Bernarda Diaz Salgado 10/13/17 Roster: #5

Field Experience Assignment #1: Become Familiar with The School

Entering the grounds of Jim Bridger Middle School is like a hit of flashbacks. I
enter the office and there is a computer where I have to sign in as a visitor for Field
Observation hours. I have met with the principal before entering the school grounds. She
was the principal for Canyon Springs High School which I attended for a school year.
The office staff are kind people and easy to communicate with. A building map was
barely necessary because I knew the school’s halls.
Firstly, while observing I ended up recording the following; teachers don’t have
specific expectations while busses arrive, however the principal or office staff may step
out to make sure students head into school instead of leaving. Students are expected a fair
amount of expectations. Classroom expectations are posted in the halls and classrooms,
they aren’t hard to miss. The classroom expectations are; FALCON PRIDE; Falcons have
PURPOSE * Be engaged. Falcons demonstrate RESPECT * Take care of materials and
property. * Be kind to one another * Use formal names. Falcons have INTEGRITY
*Report problems. * Try your best. Falcons have DISCIPLINE. *Follow all the rules.
*Use school appropriate language, *Motivate yourself. Falcons have EFFICIENCY
*Complete work on time * Use time wisely. Library Use Guidelines. These guidelines
are not intended to restrict, in any manner, the use of the library. They have become in
fact, necessary due to the popularity our facility and the need to maintain a safe, secure
and pleasant environment for all to enjoy. To permit the continued effective use of the
library, please observe the following guidelines. All reference material must be used in
the library.
Staff members may check out materials to be used personally or in class. Books
can be checked out for a two-week period of time. Students wishing to renew a book may
do so. Students using reference books must return them before leaving the library.
Hallway expectations involve walks and talk, interact briefly, keep it clean, keep hands
and feet to yourself. Carry a pass, report problems. Use indoor voices, use school-
appropriate language. Walk to the right and be on time. Restroom expectations include
the following; take care of business. Keep it clean, flush, and wash with soap and water.
Maintain the privacy and report problems. Use indoor voices school appropriate
language. Return to class quickly and use restroom at appropriate time. Cafeteria
expectations; get in line and take seats, keep it clean and keep food and drinks in the café,
remain in line, eat your own food, and recycle. Indoor voices and school appropriate
language. Eat before using technology, be prepared with your lunch order. Quad *Walk
and talk with friends *Keep it clean *Follow staff directions the first time *keep hands
and feet to yourself *report problems *use appropriate voice level *Be prepared to go to
class. Parking lot *Be aware of your surroundings *Use designated drop off/pick up
zones * Be patient *Wait for others *Use sidewalks and crosswalks *Report Problems
*Identify and report hazards *Exit campus before using wheels *Move along.
There is three types of specialists on school grounds which are social workers,
strategists, speech therapist, and psychologist. Ms. Petersen, speech therapist; A CCSD
speech therapist is assigned on an itinerant basis at Jim Bridger Middle School. The
Bernarda Diaz Salgado 10/13/17 Roster: #5

therapist will serve student who have communicative disorders in language, speech, and
hearing. A teacher having concern about a student's Possible communicative disorder
should refer to the student to the SIP team. Mr. Andrews, psychologist; a Clark County
School District psychologist is assigned on an itinerant basis to work with school
counselors and special education personnel to evaluate students for possible specialized
Services. The psychologist tests students referred by the Student Intervention Program. A
teacher having a concern about a student's ability to perform academic tasks or
emotional/social behaviors should refer the student to the counselor who will determine
whether a referral to the SIP team is necessary or if identified as a special education
student, the special education facilitator. Ms. Anakwa and Ms. Van Meter, and Ms.
Hicks, social workers. Ms. K. Brooks and Ms. Kennedy, strategists. All of these
specialists can be found in the counseling office.
The handbooks have been a great guide to knowing both sides of a school, the
staff and students. A teacher doesn’t handle much when a student is taken out early, the
office sends an aide to pick up the student from class and if it is in the middle of class the
teacher will give or take the work from a student so they can catch up after coming back.
Fire Drill procedures; Exit directions for the fire drill must be posted in each room by the
door. When the fire alarm sounds, the students will quickly and quietly walk (in two
lines) out of the classroom and proceed on the exit route for that particular room.
STUDENTS SHOULD MOVE WITH SPEED AND A SENSE OF URGENCY, BUT
THEY ARE NOT TO RUN. Treat each fire drill as if there were an actual fire. When the
alarm sounds, make announcement to the students that a fire drill is in process. Request
the student nearest the door to open it, hold up the name card and proceed to the exit
route leading the entire class. As the teacher leaves, visually sweep the classroom, turn
the lights off, closed and LOCK doors and stay with the class along the exit route.
TEACHERS MUST ALWAYS HAVE THEIR CURRENT ATTENDANCE ROSTERS
AND KEYS WITH THEM FOR STUDENT ACCOUNTING. The hall monitors, deans,
and/or other staff members will signal that the drill is over by raising an orange flag.
Classes are not to be brought back into the building until the teacher has seen the flag. If
a class period ends while the drill is occurring, the teacher will not dismiss students but
rather return them to the classroom.
The next class will commence after everyone returns to the building. Shelter in
Place procedures; if outdoors: REVERSE EVACUATE. If in a portable classroom: you
may be instructed to move into the building, if not follow the following instructions: If
you are unable to reverse evacuate into the main building you must turn off the HVAC
system and LOCK AND SEAL all exterior opening doors and windows, any broken
windows, and all air vents. If indoors: LOCK AND SEAL (with plastic and tape) all
exterior opening doors and windows and any broken windows. TAPE inside opening
classroom door(s) as an added precaution. CONDUCT Staff and Student Accounting.
ENFORCE Student Code of Conduct: remain calm. ALL student’s movement outside of
your classroom, if necessary, can only occur within a sealed hallway and will be directed
by the administration and emergency responders. Continue instruction as usual. Ensure
care for those students with special needs. Do not attempt to contact the office unless you
Bernarda Diaz Salgado 10/13/17 Roster: #5

