I'm not going to lie, I was dreading this class. I heard so many different things about it. So much work to do, so many assignments, you have to travel to Newark, and so many other things. But at the end of it all, I'm surprisingly thankful for all of this. The trips to Newark were interesting and got me excited to become a teacher. I loved observing, meeting the students, and seeing what I am going to be doing in the future. I enjoyed our class discussions and liked discovering different ways of looking at things.
As a teacher it is important to go into things with an open mind and be ready for whatever may come your way. This class got us prepared for that and we now are closer to our final destination. This class took a lot of work. We could not miss more than three, we had take home tests, blogs, writing assignments, hours to get done, observations, and an inquiry project. Yes, this is a lot and remembering back to the beginning I was dreading getting it all done, but now that it is the end I'm proud that I got it all done and that I achieved it all. Not only did this class make me absolutely sure that I wanted to become a teacher, but it also taught me how to manage my time well and prepared me for the work that I will be receiving in the future. I am excited for classes to come and more observations that I will be doing, but I am also excited for the chance to stand in fornt of my own classroom and teach my own students.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Inquiry Project
For our inquiry project I worked with Maryann and Lauren. We met at the library a couple of times and took advantage of our time in class to get things done. We are very happy with the turn out of our paper and are ready to present with our poster. I thought at first that this was going to be a lot harder than I expected. I heard 12 page paper and was ready to run, but grouping together for a group of 3 made things a lot easier and the paper was actually finished very quickly. If I had to give anyone advice for taking this class and having this assignment, it would be to do it in a group. There is a lot of writing and things to do that goes along in this course and a 12 page paper, along with other finals and projects is not something that can easily be done by yourself. It was helpful that throughout the semester we had to hand in things but still, once the end rolls around it is still a lot to handle on your own. So I would inform everyone to get together with people in your class and write together. Divide it up, and research separately then pick a couple hours to collaborate it all. Not only will things get done faster, but you won't have to do the presentation by yourself and you get to meet new people!
The good, bad, and ugly
A lesson we did in class regarding the different teachers, students, and a couple other things that fit into different categories such as good bad and ugly made me realize a couple things. The category that left me thinking was that of the students. I personally think that it is too difficult to put students in such categories. Yes, there are some with more challenges and difficulties to overcome than others but they all have potential. With the proper help and guidance a student can reach that potential and achieve its greatest. I;m not saying that every student can reach Harvard and graduate with stellar grades, but they have a level that is their best that can bee reached with some help. To put students in a category and have them be defined right off the bat as a good kid, bad kid, or discipline problem student, then we as teachers are already downgrading their potential and putting them either down further to prove themselves or up higher to prove themselves. As hard as it is I think that most important thing is too look at each student individually and with a clean slate. Yes, I'm sure another past teacher of theirs is going to come in and "warn" you about their problems, but that was the relationship that that student had with that student. You are a whole new person with a different personality that can bring out the best in that student. It requires a lot of patience and a lot trial and error but it can be done and I think that it needs to be done. Our students deserve to be treated equally and with respect. If we as teachers want respect from our students then we should do the same for them.
Conclusion of Inquiry Project
After researching, we have discovered that there are many different teaching styles and it is important to understand how to use them effectively. We learned that all students have different learning abilities and ways of obtaining information so as an instructor it is important to know who your students are in order to apply an effective teaching method. Educators do not have to stay with one particular teaching style, it is better to choose which aspects of each work best for your classroom. Overall, one universal method should not be used when teaching a class. The instructor should change their lesson plan or classroom work, and how they would teach it based on the students that make up each individual class. It is the instructor’s decision to decide what is best for his or her students that will result in classroom success.
Introduction of Inquiry Project
As future educators we need to be aware of different students learning abilities and the varying intelligence levels that make up our students. We should also be considerate of how to incorporate different learning styles to accommodate the diverse learning abilities students have. There are many methods of teaching that benefit some learning styles over others. We will explore the different teaching styles which will provide us an understanding of how students’ best obtain information. We will also talk about student based learning, teacher and student based learning, teacher based learning, as well as the level of intelligence students acquire.
Abstract for Inquiry Project
The purpose of this paper is to explore why it is important to use different teaching methods. This is necessary because each student has his or her own way of obtaining info. Data and statistics from scholarly journals were collected to investigate the different teaching methods and what makes them effective. We learned that all teaching methods are made up of positives and negatives and that it takes multiple methods to make up a successful classroom. In conclusion these methods will provide skills needed to develop ourselves for our classrooms in the future.
Community Service and Meetings at The Arts
During my time at Arts High School I was able to attend two meetings and do ten hours of community service. At the first meeting I attended it was only the math department. The second meeting I attended was a faculty meeting. I must say that the one I enjoyed most was the department meeting. During my community service hours, I helped a lot in the guidance department, sorting out papers and ballots for different events. It was a nice environment that I got accustomed to easily. All members of this department were excited to see students enter in and out of the office and always had smiles on their faces.
