2-18-2016 Intro to Ed: Service Learning: student choice

Mrs. Lay's Resource Room at Midway Elementary is a place where students feel safe. She greets each student by name as they arrive (in groups of 4-6, or as an individual) and says "Welcome" or "Glad you could come today", or something similar. She continues to call them by name or calls each one "Friend" as they are working. In the (language/reading) groups, each student has a laminated card with their name on it that they pick up as they come into class and then STARS are added throughout the class period for such things as good listening, waiting their turn quietly, helping other students, etc. The stars are written on the laminated cards with white board pens: when a students card is filled, they choose a reward from the Reward Box. (This way the cards can be wiped off and re-used). If students are not following instructions or causing other students to be distracted, they are given two warnings. A third offense results in a STOP SIGN being placed on their Star Chart, and no more stars can be given during that class session. Routines I observed included the teacher holding her hands out, and the students responding by holding their hands out to indicate they are ready to listen. Each group of students does three to four activities during their 30 minute time slot. One of the activities they choose, based on two choices offered. Another very cool thing I observed is in reading together: the students and the teacher read a book out loud together (they call it choral reading). Then each student reads it individually with the teacher: but while one is reading, the others are given "phones" and they read into the phones. This helps the students read clearly (as if speaking to the teacher on the phone). The "phones" are two elbows and a short piece of PVC pipe put together like an old fashioned phone receiver. The kids like them and they keep the students from "just mumbling along" when they are supposed to read out loud in practicing, before their turn to read individually with the teacher.