Analysis of Contextual Information
Sample Reflection
Directions for Module #4:
Observe the contextual information of your field placement. Take notes during your weekly visits/observations. Talk to your cooperating teacher(s). Read chapter six (pages 105+).
Observe the community your school serves – What do you observe about the persons in the community? What are the demographics of the community? What do you know about the homes/families of the children? How do the people in the community make a living?
Observe the school building – What do you observe about the building? What do you see on the walls? What is the purpose of the building? What is the climate of the building? How do faculty interact with you or others or children? How do parents perceive the building? What do you notice about parental involvement?
Observe the classroom and teacher –What do you notice? How is the classroom organized? What culturally responsive practices do you observe? How is culture reflected in the classroom? How are parents included? What is the technology in the classroom? What are the materials in the classroom? Do materials reflect the children’s home cultures? (Read pages 136-143)
Observe your students – Gender? Ethnicity? Interests? Language? Physical needs or special needs of students? What have you noticed about their “funds of knowledge?” (Read pages 150+)
Write and rehearse a script to share this contextual information.
Using photos or video, share the contextual information visually. You may use Voicethread (https://voicethread.com/register/) [see example] or upload video to BlackBoard. Flip cameras may be checked out for COE Technology Lab.
Write a single-page reflection to address these prompts: What does the collected information mean to you in terms of teaching practices? How will you take this information into account and plan/teach culturally responsive lessons? How will provide care and education that is culturally relevant and anti-biased?