Heinly: Practicum Journal by Jess Heinly https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q en-us 2018-09-04 22:19:29 UTC 2026-03-01 06:12:31 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet-assets.s3.amazonaws.com/icons/Lightdecrease.png The management in the S.T.E.A.M. classroom was difficult. Since S.T.E.A.M incorporates a lot of elements, there is always talking and movement going on in the classroom. My first day of practicum was with a substitute teacher and she was nervous because the students were making a water slides and it was unclear on how it would play out. The students weren't running around the classroom but it was hectic. I noticed a a lot of talking and moving around. This was not the way Mrs. Tierney liked her classroom to be managed. She was very on top of them if they weren't on task or if their behavior was not exceptable. The S.T.E.A.M. classroom she teaches is three periods and the grades are 3rd, 4th, and 5th. It was interesting to see the 5th graders be more out of control and misbehaved than the third graders. Mrs. Tierney also expressed the same opinion and said it was stressful. Overall Mrs. Tierney did an amazing job handling the classroom in an orderly fashion but movement and group discussions are always expected in this kind of setting. surfsunlovex3 https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311217746 2018-12-05 03:44:26 UTC https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311217746 All of the work done in the S.T.E.A.M. lab was meaningful. The students are given projects that will help them in the real world or get them to start thinking about things in the real world. I really enjoyed watching the kids complete their water slide activity because they were so creative in their designs and all of the students were working together so hard to make sure their waterslide was water proof, sturdy and tall enough. Another meaningful project they started when I was in the classroom was weaving. This can be very useful in everyday life and an important skill to learn. The students didn't see it that way but they enjoyed doing it. I explained to some students that this is something they will never forget and it will stick with them when their older. Some of the girls were really excited when telling me how they've learned to sew from their mothers. I think that the S.T.E.A.M. lab is a great classroom to have in a school because kids really love working with their hands and it they can take it with them in the real world. S.T.E.A.M. labs can really make a difference in a students education. surfsunlovex3 https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311219707 2018-12-05 03:56:46 UTC https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311219707 Their were not any type of written assessments in the S.T.E.A.M. classroom. How ever, the students did test out their waterslides to see if a figure was able to slide down. Everyone that participated got a grade. Their were no individual grades handed out and everyone was involved so the whole class received credit. Mrs. Tierney explained to me since their are no written assessments in this classroom, the students are graded on their finished product, along with how well they worked in the process. Rarely will a student in her classroom not get credit. She said if a student does not receive credit, it is because they were not following the rules. Overall everyone was excited to work on their projects so when it came to grades, it was a breeze! (for the most part) surfsunlovex3 https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311221983 2018-12-05 04:12:42 UTC https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311221983 Mrs. Tierney had three different grade levels she saw each day. These three classes did the same thing and followed the same instruction even with the age differences. For example, all three grade levels followed the same instructions and were given the same materials to create a water slide. Their was some differentiation in the fifth grade class because three students from a behavioral classroom also joined this period. One student was directed to work by himself. Mrs. Tierney told me that he likes to work by himself and is able to concentrate without others distracting him. The other two students were able to work together with their groups and did not need any differentiation. The only other differentiation I was in the classroom was when Mrs. Tierney had to separate students because they could not work together. Also she likes to put students in groups where she knows some excel and others struggle. I thought she did a great job creating a great learning environment where all students are able to learn and do the same projects with no problem. surfsunlovex3 https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311222605 2018-12-05 04:17:50 UTC https://padlet.com/surfsunlovex3/nv0tae6bau4q/wish/311222605