Walker Elementary School is located right in the middle of the college neighborhood of Stateland. It is surrounded by rows of suburban homes lining the parallel and perpendicular streets running off of a heavily used road. These regal homes have mostly been built in the earlier decades of the nineteenth century, some being newly renovated and updated to a slightly more modern look, while others look like they have not been closely well kept. Across from the school is a large park including a baseball and football field, as well as small area accomadating younger children towards the back of the fields. Of course, completely adjacent to the school is a large blacktop area where kids can play hopscotch, jump rope, and other fun activities while further from the school is a swing set and playground. Just up the road is where the hospital is located, providing a comforting feeling for parents in the community if they ever have concerns about their child or children. In the opposite direction, up the hill is the University of Stateland which is a well honored university, especially to those in the surrounding area. East of the college is Main Street where local shops and restaurants are located, which mostly survive off of college consumers.
The school itself contains large hallways that are fit to accommodate several rows of children to conveniently pass by. If needed, the main office can be a helpful resource in guiding a visitor or teacher where to go, any messages that need to be relayed, or an update on the school’s status of activities. In the actual classroom that I have been observing in, the most useful resources are the large bookshelves located at the back of the classroom. These are great because they contain numerous series of books that the class can partake in reading, and provide a great environment for wanting to read. Kids in the class have already become accustomed to constantly using this resource and it is positively affecting the way they utilize their free time. There is also a bathroom located in the classroom which is convenient for children, instead of leaving the room to wander down the hall which can cause further distractions. The bathroom also serves as an additional responsibility in the room, and the children have to learn that it is a privilege to have such a resource in the room, and if it is not taken care of it, they can no longer make use of it during class time. Another resource that could be used would be part of the Stateland’s campus where teachers can receive an extra degree, enroll in an extra class, or have children tutored in a particular subject.
Walker Elementary is made up of eight grades ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade. Each grade contains two classes, except for pre-k which only has one class. In addition to each of these classes’ teachers there are a number of specialty teachers for subjects such as music, art, physical education, etc. Since the school is so small, the entire faculty knows almost every student, and it is clear that it is a very close-knit community. Many of the children live in the immediate surrounding area, while others have to travel ten to fifteen minutes to commute to school. Out of those that live close by, they for the most part live in similarly furnished homes. I have come to find that among the students, it is not that common for their parents to be divorced or live in another state. Almost all of the students also live with at least one sibling and occasionally a grandparent. The students that attend Walker Elementary school play a variety of sports and their interests range from drawing to writing to dancing to athletically performing. In my classroom, the number one similarity between all of the students is their high level of interest in reading, most likely because it is so heavily enforced.
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