Number of Students	Accommodations, Modifications, and/or Pertinent IEP Goals
Example: Learning Disability	Example: 4	Example: Close monitoring, follow up, and Resource Room
Autism	7	Close monitoring, sensory area, icon schedules, sign language
Cerebral Palsy	1	Close monitoring when going on a walk with other students

About the Class You Observed

1.    How much time is devoted each day to instruction in the classroom? Describe the class periods (if applicable)? Choose a content area of your specialty or major. How much time is devoted to teaching that subject?

About 50% of the day is used for instruction. In the morning the students work on circle time books where they learn their months, days of the week, feelings, letters and a small prayer. Various times throughout the day students have work on their schedule where they work one on one with a staff to work on tasks to meet their goals that are in their IEPs.  

2.    Is there any ability grouping or tracking? If so, please describe how it affects your class.

Students work as one big groups during their circle time and when they work on their tasks such as cutting paper, gluing, touch math, writing their name and sensory such as play dough. Our students do not usually interact with each other but when they are at the table we encourage the students to work on their social skills.  

3.    Identify any textbook or instructional program you primarily use for instruction. If a textbook, please provide the title, publisher, and date of publication.

There are not textbooks used with the students. Each students learns through their goals that are worked on at their individual work areas.

4.    List other resources (e.g., SMARTBoard, manipulatives, online resources) used for instruction in this class.

        Smart board, Projector, kindle, and Ipad.

5. What do you know about what your students know, what can they do, and what are they learning to do? What do you know about your students’ everyday experiences, cultural backgrounds and practices, and interests?

        Working with my students everyday has given me insight to what they are capable of doing. Six of the students that I have are Caucasian and one is Caucasian and African American. They all come from various backgrounds many have parents that are separated. They also all have different interests that they are very particular about.

6. Describe one teaching event. What best practices in teaching were used?

One specific example that I can think of is teacher a specific student how to math objects to pictures. He becomes easily distracted and for a long time it was difficult for him to be able to focus on his tasks. As of recently we have taught him how to look and what he is doing and in turn it has helped him become successful in mastering his task. Patience was the ultimate key to teaching this to the student. We had to make sure that we were not rushing to hand over hand his matching because then he would rely on us to do all the work. He is highly motivated by bubbles and when holding the bubble wand in one hand while prompting him by pointing with the other, we found it to be highly effective.