Chapter 6: Social Context of Schools

I created a slideshow to show how important it is to teach equality and to strain from judgment. It also examines the effects of different classes, races, genders and religions to show through perspectives of others judgment can be eleviated. I showed this through defining sociology and coming up with a technique to teach it. I will bring a hand printed copy to class and if my technology is coorperating I will show it.

Chapter 14: Succeeding in Your Teacher Education Program--and Beyond

What are your concerns?

• I am concerned that I won't be able to accomodate all my students needs.
• I am concerned parents and other teachers will interfere with my teaching skills and technique, like what happened to Mrs. Gruwell in Freedom Writers.
• I am concerned I won't have the ability or strengths to do my job to my full potential.
• I am concerned about being well-prepared and organized for each day.
• I am concerned that I won't be able to answer some of my students questions.
• I am also concerned that I won't be able to make enough money to support myself.

I hope that in the school I decide to teach, I will be respected and that my opinion will matter because it's not only one person that builds a community it takes everyone working together to be strong enough to withstand anything.

1) Which area of concern is most present? Which was not reflected? Were your concerns about teaching or other things? Were your concerns centered mainly on your ability to succeed, the management of teaching or what your students are learning?

My main concerns are between self, task and impact. I am concerned about self in the sense of acceptance, and well-being outside and inside the work setting. I am concerned about task in the sense of being organized, prepared and well-knowledged on the subject so that questions can be answered fully and correctly. I am concerned about impact in the sense of getting everyone to understand and to be remembered. I want to be a force to be reckoned with--that teacher that everyone likes and wantst to be enrolled in more of his/her classes. None of my concerns were unconcernable because everyone needs to be concerned about something in order to improve. My concerns were mainly about my ability of being succeedful, teach with understanding and being accepted.

2) Which stage of concern was most present?

1. Self
2. Impact
3. Task

I want to do the job that is best for me, be prepared and leave an impression on every student I teach. Is this easy? I think not, but I will do whatever it takes to improve my abilities and succeed.

Chapter 7: Thinking About Teaching and Learning

Chapter 7 on thinking about teaching and learning in the text Joy of Teaching, has given me a lot of insight on my philosophy. I have learned that there not only one way to learn or teach, teacher should be involved in everyday discussions and constantly thinking of new and creative ideas. Some things I would include in my second philosophy paper that I got from reading would be:

1) Tyler's basic priciples of curriculum and instruction that was published in 1949. He states, that these serve as a framework for selecting appropriate strategies to use to connect the learner and the content. In order to teach properly and in care of the students so that they understand fully you must

• Define appropriate learnign objectives
• Establish useful learning experiences
• Organize learing experiences to have a maximum cumulative effect
• Evaluate the curriculum and revise those aspects that do not prove to be effective

In later years Hilda Taba revised these structural rules and they are still used in the classroom to this day.

2) I believe the practice of existentialism is important. Existentialism is a school of philosophy that stresses the free will of others. I want my students to know that it is OK to be different. Those who are rebels don't back down and are not afraid to change the world (like in Jen's quote from the day of quotes). Being unique makes you who you are. Why would anyone want to conform?

3) I really liked reading about Breakfast with Jeremy. This shows that teachers really do care about the best interest of their students. Rick Smith, the 5th grade teacher made an everlasting impact on Jeremy's life. He taught him the importance of being on time. One of my teachers took time of his schedule to help me learn how to cook a nice meal for my mother's birthday when I was in 8th grade. My mom and I lived together and it was the first full year she and my dad had been separated. I wanted to do something special, but didn't know how to cook and didn't have a lot of money. So everyday after school, Mr. Boucher would teach me how to do something and by the end of the week I knew how to make the perfect meal. My mom was so surprised and from his extra help, I learned how to cook and will take those skills into my adult years. Teachers need to be more than just a teacher, they need to be a friend. I hope to bring Mr. Boucher and Rick Smith's character traits into my teaching experience and be a great friend and provider of knowledge.

Chapter 13: Improving Teachers and Schools and Reform Schools

Over my next four years at UMF, I hope to keep at least a 3.0 average and have the oppurtunity to work with kids and learn how to achieve a higher understanding for teaching as well as learning. Learning should never stop. I think it would be neat to work at a summer camp or a park program to add to my resume. I hope my accomplishments will help me become a great teacher.

During my first five years of teaching, I hope to get a name for myself. I want to give the children something to look up to. I always admired my teachers that took the time to chat becasue those are the one's we remember. I want to be remembered and I want to chair meetings and committees to show I'm not there just for the money, I'm there to make great people out of mere students.

Things I Need To Know

I read the 3 important things that UMF Secondary Education majors should know about:

Praxis

• It is your responsibility to pass Praxis I and II before you go on to student teaching.
• There are many resources at the CHD to help anyone accomplish their dream of becoming a teacher.
• The praxis offers fee waivers so that anybody is elidgible. This reassures that nobody will be burdened for money, that is a good feeling.

Practicum

• Taking a semester of practicum is the next step to becoming a teacher, you must have proof of passing the praxis and a GPA of 2.0.
• To apply you must meet with your advisor. Advisor's are there to help with any of your problems.
• Before you register for your classes you will find out if you were selected. Practicum only offers so many spaces, so you must register as soon as possible to assure moving up.

Transfering Majors

• Those who decide that they want to transfer to Secondary Education must accomplish a few things and learn to meet deadlines.
• Transfering students must have a GPA of 2.5 or higher and proof of passing the Praxis I as well as filling out a change of majors form and turning it into Kristen Hickey.
• The deadlines allow time and patience, but you should not procrastinate. For spring change it's due OCT. 1 and for fall it's due MAR. 1

How do I start thinking like a teacher (instead of as a student)?

At this point in time, I am still thinking like a student 100% because I am a student. What more do you want right now? I think it is hard to begin thinking like someone you haven't thought like before. Once, I begin to think like a teacher I won't be able to reverse and back track. When we begin practicum and making lesson plans this transition will be easier, but as of now I wait until I'm told what to do to begin working. Honestly, I feel like a zombie doing the same thing day inand day out. It will be a nice change to think like a teacher. Some thoguhts I will have to ponder in lesson planning would be:

• How will they do this?
• Can they handle this?
• What's a creative way to accomplish this task?

I know I'll be able to do it, this change will just take time. Working on the standards project may help this connect because we have to be able to teach the class something and make it stick. I'm sure you'll help make this change happen swiftly and with ease.

Which theories and historical influences should most impact the schools we'd like to have?

This question is so broad because there has been so many different influences and theories throughout history, how do I pick just one? They all seem important and valuable. We learned about some while reading our peers educational shift wikis and the chapter readings, yet, I still yearn to learn more about this topic. Which influences should I bring into the classroom? How should I go about teaching it?