The end

So my level two clinical is now officially over and I must say that I am relieved. I was so looking forward to learning from an experienced educator. Unfortunately it ended up being a nightmare situation. Oh well, I can now look at it as a learning experience because no matter how awful it was I did learn several things. It was really cool to see how kids will work for you if they think that you care. It was especially cool to see how one child may be a fantastic test taker and another kid who fails miserably on tests to turn around and design a fabulous poster that is just as important as the test. I really did get to see all of the different learning styles and then I would frown because all the supervising teacher does is worksheets and tests. I saw a few of the kids fail because they could not read. It was so sad. The kids who could not read had IEPs and the only modification that I ever saw made for them was the special education teacher read the tests to them. There was never any help with the worksheets and they were counted as grades. I helped them when I was there but what happens to them now?
In all of the awfulness of my experience I look back and realize that my teacher did do some of the strategies that Marzano suggested. The students were given homework and practice. She had them make graphic organizers once when I was there. There were questions in each class. She would summarize the chapters and give them notes. In other words she did use some of these strategies. The problem was with how she used them. Instead of her summarizing the chapters for the students and giving them a typed detailed set of notes, the students could have summarized and taken the notes. The homework, practice, and questions were all just simple recall questions that only required memorization or a quick look in the textbook. The graphic organizer was designed for them as well with the exact information that she wanted in it. It had to be exactly like the one she had. I honestly can say that I did not see her recognize any of her students for their good work or effort. It was if it was never good enough. Feedback is virtually nonexistent in this classroom as well. Papers are not handed back and if the students ask to see their grades on assignments she tells them to look it up on edline. They never learn what they did wrong. I was not given the opportunity to go over anything that the students turned in for a grade. I feel like I failed these kids in many respects. I normally would not hold my tongue if I saw an adult treat children the way that she did but I feel like it is more important for me to eventually get out there to teach. I will miss these kids. I told them the first day I taught them that I expected to learn just as much from them as they would from me if not more. They exceeded my expectations.
Anisa