1. List the members of my family: David Randall(58-step-father), Deborah Randall(52-mother), Christopher Hetue(17-brother)
2. I am the first in my immediate family to go to college. My dad did not graduate high scool and my mom went straight into the army after high school.
3. My dad was is retired army and then he was a chef in the Women's Correctional Facitilites. My mom was a registered home-daycare and is currently back in school for nursing.
4. Because we are a small family unit, decision making is communal. We really respect and trust eachother's decisions.
5. Movies, dinner, going shopping, goingto the beach.
6. My mom does housework and my brother works in the yard.
7. Our home is a bit chaotic.
8. The family priorities are to take care of each other.
9. My mother is very supportive of whatever it is I do.
10. We are such a small unit that we are all influences on eachother's lives.
1. My community is very watchful of everyone elses children..
2. My community is a sub-urban neighborhood.
3. The community has plenty of resources-stores, activities, libraries, etc.
4. I feel that everyone meets at school activities or sports games.
5. Children and families are the most important units within the community.
6. I am not really sure of any obvious community issues. I know that neighborhood watch is a big deal.
7. My community is not as close as it was when I was growing up.
8. The children really affect our community and the schools in the area.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Last Day in Field
How bittersweet!
I will not miss getting up at 630 to drive to Beech Hill Elementary, but I will wish everything about being there. I have really enjoyed getting to know my cooperating teacher and all her students. They were incredibly accepting of me and my partner, and they did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. My cooperating teacher was very helpful in all my assingments, and she seemed very eager to share her opinions and ideas with us.
On my last day I had to teach my final lesson, a math lesson on division. The students were very well behaved, and were very excited about participating in our division activity with Smarties. I was very pleased with how the lesson went, but at the same time I was relieved that I was done!
Our students went to special area, and when they got back it was time for us to leave.
Our teacher stopped the class and told the students that this was our last day. She told us, and the students, that she was grateful to have had us and that she will miss us. She started to tear up a little bit, something I was not expecting! We presented her with a book "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan and then said goodbye to the students. I will miss them.
I will not miss getting up at 630 to drive to Beech Hill Elementary, but I will wish everything about being there. I have really enjoyed getting to know my cooperating teacher and all her students. They were incredibly accepting of me and my partner, and they did everything they could to make us feel comfortable. My cooperating teacher was very helpful in all my assingments, and she seemed very eager to share her opinions and ideas with us.
On my last day I had to teach my final lesson, a math lesson on division. The students were very well behaved, and were very excited about participating in our division activity with Smarties. I was very pleased with how the lesson went, but at the same time I was relieved that I was done!
Our students went to special area, and when they got back it was time for us to leave.
Our teacher stopped the class and told the students that this was our last day. She told us, and the students, that she was grateful to have had us and that she will miss us. She started to tear up a little bit, something I was not expecting! We presented her with a book "Forever Young" by Bob Dylan and then said goodbye to the students. I will miss them.
Happy Comments
I have really enjoyed this semester. I feel like I am finally a real college student, and I am on way to having a career as a teacher. I am finally interested in all my classes, and enjoying participating in discussions. All our assingments finally feel like they are worth the time I have to put into them. I loved performing experiements in science class, and learning how to teach my future students about the joys of science. I loved our social studies class and putting together a real unit plan! I loved learning about phonics and its' importance in the classroom. I loved my math class and learning about all the different manipulatives. I loved field, and spending every Wednesday morning with second graders. I loved getting to know my cooperating teacher and having someone to ask questions and get answers from. I loved this class. I loved all our different assingments, and the variety of ways that we learned in the classroom. I am so pumped for next school year!!!!
My Brown Eyes
This movie was also very emotional and depressing.
I think that it was even more upsetting because I have been in a situation similiar to this little boys. I studied abroad in Spain the summer before my sophomore year, and I lived in a town, with a family that did not speak any English. My spanish was not very good at all, and often I found myself in situations where people were trying to talk to me and I had no idea what they were saying. It is very frustrating to be in this situation because you want so badly to understand, but they just seem to be talking to fast and in this crazy foreign language.
If anything, my experience abroad taught me the importance of not discriminating against others. It is important to be educated and tolerant of the the differences of others. As a teacher one of my main goals is to be aware of what is going on around me, and making sure that all my students well included.
