Bradley 1

Kilela Bradley
English 341
Dr. Spear
2 October 2014
Positive Interactions Build Students

very student needs to be recognized individually; each one may have

different needs based on where he/she may be mentally and socially. The
attention they receive will make or break the learners personality, and it

requires both the educators and parent/guardian. I observed three and four year olds and they
need more attention than any other age group. Being away from home starting school and being
around other kids are huge transitions for them. Students may feel as if they are not noticed, it
could cause them to act out or even shut down. I decided to go back and visit the same school I
attended years ago. When I pulled up at Lanes Head Start, it was the same as I remembered it to
be since the age of four, big brick school fenced in and a huge playground. Out of all schools I
attended up until high school, this was my favorite.
Mrs. Snowden is a wonderful teacher of twenty-four years at Lanes Head Start that works
with fourteen four year olds. Some degrees she has under her belt are a Bachelors of Science in
Mathematics and a Masters of Education in Curriculum. She is now working on her Masters in
Early Childhood Education. Mrs. Snowden has a passion for working with young children
believing that they are a blessing and precious jewels. Teaching them is an advantage to both
her and the students; they are our future and we are teaching them to be productive citizens and
enjoying being in their presence at the same time.

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The curriculum there is designed to incorporate individualization and the Individual
Education Goal (IEG) set goals for their students as well as their parents. Brigance is a tool they
use at the school to access the learners strengths and weaknesses with in the first forty-five days
of entering the school year. It is used in ranges birth to seven years of age and it helps educators
monitor each child progress in learning and from there, they plan goals.
Engaging the parents is an important factor in the classroom; they are encouraged to
come out to visit and volunteer and attend conferences. Other positive interactions flow from
inside the classroom into the homes of students through phone calls, notes, and home visits. It all
shows up in their performance in the classroom.
Using technology contributes to individual interactions also. Some devices they use in
her classroom range from V-tec device to ipads to computers and so much more. It shows growth
in the students both mentally and socially. If you expect them to cooperate with you, the
classroom has to be set up in a manner where they feel safe, inviting, and clean.
Youre really going to like working with children in the classroom. ---Snowden
Mrs. Brown is also a teacher at Lanes Head Start. She started out in the medical field
with an Associate in Medical Clerical and Public Service, but soon realized that was not for her.
She went to South Carolina State University and received a Bachelors of Science in Family and
Consumer Science/ Child Development. Since then she has been in this profession twenty years.
Mrs. Brown has fourteen three year olds and much attention is required. Interactions are
encouraged through group work and physical activities throughout the day. At the end of the day,
everyone participated in both a learning and physical activity, there was a song that sing numbers
from one to one hundred and it incorporated exercise. This was good because it brought out
some of the energy the kids had; they were very active. We all worked as a team when nap time

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was over, each student helped one another carry their sleeping mates over to the back of the class
and folded their covers.
Maybe I will see you here one day teaching.-- Brown
The students working together helps them learn new skills such as team work and they
stay on task. Like stated before, the curriculum requires them to work with the students daily
based on their needs. Parents are involved in the process through the weekly and monthly
activity sheets from the lesson plan. Teachers may run into problems getting some parents to get
involved because they either do not care or they are too busy.
The classrooms are filled with decorations inspired by the students work; this is
important because if the classroom atmosphere isnt friendly, they will not feel safe and open up.

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These parent boards are located in the front of the classroom to inform the
parents/guardian what is going on at the school. The board also has emergency contacts, lesson
plans, and menus. I like this board because it gives a list of emergency procedures to take when
sudden things come up such as asthma, first aid care, steps to reporting suspected abuse and
many more. It could mean less panic because you can follow the instructions until a medical
official arrives. This is very important when it comes to these three and four year olds because
accidents can happen so fast with them. Thats why making sure that you are able to provide
attention all throughout the day to the students is important, and having an assistant there at all
times also.
All teachers should have that connection with their students; they must have that passion
to teach and love these children. I have worked with one little girl outside of school when she
was upset and crying and no one was able to calm her except me. One lady tried and had no
success; she just gave up and walked away. From her doing that, the child could have shut down
completely; you do not know what people go through, even the little ones. She wasnt crying for
attention, I gave her a hug and she eventually calmed down. From that day on, she loves to be
around me and I am willing to help her with school. Positive interactions and individual
attention like this will help our students to grow.

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Works Cited
Brown. Ethno Essay. Personal Interview. 24 September 2014
Snowden. Ethno Essay. Personal Interview. 24 September 2014