This document summarizes Mrs. DuBois's 1st grade classroom activities and teaching philosophy. It includes details about her classroom rules, lesson plans covering subjects like reading, writing, math, science, and social studies. It also describes some of her teaching strategies, like using the reading area to discuss graphs, displaying student work and educational posters on the walls. The final section includes a summarized interview with Mrs. DuBois where she discusses her philosophy of focusing on student development, using classroom management strategies like conscious discipline, making accommodations for student diversity, and using technology like Brain Pop Jr. and a Smart Board. She advises future teachers to be passionate and not lose sight of why they wanted to teach.

1. Hunter’s Creek Elementary School
Mrs. DuBois’s 1 st Grade Class
Monica Noda-Ruiz
Intro to Teaching Profession
EDF 2005 CRN 16450
Dr. Yasmeen Qadri

2. Classroom Rules
The children would repeat these if someone did something they weren’t supposed to

3. A checklist sent
home to parents
during the schools
Open House to
ensure student
success

4. A flyer put
together by
Mrs. DuBois to
simplify what
Common Core
is and how to
support it at home

5. Lesson Plan
• Reading- Why is school important? (Students read Curious George at
School)
• Writing- Are, Can, Have (Students worked in workbooks Florida Common Core
Journeys!)
• Math- Addition (Students did “Dino-Mite Math” which is a timed activity to
increase speed and accuracy in basic math. They have one minute to do 20 math
problems. They also had a math lesson out of the Go Math! Florida textbook)
• Social Studies- Citizenship (Students went to library for lesson given by
librarian)
• Science- 5 Senses (Students completed a computer program from
BrainPop.com discussing their five senses)

6. Learning about
Graphs on the
reading Carpet
Mrs. DuBois utilized her
reading area to bring the
children in close to discuss
graphs and graph making.
She chose to use the reading
area instead of staying at
their desks and using the
smart board because she
wanted to mix it up so that
they could get out of their
seats. She uses different
teaching techniques to keep
the children interested.

7. Reading Area
She used different book
covers to make a bulletin
board for her reading area.
The books are located
underneath and next to this
board. She has this board
positioned so that as soon as
you walk into the classroom
you see the “Welcome” sign.
This helps the students to
feel welcome into her
classroom.

8. Classroom View
Mrs. Dubois has a lot of
posters hanging on her walls.
Some of these posters
include sight words, simple
additions, classrooms
expectations, and other
topics that they will be or
currently are studying. She
updates her boards
throughout the year to make
sure they children stay
motivated.

9. Interview with Mrs. DuBois
What is your philosophy of teaching? Did it change over the years of teaching experience?
“My focus is on early childhood development and doing whatever is necessary for that development. Of course
my philosophy has changed because our curriculum is made by the state legislature and we have to teach what
they want us to teach. Also, our philosophy has to change as teachers to meet the needs of the students. I would
love more time to create and explore my lessons in greater depth.”
What effective classroom management strategies do you utilize with your students?
“I am a huge fan of Bev Boss’s theory of conscious discipline. She is based out of Roseville, CA. Another professor I
admire used to teach at UCF and I’m not sure if she is still there, Becky Bailey, she was also a believer in this idea of
conscious discipline. I like to do anything to make them own their behavior and understand why they should or
shouldn’t do something, not just bark at them without explaining myself.”
What forms of accommodations so you make to respect cultural/ faith diversity, exceptionalities,
and language differences in your students?
“I have ESOL training and use a technique called language acquisition. I do a lot of modeling and pausing to ensure
that they understand what I am saying. I reach out to the parents and let them know that we are a team and make
sure that they are involved. We focus on what they know instead of what they don’t know. As for holidays, we
don’t celebrate any specific holidays. Instead, we celebrate seasons and do things like pumpkin centers, apple
centers, fall celebrations, and in the spring, we have a multi-cultural day when everyone is invited to attend and
share their culture. Also, I never say ‘parents’, or ‘mom’ or ‘dad’, I say ‘grown -up at home’ because a lot of children
don’t have the common nuclear family.”
What forms of technology do you use with your students in the classroom to enhance your teaching
and your students learning?
“I use Brain Pop Jr., an activity called Activote, that is kind of like a quizzing game, I have the Smart Board, and all
of the material that comes with the textbooks. Everything is online now.”
What advice do you have for future teachers?
“Be passionate!! You will want to start out by saving the world and it will soon just become a job. Don ’t lose sight
of why you wanted to be a teacher. Rewards take time, but you will have students that appreciate you. Don’t get
consumed by test scores. Be real with the kids, they want honesty. And of course, have fun and enjoy it!”

10. Verification Form

11. My Reflections…..
• I really enjoyed this assignment because it helped me to
realize the importance of a mentor in this field. Mr. Dubois
taught me the importance of hidden curriculum because she
really wants to ensure that her students are learning more
than the alphabet and addition. Although I prefer a
Progressivism teaching style, her classroom was an
Essentialism style classroom because of the curriculum she is
forced to teach. She taught me how to work with children
that have alternative families and the importance of not
alienating them but including them properly. Each student has
a different learning style and it is important not only to notice
these styles, but to alter your teaching to ensure that each
student is able to learn accordingly.

12. Accountability is very important not only as an educator but to
teach the students as well. Another interesting part of
education that I learned to appreciate more is bilingual
education. It is important for students to learn two languages
because in our fast paces world, they will need it in the future.
Another important aspect for students to learn is currently
being taught in Green Schools and it is the idea of preservation
and sustainability. These ideas are being taught in normal
schools, but not as much as in the green schools. It is important
for children to learn these qualities because it will make them
better people.