Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Blog Comparison
When comparing my personal obstacles and views with those found on the website, I was surprised at how similar my ideas were with those listed. I found some interesting points being made by the members' posts. For example, under What Obstacles MLEs face, I found it interesting someone listed teachers who are not teaching for the good of the student, just simply staying in the teaching profession for the pension benefits. It is sad, but a true reality-a lot of teachers simply do the job for the money and benefits, not because it is their PASSION. I find this extremely troubling and would not want any of my future children nor students, to encounter a teacher whom is only teaching for the benefits, not with the student's best interest in mind. Another obstacle mentioned under the same category that I found intriguing, was when they mentioned being persistent with encouraging the students. This was also something I mentioned in my list. All teachers need to be that encouragement for all of their students, because you, as the teacher, might be the only form of encouragement they ever get.
Reading through the list regarding young adolescents, I thought it was great how someone mentioned they need to have sufficient time for pondering. As teachers, we need to allow our students some critical and imaginary thinking time. This is essential for students so they are not always forced to focus on what is going on in the classroom, and can have a few moments to creatively escape and thing about what is going on. Something else that was mentioned, that I totally forgot about, was to inform our students about predatory adults. All too often we are too focused on the school work, neglecting to inform our students about the dangers lurking in the neighborhoods in which we may be teaching and that some people do not always have their best interest in mind.
I found the lists provided by the advisory board extremely interesting and helpful in thinking more critically into these things, as a future teacher.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
My Views & Obstacles
My Views
11) Kids go to school because it is in many ways, essential for not only their academic achievement, but also for their personal/peer development. Not only is it important to have students prosper academically, it is also equally important that students become aware of how to deal with real-life situations, and schools tend to build students’ character in regards to this matter, both inside and outside of the classroom. Schools should be a place where students are provided with both academic and developmentally appropriate situations and scenarios, and taught the proper manner in which to respond. Kids simply go to school to be shaped as a person and to be able to develop academically.
15) It can be determined that something has been learned when students are able to execute a task at hand independently. When students are able to demonstrate their knowledge of a topic on their own, and talk through the steps as they are completing the task would be an indicator for me that the student(s) has learned the material/concept. When a student is able to explain to their peers or even the teacher how they came to a conclusion for a problem, that would mean to me that the student is understanding what is going on, and most importantly, is learning.
Obstacles
Your friends/clique may not always be the best thing for you.
Bullying is a serious issue- and not something to take lightly. Everyone should be educated on what to do/who to speak to if they are being bullied or know someone who is.
You and your friends should not compare yourself to one another or people in the media-everyone is their own, unique person.
Everyone comes from a different background, which makes everyone’s income level different. You may be able to afford the newest pair of shoes, but your friends might not.
Not all students get along with their parents/siblings, and not everyone has stable or even parents at all, who are present in their lives.
Everyone is different in their academic abilities-not everyone can be the smartest, but everyone can always try their hardest.
With high school soon approaching, your friends who were once your best friends, may no longer be just that when the pressures of high school approach.
Violence among peers and in certain students’ neighborhoods may be an ongoing thing, and students need an outlet in order to deal with this pressure, as well as their losses.
Not everyone portrayed in the media is realistic-as students get into their later years in middle school, they often tend to reference popular media figures and think looking or being like them is realistic, and cool.
Everyone should embrace everyone/their peers and classmates for who they are. Bullying does nothing besides make people feel like they are less than others-just think, if the roles were reversed, would you want to be bullied?
6) The top 10 thing I think middle school educators need to know are:
Bullying is something that can be prevented, and with you as the educator, you are the higher voice that can end it, and prevent it, when it is going on.
Respecting your students is key. If you do not demonstrate respect for them, do not expect to be respected in return. It’s a give-give situation.
As teachers, especially during the tender middle school years, we must always believe in our students, even when they do not believe in themselves. Sometimes all it takes is for someone else to show they believe in you, for you to ultimately believe in yourself.
Middle school educators, and all teachers, especially new teachers should learn how to learn from one another. Experienced teachers would know the solutions to most of the problems new teachers might be facing. As students do, teachers should also learn from each other.
It is a MUST to know that all students do not learn in the same way. Some students might be visual learners, others might be more hands-on learners. It is the teacher’s responsibility to accommodate the different learning styles of her students, and it is key for their success.
Like learning, not all students do well on the traditional sit-down assessment format. Some students may need additional modifications when it comes to assessments, and the teacher should eagerly and willingly provide these for the student(s).
Teachers should take the time to get to know their students, how they learn, what their hobbies are, and so forth. A teacher taking the time to personally get to know their students shows that the teacher is interested in them and wants to know more about them.
