Amanda's Classroom

As I walk into the classroom at Broad Street Elementary School, I see a lot of things I like and Alfie Kohn would like before I even open the door.  There is art on the door done by the students, showing the hard work that they have done.  Entering the classroom I see some things that I like and others that I don’t like so much.  The things that I like are that I see desks arranged in groups of 4 which are SO much better than having them in rows.  I see poems and songs hanging up for the children to remember things easily.  I see multiple learning centers for the students to be doing different things at the same time.  There is a word wall to the left that as I learned later in the class the students use daily.  The students seem to respond well to my presence in the class and seem to be engaged in all their work.

The one thing that I didn't like very much was the color chart that tracks the students behavior.  If a student misbehaves or doesn't bring in their homework they are punished by having to change their color card to red.  I think that the student should just have to forfeit that grade or not get something that the rest of the class is getting (i.e recess).  I don't think that the students should be almost humiliated in front of the whole class. The other thing that i don't like is that the teacher actually makes the students get up and change their color in the middle of class.  I've seen the looks on the students faces after this happens, they look embarrassed. 

Quotes

“The implication being that “success” or “achievement,” per se, is desirable.”

This quote goes along with posters being put up on the walls.  Most of the time the posters have quotes that are meant to inspire the students to work hard to succeed.  The problem is that the quotes are often unrealistic for the students in the classroom.  Having a wall of perfect work only shows that unless you are perfect you are not recognized by the authority figure.  This is the same as if you see a sign saying you can get an A but then you get every single question wrong because you can only read Spanish and the test is in English.  The classrooms need to be more focused and have things hanging up that pertain to the students in the class.  If my class had posters of different countries that would be better seeing as most of the students are from another country.  Simple things like this make the students feel safer in the class and can therefore learn what he or she can do for themselves.

Marisa's Classroom Observation

        At Frank D. Spaziano Elementary School the halls are empty and dark.  The railings on the stairs are shaky and the paint is chipped.  Trying to find your way around the building is very difficult because there are no signs or help you find what you are looking for.  When I entered the classroom it was bright and a lot was hung up on the wall.  At closer inspection we can tell that according to Kohn, this class doesn’t show good signs for learning.  The chairs are all in rows and the students get distracted easily by their neighbors.  

The walls have rules written everywhere basically to show what good behavior is.  Delpit would love this because it is showing the rules and codes to follow.  Yet Kohn believes this is bad because it is created by the adult and the kids must conform to what is expected.  Also, there are charts on the walls that track each student’s progress. This can belittle a child in front of their peers.  Getting stickers or stamps shows a reward system, in which the students only benefit short term, not in the long run. Therefore learning should occur in the best possible way for the child to succeed in the long run.

Rachel's Classroom Observations

        In a classroom I observed while tutoring, there are many things happening that would worry Kohn. His philosophy is to not be so rewarding. In other words it is expected of the students to pay attention and discuss in class. The students are given class work that they are expected to complete as additional practice at home. The teacher in this room gives rewards for students who complete their homework all week. On Friday just before the end of the day the teacher does what is called the raffle. Students who have done their homework throughout the week, have their names entered into a drawing. The winning name receives a pencil, or a small reward [toy of some sort]. This is done to make the students want to do their homework. There have only been three Fridays where she gives all the students a jolly rancher [which makes this a little more fair]. Kohn does not particularly support this technique.