Aritz Cardenas

Professor Dennis Parker

MIAA 350
Spring 2014

Reflection #4 (3-26-2014)
Cassie, Kara, and I were able to interview Catherine Long about teaching in her first
grade class at John R. Williams Elementary. She went over a variety of topics based on the
questions that were asked.
One of the first questions that was asked of Catherine was about the strategies she
uses in her class. She mentioned that she used a number line with ten students (numbered
0-9). They were asked to rearrange themselves in order, with the help of the remaining
students. Students got that order pretty easy. Catherine mentioned that students had some
initial trouble with the reverse order of highest to lowest, but students got the hang of it.
Another strategy that Catherine mentioned that she recently did with her students was
attempt to fnd the missing factor. She presented the problem 3 + 2 = 4 + __ . According to
her, most students put 5. She tried to get the students to first solve the left side of the
equation (which equals five) and then have them find the missing factor for 4 to equal five.
She mentioned that some students got the right answer, but she will need to work with
them on that.
One of the things Catherine mentioned that she would like to improve on in her
instruction is providing content that is relevant to her students. She talks about how she
tries to use problems about upcoming holidays, use students names on example, mention
currently videogames/tv shows students might watch in her lessons. She would like to do
this at a more consistent basis. Catherine did mention that it is her first year in the district,
as well as the first year teaching first grade.
I can relate to Catherine in this regard. During my first few years as a teacher, I was
moving from school to school, teaching different subjects this year. I was focusing most of
my efforts in becoming familiarized with the curriculum and improving my teaching skills.
Now that I am in my second year with the same subject, I am able to incorporate more
relevant topics and discussions for my students about the subject matter.