Guided Observation #1 Contextual Factors

Name: Samantha Taylor

Date: April 13, 2017
Course: EDUC 2300 Introduction to Education
School: Mt. Horeb Elementary School

Interview your mentoring teacher to obtain the demographics about the school. Write a
response for each question in a paragraph format.

1. Record the number of males, females, and ratio of ethnicity within the
classroom.
This classroom is the largest in the grade at this school with 19 students. The females
outnumber the males by three with 11 females and 9 males. The students are between the
ages of 5 and 7. Of the 19 students, one is Hispanic and the other 18 are Caucasian. There
is low diversity in this classroom.

2. What are the developmental levels of the students within the classroom you
are observing?
According to the teacher, her students range from a low developmental level to an
advanced developmental level. There are approximately 14 of the students at an average
level, 3 at a low level, and 2 at an advanced level.
3. How is the instruction modified to meet the diverse needs of the students?
Since most of the students are at an average level, everyone works on activities together.
For those who are at a higher level, if they go ahead of the class, they can draw a picture
or read until time to move to a new topic. For those who are at a lower level, they are
given additional time and help from the teacher.

4. Research the school and the Tennessee State Government web site to
obtain information about the school community, school report card, and
school population.
Mt. Horeb Elementary is a Title I school meaning most of its students receive free or
reduced lunch. According to the school report card, only 42.1% of the student population
is considered economically disadvantaged. There are 617 students who attend this school.
83.5% percent are white, 9.6% are Hispanic, and 5.9% are African American. The only
other information provided by the state government website is the names and addresses
of the school and the officials over the school.

5. What are the specialized programs/activities found within the school that
would assist special needs children, those who need enrichment activities,
or remediation? List the specific programs that are available.
The school has a special education classroom in which students who need assistance go
during the day. Some of them come to the classroom only when they need help in certain
areas, and return to their regular class to be included in the activities there. Some students
are pulled from class to get extra help on their reading through the RTI program as well.
As of right now, those are the only programs and activities at the school.