Field Placement

For my field placement this semester I was placed at Wadsworth Elementary in Ms. Halsey’s third grade classroom. In Flagler County schools have gone full inclusion so the majority of ESE students and students with an IEP or 504 plans are placed in a mainstream classroom. There are still classrooms available for students that are severely disabled and cannot work in a general education classroom. The school also has a pullout program so students that have learning disabilities or need to work in a different environment get pulled out of the class and they go to a different class. In Ms. Halsey’s classroom, there are twenty-two students in the class. Fifteen of them are Caucasian, four are African American, two are Hispanic, and one is Portuguese.
Halsey’s classroom include whole group, small group, use of technology, and differentiated instruction. With differentiated instruction she uses scenarios and games to help the students relate to the material. For example, I have observed her do a game about synonyms and antonyms called “Synonym and Antonym Scoot” where the students stand around their desks and there are cards on each of their desks. Each card has a number on it that corresponds to the numbers on their worksheet. The students have a minute or less to figure out which two of the four words are synonyms or antonyms based on the instructions on the card. Once they have found the two words and time is called they scoot over to the next card or desk. Overall, the students had fun and they were able to test themselves to see if they really understood the material. Ms. Halsey also loves using scenarios. She has scenario cards and she has the students paint a picture and then answer the question after they have got it in their
For ESE students I would have a special area in the classroom that the students can go to when they need to cool off or just think about their behavior. I would also have a behavioral system or checklist with students that need that type of assessment to keep them focused. I would also suggest she have a system where students that do have behavioral issues or are ESE they sit closest to the teacher or in the front. The best thing she can also implement is a reward system. Small prizes such as pencils, stickers, pens, etc. can help the students feel like they are being acknowledged for their good behavior or good work. The last thing I would suggest for ESE students is modifying the amount of questions they have to answer, how they answer the questions, and where they can take their tests. Modifying certain tests to meet the needs of all of your students is important which should include ESE