RFE #3

This semester, my partnership school is Fuller Elementary. Fuller is magnet school and this is a concept I am not use to. The school is set in an area of downtown Raleigh that I would not put a school of such high integrity and ability. The individuals who make up the school are vastly different as well; differences include socio economic statuses, race, and culture. After coming from Briarcliff Elementary, I immediately received a culture shock. Some students drive from over an hour away just to attend the school. School community is shown through and through despite the differences. All are cordial to one another and try to help each other wherever they can. There is also a motto that the school exemplifies that supports school community, the Fuller Four: respect, responsibility, productivity, and safety. Whenever there is guest in the school, the students impress them with modeling these behaviors. It seems that Fuller not only wants student’s character to grow, but also their confidence and academic abilities. The walls are beaming with students artwork and classroom work. Most pieces are complimented frequently on and they are beautiful. It is great to see that a school backs their students as well as Fuller does. The entire staff and faculty support learning and a community environment as well by have welcoming smiles on their faces and are able to always lend a helping hand. The principal models all behaviors as well. He gives the morning announcements every morning and encourages students to give their all and to be kind.

This semester I am in a fifth grade classroom. It is much different from the Kindergarten class I observed last semester. My teacher Ms. Tucker is one who is on top of all her students and plays an active role in students learning. She is a teacher who truly cares for her students and also encourages them further to do their best. Managing her classroom is a breeze because she has set up the proper expectations long ago. Her students are polite and respectful. Her classroom is not set up to my liking, but it works for her and the students. She teaches math and science, and is the only certified AG teacher in the fifth grade. She is able to give work that fits all learning levels and makes differentiating seem easy than it is. The students always seem to be calm and organize and I think that this is largely due to her classroom management skills. She greets everyone with a hello and a how are you today when they enter the classroom. She has a schedule posted and if they are any changes within the day she has that visible as well.

At Fuller, there is a lot of switching classes within the fifth grade too much for my liking. I find it hard to keep up with kids and if they are absent of not. Some of the children even travel to Ligon Middle School to take level appropriate math classes. The two fifth grade math teachers are constantly trying to modify their teaching to make math more fun and enjoyable in order to keep motivation high and promote engagement. They have weekly meeting to discuss blue diamond testing and what they can do or say to the students to score better. Overall, I think that there is an incredible sense of school and classroom community at Fuller Elementary School. I am glad to be a part of such a strong school .Hopefully, I can use some of the ideas I have gathered in my own Elementary school.