Blog Post #2

Blog Post #2

               This week in my service learning, I went to Vineyard Elementary School. Unfortunately, I had to switch schools this week, because the other elementary did not need volunteers, and did not get back to me when I called. So this week I spent an hour at Vineyard Elementary school. I volunteered and was able to help with children's recess and a little in a classroom type setting. From the briefs moments I saw, the learning theory that was exhibited most was behaviorism. Specifically, I noticed several moments when I saw the assistant principal helping the different children she worked with. One example of this was when a student had been missing from recess. The assistant principal lead with courage as she found a team to help find the student. She then found the student thanks to her other helpers. She showed behaviorism as she rewarded those who helped her find the students with a candy bar and doctor pepper. She rewarded them for their exemplary behaviors and in turn they now have made a connection in their brain that helping the assistant principal was a good thing and something rewarded. The same strategy was used at recess. At recess, we as aides were told to watch for students throwing snow, and if we did see them throwing it to threaten to take away recess. This is a consequence of actions that in turn exemplified behaviorism. As I walked through the playground and told boys and girls not to throw snow or recess would end early for them they immediately stopped and I did not see them throwing snow again. I also believe constructivism was used in the classrooms because I noticed that there were used as there were many materials in the classrooms such as blocks, and other hands on items. One specific child I worked with needed to go to the bathroom, as we took him there, he quickly ran in and ran out. I then asked if he had washed his hands and he quickly flashed a mischievous smile. Clearly this was something he did often. Yet I was not going to have it. I quickly told him he must go back and wash his hands and if he did not I was going to make him go back into the bathroom. The next time he came out, he had washed his hands and made sure they were clean afraid of the consequences. I believe this also showed behaviorism. The teacher I was with made sure she repeated items, and showed various examples various ways to help each student with their different learning strategies. This week has taught me a lot about learning strategies and how they really are everywhere we look.

Elementary Education 1010

Blog Entry #1

           Serca Park Elementary 

    The school I will be volunteering  at will be Serca Park Elementary. Serca Park is an 

Elementary school that is k-6. It is located in Orem, Utah. When I first drove up to the school, I noticed it was a bit small and looked a little run down. The schools exterior consisted of bricks and a small playground. The school did not seem to have a field surrounding it which I thought seemed a little strange.  The houses that were next to the school, were all ranch style homes. When I first walked into the school I noticed some third graders walking out of the library eager to read their new finds. I also noticed a huge picture of all the students and teachers displayed on the wall it seemed to be polished and hung with pride. I also noticed a life size Mereda from the Disney film Brave. This school seemed brave they seemed to have good values and good bones. I talked to the head secretary who told me that I would be added to a volunteer sheet where I gave the times I could come in. She said I would be added to the list and be called when a teacher from one of the grades need help in her/his classroom. My understanding of service learning is to have a hands on experience with children in a classroom to help us, as students in elementary education decide if we want to continue our careers in teacheinf. It is a hands on process where you will work with kids of all levels k-6 and see what a teacher really does to teach their students. I am very my looking forward to this opportunity and hope to touch the kids with my presence even if I am not their teacher.