Field Experience

Level	Class	Location
1	EDFN 338 - Foundations of American Education	Oldham-Ramona School Northwest High School, Omaha, NE
The majority of this observation was in a combined fifth and sixth grade classroom in Ramona, SD.  It was interesting to see a small school environment and a combined classroom, as I am accustomed to a large school setting with numerous classrooms for each grade.  The most challenging part of that particular classroom was adjusting to the different levels.  With the exception of math, the fifth and sixth graders learned the same material; however, many of the fifth grade students struggled to comprehend.     In addition to the individual classroom observation requirement for this course, our class had the opportunity to observe several classrooms at Northwest High School in Omaha, NE.  The size of the school was close to the size of high schools in Sioux Falls, where I attended; however, the amount of diversity in Omaha varied tremendously from the school I attended.  The teachers I observed shared information about the numerous issues they address on a daily basis such as discipline issues, parental problems and poor academics.  I believe this experience was highly beneficial in that it opened my eyes up to a school that has to work hard to keep their students from failure.
Level	Class	Location
1	SPED 100 - Introduction to Persons with Exceptionalities	Parker Elementary School Parker, SD
I spent the observation hours for this course in an elementary special education classroom in Parker, SD.  This was my first experience in a special education setting, and it was after my observation that I truly understood what inclusion was.  Many of the students came to the special education room for thirty minutes or less.  I had an opportunity to help a few students with homework, and also observe and work with a student with cognitive delays and behaviors.  This experience was beneficial as I was introduced to the structure of a special education classroom and had an opportunity to work with students as well.
Level	Class	Location
1	ESPY 302 - Educational Psychology	Multi-Cultural Center, Sioux Falls, SD Sioux Falls Banquet, Sioux Falls, SD
I spent a two afternoons, six hours, at the Multi-Cultural Center in Sioux Falls.  Though I am grateful for having the opportunity to work with the students, I was disappointed in the lack of structure and discipline the adults provided at the after-school program.  The students were from various cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds and grades, and the adults treated the students poorly.  The concept of the MCC is great.  For many of the students who went to the program, it was a safe place to go afterschool and have fun, and some did.  It was an interesting experience, and it would have been fun to go more regularly to  spend time with students who crave adult attention.    I also spent one evening serving at the Sioux Falls Banquet.  I served several times for church; however, each experience is different.  The conversations and connections I made with the people helped me realize the various types of people are in the world and the various types I will encounter in my classroom.
Level	Class	Location
2	ELED 440 - K-8 Language Arts Methods	Madison Elementary School Madison, SD
For this experience, two of my peers and I taught in a 3rd grade classroom.  Our time in the classroom was spent working on narrative writing.  There were times when the three of us taught to the whole class and others when we split the class into small groups.  This was my first experience teaching and it definitely made me realize my strengths as a teacher and areas I need to improve on.  At first, teaching in a group was not an simple task for me as it was too easy to be overpowered by my peers, especially when they both had teaching experience and I had not.  It was during small group instruction where I realized my strengths as a teacher and it pushed me to be stronger when teaching to the whole class.  At the beginning I was intimidated and frightened; however, I came out more brave and confident with my skills.
Level	Class	Location
2	ELED 450 - K-8 Reading Methods	St. Thomas School Madison, SD
For this experience, I taught a group of two kindergarten students several reading strategies and skills.  Overall, I learned a lot from this experience.  I had to modify some of my lessons to reach the level of my students.  I also had to be flexible as on one occasion the students were anxious to read the book to me, and it took more time than intended.  I also had a student absent one day which left me teaching to a single student and getting through the lesson much quicker than anticipated.  Most importantly, I learned many ways to teach reading and all that is included in the reading curriculum.
Level	Class	Location
2	ELED 453 - Diagnosis and Correction of Reading	Madison Elementary Madison, SD
For this experience, I worked in a forth grade classroom in Madison, SD.  Because of my Special Education major, I was placed with two of her struggling readers.  To diagnose a reading level for each student, I administered the BADER Reading and Language Inventory.  To motivate the student to do what I was asking, I modified my instruction to the students' interests.  From this experience, I learned to assess students, individualize instruction, and incorporate technology into my reading lessons.  It was a successful experience for myself and the students.
Level	Class	Location
2	MUS 353 - Music Methods	Madison Elementary Madison, SD
I spent many hours observing kindergarten, third, and forth grade students in the music classroom at Madison Elementary and taught a lesson to a forth grade class one time.  I thought this observation was beneficial as it refreshed my memory of a music classroom.  I also realized how much planning and structure  a music teacher must go through as she has many different age groups in her classroom each day.  I was intrigued how each of the students I observed listened well and knew what was expected of them in the music classroom.  In addition to classroom management, I also learned about teaching music which made me feel comfortable enough that I could teach short-term in a music classroom if needed.
Level	Class	Location
2	PE 360 - Physical Education Methods	Head Start Program Madison, SD
This was a group teaching with the Head Start in Madison, SD.  I thought teaching physical education was going to be challenging for me, as it was my lease favorite subject in school, and the students were younger than I was used to.  It was a challenge; however, not because the content was not my expertise or students were young but because of the amount of classroom management one needs to run a class smoothly.  Our lessons took a great amount of planning as the appropriate equipment needed to be located, rules needed to be established and thought through,  and the content needed to be age appropriate.  Teaching physical education was very different than the rest of my classes; however, it was a valuable experience.
Level	Class	Location
2	SPED 413 - Serving Students with MR, DD, and Severe Disabilities	ECCO Inc. Madison, SD
This experience was completed by working with an adult supported by ECCO, Every Citizen Counts Organization, a company that provides services for adults with disabilities.  My partner and I worked with the woman who, according to her goals, wanted to learn new leisure activities.  We introduced her to activities such as writing, drawing, coloring, stickers, gluing, cutting, and beadwork, all of which could be done alone or with friends.  Overall, I felt my partner and I accomplished more than what we intended.  Each time we met the woman, she was eager to begin, and each time she proved to us that she was indeed learning.  Many times, she went above and beyond our expectations.  It was a great experience and amazing to see the progress.
Level	Class	Location
3	ELED 454 - Guided Reading	Gracevale Colony School Madison, SD
To be completed Fall 2009 Semester
Level	Class	Location
3	ELED 320 - K-8 Science Methods	St. Thomas School Madison, SD
To be completed Fall 2009 Semester
Level	Class	Location
3	ELED 330 - K-8 Math Methods
To be completed Fall 2009 Semester
Level	Class	Location
3	ELED 360 - K-8 Social Studies Methods
To be completed Fall 2009 Semester
Level	Class	Location
3	SPED 442 - Serving Students with Learning Disabilities	Humboldt Elementary - West Central Humboldt, SD
To be completed Fall 2009 Semester