When it comes to math, the students are also overwhelmed with the tests put in front of them. These tests we are expecting our children to take are eight pages long and each have about six problems on them, with multiple graphs on each page. That is extremely intimidating as an eight year old child. These tests are taking my class, which are almost all ELL or ESE, about two hours to complete. It’s sad to see these students struggle to focus because spending two hours on a test is hard for anyone.
Another frustration I’m having is how the students are taught vocabulary. Every day for 30 minutes, we have an ERT block, this is when the students learn about vocabulary for the week. In my opinion, the words that the children are learning are completely irrelevant and words that I don’t even use in my vocabulary. The way they are taught the words, allows for no hands-on activites, no connection to the words, and as I listen to my CT teach these words, I know my students will never use these words in their vocabulary because I rarely hear adults use these words.
On a positive note, Michele Wiehagen came into our science class this week with a variety of resources and helpful insight into teaching science in Hillsborough County. I learned that Hillsborough County is uses the “Fair Game” principle. This means that whatever was taught in a previous grade (K-4th) is “fair game” for testing in later years (5th). We also learned what the district looks for when they come around to observe your classroom. These things are:
-students are working in groups
-science tools are accessible to students
-no pre-printed posters, instead student work is displayed
-students have science notebooks with conclusions/reflections
-NOS is being taught explicitly
We also learned the Characteristics of Effective Science Instruction, which are:
-focus on the Next Generation Sunshine State Standards
-Follow the 5Es Model/Inquiry Instructional Model
-Inquiry Monday/science is taught daily (45 minutes on Monday, the rest 60 minutes)
-Integration
-Use of rubrics/ scoring tools by students and teachers
-easily modified and implemented by a classroom teacher
I loved learning about the Science Olympics, STEM Fair, and all the amazing things Hillsborough County does to support students in the field of science. As a pre-service resident, it was eye-opening listening to a district person speak about how as teachers we don’t have to follow the curriculum map at all times because we know what is best for our students and with that, I let out a big sigh of relief.