This week I did an observation in a second grade classroom. The teacher (Mrs. Proctor) that I observed has taught birth to three for three years, preschool for over ten years and she is currently teaching second grade. She has been teaching second grade for the pass for three years. She stated that she would retire in that grade. In observing the teacher as she taught one could see that she enjoyed teaching.
I was impressed with the way she moved the children from one area to another. They students were moved from the desk to an area rug. They did math on the area rug, and then the teacher had them to go back to their desk to complete the written assignments. The students return back to the rug for reading where the teacher read out loud to the class.
When all of the students were on the area rug they played a spelling game. The teacher would say a word and the student to her left would say the first letter of that word, the next student will say the next letter and so on. When the word was completely spelled the next student would say the word and the next student would say “sparkle” and the next student would be out. He/she would have to sit down. The teacher would start with the next spelling word. The last student left standing was the winner of the spelling game and had a chance to get a treat out of the treat bag.
The students went back to their desk to write down the spelling the words and the teacher collected them. This spelling assignment kept the students alert, it was exciting and fun. When you have a class of second graders, they can get restless sitting at a desk all day. I felt that it is great to move the students back and forth, from the desk to the area rug.
I had a chance after observing the class to interview the teacher. I explain to her that I was doing a research paper on “Nutritional Health”. One insight that I gain from her about the topic was that she felt that poverty played a role in a child’s nutritional diet. Mrs. Proctor stated that if a child does not get the proper meals, there is a possibility that his/her brain will not develop properly.
There is a program that the school participant in she informed me about called “CATCH” known as coordinated approach to child health. This program was created in the late 1980’s. It was design to decrease the fat, saturated fat, and sodium in children’s diet. It also promotes physical activity.
She stated that she was a strong advocate for breakfast. It is a very important meal, she seem to notice that if a child skip breakfast. Their attention span is short; they can’t seem to stay focus very long. Therefore, she keep healthy snack in the classroom for the students. In the middle of the interview she pauses and asks the students for their attention. She asks the question, who all have breakfast this morning? If you did eat breakfast raise your hand. What did you have? The students stated what they had. I was surprise to see that ninety- five percent of the students had a healthy breakfast.
In observing the overall class, there were no overweight students in her class. However there was one in her classroom last year, she stated. They had to meet with the principle, and his parents. She stated that it posed a problem with his physical activity he was not able to keep with the classmates. He also had to work hard at his class assignments. The student kept a body odor; the teacher kept deodorant in the classroom. The student did do the best that he could do with his personal hygiene. One most keep in mind, here is a student is second grade, overweight, and not eating the proper foods this could pose other issues for the child.
Mrs. Proctor also stated that she had a male student who would fall asleep every morning about 9:30 am. She would give him some peanut butter and crackers. He was not getting breakfast at school or at home. We can’t assume that a family that gets assist from the state for their food is eating properly and preparing healthy meals.
A challenge that I see in doing my research is narrowing this topic down and not going overboard.
