Context for Learning Description of School and Students

About the School Where You Are Observing or doing Field Experience

School Name and City: Luke O’Toole Elementary in Englewood, Illinois.

Type of School: Elementary school, Middle School, High School, or Other:  Elementary

Setting: Urban, Suburban, or Rural: Urban

Write your responses to the three questions below in paragraph form.

1.                  List any special features of the school or classroom setting (e.g., themed magnet, classroom aide, bilingual, co-taught with a special education teacher, pull-out program).

O’Toole has a co-taught with a special education teacher program. They also have a pull-out program for their special needs students. As of last year they try to include all students for up to 90% of the day. They do not want any student feeling excluded.

2.                  Describe any district, school, or cooperating teacher requirements or expectations that affects the planning or delivery of instruction, such as required curricula, pacing plan, use of specific instructional strategies, or standardized tests.

        

CPS is broke up into networks. O’Toole school is located in network 11. Under network 11, it has a scope and sequence that covers the standards which are to be taught weekly in all of the schools.

3.    For special education only: List any educators with specialized expertise in the school/district (e.g., specific disabilities, subject-specific pedagogy, English language development, speech therapists).

         Not special education

About the Students in this Class [Give a brief or one word response]

1.                  Estimated percentage of students eligible for free/reduced lunch: 100%

2.                  Grade level(s): 2^nd Grade

3.                  Number of

a.         students in the class: 23

b.         males: 17

females: 6

c.         English language learners: 3

d.         students identified as gifted and talented: 0

e.         students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or 504 plans: 3

4.                  Complete the chart below to summarize required accommodations or modifications for students receiving special education services and/or students who are gifted and talented as they will affect instruction. As needed, consult with your cooperating teacher to complete the chart. The first row has been completed in italics as an example. Use as many rows as you need.

Special Education Category	Number of Students	Accommodations, Modifications, and/or Pertinent IEP Goals
Example: Learning Disability	Example: 4	Example: Close monitoring, follow up, and Resource Room
Learning Disability	2	Aid is in room the entire day, co-teaching as well as giving these students one on one throughout the day
Autism	1	Separate aid for student with autism. Only handles this student and his need. Each day varies depending on the situation.

About the Class You Observed

1.     How much time is devoted each day to instruction in the classroom? Describe the class periods (if applicable)? Choose a content area of your specialty or major. How much time is devoted to teaching that subject?

About 5.5 hours of instruction. Class periods include: Language/Arts (2 hours uninterrupted time with balanced literacy)

Math - Go-Math Curriculum with small groups (90 minutes)

Science (.5 hour) and Social Studies – connected to literacy (1 hour) as well as electives (1 hour).

2.     Is there any ability grouping or tracking? If so, please describe how it affects your class.

        Yes students are grouped for literacy by their reading level based on divels. Which is a program that groups students so you can teach in small groups by ability.

3.     Identify any textbook or instructional program you primarily use for instruction. If a textbook, please provide the title, publisher, and date of publication.

Reading - Balanced Literacy – Guided reading, vocab, phonics, comprehension, small groups

Math - Go Math curriculum

Science - Goes off curriculum map given by network 11. For this quarter they are studying matter.

Social Studies – Second Step Learning - which teaches children basic skills of survival

4.     List other resources (e.g., SMARTBoard, manipulatives, online resources) used for instruction in this class.

They use basic manipulatives, Lexia (computer program that teaches basic reading fundamental skills), Dreambox (a computer based math program)

4.     What do you know about what your students know, what can they do, and what are they learning to do? What do you know about your students’ everyday experiences, cultural backgrounds and practices, and interests?

The school is located in Englewood. Although the students have problems that they face at home you know you are a positive influence in his or her life. You cannot expect the same thing from all students because you don’t exactly know what is going on. You need to provide a safe environment in your classroom where they feel comfortable and they want to learn.

  

5.     Describe one teaching event. What best practices in teaching were used?

              I observed the teacher doing guided reading where she worked with students at their own levels where                      other students were working in centers where they were actively involved in their learning. The teacher                    differentiated instruction to meet all of the students’ needs