Exceptional Students

The kids that I observe in the 3rd grade class are pretty great!  However, they have so much energy that they are hardly quiet.  Some students seem like the instigators - the ones that begin conversation or talk out of turn when everyone else has quieted down.  Children are naturally full of energy, so it's hard for me to determine if some have ADHD or other qualities that make them exceptional.

I have noticed a couple of ways the teacher has tried to accommodate students' needs.  During tests, the students use shields to cover their work area.  This prevents them from peeking at someone else's work and allows for better concentration.  She has also moved the desks around.  At the start of my observation, the desks were set up into three pods.  Now the desks form a pattern that looks like the letter "E" and the number "3".  She keeps students that tend to get distracted by others up front, near the white board.  She also reads questions to a student who has a kindergarten or first grade reading level.  I'm impressed by this teacher because she allows students to wiggle at their desks and play with a couple of items as long as they are quiet and listening.