GYM OBSERVATION

Mary Kate Tentoco
Teacher Academy 4
8 January 2013
Class Observation
Gym Class
Before I stepped foot into the Mr. Gugliemos fourth period gym class that period, I expected only a few things. First, I expected the class to be awake and full of energy. Secondly, I expected the students to be more aware of what was to come in the class most especially because the objective was written on the white board. Lastly, I expected the class to know what they were to do that day in gym. I expected all these things because I also have Mr. Gugliemo for gym but during first period. But sometimes, expectations can be proven wrong.
The day of the observation, I walked into the gym with my expectations and automatically expectation one was proven wrong. The boys were not changed for gym nor were they planning to I later find out. You would think that a boys gym class would be so active but it was not like that at all. Instead of playing or warming up with a few exercises, the boys sat around and texted. Soon after, my second expectation was proven wrong as well. The boys did not bother to look at the objective nor agenda that was clearly written on the white board near the bleachers. They did not bother to look, they just waited for further confirmation of what they were suppose to do. I thought that boys at this age would not need to ask, they would just know. Specially since they have been playing flag football for awhile. At this point, I was waiting for expectation number three to be proven false and soon after it was. When the boys finally got up to play, they picked teams, and I witnessed a very disturbing thing. A boy refused to play on the team because he said, "I dont like that african kid on the team." Not only did I mark that down as bad sportsmanship but also disrespectful and incriminating. But no one said anything, the game went on and the kid who refused to play received a zero for that day. But asides from that, I also saw students who were dressed and ready to go. They new what was next after attendance and they showed excellent sportsmanship whether it was towards their own team mates or the opponents.
After the observation I thought to myself, "Observing gym was not such a great idea." Going in there I didnt know what to look for and who to observe, the students or the teachers. I decided on the students because I wanted to see how a student would act in a gym class that was not my own. I learned that sometimes, the students can be mean, rude, and not want to participate at all. But there are some who do try to earn a grade rather than just showing up, changing, and getting an A for the day. Going into this gym class I expected and got let down. But I also came out with a new perspective that I was not even thinking about. I learned that a student can be in a less structured learning class and still give the same effort as an AP class asides from those that would consider gym a "free period."

Linda Christensen: TA Reading Assignment

Talking Points

                There are many things in this reading that I have found very interesting but the most important one to me is when the writer, Linda Christensen discusses how her students felt while realizing the certain roles of colored people, poor, fat, ugly, and the uneducated are depicted. She discusses how a cartoon can portray a certain class and rank someone based on stereotype and what the children see on TV. In one passage, Linda Christensen states, “ I agree with her because there should be more women of color who play the leads in these white-on-white wedding cake tales.”(pg6) I agree with her because only recently have they started making Disney Princess movies that star a Princess of color and showing a whole new view of the spectrum. I believe that what she is trying to get across has been overlooked by many and should be discussed everywhere. Because not only are stereotypes unjust, they are also misleading.

10 Quick Ways to Analyze Children’s Books for racism and Sexism

                After reading this, I had a discussion with my step father and I asked him to read it so we can have a discussion with it and debate. It turned out that we didn’t disagree with one another and we both agree with what the writer had to say. Especially when they discussed tokenism. How one race is depicted to this very limited image.  Not only did we discuss these issues, we also looked through children’s books to see if any of these issues occurred and it has. Asians, blacks, Hispanics, all viewed in a certain way. They all had a certain look that categorized them into their race. And that is why my step father and I both agree with what the writers have to say. Because besides talking about it, we also tested out what they had said. We also didn’t do this with one book, but we did it with several. Just to make sure what the author said was just. But that’s what my stepfather and I had to discuss after reading this 10 quick easy steps to analyze children books for racism and sexism.

Taking Multicultural, Anti-Racist Education Seriously

In the passage it asks the writer, Enid Lee, “Teachers have limited money to buy new

materials. How can they begin to incorporate a multicultural education even if they

don’t have a lot of money?” What I don’t understand is how this question relates to the

topic. If the teacher wanted to make a change in the classroom and make it more cultural,

 money should not be an issue. Changing a class shouldn’t even involve money. It should

include effort and persistence from the teacher and students. Everything else, I have come

to an agreement with but this one particular part, it just boggles my mind. I still haven’t

come to an understanding on how this question remotely relates to a subject such as this.

I believe that a more proper question that they should be asking is how the School

District and the Super Intendent can help raise awareness in a multicultural classroom.