I liked the point that Dennis made in class about developing your teaching philosophy. He said that when he was looking at jobs, if they did not want you to write about your personal teaching philosophy in the application, then do you really want to work for them.
I think that it is important to document your personal teaching philosophy. For the application to the MAT program we had some writing prompts that kind of followed that idea, and also when I applied to the Medford School Dist. I had to write along those same lines of what my personal philosophy of education includes.
I like that he provided samples of teaching philosophies. This is yet another thing that I will personally review annually. It does change from year to year. I think that it is already up for revision after my first year in the schools (part time).
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
ASCD Smart Brief: Tues August 5th
I subscribe to the ASCD smart brief, a principal at one of the schools I teach at recommended it to me, he said it would keep me informed as a teacher. I saw it somewhere in the ed tech website and so I decided to click over and read one from this summer to comment on.
This little email subscription is great. They provide information and links to lots of issues happening in the nation as far as education is concerned.
This issue was not the headline issue of the day, but it was right under it. It was a study posted in science daily that addresses that students learn life information about STD's and pregnancy better when it is presented to them by their regular teachers. It seems that students will listen and learn better from someone they know and trust.
DUH! I feel like if it is not your parents who are telling you, you are much more likely to understand and care about it if your teacher that you see every day tells you about the issues instead of some lady that is a specialist talking about the reproductive system after they split you from the boys.
A good study though, and always good info provided by the smartbrief.
This little email subscription is great. They provide information and links to lots of issues happening in the nation as far as education is concerned.
This issue was not the headline issue of the day, but it was right under it. It was a study posted in science daily that addresses that students learn life information about STD's and pregnancy better when it is presented to them by their regular teachers. It seems that students will listen and learn better from someone they know and trust.
DUH! I feel like if it is not your parents who are telling you, you are much more likely to understand and care about it if your teacher that you see every day tells you about the issues instead of some lady that is a specialist talking about the reproductive system after they split you from the boys.
A good study though, and always good info provided by the smartbrief.
Reading: Technology and Academic Achievement
I am noticing that this new horizons website is very useful for good articles. This is not the first one on the readings that has come from it.
Technology and Academic Achievement was a very interesting article. It adresses the question of whether or not all of the investment in technology in the classroom is paying off, or if it is a waste of monetary resources. this article talked about two studies, and concluded that researchers are having a hard time isolating the technology enough to assess it.
I think that any advancement in technology in the school system is a step in the right direction because technology is the future ahead. At least part of every job will be based on computer skills, and communication more and more online. Can't post a resume on the web? Everyone with a basic education should now be able to do that.
Computers and technological learning tools are money well spent.
Technology and Academic Achievement was a very interesting article. It adresses the question of whether or not all of the investment in technology in the classroom is paying off, or if it is a waste of monetary resources. this article talked about two studies, and concluded that researchers are having a hard time isolating the technology enough to assess it.
I think that any advancement in technology in the school system is a step in the right direction because technology is the future ahead. At least part of every job will be based on computer skills, and communication more and more online. Can't post a resume on the web? Everyone with a basic education should now be able to do that.
Computers and technological learning tools are money well spent.
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Reading: intelligence in seven steps
I really like this Howard Gardner guy. I liked the reading on multiple intelligences as well (older blog) but his ideas and processes are so cool I also loved the little section on humanizing intelligence.
LINK TO THIS ARTICLE
LINK TO THIS ARTICLE
10 worst things a teacher can do
In the reading that lists the ten worst things a teacher can do, I of course had an issue with number one. I think that their point was very good, but maybe it should have siad be friends with your students or something because the point was really about boundaries. However number two is about being friends. I think that number one is no good. but the "being Friendly" part I guess I can understand friendly comments and such, but smiling is essential.Making good boundaries with your students and having them know that you are the leader and you are in control. The 'in control' part also goes along with number 5 and 6: never yell and never give the control of your classroom to your students. I like this little list. I think it is always good to have little tips and reminders as you pursue the responsibility of educating children.
