Liberty Elementary Classroom Analysis

Liberty Elementary is a public school that has been serving the Omaha community for going on 16 years. It is apparent that they have established foundational values and standards that they enact through various opportunities for their students and families. They serve a very diverse community and their student body consists of 70% Latinos, 17% African Americans, and 11% Caucasian; 93% of which qualify for Free/Reduced lunch. All the staff members, from the women who tended the front desk, to the principal, Ilka Oberst, are passionate about their jobs, and most importantly their students. Similar to many other schools within the Omaha community, Liberty Elementary was founded on need-base circumstances; according to Oberst, the school was
She guided students toward meaningful discussions by prompting them with critical thinking questions. She also used rewards in order to motivate students to engage with the class material. As students applied their mathematical skills, she gave them a candy which was only to be eaten after they successfully completed the task at hand. In the short time that I was there, it was apparent that the teacher valued class reflections. In these discussions, she forced students to examine their behavior and identify positive behavior as well as negative behaviors seen throughout the day.

What did you notice about the “classroom climate” and “classroom organization” at the school? The classroom was decorated from wall to wall; one wall was covered from one end to the other, with the phrase, “We are safe, thoughtful and determined. We are Liberty.” It was organized in a manner that encouraged collaboration among the students as all tables were joined together and designated to one area. The teacher established a very encouraging environment for the students and everyone was eager to learn. Students were not afraid to ask questions and seek guidance when needed.

What did you notice about the discipline approach (classroom/behavior management) at the
The school definitely embraced diversity and cultural differences which is exemplified through their dual language program. They recognize that the majority of their students come from Spanish speaking homes and yet some do not even know the language themselves. Liberty Elementary initiated the Spanish dual language program in an attempt to aid children in maintaining the language as well as offer students of non-Spanish speaking homes the opportunity to learn a new language. The students within the program would spend half the day learning in english and the other half in Spanish, which would switch on a weekly basis. According to the principal, there is a long waiting list for the program and it is in high demand. As of today, it is offered from kindergarten to third grade and they will continue to add a grade level with each passing