Teacher should get to know all of their students on a FIRST-NAME BASIS. Nothing is more discouraging then when a teacher, whom you spend the majority of your days and time with, does not take the time to remember your name.
Encourage your students!
Not all teachers are perfect, and learning comes from experience. So, take your time when working with students and use the information, both positive and negative to learn from the situations and to better yourself for the future.
19) To plan instruction for all children is a crucial part of effectively teaching and reaching all students. In my opinion, it should include multiple ways in teaching a lesson. Since students learn in many different ways, the teacher should always have different methods for teaching the lesson-differentiated instruction, reaching the array of students. Also, the lessons should include different methods of assessment. Some students do not do well on tests, so students being able to complete a test or assessment, say, orally, might portray the student’s full potential and demonstrate just how much they know, as opposed to a regular, sit-down test.
24) Media literacy as part of middle school curriculum can be a core component for creating more informed and technology savvy students. Students should without a doubt, be introduced to computers, smart boards, and other up and coming forms of useful technology, to better their understanding of the forms of technology and ultimately be able to incorporate these forms into their learning. The constant introduction and use of current technology will only benefit the students in the long run. Technology is, and will continue to be such a major aspect of our world and most importantly, our learning environments. Obstacles
2) The top 10 obstacles facing young adolescent students, I would have to say are:
Peer pressure
Bullying
Fitting in/cliques
Self perceptions vs. perception of peers
Stable home-life
Poverty
Academic success
High school soon approaching
Violence
Unrealistic expectations from media portrayal
3) The top 10 obstacles/things I think young adolescent students need to know are:Your friends/clique may not always be the best thing for you.
Bullying is a serious issue- and not something to take lightly. Everyone should be educated on what to do/who to speak to if they are being bullied or know someone who is.
You and your friends should not compare yourself to one another or people in the media-everyone is their own, unique person.
Everyone comes from a different background, which makes everyone’s income level different. You may be able to afford the newest pair of shoes, but your friends might not.
Not all students get along with their parents/siblings, and not everyone has stable or even parents at all, who are present in their lives.
Everyone is different in their academic abilities-not everyone can be the smartest, but everyone can always try their hardest.
With high school soon approaching, your friends who were once your best friends, may no longer be just that when the pressures of high school approach.
Violence among peers and in certain students’ neighborhoods may be an ongoing thing, and students need an outlet in order to deal with this pressure, as well as their losses.
Not everyone portrayed in the media is realistic-as students get into their later years in middle school, they often tend to reference popular media figures and think looking or being like them is realistic, and cool.
Everyone should embrace everyone/their peers and classmates for who they are. Bullying does nothing besides make people feel like they are less than others-just think, if the roles were reversed, would you want to be bullied?
6) The top 10 thing I think middle school educators need to know are:
Bullying is something that can be prevented, and with you as the educator, you are the higher voice that can end it, and prevent it, when it is going on.
Respecting your students is key. If you do not demonstrate respect for them, do not expect to be respected in return. It’s a give-give situation.
As teachers, especially during the tender middle school years, we must always believe in our students, even when they do not believe in themselves. Sometimes all it takes is for someone else to show they believe in you, for you to ultimately believe in yourself.
Middle school educators, and all teachers, especially new teachers should learn how to learn from one another. Experienced teachers would know the solutions to most of the problems new teachers might be facing. As students do, teachers should also learn from each other.
It is a MUST to know that all students do not learn in the same way. Some students might be visual learners, others might be more hands-on learners. It is the teacher’s responsibility to accommodate the different learning styles of her students, and it is key for their success.
Like learning, not all students do well on the traditional sit-down assessment format. Some students may need additional modifications when it comes to assessments, and the teacher should eagerly and willingly provide these for the student(s).
Teachers should take the time to get to know their students, how they learn, what their hobbies are, and so forth. A teacher taking the time to personally get to know their students shows that the teacher is interested in them and wants to know more about them.
Teacher should get to know all of their students on a FIRST-NAME BASIS. Nothing is more discouraging then when a teacher, whom you spend the majority of your days and time with, does not take the time to remember your name.
Encourage your students!
Not all teachers are perfect, and learning comes from experience. So, take your time when working with students and use the information, both positive and negative to learn from the situations and to better yourself for the future.
