Sun Valley Elementary

I was welcomed into Ms. Taitz virtual class and I was able to introduce myself. The students worked on making scientific observations of their surroundings.

Takeaway: Connect students' learning to their interests. This keeps students engaged and you relate to them on a personal level.

Ms. Taitz read Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman to the class and encouraged students to think about important people in their life for the next writing assignment. Students then learned about inherited traits through a website called generationgenius.com

Takeaway: It's important to follow-up with discussion after reading a book, watching a video, etc...

For an icebreaker question, students had to discuss their favorite dessert to the class. Ms. Taitz then introduced new Science vocabulary words and the class continued on to working on their coyote project. Then the class all together listed different characteristics of a coyote that may help them hunt. The day ended with a multiplication math lesson using beans.

Takeaway: It's imperative to make cross-subject connections in order for students to see the big picture.

Students go over word of the day and discuss their favorite hobbies as a warm-up exercise. Then, Ms. Taitz introduced an animal research project to the students and they began researching their chosen animal. For the daily math lesson, Ms. Taitz showed the class a video about multiplying from flocabulary.com

Takeway: Flocabulary is an excellent math video website and I plan on using it when I teach!

Students mainly worked on their animal research reports and Ms. Taitz created a break-out room to quiz students on their reading levels. We then practiced mindfulness where we meditated for a few moments. Lastly, students worked on number patterns in their math lesson.

Takeaway: It's important to connect concepts with some sort of visual representation (example: fist resting on hand is a period)

Today, students continued to work on their animal projects and took turns presenting their findings to the class. Then, Ms. Taitz introduced Government and the three different branches using songs. Then students used math to determine how much sunlight we'd have for the day based on earth's rotation around the sun.

Takeway: Songs and literature is a great tool to use when teaching new concepts.

In today's observation, a new student is introduced to the class and Ms. Taitz asks each student about one fun thing they did over the weekend. Ms. Taitz read "The Trial of Cardigan Jones" by Tim Egan. The book served as a hook before the main lesson on government vocabulary.

Takeaway: Books or any form of literature are a great way to engage and hook students

Today, it was Días de los Muertos. Students had the chance to teach other students about their traditions and beliefs. Then, the whole class participated in a lengthy conversation about the holiday. Ms. Taitz then redirected their attention to government by singing a song about the different branches to them.

Takeway: In enjoyed when Ms. Taitz kept asking her students "What do we know, what do we want to know, and what are we wondering?" I plan on using something similar in my own classroom.

Today is Election day! Ms. Taitz began class by explaining the voting process and the two candidates running for president and vice president. Then, Ms. Taitz read "Grace for President" by Kelly Dipucchio. This book explains the election process from the perspective of a student running for class president. Students then finished off the day by fixing grammar sentences from their booklets.

Takeaway: It's crucial that students feel involved in big events such as the election. It gives them agency and prepares them for the future.