ERIN MAXWELL 11-28

My MT has again implemented new routines in our classroom.  This week, our morning routine was modified to include “calendar math” questions that will be answered on a daily basis.  The journal questions include: state what day of the week yesterday was, today is, and tomorrow will be.  Students are also asked to list what day of the month it is out if the total number of days of the current month.  Additionally, science laboratory experiments have been incorporated into our weekly schedule.  I have noticed that many of my students have difficulty completing the math questions, which would typically be used in a first grade classroom.  My students truly need practice in these practical areas of mathematics, therefore, I find its addition to our morning schedule necessary.  The science laboratory has not been used on a consistent basis prior to this week, so behavioral norms had to be reviewed before the experiment.  Yet, I was pleased with my students’ performance in the lab.  Even my higher energy students worked cooperatively with their group and asked questions that reflected an authentic interest.  This behavior may be a direct correlation to the hands-on activities offered in the lab, as students may feel more engaged with their learning than in the classroom. This change in behavior highlights the importance of incorporating multiple learning environments in one’s classroom to insure a wide range of learning styles are being reached.