have pertinent information regarding the incident. If needed, contact 911 for life
threatening situation occurring in your room. Teachers do have a first aid kit, which
includes the basic utilities but if the student needs more attention, the teacher has to
provide with a nurse pass. One thing that caught my attention while reading the teacher
handbook was “items that present an imminent danger to students (i.e. knives, firearms,
chemical sprays) must be turned into the Dean’s office immediately by an adult staff
member. Call the Dean’s office for assistance, extension 4500; request a “purple folder.”
Universal Precautions include; 29 CRF (Code of Federal Register). Part 1910.1030
& quote; Occupational Exposure to Bloodborne pathogens; final rule, December 6, 1992
states: Employees face a significant health risk as the result of occupational exposure to
blood and other potentially infectious materials because they may contain blood borne
pathogens, including hepatitis B virus that causes Hepatitis B, a serious liver disease and
HIV, which causes AIDS. This exposure can be minimized or eliminated using a
combination of engineering and work practice controls, personal protective clothing and
equipment, training, medical surveillance, Hepatitis B vaccinations, signs and labels, and
other provisions. Limits occupational exposure to blood and other potentially infectious
materials since any exposure could result in transmission of blood borne pathogens that
could lead to disease or death. Employees must provide engineering controls and workers
must use work practices and protective clothing and equipment to prevent exposure to
potentially infectious materials. However, the best defense against Hepatitis B is
vaccination. There is no vaccination for HIV. Employees who are exposed to blood or
other potentially infectious materials as part of their job duties, such as a needle stick or a
blood splash in the eye, must receive a confidential medical evaluation that may include
Hepatitis B vaccinations.
Extracurricular activities that occur on the school grounds are After School All
Stars/Clubs, Intramurals, Dances, Middle Level Basketball, Cheerleaders, Special Events.
Parents are involved throughout the Parent Advisory Council; The purpose of the Parent
Advisory Council shall be to advise the Principal in all matters pertaining to the school
and its educational program. The group is a resource to the Principal who remains
responsible for all the decisions that are necessary in the administration and supervision
of the school. The Parent Advisory meeting will be held monthly. The Parent Advisory
Council will perform the following functions: participate in the assessment of education
needs, establish priorities and advise on resource needs of the school, make
recommendations regarding the planning of the educational program needs of the school,
contribute to the definition of the educational philosophy and the objectives and to help in
the evaluation of each. To orient and advise the Principal and the staff regarding
conditions in the community. Advise the Principal and the staff regarding policy affecting
the welfare of all pupils. To facilitate school communication with parents and citizens
and to mobilize public support for Jim Bridger Middle School. Assist in securing the
support and service of parents, teachers, and students. Participate in the evaluation of the
school and its academic effectiveness and make recommendations.
Bernarda Diaz Salgado 10/13/17 Roster: #5

