Mary Margaret ONeal ECED 429 Merrywood Elementary School Contextual Factors Classroom Factors When entering Dr.

Rileys first grade classroom, you get a feeling of a cheerful and colorful atmosphere that is created to be centered on the students. The classroom is covered in the students work as well as bright posters showing off the classroom and school rules, the students behavior chart, and their word wall. This atmosphere allows the student to feel like they are a part of the class and that they helped create it to look way that it looks. Physical Features The classroom is centered on the SMART board and the large area rug where most of the large group instruction takes place. There are desk that are arranged around the rug so that every student can still see that board but has their own space so that they are not to bother their neighbor. In the classroom, there is also a semi-circle desk off to the side that can be used for small group instruction. Dr. Riley has a teachers desk at the back of the classroom near her storage cabinets but she doesnt use it during the day. Her computer is at the front of the classroom near the smart board on a small desk and long table so she can keep her necessities close. The classroom also has built in cubby holes near the main door that are used to store the individual reading books which are separated by level. Underneath the cubby holes are the book bag hooks where the students keep their belongings during the day. The classroom also has its own bathroom and sink available for the students to use throughout the day. There are more storage cabinets around the sink and hide-a-ways that line the back wall of the classroom. Bright overhead lightening is available, but Dr. Riley only uses half the lights most of the time so that the board can be seen clearly. There is very little natural lighting even thought there are two windows because they have built in blinds that are normally shut. Availability of Technology As mention before, the SMART board is used fairly regularly alongside the teachers main computer. The SMART board is also used as their classroom television for things such as the schools morning news broadcast. The SMART board is connected to a projector that is fixated to the ceiling. There is also a document camera that is used to project documents on the board so that the entire class can see it clearly. Student computers are located in the back of the room that allows five students to work on their Odyssey lessons at one time. The Teachers phone is also used as their classroom intercom.

Mary Margaret ONeal ECED 429 Merrywood Elementary School Equipment In the classroom, there are two easels for large writing pads. These are used regularly for classroom instruction as well as examples for the students writing journals. There is a globe that is used for social studies. There are white boards on the walls that are used for the classs word wall on one side and the calendar and other information on the other side. The students also have charts that show who their partner is and for their daily lunch count. The other main pieces of equipment in the classroom are the student desks and the teachers tables. There is a semi circle table used for small group work as well as multiple small desks for Dr. Riley to use at the front of the classroom. The classroom also has file cabinets available for important work. Resources The different resources in the classroom include many things. The students' books are a resource that they use on a regular basis. Dr. Riley also has many childrens books that are available to be read to the students. The stud ents can also use the computers for their Odyssey lessons so those are also considered to be a resource in the classroom. Also, the SMART board is used for different interactive activities which help the students on a daily basis. Parental Involvement When I talked to Dr. Riley about parental involvement, she mentioned that there wasnt any. From what I have seen, some parents communicate well through their notes on their daily behavior sheets as well as the problem behavior sheets. Other than that, I do not witness any signs of parental involvement in the classroom. There are a few students that get help at home with their homework but there are also a handful of students that seem to be doing everything on their own. Classroom Rules and Routines For classroom rules, the students have to Give Five!! during group instruction and those rules are: 1) Legs are crossed, 2) Hands are still, 3) Ears are listening 4) Eyes are watching and 5) Lips are sealed. There are also school rules that each student has to abide by and those rules are: 1)I will keep my hands and my feet to myself, 2) I will be nice to my friends, 3) I will be a good listener, 4) I will walk nicely, and 5) I will sit the right way. Dr. Riley uses three levels for her behavior scale: Green means they are following the rules and having a good day, yellow means that the student needs to slow down and think about their actions, and red means the student need to stop what they are doing and that they have to walk during recess for 10 minutes.

Mary Margaret ONeal ECED 429 Merrywood Elementary School Dr. Riley also has a morning routine in place for her students to follow. The students come in and unpack at 7:35. Students will place their folder in the basket and hang their book bag on their hook. We then read out the lunch choice and allow the student to choose what they want. After they chose their lunch, they will grab a morning worksheet which will be on the front table. We will then take breakfast orders and send the order to the lunchroom to be filled. We will then eat breakfast in the classroom and then the breakfast helpers will then take the trash back to the lunchroom as well as the lunch order. We will then do the calendar activities. After our calendar lesson, the students will return to their desk to complete their morning work. Once the students are finished with their morning work, we will begin with the literacy stations. Schedule 7:35-7:50 7:50-8:20 8:20-8:30 8:30-8:40 8:40-9:00 9:00-9:30 9:30-10:30 10:30-10:50 10:50-11:50 11:50-12:10 12:10-12:40 12:40-12:50 12:50-1:35 Morning Routine RTI Calendar Interactive Reading Word Study Writing Readers Workshop Recess Math Shared Reading Lunch Restroom Break Related Arts (Monday: Art, Tuesday: Music, Wednesday: P.E., Thursday: Computer, Friday: Library) Science/Social Studies Interactive Reading

1:35-2:20 2:20-2:30

Grouping Patterns and Classroom Arrangement The students are grouped so that the students have the same reading level books. The seating arrangements are made so that the students will not talk to one another.

Mary Margaret ONeal ECED 429 Merrywood Elementary School Student Characteristics Male # of Children Age 6 Year Olds 7 Year Olds Race Caucasian African American Asian Mixed Race: Caucasian/AA Special: Repeaters 10 8 2 6 3 0 1 1 Female 10 8 2 4 3 2 1 1 Total 20 16 4 10 6 2 2 2

In my class, we do not have any students who have an IEP Instructional Implications The limited space of our classroom plays a major role in how I will create my lessons. We do not have very much open space other than the meeting carpet in front of the SMART board. The student characteristics will also affect my teaching style because I have a few students who work slower than others. Some of my students have lower reading levels and other students are just slow workers. This plays a role in how I can conduct my lesson so that no one is left behind. My lesson plans will have many