Since the orientation I was so curious as how the math department was able to incorporate the arts with mathematics. At the department meeting the math fair and math Olympics were discussed. This math fair had things such as “Mathematics of Sound” and “Architecture of Acoustics”. Not only was this highly math related, but it also incorporated the arts of the students. I was eager to pay attention and see what else was in store.
As an outsider at both meetings, I was able to sit back and relax and take in the relationships among the teachers. They seem to have a strong unity and all seem to be on the same page with each other. It is apparent that working in a school is teamwork and can not be fully successful if each person only fights for themselves and works to only achieve for their own satisfaction. Working together on different projects and collaborating only makes the school a stronger and more welcoming environment for the students. Every teacher has one thing in common and that is their students. It is extremely noticeable at Arts High School that the teachers and staff are there for the students and want to see them succeed to the fullest. It was so nice to see the staff know every student’s name and have a quick compliment or reminder to tell them. I know if I felt comfortable and at home that the students definitely did as well.
Since the orientation I was so curious as how the math department was able to incorporate the arts with mathematics. At the department meeting the math fair and math Olympics were discussed. This math fair had things such as “Mathematics of Sound” and “Architecture of Acoustics”. Not only was this highly math related, but it also incorporated the arts of the students. I was eager to pay attention and see what else was in store.
As an outsider at both meetings, I was able to sit back and relax and take in the relationships among the teachers. They seem to have a strong unity and all seem to be on the same page with each other. It is apparent that working in a school is teamwork and can not be fully successful if each person only fights for themselves and works to only achieve for their own satisfaction. Working together on different projects and collaborating only makes the school a stronger and more welcoming environment for the students. Every teacher has one thing in common and that is their students. It is extremely noticeable at Arts High School that the teachers and staff are there for the students and want to see them succeed to the fullest. It was so nice to see the staff know every student’s name and have a quick compliment or reminder to tell them. I know if I felt comfortable and at home that the students definitely did as well.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Required Question for Take Home 1
During class we have had much discussion about defining what makes a person an “educated citizen.” It is not something that can be easily defined and can not be easily explained. Many of my classmates, including myself, had some difficulty figuring out how exactly to answer this question. Does it mean a citizen that has attended all levels of education and now holds a job that corresponds to their degree? Does it mean a citizen that is active in many different organizations and fights for what they believe in? Does it mean a citizen that is familiar with all politics and what is occurring around them regarding the government? All of these possible definitions are great ones, but what is the right one?
We are all entitled to our own opinion and here lies the opportunity to state and back up our own individual opinions. It would be easy for my to pick one of the above stated definitions, but I would not fully agree with any of them. I think an “educated citizen” is one that has a broad understanding of how things around them work and how they can use the things around them to the fullest to help them achieve what they want to achieve in life. Yes, you can become educated by going through years and years of schooling, but are you going to achieve everything you want to by just attending school? It is important to realize that education goes beyond the classroom and involved learning from mistakes and learning from what life hands you. Every individual comes from a different background and goes through different events to make them who they are. Yes, some people might go through different things than others, but they are all equally educated because they have an understanding of what has occurred. Being an “educated citizen” should come naturally and you should want to be one. Every person should be going through each day feeling lucky and grateful for what they are learning about themselves, society, and in the classroom. It is not about the information you learn, it is about what you do with that information.
Although schools are not the only place where a citizen becomes “educated” it would be helpful if public schools could help this process along. The normal math problems, history tests, grammar checks, and much more are very important, but there are some other things that children and young adults should learn to make them more “educated.” On page two of the article “Educating the ‘Good’ Citizen: Political Choices and Pedagogical Goals” there is a chart that describes three different citizens; the Personally Responsible Citizen, the Participatory Citizen, and the Justice-oriented Citizen. Not only does this chart describe different “good” citizens, but I think that it is also describing different educated citizens. To act responsibly in his or her community, organize community efforts, address areas of injustice, and much more are all listed in describing these citizens. These details are not taught in schools. Yes, students learn the facts and know what is right from wrong, but how they be able to put their education into full effect if they do not know how to act like an “educated citizen.” It is one thing to be able to say you are something, but it is something completely different to be able to show it. Public schools need to guide students and show them how to use their knowledge in other areas and help where they see help needed.
We are all entitled to our own opinion and here lies the opportunity to state and back up our own individual opinions. It would be easy for my to pick one of the above stated definitions, but I would not fully agree with any of them. I think an “educated citizen” is one that has a broad understanding of how things around them work and how they can use the things around them to the fullest to help them achieve what they want to achieve in life. Yes, you can become educated by going through years and years of schooling, but are you going to achieve everything you want to by just attending school? It is important to realize that education goes beyond the classroom and involved learning from mistakes and learning from what life hands you. Every individual comes from a different background and goes through different events to make them who they are. Yes, some people might go through different things than others, but they are all equally educated because they have an understanding of what has occurred. Being an “educated citizen” should come naturally and you should want to be one. Every person should be going through each day feeling lucky and grateful for what they are learning about themselves, society, and in the classroom. It is not about the information you learn, it is about what you do with that information.
