Elementary School Teaching :

What is the best way for a 1st grade teacher to maximize an E.L. (English Learner) student's score on their district's test?

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

October Month Post

For this month for my mentorship with Ms. De La Peña, I helped the little kids with mostly their writing.This time about two-three children we on the "Outstanding" that had gotten their little rubber "gum ball" balls. When you're a good student you get a good teacher's comment, but if you are on pink- Parent Contact the teacher writes a bad comment on why you were on pink and what you did that got you there.

When you are on "Outstanding" you manage to get a  little                                                                                                       rubber gum ball ball as you're prize for being a good student.



Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Blog #8: Research and Working EQ



  1. My working EQ as of right now is: what is the best way to teach children in a learning environment for them (the children) to understand/be ready in time for the next year?
  2. What is the best way to teach children in a learning environment for them (the children) to understand/be ready in time for the next year?
    •  Be able to encourage students to participate in classroom activities that help the children in a fun educated way; by playing certain activities that require children to use their brain while making it as interesting as if it were only a game 
    • learn what is the best way to teach this years class by meeting the needs of the class and helping and encouraging students to be active in asking questions 
    • Have the children work in groups or pairs in order for the children to be able to express their ideas of a solution to the problem and having feedback given to them by their; they will be able to find a solution suitable to them by working in pairs and groups
    • having a "prize" for out-of-the-box thinking awarded to those students and have them explain to their classmates in their how they came to that specific conclusion;not "punishing" in a negative way (comments, or calling out the child )not participating in the class and thinking but encouraging them through positive statements that will boost their self-confidence/ self-esteem 
    • having catchy phrase in which to ensure your classes attention and by awarding effective response to those who listen or pay attention
  1. The most import source that I have used that has helped me come up with my working EQ is my mentor. My mentor- Ms. De La Peña - has been able to answer questions I have regarding certain things I have researched about. She has been able to verify what is most effective by showing in her classroom what she does, and why she does that. She has helped me come to concrete results on what is the most effective solutions she uses for her classroom. 
  2. My mentor is Ms. De La Peña. I volunteer with her at E. Cortez Mathematics and Science Magnet School where I have been her T.A. for about 4 years and helping her organize and setting up the classroom. My EQ focuses more on what is the best way to teach 1st graders, because they are eager to learn and how can you effectively teach all the necessary material to these children in one year.There are many possible answers to this question and I am using my experience to solidify what I believe is the best answers for these questions. 

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Blog #7 :Independent Component 1 Approval



  1. What I plan to do for the 30 hours needed to complete this component is mostly volunteering and doing other interviews with the staff of Cortez as uses of resources. For the 30 hours I will mostly be working with my mentor, Ms. De La Peña in being her TA. I have had prior experience and as her TA I will make copies and help her create or look for activities for the children to do . As her TA I will also help her, as I already have with activities in entertaining or helping the children with work that she has, doing testing with some of them and doing the regular routine of the class (name of month, pledge of allegiance, day, time tables money count ext.) and much more
  2. I plan on showing evidence of completing the 30 hours for this component by taking pictures of the work the children do, and of course asking the teacher and the school if I am allowed to take pictures with the kids. I will use photographs,artwork  ect. that I will do to show the children how they have to do thiers to meet the requirements for this component.
  3. Helping and conducting more interviews will help me explore my topic more in-depth by helping me clarify certain points and to change or better improve my EQ. This will help me by also giving me, providing or elaborating on possible answers to my EQ.