I think that it was even more upsetting because I have been in a situation similiar to this little boys. I studied abroad in Spain the summer before my sophomore year, and I lived in a town, with a family that did not speak any English. My spanish was not very good at all, and often I found myself in situations where people were trying to talk to me and I had no idea what they were saying. It is very frustrating to be in this situation because you want so badly to understand, but they just seem to be talking to fast and in this crazy foreign language.
If anything, my experience abroad taught me the importance of not discriminating against others. It is important to be educated and tolerant of the the differences of others. As a teacher one of my main goals is to be aware of what is going on around me, and making sure that all my students well included.
Tammy the Hardworking Mother
OH MY GOSH!
This video made me so sad!
I was so depressed for Tammy and her family. Tammy works so hard to support her family. She walks a ridiculous long way to work, sometimes in the rain, because she does not want to have to depend on welfare. Her family does not seem to appreciate what she does for them and this made me very angry at her children. Her son is blatantly embarassed of his mother and does not appreicate anything that she does. He is obsessed of getting out of his house and moving away. I am glad that he has goals, and realizes that an education is important to move up in the world, but forgetting where you came from is not the answer.
This video made me so sad!
I was so depressed for Tammy and her family. Tammy works so hard to support her family. She walks a ridiculous long way to work, sometimes in the rain, because she does not want to have to depend on welfare. Her family does not seem to appreciate what she does for them and this made me very angry at her children. Her son is blatantly embarassed of his mother and does not appreicate anything that she does. He is obsessed of getting out of his house and moving away. I am glad that he has goals, and realizes that an education is important to move up in the world, but forgetting where you came from is not the answer.
Case Study vs. Field
1. What can the children in your field classroom do that your case study child might not be able to do yet?
There are many things that students in my field classroom could do that my case study child could not to. I was in a second grade field classroom and my case study child was three years old. My field classroom students could sit down, being given instructions, and complete a task. The second graders are very independent, but they also know how to share and communicate with other students in the class.
The three year olds have a very short attention span and had difficulty focusing on one task. They needed to have many different choices, and short activities to participate in. The three year olds had great difficulty communicating their feelings and emotions with their peers, and often resulted to hitting each other.
2. What differences do you notice in the way the primary grade classrooms are structured in comparison to ECDC?
The primary grade classroom is much more structured and organized, where as ECDC has stuff all over the place. ECDC reminds me of organized chaos. There are activities, games, and centers everywhere but they are organized and clean. There are many opportunities and areas to play in the ECDC classroom, where as in the field classroom the students are pretty much confined to their desks.
There are many things that students in my field classroom could do that my case study child could not to. I was in a second grade field classroom and my case study child was three years old. My field classroom students could sit down, being given instructions, and complete a task. The second graders are very independent, but they also know how to share and communicate with other students in the class.
The three year olds have a very short attention span and had difficulty focusing on one task. They needed to have many different choices, and short activities to participate in. The three year olds had great difficulty communicating their feelings and emotions with their peers, and often resulted to hitting each other.
2. What differences do you notice in the way the primary grade classrooms are structured in comparison to ECDC?
The primary grade classroom is much more structured and organized, where as ECDC has stuff all over the place. ECDC reminds me of organized chaos. There are activities, games, and centers everywhere but they are organized and clean. There are many opportunities and areas to play in the ECDC classroom, where as in the field classroom the students are pretty much confined to their desks.
Assessment
I really enjoyed complelting the assessment interview with my cooperating teacher. I felt like I already knew what most of her assessments were, through observing. I knew that she had weekly spelling tests, and that there were end of the lesson math and english tests. I also knew that she was constantly making observations and adjustments according to them. I enjoyed learning about the assessments that I did not know about, especially the way the SST board was the one to make decisions about who can be determined as a special needs student. I was surprised how complicated and long the process was, it actually seemed very hard to be determined special needs. I really like how our teacher used Wednesday folders to communicate with parents and keep them updated on how their students were doing. I feel like this is a really simple and efficient way to keep up constant communication between the teacher and parents.
In my classroom I want to make sure that I use a variety of assessments. I believe that it is really important to make sure that I am testing my students ability in many different ways. This will play into multiple intelligences, and allowing my students to express themselves in different ways.
