Practicum Blog 4

 This week was similar to last week except we worked with third grade. Each class began in the classroom learning how to check heart rate using either your neck or wrist pulse. The students were required to figure out their heart rate using their pulse and their maximum heart rate using their age. This was a skill that was introduced in Kindergarten and touched upon every year. I was happily surprised at their skill with this concept. Next up was running laps outside, the kid's favorite! No, no they really don't like it but my cooperating teacher is great about adding physical fitness and games into their class so they get a small workout as well as some fun. Next on the agenda was coordination, a memory game that I'm blanking on the name. and finally, we spent the last few minutes working on our jump rope skills. I think the excessive use of jump rope is solely based on our lack of equipment this semester. and finally a test about endurance and heart rate to close out the class. 

A learning question that arose for me was when teaching, how do you ensure you're explaining your lesson in such a way that all the students understand. Maybe you don't maybe you can't?  My cooperating teacher explained the heart rate activity multiple times and in different ways and demonstrated the activity. One student was really struggling with the correct hand position even after both of us showed him how to do it. The student was frustrated and annoyed at us and probably at himself. It was sad for me to see him so frustrated. 

I'm struggling for the right words to connect to what we're learning in class, assimilation maybe? I've noticed the students use prior knowledge from previous years and make connections to what we are doing today. Heart rate and jump rope are examples of this! Calculating heart rate and jump rope are content they have had previously and they are building upon their skills each year.