Savannah Jackson has been a Lead Teacher at Taylor County Head Start in Florida for only a year, and she has already learned a tremendous amount. I had the opportunity to interview Savannah and learn what it’s like in her classroom on a given day.
While Savannah, like many teachers, doesn't know a lot about the CLASS tool, she incorporates many of the dimensions into her teaching without even realizing it.
Tell me about how you started teaching.
I have three daughters and I did a lot with schools when they were younger. I volunteered with field trips, classroom events, and activities. I realized how much I enjoyed it and wanted to turn it into a job. I have my CDA and am working on getting my degree now. The degree program is online, which is nice because it’s flexible. It’s hard to balance school and my other responsibilities but so worth it.
What are some of the most rewarding parts about teaching for you?
I learn just as much, if not more, from the children as they do from me. I’m always learning new ways to teach. You get to take the ordinary “stuff” and make it fun. Each child learns differently, so you have to teach differently, which keeps my job exciting.
How do you “teach differently” for each child in a classroom full of children?
Once you get to know the kids, it gets easier. You can find similarities between their needs and interests and use those similarities to create new activities in the classroom.
You also have to be flexible. For example, we have a couple kids who don’t like to sit still at circle time, and instead of forcing them to sit still, I figured I could work with their movements. During circle time, I call out a number or letter and the kids have to move to that number or letter. They can move how they want, and at the same time are learning their numbers and letters.
What is one of the hardest parts about teaching?
Getting the kids to focus and be interested. Preschoolers learn by playing and discovering, so I try to help them catch their attention in play so they don’t realize they are learning.
How did you learn about CLASS?
I don’t really know that much about CLASS. We use so many different tools in my program, and it’s hard to keep them straight. I do know it’s about the interactions in the classrooms, and I'm working on asking more open-ended questions.
Savannah and I actually had a great learning moment during the call. We talked about some of the activities she leads in her classroom.
The kids love the "I Spy" game. It’s a good way to help them learn how to take turns. We focus on a specific theme during each game—like finding a specific shape or color. It’s hard to take the learning further though.
How do you think you could take their learning further during the game?
I might already be doing it. If one child points to a square instead of a rectangle, we talk about the differences between the two shapes. Sometimes, they get confused by how similar the number 1 and number 7 look, so we talk about that—they look the same, but there are small differences.
As a new teacher, what advice do you have for other new teachers?
Don’t stress! I spent a lot of time prepping my classroom, decorating, and getting it ready for the first day of school. But I learned quickly that decor doesn't matter too much. Teaching is more about spending time with the kids, getting to know them, and letting them know that you are there for them—that’s what matters.
What makes you an effective teacher?
I try to help the children problem solve themselves. Instead of giving them the solution, I suggest, “Let’s try it another way.” It would be easier to give them the answer, but kids respond better when they feel like it’s their idea. Praise is also key. Children need to feel supported and, as a result, enjoy their time in the classroom more.
Have you found that you were incorporating CLASS indicators and dimensions into your classroom practice without even knowing about it? Tell us about it in the comments.