Number three and four I really believe in. Singling out students in front of the class is horrible and problems should be addressed in a different atmosphere than the middle of the lesson. Fairness is always important.
Number three and four I really believe in. Singling out students in front of the class is horrible and problems should be addressed in a different atmosphere than the middle of the lesson. Fairness is always important.
Do I have what it takes?
And the Six Keys to becoming a successful teacher are:
Positive attitude- I think I pretty much always have a positive attitude. Life is what you created, and i wouldn't want to create my life around negativity YUCK! Work and home are two separate things, and when things are not working well with one, don't bring it over to the other side of life. Your students have their own realities to deal with, and a teacher should help to positively form the lives and realities of those students.
flexibility- you learn quickly that it will never be the way you planned it. It doesn't work that way. You just have to work around the problem, or don't let it be a problem at all. A teacher is always adjusting and changing the plan to fit the way that it really happened. I am developing this in the classroom, but in life I think that I do well with that aspect. I think I am ok in this section.
fairness- I have seen more unfairness with teachers in my life. It was usually that high school time, when all of the different culture groups of students had to live together in school five days a week. Don't be harder on the angry goth kid because he gets into more trouble than the basketball player, even though they just acted in the same manner toward the computer club member. I think that I will be a very fair teacher and I hope that I can create an environment where all of the students feel like they are part of my classroom.
consistency- always maintain the same rules and expectation and your students will know what is expected of them.
high expectations- My art teacher had a sign that said, "if you don't accept anything but the best, you very often get it" something like that. It's true.
sense of humor- We'll see.....
Positive attitude- I think I pretty much always have a positive attitude. Life is what you created, and i wouldn't want to create my life around negativity YUCK! Work and home are two separate things, and when things are not working well with one, don't bring it over to the other side of life. Your students have their own realities to deal with, and a teacher should help to positively form the lives and realities of those students.
flexibility- you learn quickly that it will never be the way you planned it. It doesn't work that way. You just have to work around the problem, or don't let it be a problem at all. A teacher is always adjusting and changing the plan to fit the way that it really happened. I am developing this in the classroom, but in life I think that I do well with that aspect. I think I am ok in this section.
fairness- I have seen more unfairness with teachers in my life. It was usually that high school time, when all of the different culture groups of students had to live together in school five days a week. Don't be harder on the angry goth kid because he gets into more trouble than the basketball player, even though they just acted in the same manner toward the computer club member. I think that I will be a very fair teacher and I hope that I can create an environment where all of the students feel like they are part of my classroom.
consistency- always maintain the same rules and expectation and your students will know what is expected of them.
high expectations- My art teacher had a sign that said, "if you don't accept anything but the best, you very often get it" something like that. It's true.
sense of humor- We'll see.....
evaluating our blog posts: grading a conversation
Evaluating students work on blogposts and on websites: a new and evolving concept for teachers.
I like that the instructor had us read this because it is exactly what he is doing in the ed tech class.
So, it is a conversation, not an essay. It includes opinions and also reflections of readings and other posts.
Awareness of audience, and Diction are some grading principles. I never thought about the fact that I have not had many real conversations with my professors or teachers. I think the best conversations were about books or things that I had read, but really the teacher just facilitated converation between students. This really is one of the few times that I have felt free in speaking about what I think and also what I have experienced and read.
It is a good tool to have these readings if you were a teacher who needed to figure out how to evaluate and grade students blogs and online doings. Fun to read: get in to the mind of Dennis when he is readin these blogs.
I like that the instructor had us read this because it is exactly what he is doing in the ed tech class.
So, it is a conversation, not an essay. It includes opinions and also reflections of readings and other posts.
Awareness of audience, and Diction are some grading principles. I never thought about the fact that I have not had many real conversations with my professors or teachers. I think the best conversations were about books or things that I had read, but really the teacher just facilitated converation between students. This really is one of the few times that I have felt free in speaking about what I think and also what I have experienced and read.
It is a good tool to have these readings if you were a teacher who needed to figure out how to evaluate and grade students blogs and online doings. Fun to read: get in to the mind of Dennis when he is readin these blogs.
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