In my classroom I want to make sure that I use a variety of assessments. I believe that it is really important to make sure that I am testing my students ability in many different ways. This will play into multiple intelligences, and allowing my students to express themselves in different ways.
Time Management
"Time is the scarcest resource; and unless it is managed, nothing else can be managed.” Peter F. Drucker
Time management is something that I have always struggled with. I enjoy making to do lists and organizing my planner, but when it comes to actually putting those lists and organization into practice I have trouble. Time management is a very important skill that a teacher should possess. If a teacher can not manage time appropriately there will never be enough time to teach all that needs to be taught. I have had an experience with this already in my field class. My first lesson that I taught was an english lesson on main idea and details. I had it planned and organized and I thought I was extremely prepared to teach. When I got up there to teach I completly forgot that I only had a certain slot of time to teach. I had so much information to teach, but I had not managed my time correctly and did not have enough time to teach it in.
One of my goals for next semester is to practice my time management consistently. Whether it's balancing school work with hanging out with friends, or planning the lessons for my students I want to make sure that I have time to teach all that I need to.
Time management is something that I have always struggled with. I enjoy making to do lists and organizing my planner, but when it comes to actually putting those lists and organization into practice I have trouble. Time management is a very important skill that a teacher should possess. If a teacher can not manage time appropriately there will never be enough time to teach all that needs to be taught. I have had an experience with this already in my field class. My first lesson that I taught was an english lesson on main idea and details. I had it planned and organized and I thought I was extremely prepared to teach. When I got up there to teach I completly forgot that I only had a certain slot of time to teach. I had so much information to teach, but I had not managed my time correctly and did not have enough time to teach it in.
One of my goals for next semester is to practice my time management consistently. Whether it's balancing school work with hanging out with friends, or planning the lessons for my students I want to make sure that I have time to teach all that I need to.
Monday, February 23, 2009
Montessori Schools
After watching the videos last week, and learning more about the Montessori system, I realized that I think that it is a great system. I am a firm believer that children learn at different paces, and that they can only truly learn and understand a concept if it is something that interests, or is made to interest them. I liked how the Montessori system allows students to pick an activity that interests them, and then the teacher turns the "fun" activity into a learning opportunity.
In the text it talks about how the Montessori classroom has activities for "practical life experiences". The text also states, "As children develop the ability to take care of their own needs, they learn best from firsthand experience". I believe that at the Early Childhood grade level that this is extrememly important. In the four year old classroom that I observed, I loved watching the students in the housekeeping center. One parent came in and seemed upset/worried that her child played in the housekeeping center all the time, and wished that she would do something more constructive like work on her writing. I wished that I could have explained to her that one of the benefits of being part of a classroom where students can choose what they would like to do, is that they learn best because it is what they are interested in. Her child may have appeared to just be playing with dolls and playing dress up, but she was also practicing different roles, and socializing with her peers.
I believe that Montessori schools take into consideration, that as long as an activity is structured, planned appropriately, any activity can become a learning experience.
In the text it talks about how the Montessori classroom has activities for "practical life experiences". The text also states, "As children develop the ability to take care of their own needs, they learn best from firsthand experience". I believe that at the Early Childhood grade level that this is extrememly important. In the four year old classroom that I observed, I loved watching the students in the housekeeping center. One parent came in and seemed upset/worried that her child played in the housekeeping center all the time, and wished that she would do something more constructive like work on her writing. I wished that I could have explained to her that one of the benefits of being part of a classroom where students can choose what they would like to do, is that they learn best because it is what they are interested in. Her child may have appeared to just be playing with dolls and playing dress up, but she was also practicing different roles, and socializing with her peers.
I believe that Montessori schools take into consideration, that as long as an activity is structured, planned appropriately, any activity can become a learning experience.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Heartprints
I love my field teacher. I feel as though I can not really explain why though. She is able to joke around with the kids, I feel as though she treats them as if they were all her own children, and that is a good thing.
Today she passed out conversation candy hearts and turned it into a lesson on "Heartprints". Heartprints are pretty much compliments. If a student ever says and insult or puts down another students they are required to give them 10 heartprints (compliments) because that is how many it takes to make them feel better. So back to the candy hearts. Mrs. K gave each student three candy hearts, and they talked about what the hearts said, and how to turn the two word phrases into a sentence that could be used to give someone a heartprint. After doing this for a while, the students wrote their sentences on hearts, and the activity was then turned into a math lesson on symmetry.
