RFE #3

RFE# 3: Classroom Community

During my time at my partnership school, Aversboro Elementary, I have seen all the signs of a caring and close nit community. The school has student safety patrol officers to greet you first thing in the morning when you arrive. The hallways are filled with student’s art work, banners and posters that have the schools mission and mascot on them. The school’s faculty and staff all greeted me with warm smiles and offered me help to show me where to go. I think that the school shows a since of community by starting each morning off with the principal greeting the school over the intercom and leading the school in the pledge of allegiance. The school is very diverse and the library displays books that have all different nationalities and ethnicities on the cover to express the schools openness and acceptance of all students from various backgrounds. The hallways are very quiet and the students respect other classrooms that are in session when they travel the hallways to different destinations. This shows that the students know the type of behavior that is expected of them and they show it outside of their class rooms. I had the opportunity to observe the students from all three of the fifth grade classrooms as they practiced for a school concert. I was told that students from all the different grade levels would participate in this concert and that parents would be coming to see their performances. I think that this creates a since of community by bringing the different grades together and allowing them to work together to put on this great production. The principal is always in the hallway and visible. I have seen him come into the classroom on several different occasions and walk around in the class and talk to students and just give students a pat on the back. I think that he really makes the school welcoming and makes the students feel like they can approach him and talk to him. He addressed some students by their name which made me feel like he cares about knowing his students on a one-on-one basis. Aversboro is a small school, but it shows that it has a big heart through the big smiles and warm hugs the students give when you get to know them.
In my SBTE’s , Mr. Mauro, fifth grade classroom the students start their day of by coming in and having soft classical music playing in the back ground and their morning work posted on the over head and instructions. Mr. Mauro greets his class and asks what the students want for lunch and briefs them of what their day will consist of. The class has a box where they can write down their personal issues and Mr. Mauro will address them with the student individually. The class also has class pet gerbils named, Thing 1 and Thing 2. They make the class feel more homely and give the class a firsthand experience with nature. I like how the teacher teaches his Social Studies lessons. He presents the information to the students as a story and discussion. He allows the students to give their ideas and opinions on the material they are covering. He tries to make it relate to the students and he connects the material to students who may have personal experiences with the topic. When the class goes to specials they have the opportunity to earn stickers that show what kind of behavior they have displayed. I think that this shows how the school and classroom work together to manage behavior issues. Students are held accountable for their behavior in their homerooms as well as in other special classrooms such as chorus, and art. The students also write down their own misbehavior in a behavior log when they are caught misbehaving. I think that this causes the students to own their bad behavior and gives them the chance to correct their behavior. It is encouraging independence and responsibility. Mr. Mauro along with his team members all incorporates group work and conversation amongst the students, which promotes community and cooperation between the students. The students work together to solve problems, begin their writing process, and share their ideas. The teachers encourage this and work well together and set the perfect example.
I think that Aversboro Elementary and Mr. Mauro’s fifth grade class does an exceptional job at creating a sense of community within the school. I enjoy visiting this school and working with my SBTE, he is a really laid back individual and is so welcoming. This schools environment is pouring with the sense of togetherness.