Saturday, October 22, 2011
My Two Choices of 2.0 Web Tools
I decided to choose two web tools that I was NOT familiar with, in hopes of becoming more familiar with them and possibly using them in the near future in my class, and to benefit my students. The two web tools I chose were:
1. Smartkiddies (studyladder.com) this is an excellent resource website that allows children, as well as teachers to become interactive with technology. The site offers games and fun, as well as educational learning opportunities, such as math games. Just about every elementary subject is listed on the site, which allows variety in the learning process to take place. This website meets the TPACK model, because it can be used by teachers, and displays various levels of content, also combined with the pedagogical awareness (teacher's instructional methods/techniques). Teachers can use this website, introduce it to their students, and display their knowledge of the new tool (content). This website, used in conjunction with TPACK models and expectations, will create a learning experience where technology is successful integrated.
2. GoogleEarth (google.com/earth) this is one of my favorite interactive websites! I like this because it is extremely great for usage in the classroom and an individual basis. This website would be ideal for social studies/history courses to be able to visibly display the area(s) being taught to the class. This is also a wonderful website for individual students to experiment with and have assignments that allow them to interact with this website. If the teacher is aware of the technological aspects the website provides prior to introducing it, this describes the (technological) aspect of TPACK. The content also being developed, prior to introduction will create a TPACK model of the website, where the teacher is familiar with what she is going to teach, such as the subject matter, etc.
These were two great websites that I would definitely use in my future classroom to introduce lessons and have students interact with them on a one on one basis.
1. Smartkiddies (studyladder.com) this is an excellent resource website that allows children, as well as teachers to become interactive with technology. The site offers games and fun, as well as educational learning opportunities, such as math games. Just about every elementary subject is listed on the site, which allows variety in the learning process to take place. This website meets the TPACK model, because it can be used by teachers, and displays various levels of content, also combined with the pedagogical awareness (teacher's instructional methods/techniques). Teachers can use this website, introduce it to their students, and display their knowledge of the new tool (content). This website, used in conjunction with TPACK models and expectations, will create a learning experience where technology is successful integrated.
2. GoogleEarth (google.com/earth) this is one of my favorite interactive websites! I like this because it is extremely great for usage in the classroom and an individual basis. This website would be ideal for social studies/history courses to be able to visibly display the area(s) being taught to the class. This is also a wonderful website for individual students to experiment with and have assignments that allow them to interact with this website. If the teacher is aware of the technological aspects the website provides prior to introducing it, this describes the (technological) aspect of TPACK. The content also being developed, prior to introduction will create a TPACK model of the website, where the teacher is familiar with what she is going to teach, such as the subject matter, etc.
These were two great websites that I would definitely use in my future classroom to introduce lessons and have students interact with them on a one on one basis.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Monday, September 26, 2011
My Educational Philosophy
Upon deciding to go into the education field, I knew as a teacher, I would be looked upon both as a role model and as someone who can bring out the best in my students, through the best way possible, learning. Teachers should be willing to put forth their full dedication into their career and ensure that their students flourish academically. Teachers are not only educators, often times, filling in as parents away from home, sometimes a child’s only adult figure in their life, and someone who is there for their students in times of need. Knowing all of this, I chose to dedicate myself and my career to teaching, because I knew helping and most importantly, educating young people, was what I was called to do.
Having made the choice to become a teacher at an early age, I recall playing school in the pantry of my home. Inspirational teachers are who I can also accredit for my choosing this career path. During many of my elementary years, I had teachers who made school fun and not all about discipline. I believe teachers have to focus on the children and their unique learning abilities and not so much on discipline in the classroom. Too much discipline can lead to children dreading class and essentially, no learning coming from a child’s day at school. A teacher’s job should not only be that of an educator, but also a motivator. Children often lack motivation at school, and if a teacher can provide that for the students, then class will be more fun and engaging for everyone.
The learning process is a difficult one to comprehend; however, I believe a good teacher understands that every child learns at a different pace. Accommodations are especially important for a teacher to understand and implement into the class to ensure that all students are exhibiting their full potential in the academic setting. All students deserve the chance to learn, and teachers are responsible for giving their students just that, the chance to latch onto education and take it on, head first.
Having made the choice to become a teacher at an early age, I recall playing school in the pantry of my home. Inspirational teachers are who I can also accredit for my choosing this career path. During many of my elementary years, I had teachers who made school fun and not all about discipline. I believe teachers have to focus on the children and their unique learning abilities and not so much on discipline in the classroom. Too much discipline can lead to children dreading class and essentially, no learning coming from a child’s day at school. A teacher’s job should not only be that of an educator, but also a motivator. Children often lack motivation at school, and if a teacher can provide that for the students, then class will be more fun and engaging for everyone.
The learning process is a difficult one to comprehend; however, I believe a good teacher understands that every child learns at a different pace. Accommodations are especially important for a teacher to understand and implement into the class to ensure that all students are exhibiting their full potential in the academic setting. All students deserve the chance to learn, and teachers are responsible for giving their students just that, the chance to latch onto education and take it on, head first.
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