2. Community Factors
Population of Plankinton: 719 (0% urban, 100% rural)
Location: 20 miles West of Mitchell, SD
Business climate: Thriving main street with a variety of
Businesses
Political Climate:
Males: 356 (49.6%)
Females: 363 (50.4%)
The Republican party was the top fund-raiser among
political parties in Plankinton.
Commuting:
86% of commuters drive to work. Commuters in the city
enjoy easier drives to work than most people.
3. Classroom Factors
Technological Resources used:
A Promethean board that couples with a laptop
Videos from YouTube and Teachertube
Pinterest, teacherspayteachers website
Laptop/IPad use:
Students are not provided a laptop or IPad for class
Not all students have access to a computer at any
time, so if they were provided with one it would be
easier to assign certain projects
Routine and Rules:
Start with a Bell Ringer
Review at the end of each day
4. Classroom Factors
Grouping Students:
7th grade was split into 2 sections. Twins were split up,
along with some “best friends.”
Seating arrangement where the better students sit
towards the back, and the students who aren’t
achieving at levels satisfactory at the front and in his
view from his desk.
Factoring in advanced and less advanced
material:
Focuses more on going after the students who are
less interested in the content.
The advanced students do not lose interest
Diversity within the classroom:
Mostly white students from the area in 7th grade
Some who are Latin American, but speak very good
5. Classroom Factors:
Special Needs/Language barriers:
One child that he would place near the severe and
profound area of the autism spectrum.
Still expected to behave appropriately in the gym.
Biggest day to day Challenge:
The consistency he strives to bring into his classroom
The students who do not want to be there
Advice:
Get used to people being on your case.
Kids, teachers, co-workers, and especially parents
Long hours, not just a 7:30-3:30 job.
Teach because you want to make a difference in a
students’ life.
6. District Factors
As of 2010, total population of Plankinton
School District 01-1 is 1,281.
Population Density: 4.62 people per square
mile
Average education level is lower than the state
average and is lower than the national
average.
Prevalent race is white: 91.96% of the total
population.
7. District Factors
Race/Ethnicity:
White:
1,178 (91.96%, #115)
Black: 6 (0.47%, #29)
Hispanic: 94 (7.34%, #4)
Asian: 3 (0.23%, #72)
Native (American Indian, Alaska Native, Hawaiian
Native, etc.): 35 (2.73% #48)
One Race, Other: 50 (3.90%, see rank)
Two or More Races: 9 (0.70%, see rank)
