Education At It's Finest
Mrs. Steinbeicher, the model teacher!
A Unique and Caring Learning Experience
Story Book Reading
The teacher asked questions about the pictures to check for thinking skills and understanding the plot for the story.
Students raised their hands before speaking which exhibits classroom management.
Mrs. Steinbacher used examples of words like “perseverance” and gave practical examples.
Mrs. Steinbacher asked questions about their emotions to engage them into the story.
Afterwards the students would have to write about the theme of the story and draw a picture of the main events.
Mrs. Steinbacher also used the smart board to show an example of her journal before having the kids return back to their seat to do the same.
I also loved the celebration of everyone using their thinking skills by “kissing your brain”.
Classroom Management
Voice Level Categories
Established rules for appropriate voice levels.
Had key word for the day and rewarded students exemplifying it (i.e. humble).
Disciplinary Placements
Used timers to stop activities and switch center activities.
Students were categorized by animal groups and colors.Illustration and Verbal Directives
Songs like “Uh oh, Spaghettios” and “Uno, dos, tres…olay, olay, olay” were great songs to re-establish order back into the classroom.
Personal Observations
Interesting Moments
The “Specials” teacher for Spanish had no creative classroom management and just threatened the children. There was a huge disconnect between this teacher’s methods and the primary teacher. The children also commented on the disparity.
There was a student that wandered throughout the class and seemed to be the exception to the rule regarding behavior yet the Mrs. Steinbeicher still seemed in control of how far he could go. When I addressed her regarding him, she advised me that he had gone through some personal situations and his previous teacher considered him a problem child. However, Mrs. Steinbeicher did not accept this labeling of the student but built a relationship with him which allowed him to feel more comfortable in her class and also be able to absorb more of the curriculum. Although the student didn’t sit on the rug with the other children, the teacher still seemed in control of his behavior and it appeared to work better for the class because she didn’t interrupt her lessons to redirect him yet he knew not to be disruptive.