Observation/Reflective Journal about Arlington Elementary

Friday January 16th, 2015

1- How do teachers or staff interact with students?
The teachers from Arlington Elementary are very dynamic, interactive and
friendly with the students. The environment was very comfortable. The
students were paying attention to the class although we were inside the class,
they were not distracted. They were focus on the class. The teacher managed
the class for the Pre-k. The teacher creates a safe environment. Something that
called my attention was that the teachers buy the resources with their own
money.
2- How do the students respond to the activities or instruction; to their
peers/teacher/staff?
The students make decisions for the criterias they were going to be evaluated
in the Music class. I liked that every student participate. The evaluation were
according to the criteria as beginning, appreciate, developing and master. What
call my attention was that the teacher gave them the title of three songs and
they vote to sing the song they would like to sing. After that they sang a song
for the Panamanian teachers. All of them participate singing the song. I liked it.
In Panama teacher creates the rubric in contrast to Arlington elementary.
3- What is the level of engagement by the students? High, moderate, low?
What is the evidence of this?
The level of engagement by the students is high. The evidence is that all of the
students participate singing the song during the Music Class
The level of engagement by the students from Pre-K is high too. The evidence
of this was that the teacher explains to them were Panama is located and give
more details about Panama. The students answered to the questions and
answer some questions to the teacher and also to us in order to know more
about Panama.
4- Can you think of any ways to improve what you observed? What would it
be?
As soon as I come back to Panama, I am going to share what I have observed
and learned about Arlington School. It is very interesting that each teacher has
her own classroom and there is a space with many books, so many pictures
and illustration on the wall, the rules to the class and the instructions to follow
when developing activities.
5- Any additional observations

The government gave the school. The school gives breakfast and lunch
program for free. And also the transportation is free.
6- How does the school/classroom/instruction/student behavior differ from
those in your school? What are the similarities?
The classroom behavior differs from the Panamanian students.
Write down any new words, terminology, expressions that you would like to
learn or discuss.
Figurative Language example: It is raining cats and dogs
These are terms we use as metaphors.
Metaphor- makes a comparison between two things. Ex: Leidy is a rose
Example Isis is a rose
This means that Isis is delicate or beautiful
Smile use like or as. Leydi is like a beautiful song.