Professional Information

My name is Jessica Barth. I am a May 2002 graduate of Saginaw Valley State University with my BA in Elementary Education with Early Childhood endorsement. My student teaching was completed in two segments. From January through mid-February, 2002, I worked in a Michigan School Readiness Preschool program. From mid-February through April 2002, I worked in a multiage classroom consisting of first- and second-graders. Both placements were at J.B. Griffin Early Childhood Center at Carrollton Elementary School in Saginaw, Michigan. I taught the unit during the second placement.

Technology Information

Carrollton has many computer technologies available, including: 2 computer labs, SmartBoard and laptops to check out, digital cameras to check out, 2 networked student computers in each classroom, and 1 networked teacher computer in each classroom. I took advantage of each of these at some point during the unit. I also used some of my own technology, including software not available at the school, digital camera, webcam, computer microphone, and scanner.

Learning Environment Information

Being in a multiage classroom, I had 46 students shared between two classes. For most subjects, students are mixed in ages and grade level. For math and certain reading topics, they are separated by grade level. Some of the activities in the unit involved both classes of students. However, activities which involve the classroom website (which I created for my class as my honors thesis project) were used with one class. Students ranged in age from 6 to 8. Several cultural and economic groups were represented. Several students were pulled from the room for special services throughout the day, including speech, occupational or physical therapy, HOSTS (Help One Student To Succeed), and reading recovery.