Answer 1

1)  Differentiating Instruction is the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use with her students by enganging multiple types of learners due to it being a variety of methods in one method itself.

2)  I observe a kindergarten class for my Independent Component 1, and not only them, but also the teacher.  Ms.  Underwood is presently a kindergarten teacher, but also was a first grade teacher years back.  I see this method, Differentiating Instruction, at work when I observe her and the class (so what I see are examples themselves).  She was the one who introduced me to this method in the interview.  Differentiating Instruction is 'an approach that assumes there is a diversity of learners in every classroom and that all of those learners can be reached if a variety of methods and activities are used.  The article, "A Teacher's Guide to Differentiating Instruction" states that 'Carol Tomlinson (2000), a noted expert on differentiation, points out that research has proven that students are more successful when they are taught based on their own readiness levels, interests, and learning profiles.'  This teaching method does not ingnore the needs of the different types of learners there is, and recognizes that there is a variety of learners.

3)  As mentioned before, I was introduced to this method by Ms.  Underwood from my third interview.  She is a Kindergarten teacher and was a First Grade teacher.  Also, my First Independent Component has allowed me to observe this method in action; then, there is the article "A Teacher's Guide to Differentiating Instruction".

Service Learning

1) I am working at San Jose Elementary School.

2)  My contact is Ms.  Horwitz, first grade teacher at San Jose Elementary School; also Mrs.  Naccara who is another first grade teacher I work with in San Jose Elementary.

3)  I have helped two first grade teacher with different tasks.  I have been tutoring and helping the first grade students with different subjects such as reading or math.  Then, I have helped with (and still do)  testing the students in different subject areas.  Lastly, I have helped and still help correct work and even fix up/decorate their classroom (for like open house and such).  

4)  I have worked about 41 hours in my service learning.

Third Interview Questions

1)  What is the best teaching method a first grade teacher can use? Why?

2)  What teaching methods do you presently utilize with your kindergarten students?

3)  What do you believe makes a teaching method successful?  Why?

4)  What teaching methods have you commonly used throughout your teaching career?

5)  What significant aspects on teaching first graders differ from teaching kindergartners?

6)  What is generally different about a kindergarten student and a first grade student, behavior wise?

7)  How does this affect the methods you utilize when it comes to teaching first grade students?

8)  Is there any new methods you have heard of, that are more current, through research, or other sources?  If so, which are they?

9)  Name important quality you think a first grade teacher requires in order to successfully project and utilize any teaching method?

10)  Do you have anything, such as research or resources, that may be useful towards my topic, more specifically my essential question?