Re: Elementary school teachers

Laura Petersen (petersen@LCSC.EDU)
Wed, 5 Feb 1997 13:23:00 -0800

It seems to me that the elementary school problem is more complicated
than just preparation in mathematics. It also is the culture of teaching,
which often is done in isolation, without feedback. It is difficult for
teachers to learn from each other because they don't have the
opportunity, the time, or the experience of watching each other. It is
difficult to sometimes accept help from well-meaning college teachers or
parents or community members. In my experience, teachers are not always
comfortable with sharing their territory -- their kids -- with others. It
was never modeled to me as appropriate behavior in my tenure in the
public schools. We were all in our own rooms, with our own kids.

If you do choose to volunteer in the classroom, don't be surprised if you
are first relegated to correcting spelling papers or listening to kids
read OUTSIDE the regular classroom. It may take some time to build a
trust relationship with the teacher. Or, if you are going in as a
professional teacher, it may be the teacher only wants to start out with
isolated demonstrations. Again, it can be threatening to have someone,
however well meaning, in a teacher's space.

Certainly this is not a research-based comment. I believe, however, that
as long as we are careful not to generalize, that our personal
experiences are valuable.

--Laura
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Laura Petersen petersen@lcsc.du

Division of Natural Sciences PHONE 208-799-2484
Lewis-Clark State College FAX 208-799-2064
500 8th Avenue
Lewiston ID 83501-2698 USA
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