Well everyone!
We made it. The end is here and we have successfully made it through SSED 307. I can honestly say that this was the hardest, toughest, most challenging, rewarding class that I have taken so far at Gardner-Webb. We all worked our tails off, struggling each week to complete all the assignments, taking it one day at a time. Looking back at over the semester though, I have never been more proud of myself. This isn't the first time that I have said this, I have learned more in this one class than I have my entire time at Gardner-Webb. I feel more confident and prepared for student teaching than I ever have.
When Dr. Parker first told us that we would be blogging each week, my stomach was in knots. I literally had no desire to blog, or even learn how to blog. I remember trying to write my first blog. I had no idea what I was doing or what to research. However, as the semester has progressed, that became the easiest (and honestly, my favorite) part of the week. I could pretty much effortlessly find an article that I wanted to address. I felt that the articles I chose were relevant to our learning experiences from the week and helped me better myself and learning throughout. Looking back though, I would like to have made my blogs more personal by adding in more personal experiences from the week. I am with five years all day long, I could have connected with articles more. I also spent a lot of time in the classroom this semester. Talking about this more in my blogs to make them more personal is something I would go back and do. However, this helps me prepare for my future blogs in 435, 450, and hopefully in my own classroom. Overall, blogging is a time for me to vent, reflect, and learn.
There are two main standards that we can connect this learning experience to. The first one being standard 5: Teachers reflect on their practice. Blogging has been a great way for us to analyze and reflect on what we have been learning, the work that we have completed, and the overall semester. This will set us up to be productive and successful bloggers in our own classroom. Blogging specifically for parents may be a great tool for future classrooms. This has not only taught me the importance of reflecting on work, but also reflecting on current events and issues regarding education. Education changes everyday. It is especially important for teachers to be aware and up to date with the changes that are occurring. This brings me to the second standard that we can connect to. Standard 1: Teachers demonstrate leadership. Blogging shows that we are continuing to learn, showing students how important it is to never stop learning. It also shows that we care about our work and what we have learned. This shows great leadership for us students, but also other teachers.
This summer I will be working with 4th graders at a Christian Day Camp. This is an 8-5 day with twenty fourth graders (this is a LONG day). This is something that I am really looking forward to! This will give me an opportunity to have more experience with upper grades. Even though we are not planning academics, we do make lesson plans which will consist of different engaging activities, physical activities, and Bible lessons. We will go on MANY field trips this summer, where students will have the opportunity to learn about many different subjects. After blogging each week for so long, my goal this summer is to continue to blog this summer at least once a week. This will give me the opportunity to reflect on the week, continue to learn new things, stay up to date on current events, and also stay in the habit of blogging each week! Next fall will be here before we know it. At that point, blogging each week will be something I won't even think twice about.
Overall, this has been a wonderful experience for me. I feel so accomplished this semester. I have been accepted into the education program, passed my NCEL, taught my first independent lesson to a full class, become an expert with differentiation, learned about flipping a class, and gained a wealth of knowledge. I know that this class and blogging has prepared me greatly for the future.
Monday, April 25, 2016
Thursday, April 14, 2016
A New Outlook on Teaching
The semester is coming to a close and things are starting to to get a little crazy. Throughout the semester, this class has been filled with many assignments that have kept me busy and stressed. However, I now thank Dr. Parker for assigning all that work early in the semester, because the rest of my classes are just now starting to become crazy! My work is just now due for all of these other classes. It is nice to have a break finally in SSED 307.
Of course, we don't have a real break, because our units are due in only a couple of days. I am working to get this completed and finish with a bang!!!! As I have planned this unit and talked to my CE this semester, I have thought about how I would like to plan units in my own future classroom. I recently found an article on Edutopia talking about Project-Based Learning. I think that this can be such an amazing and fun learning opportunity for students!
The article was originally written, because a dad found an opportunity for project-based learning with his own son. His son wanted to build his own hospital. This gave the dad the opportunity to step in and teach his son many new things! This type of learning gives students a chance to be actively involved in learning. It also gives students a chance to use imagination and exploration. It is amazing how projects allow students to develop critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, compromises, and patience. Students will develop so many skills and have the opportunity to put their learning into action, whereas they don't have the opportunity to do so normally.
Th article talks about learning through play as well. This made me think of my own Pre-K classroom. When we were learning about pets and animals, we had a "veterinarian" center set up in our room. We had a waiting area where students looked at books about pets. There was an actual veterinarian area where students brought their "pets" to various students who took turns being the vet. We also had a pet store where students could buy various items for their pets. It was awesome watching the students be excited about learning and actually put themselves in the learning environment.
I always want to come up with new and creative ideas for my students so that they are learning, but having fun as well! I think that this type of learning will also help students see how the lessons relate to their own lives. It helps put their learning skills to use!
