February 3, 2012
Observation Report
I arrived at Valley High School in Escondido at approximately 8:00 A.M. on Friday, February 3, 2012. Upon arriving on campus I signed in at the front office and proceeded to the staff room, where I had the opportunity to meet a large portion of the faculty and staff of Valley High School. After the first bell at 8:15 A.M. I went with one of my cooperating teacher’s connections class for first period. At Valley High School connections is an integral part of the school’s mission. When students first arrive at Valley High School they are assigned a connections teacher. Students will stay with their assigned connections teacher throughout their time at Valley High School, spending each first period with the instructor. The instructor is responsible for providing consistency in a fast paced school, assigning schedule changes and addressing the issues that will arise after graduation. I spent my first connections class with Mr. Flynt where students watched the morning news, reflected on it in a response and worked on make-up work for other classes. I spent both second and third periods in Mr. Flynt’s class observing the two United States History classes I would eventually be taking over in mid-March. During the first segment of class students took notes directly from a PowerPoint on the 1960s while the instructor talked about the points. After going through three slides the students watched a video on the 1960s. After the lesson students placed their classroom notes in a basket in the back of the class. This allows the instructor to look over the notes and students to have easy access to them during a quiz or test. At the conclusion of third period I observed my other cooperating teacher in the third class I will be taking over instruction in. The class began with the instructor putting a timer on the overhead, giving the students six minutes to prepare for a test. After six minutes had elapsed students took a test on the Executive Branch of the United States Government. The test took the remainder of the class period.
Reflection
Through my initial observation of connections I gained a great understanding to its importance. Valley High School is a continuation school focused on graduating students who have not succeeded in regular classrooms. Therefore curriculum is taught quickly and credits are earned just as fast. Most students only stay in a particular class for a trimester lasting twelve weeks before they earn their credits and move to other class. With the large amount of transfer it is easy to see how possible it is for a student to not develop a connection with faculty and staff. With a connections teacher the student has a familiar face throughout their time at Valley High School. This instructor takes a valued interest in the student’s growth and success, an important quality at this particular institution.
I arrived at Valley High School in Escondido at approximately 8:00 A.M. on Friday, February 3, 2012. Upon arriving on campus I signed in at the front office and proceeded to the staff room, where I had the opportunity to meet a large portion of the faculty and staff of Valley High School. After the first bell at 8:15 A.M. I went with one of my cooperating teacher’s connections class for first period. At Valley High School connections is an integral part of the school’s mission. When students first arrive at Valley High School they are assigned a connections teacher. Students will stay with their assigned connections teacher throughout their time at Valley High School, spending each first period with the instructor. The instructor is responsible for providing consistency in a fast paced school, assigning schedule changes and addressing the issues that will arise after graduation. I spent my first connections class with Mr. Flynt where students watched the morning news, reflected on it in a response and worked on make-up work for other classes. I spent both second and third periods in Mr. Flynt’s class observing the two United States History classes I would eventually be taking over in mid-March. During the first segment of class students took notes directly from a PowerPoint on the 1960s while the instructor talked about the points. After going through three slides the students watched a video on the 1960s. After the lesson students placed their classroom notes in a basket in the back of the class. This allows the instructor to look over the notes and students to have easy access to them during a quiz or test. At the conclusion of third period I observed my other cooperating teacher in the third class I will be taking over instruction in. The class began with the instructor putting a timer on the overhead, giving the students six minutes to prepare for a test. After six minutes had elapsed students took a test on the Executive Branch of the United States Government. The test took the remainder of the class period.
Reflection
Through my initial observation of connections I gained a great understanding to its importance. Valley High School is a continuation school focused on graduating students who have not succeeded in regular classrooms. Therefore curriculum is taught quickly and credits are earned just as fast. Most students only stay in a particular class for a trimester lasting twelve weeks before they earn their credits and move to other class. With the large amount of transfer it is easy to see how possible it is for a student to not develop a connection with faculty and staff. With a connections teacher the student has a familiar face throughout their time at Valley High School. This instructor takes a valued interest in the student’s growth and success, an important quality at this particular institution.
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