 I chose this design because I want to be a fourth grade math teacher. It is important when looking at my classroom layout to remember that elementary school teachers must teach all subject areas, not just their emphsaized subject. I was very pleased with my elementary and middle school classrooms, so when designing my own I reflected back upon various rooms I had been in. I enjoy having a desk towards the back of the room, so even when students don't know I am watching I can be attuned to them. I also should point out that my desks are arranged as so because I always had a minimum of twenty classmates. It can be difficult to keep nine and ten year-olds under control, but I feel with this particular setup, they can all equally see the Smart Board, may get into groups easily, and still stay focused on the current assignment.
Various highlights can be found throughout the classroom. As a student I always enjoyed reading and exploratory time. In my classroom a "comfy couch of reading" can be found in the back corner. This allows students to break between assignments and enjoy a good time with a good book. Also in this corner are a variety of mathematical tools which can be used to complete class assignments, and can also be "checked out" for students to carry with them for homework purposes. My desk is my own personal highlight. My world revolves around my laptop, which is centered on my work area. Also on my desk is a telephone, which connects to the front office via intercom, and allows me to reach office personnel and other classrooms. I love posters; I feel they facilitate learning in several manners. The television will be mounted near the Smart Board, so all children can view whatever we happen to be watching at the time. Finally comes the Smart Board itself. I had never heard of this technology until I began tutoring at a local elementary school. These boards connect to the teacher's computer, so anythinig I wish to pull up and show the class can be done through the use of this board.
I feel it is very important to understand that different students will have different needs. As a teacher I must make sure that these needs are accommodated for, and adequately seen about. The books on the bookshelf will range in reading levels, seeing as how not all students will be reading on grade level, some will be ahead and others behind. The books on the students' desk are their math books, which we will work in during class and then on assigned problems for homework. I feel the Smart Board is a very interesting way to incorporate fun into learning while meeting the needs of all students. By drawing shapes for math, posting vocabulary words for reading, googling pictures of planets for science, and learning about monuments for social studies, the students can learn interactively and stay engaged with the activities at the same time. Also, this board allows them to view pictures and assignments, and then work on the project at their own pace. When longer videos or biographies of important people are shown, the flat-screen television will be used so students can get a perfect picture throughout the classroom. My goal is to keep students entertained while allowing them to collaborate and communicate with each other as they learn content.
I plan on teaching in Bainbridge, GA, my hometown. The population of Bainbridge is very diverse; I attended schools that were approximately 60% African-American, 30% Caucasian, and 10% Hispanic. Seeing as I will be teaching in a diverse setting, I feel the experience I am gaining now by working at local schools that are very similar will provide me with the means necessary to appropriately teach such a class. If you were to visit my class for a day, you would see how excited and energetic the students are. By providing the necessary means to have a good time while at school, students will attain the importance of knowledge and see that learning can be engaging! My approach to teaching is to work through several "experiments," or hands-on activities so that students can read and work from books, but also get a better understanding for the idea behind the lesson by working through a physical activity themselves. I truly feel that math has become a subject in which students readily fall behind, so a good majority of the day will be spent learning the importance of mathematics. After all, it is integrated into many other subjects! I will work at molding my students into well-rounded children with a strong desire to learn. |