Although schools are not the only place where a citizen becomes “educated” it would be helpful if public schools could help this process along. The normal math problems, history tests, grammar checks, and much more are very important, but there are some other things that children and young adults should learn to make them more “educated.” On page two of the article “Educating the ‘Good’ Citizen: Political Choices and Pedagogical Goals” there is a chart that describes three different citizens; the Personally Responsible Citizen, the Participatory Citizen, and the Justice-oriented Citizen. Not only does this chart describe different “good” citizens, but I think that it is also describing different educated citizens. To act responsibly in his or her community, organize community efforts, address areas of injustice, and much more are all listed in describing these citizens. These details are not taught in schools. Yes, students learn the facts and know what is right from wrong, but how they be able to put their education into full effect if they do not know how to act like an “educated citizen.” It is one thing to be able to say you are something, but it is something completely different to be able to show it. Public schools need to guide students and show them how to use their knowledge in other areas and help where they see help needed.
Orientation at The Arts
To be honest, I was nervous and I did not want to go. I did not know what to expect. I did not know where the school was, who I would be meeting, and what I would be doing. Driving to Arts High School I was well aware of my surroundings and I realized that I have been in this area before and was somewhat familiar with it. Once I realized I have been around here before I became more at eases, but still, I had no clue what to expect. Walking in to the high school it felt like a welcoming environment. Art was hanging everywhere in the entrance and it looked like a great creative school.
We entered the library and the orientation began. Mr. Denard introduced Jasmine to do a poetry reading and I was blown away. I wanted to know. Who are her teachers? What classes us she taking? What does she want to do after high school? I had all these questions and was so intrigued and I wanted to know so much more. Then, I realized there were hundreds of other students with similar talents throughout the whole building. I was instantly interested and ready to get started and to meet more students.
After reviewing the paperwork and understanding the hours, observation, and community service we have to complete we divided into groups and were able to have open discussion with some teachers for Arts High School. They were all teachers that were only a few years into their careers. We were able to ask anything and I took full advantage of it. I wanted to know how they adjusted from being a student to being on the completely other end of it. They explained that it is an adjustment and it does not come easy. It may take a couple years of different classes to fully get used to the routine. I also wanted to know about how they managed all the students in their classroom. With each student learning at a different pace it must be hard to keep all of them on the same page. They explained that it is a bit difficult, but it takes trial and error to uncover what is the best approach. Some students learn visually so incorporating some of that while also incorporating physical learning is important. All of these answers were so helpful and really helped me to understand some things I would not learn in the classroom.
Observing the teachers just at the orientation I could tell that they all got along and friendships were strong. They bounced off each other during discussion and were always backing each other up. They all had smiles on their faces and you could tell they enjoyed where they were and what they were doing. Just the fact that they were all there to help Mr. Denard says a lot. I am excited to go to Arts High School and learn more. I cannot wait to meet more students and see how the teachers interact with each other. The orientation went above and beyond my expectations and I cannot wait to get started.
We entered the library and the orientation began. Mr. Denard introduced Jasmine to do a poetry reading and I was blown away. I wanted to know. Who are her teachers? What classes us she taking? What does she want to do after high school? I had all these questions and was so intrigued and I wanted to know so much more. Then, I realized there were hundreds of other students with similar talents throughout the whole building. I was instantly interested and ready to get started and to meet more students.
After reviewing the paperwork and understanding the hours, observation, and community service we have to complete we divided into groups and were able to have open discussion with some teachers for Arts High School. They were all teachers that were only a few years into their careers. We were able to ask anything and I took full advantage of it. I wanted to know how they adjusted from being a student to being on the completely other end of it. They explained that it is an adjustment and it does not come easy. It may take a couple years of different classes to fully get used to the routine. I also wanted to know about how they managed all the students in their classroom. With each student learning at a different pace it must be hard to keep all of them on the same page. They explained that it is a bit difficult, but it takes trial and error to uncover what is the best approach. Some students learn visually so incorporating some of that while also incorporating physical learning is important. All of these answers were so helpful and really helped me to understand some things I would not learn in the classroom.
Observing the teachers just at the orientation I could tell that they all got along and friendships were strong. They bounced off each other during discussion and were always backing each other up. They all had smiles on their faces and you could tell they enjoyed where they were and what they were doing. Just the fact that they were all there to help Mr. Denard says a lot. I am excited to go to Arts High School and learn more. I cannot wait to meet more students and see how the teachers interact with each other. The orientation went above and beyond my expectations and I cannot wait to get started.
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