Standard 3:
Of course, we don't have a real break, because our units are due in only a couple of days. I am working to get this completed and finish with a bang!!!! As I have planned this unit and talked to my CE this semester, I have thought about how I would like to plan units in my own future classroom. I recently found an article on Edutopia talking about Project-Based Learning. I think that this can be such an amazing and fun learning opportunity for students!
The article was originally written, because a dad found an opportunity for project-based learning with his own son. His son wanted to build his own hospital. This gave the dad the opportunity to step in and teach his son many new things! This type of learning gives students a chance to be actively involved in learning. It also gives students a chance to use imagination and exploration. It is amazing how projects allow students to develop critical thinking skills, problem solving skills, compromises, and patience. Students will develop so many skills and have the opportunity to put their learning into action, whereas they don't have the opportunity to do so normally.
Th article talks about learning through play as well. This made me think of my own Pre-K classroom. When we were learning about pets and animals, we had a "veterinarian" center set up in our room. We had a waiting area where students looked at books about pets. There was an actual veterinarian area where students brought their "pets" to various students who took turns being the vet. We also had a pet store where students could buy various items for their pets. It was awesome watching the students be excited about learning and actually put themselves in the learning environment.
I always want to come up with new and creative ideas for my students so that they are learning, but having fun as well! I think that this type of learning will also help students see how the lessons relate to their own lives. It helps put their learning skills to use!
Standard 3:
Teachers make instruction relevant to students.
Check out the article to read more about Project-Based Instruction:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/making-room-childrens-ideas-pbl-jack-dieckmann?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Check out the article to read more about Project-Based Instruction:
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/making-room-childrens-ideas-pbl-jack-dieckmann?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Official Teacher Y'all!
Well, I taught my every first lesson today! Yep, that's right! I am an official teacher y'all. Well, not really, but it's quite a large step.
I taught a fifth grade class today about the Trail of Tears. It was really an amazing experience. I thought it went great to be my very first time! My biggest fear that my students were going to ask me question that I didn't know the answer to... Thankfully, that didn't happen! My students stayed engaged the entire time, and I felt that they really walked away learning what I wanted them to. My goal for them was to not only learn the facts from the Trail of Tears, but to understand the devastation and hurt that came from this terrible event. I had my students read a personal narrative from the Trail of Tears. These students were so affected by the narrative, that it was really touching.
As great as I thought my lesson went however, there was a lot that I still need to work on! However, this was a great learning experience, confidence boost, and encouragement.
I often worry about when I actually become a teacher. I don't worry about student teaching as much, because I know that I will have a fantastic support team. However, when the time comes to have my own classroom after graduating, I will be an absolute nervous wreck!
I found a great article on Edutopia that talks about tips and advice for new teachers. The one that stood out to me the most was "find a coach... and if you can't, MOVE". Wow! This teacher was talking serious business. It is absolutely crucial to find a support team and coach. There is no way that we can do this alone, and it is important for me to remember this. I so often take on WAY too much and think I can do it all by myself. I have to accept the fact that it is okay to ask for help sometimes. When I get into the classroom, I should be acting as a leader for my students. Things that I do, they will do. I need to set an example for them and let them know that it is okay to ask for help sometimes.
Standard 1:Teachers will demonstrate leadership
Check out the link below to get great tips and advice for new teachers!
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/what-i-wish-id-known-new-teacher-elena-aguilar?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
I taught a fifth grade class today about the Trail of Tears. It was really an amazing experience. I thought it went great to be my very first time! My biggest fear that my students were going to ask me question that I didn't know the answer to... Thankfully, that didn't happen! My students stayed engaged the entire time, and I felt that they really walked away learning what I wanted them to. My goal for them was to not only learn the facts from the Trail of Tears, but to understand the devastation and hurt that came from this terrible event. I had my students read a personal narrative from the Trail of Tears. These students were so affected by the narrative, that it was really touching.
As great as I thought my lesson went however, there was a lot that I still need to work on! However, this was a great learning experience, confidence boost, and encouragement.
I often worry about when I actually become a teacher. I don't worry about student teaching as much, because I know that I will have a fantastic support team. However, when the time comes to have my own classroom after graduating, I will be an absolute nervous wreck!
I found a great article on Edutopia that talks about tips and advice for new teachers. The one that stood out to me the most was "find a coach... and if you can't, MOVE". Wow! This teacher was talking serious business. It is absolutely crucial to find a support team and coach. There is no way that we can do this alone, and it is important for me to remember this. I so often take on WAY too much and think I can do it all by myself. I have to accept the fact that it is okay to ask for help sometimes. When I get into the classroom, I should be acting as a leader for my students. Things that I do, they will do. I need to set an example for them and let them know that it is okay to ask for help sometimes.
Standard 1:Teachers will demonstrate leadership
Check out the link below to get great tips and advice for new teachers!
http://www.edutopia.org/blog/what-i-wish-id-known-new-teacher-elena-aguilar?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=socialflow
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