Fall 2023: Sophomore 1 

My first semester of Sophomore year has been a wonderful journey at Rancho Elementary School. Rancho was my elementary school from the past which makes it very special, being able to go back where I began. At this school, I was assigned to Ms. Chipman, a Third and Fourth-grade combination teacher. This was also her first time teaching such a class, so it was a learning opportunity for both of us. This was also my first field placement where I had the opportunity to work with three to four students in small groups. The students are usually who are ELLs or individuals who need extra time to finish up their work. Throughout my journey in her classroom, I learned various techniques and ideas she utilizes to both engage and function in her class as smoothly as possible. One specific method that stood out to me, and something that I hope to incorporate in my future classroom is her goal-setting candy jars. She has two jars, one that has candy, and another for the students to gain candies. At the beginning of the year, she had the class make a goal on how many candies they would have at the end of the year. If they meet that goal, the students get a little treat or celebration. To receive these candies, she expects the class to be respectful, follow directions, and have fun. If she senses that students are exhibiting such behavior, she tells the students to move a certain number of candies from the full jar to the students' jar. To me, this is a great opportunity to not only build a comfortable and engaging classroom community but effectively run the classroom with as little hiccups as possible. Another idea that caught my attention was her mailbox. In the back of the classroom, Ms. Chipman has a mailbox where students have the opportunity to send her messages. I also believe this is a great way for the teacher to connect with students and also let them know that she is available not only directly, but indirectly through messages as well. 

Spring 2024: Sophomore 2

My second semester of Sophomore year was an enlightening experience spent in the Resource Specialist room at Rancho Elementary School. Under the guidance of Ms. Gutierrez, I had the opportunity to learn from a hardworking professional who was passionate about her work. During my time in her classroom, I was introduced to a variety of curricula, services, and accommodations that she provided for her students. For example, I learned about the Sonday curriculum that Ms. Gutierrez used to help students who needed extra assistance with phonology, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. I also had the chance to review the WIAT books and resources. WIAT stands for Wechsler Individual Assessment Test, which is a tool educators and other professionals use to measure specific skills related to comprehension, speaking, reading, writing, and math. I found it fascinating to learn about the technical aspects of this kind of classroom and how they support students. Moreover, I had the opportunity to work one-on-one with a student who had a Specific Learning Disorder and Speech or Language Impairment. By collaborating with the student, Ms. Gutierrez, and the general classroom teacher, I gained valuable insights into the student's disability, how he was supported, and how I, as a future educator, could support my own students who may have special needs.