Field Observation Assignment #2

From my perspective, I would not make any change in the physical layout of the
classroom. I feel like Miss Thomas provides all important factors of a classroom.
Everything in her class serves a purpose in the classroom. The posters are mandatory to
have up and her quote stickers on the walls to show how she hopes everyone turns out.
They all could relate to students in the class. The stickers show some form of comfort
that the students should have while being in the classroom.
The drawing of the classroom reflects upon the five keys to a good room
arrangement. Miss Thomas did an exceptional job arranging the classroom because you
can have an overview of the whole classroom when she is sitting in the front. The desks
are placed, and the agenda board is placed on the side of the classroom as seen on the
drawing which could be easy to view. The agenda includes, the goal and the
achievements that the class should be able to complete towards the end of the period. The
pathways are easy to travel through without a problem, and most students remain seated
unless they go to the restroom or throw trash into the bin. It is an average room but the
arrangement that the teacher chose is really easy to travel around without a problem or
without crowding. Miss Thomas can easily view students from being seated by the
projector teaching a lesson to a grade. She can also view students form her desk. The
teaching materials are found on her desk which you’d need to ask to borrow or use.
Student supplies are found on the bookcase she provided for the students and their math
notebooks. Both supplies are accessible and is easy to find. The projector and smartboard
are easily seen from the students’ view spots. She provides instructional notes on a
laminated paper that the students should be able to manage around when doing their
work.
Strengths that the classroom has is that its manageable for the students and the
teacher. There are no assigned seats because Miss Thomas has a process where she
teaches every grade on their own time. The desks are arranged so the first column will be
a grade that she will teach the lesson to. The middle column is for students to do their
GOLD card, Monday-Thursday. They are supposed to do one from each column each
day. The following is how the card looks like:
G O L D
Aleks Technology Class kick Seat Work
15 minutes of Aleks Create an Edu- Class kick 1 Questions 1-3
creations _____

15 minutes of Aleks Digital Flashcards Class kick 2 Questions 4-6

15 minutes of Aleks Brainpop: Class kick 4 Questions 10-12

I feel like her arrangement is already good enough. It makes a more effective learning
environment for the students and it was very easy to function when I was around.
The students in every class. Are well behaved some classes can be rowdy but can
be maintained under control. Each class consists of boys and girls. The number of
students in a class varies, the minimum of students she has are 5 students, and the
maximum students she has in a class are 23 students. The number of students is not as
much compared to high school classes. The students age varies in the class which are 11
to 14 years of age. There is students in class that appear to be isolated from others,
behaviors that let me believe this is that they are quiet, some focus on their work instead
of talking to their fellow classmates, have their earbuds in, and/or are sitting apart from a
group or the whole class in general. Raising hands in classes are to ask questions and to
answer a question that the teacher has asked. However, students who appear to raise their
hand more often are the ones who are sitting by the teacher during a lesson or students
that need help with the work provided. The classroom layout is structured so the teacher
can have a view on everyone, and the desks are not placed in the back physically because
it is shaped like a square.
However, it depends on the students and their seating choice because there is no
definite seating chart. Some students do get off track, but they are easily maintained and
can get back on track with their work. The middle sometimes seems to be those type of
students. Praising in the class isn’t seen as much when I have been observing. There are
not any students who receive praise, they all respect each other have good characters
towards others in the room. All students speak to each other and some students are very
sociable with each other. The teacher takes notice of every student in the classroom, so
that indicates that none of the students are really being ignored. All students really take
notice of each other and the social students talk to students that are quiet. The students in
most of the classrooms are in their own grade group or their similarities in the class.
However, some refer to keep focus on their work and after their work is done, they speak
to the teacher or friends. Some students in the class communicate with me since I am not
that old compared to them, so there is quite a few more things to talk about. Most
students looked at me as if I was part of the classroom and some seemed to enjoy my
presence there.
Students now are basically the same when I was around, I happened to learn some
of their names. Their character and attitude really make an impact when learning names.
In the second period, the students I remember are Osvaldo, Eric, Adrian, Nick, David and
Fabian. These students specifically either ask questions, get called on by the teacher for
being disruptive, and they speak to the teacher while doing their work. From first period,
I don’t remember many names because the class is very quiet, I remember the name
Obby, Leilani, Jonathan, and Gilbert. Two of the students have been called out in the
class for being disruptive and the other two are students who ask questions and receive
help from the teacher. Gilbert has some conversations with Miss Thomas, and he leaves
class with “have a good day miss,” “see you tomorrow,” “bye,” he is very polite to every
student in the classroom and is extremely friendly. On my last day, I began to realize how
friendly everyone is. The class may have been disruptive at points but on my last day
Bernarda Diaz Salgado 10/13/17 Roster: #5

everyone was nice and kind. They wished me the best for my college classes and my
choice of being a teacher. I enjoyed this experience and it influenced my choice even
more. I’d love to help students and working with them was the best thing I did throughout
my time being here.