I was so impressed. She took a fun activity on being nice to others, and practicing complimenting their peers, and easily transitioned it into a math lesson.
I think that it was so cool the way she uses class time to teach them good manners and values, and they think they are just having fun.
This activity fits into our reading because it worked on their social and emotional development by helping to boost others self concept and self esteem. As each student told their peers a compliment, you could tell that they were so excited and proud that they were being told that they were a good friend, had beautiful handwriting, or that they were a great reader.
This heartprint lesson also helps the students to form a sense of community, for it forces the students to interact positively with their peers.
From the reading I learned that when toddlers want to play in a rough and tumble sort of way, it is actually considered a form of exercise. This sort of play does not serve to practice any sort of skills, but the text does mention that it helps them to read others body language and facial expressions. It is important, however, to monitor this sort of play so that the toddler does not get hurt.
Today she passed out conversation candy hearts and turned it into a lesson on "Heartprints". Heartprints are pretty much compliments. If a student ever says and insult or puts down another students they are required to give them 10 heartprints (compliments) because that is how many it takes to make them feel better. So back to the candy hearts. Mrs. K gave each student three candy hearts, and they talked about what the hearts said, and how to turn the two word phrases into a sentence that could be used to give someone a heartprint. After doing this for a while, the students wrote their sentences on hearts, and the activity was then turned into a math lesson on symmetry.
I was so impressed. She took a fun activity on being nice to others, and practicing complimenting their peers, and easily transitioned it into a math lesson.
I think that it was so cool the way she uses class time to teach them good manners and values, and they think they are just having fun.
This activity fits into our reading because it worked on their social and emotional development by helping to boost others self concept and self esteem. As each student told their peers a compliment, you could tell that they were so excited and proud that they were being told that they were a good friend, had beautiful handwriting, or that they were a great reader.
This heartprint lesson also helps the students to form a sense of community, for it forces the students to interact positively with their peers.
From the reading I learned that when toddlers want to play in a rough and tumble sort of way, it is actually considered a form of exercise. This sort of play does not serve to practice any sort of skills, but the text does mention that it helps them to read others body language and facial expressions. It is important, however, to monitor this sort of play so that the toddler does not get hurt.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
An Apple for the "Teacher"
Today was such a great day!! I was a little apprehensive about meeting all the students and being welcomed into the classroom by both the students and the teacher, but I had nothing to worry about! My cooperating teacher is a graduate from CofC and was very excited to have us in her classroom. The second graders stood up one by one and introduced themselves, and it was great to see them all smiling and asking us questions about ourselves.
I was very impressed by the relationship between Mrs. K and the students. She most defintiely has created an atmosphere conducive for postive approaches to learning. She is able to joke around with the students, and they joke back...showing that there is a bond between them. She has incredible control over the students, she simply has to ask them to put a bubble in their mouth, and the talking ceases. One student did have to move his clip over, but he got up without protest and did what he was supposed to.
It was easy to see that the students were excited and enthusiastic about learning. When they gathered around on the carpet Mrs. K was very animated and playful as she taught the lesson. This kept the students engaged and interested.
I look forward to observing and participating in Mrs. K's classroom. I feel as though she really understands the importance of students having a positive approach to learning, and I can't wait to get some great tips on how to accomplish this!
The best part of the day, by far, was when one of the girls handed me her apple during lunch time!!!
Yay for second grade!!
I was very impressed by the relationship between Mrs. K and the students. She most defintiely has created an atmosphere conducive for postive approaches to learning. She is able to joke around with the students, and they joke back...showing that there is a bond between them. She has incredible control over the students, she simply has to ask them to put a bubble in their mouth, and the talking ceases. One student did have to move his clip over, but he got up without protest and did what he was supposed to.
It was easy to see that the students were excited and enthusiastic about learning. When they gathered around on the carpet Mrs. K was very animated and playful as she taught the lesson. This kept the students engaged and interested.
I look forward to observing and participating in Mrs. K's classroom. I feel as though she really understands the importance of students having a positive approach to learning, and I can't wait to get some great tips on how to accomplish this!
The best part of the day, by far, was when one of the girls handed me her apple during lunch time!!!
Yay for second grade!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
