Well, today was the last day; the last day for smiling faces and squeeze-hugs; the last day for seeing children's "light-bulb" face when they figure out the solution to a problem; the last day for listening to every student and getting to know them personally; and finally, the last day of sharpening endless pencils!
My experience in my 3rd grade host classroom was short, but one that I will never get. Some things were challenging during my experiences, but I loved every second of the experience that I got! I cannot wait to do more. This host classroom taught me a great deal of classroom management techniques, showed me how I am growing as a professional, and posed as a challenge to see if I have what it takes to be an effective teacher (and trust me, I think I can do it!).
During my last day, I gave cards to the host teacher and teacher aid and thanked them for allowing me into the classroom and helping me every single time I needed them. I brought in cookies for the kids and thanked them for being a part of my journey. Toward the end of the day, I was asked to stand in the front of the morning meeting carpet as each child went around and shared something that they will remember about me. I enjoyed listening to comments like "You are nice," "You always smile and make things I don't like to do fun," "You take initiative in the classroom," and of course from the girls, "You're pretty." I got to share personal memories I will keep of the students as well and it was a heartwarming moment for me.
Without naming classified information of the school, the staff, and the students, I would like to thank a few specific individuals. First off, thanks to the principal who helps maintain such a wonderful school culture and invited myself and other individuals from my college into the school. Secondly, thanks to the wonderful teacher and fellow staff who helped me out by showing me what it takes to be a teacher each and every day (and let's face it, all night too!). Lastly, thanks to my college professors who have shown me efficient ways of handling certain situations and constantly challenged me keep going and stay motivated as I experience the pressures I will soon have to face as a teacher. Thanks to you all!
Sunset At Raquette Lake
Block I trip to Camp Huntington
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Friday, December 2, 2011
My First Social Studies Lesson!
So yesterday at my host school, I was fortunate enough to teach a lesson about Mountains in the United States. It was overall a positive experience as the kids really enjoyed the activity I had them do. However, some complications were present. I was told by my host teacher that I would have a spot reserved for me in the afternoon in the computer lab since I incorporated technology into my lesson; the truth was, I had no spot reserved for me when I got there and the spots for the computer lab were booked.
LUCKILY, another 3rd grade teacher was nice enough to allow me to share the computer lab with her for a little while since I only needed to teach a small group of children. The downside was, I did not have the time needed to do my lesson plan. I ended up quickly having them read about the mountains in the United States and play a quick matching game to match facts with the correct mountain ranges. Then, I had them create their own mountain ranges. Sadly, I did not have enough time to conclude my lesson properly and ended up asking them whole group what they learned while I was walking them back up to their classroom.
They loved creating their own mountain ranges on the computer. They asked me if I could give them the website we used to send home with them. So that felt good to witness. The site I used has several features that focus on geography and other areas of the curriculum. It is a fantastic website to use when planning and doing lessons. I hope you click the link below to go to an explore the website I used. If you have any questions about where I went to have them make their own map or any other questions, please comment and I will answer.
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/
LUCKILY, another 3rd grade teacher was nice enough to allow me to share the computer lab with her for a little while since I only needed to teach a small group of children. The downside was, I did not have the time needed to do my lesson plan. I ended up quickly having them read about the mountains in the United States and play a quick matching game to match facts with the correct mountain ranges. Then, I had them create their own mountain ranges. Sadly, I did not have enough time to conclude my lesson properly and ended up asking them whole group what they learned while I was walking them back up to their classroom.
They loved creating their own mountain ranges on the computer. They asked me if I could give them the website we used to send home with them. So that felt good to witness. The site I used has several features that focus on geography and other areas of the curriculum. It is a fantastic website to use when planning and doing lessons. I hope you click the link below to go to an explore the website I used. If you have any questions about where I went to have them make their own map or any other questions, please comment and I will answer.
http://www.mrnussbaum.com/
Friday, November 25, 2011
Banning Student Teachers From Schools?!
"Tennessee’s new teacher evaluation system has prompted some school districts to ban student teachers from working in core high school subjects, college education officials say. The reason: So much of a teacher’s evaluation is now based on student test scores that some teachers don’t want to cede control of their classroom to a student teacher..." (click here to read the article!)
I read this beginning of an article on banning student teachers from schools and I already know the reason, the amount of value wrongly placed on test scores. Teachers are so desperately focused on how their students perform on testing. It almost seems a matter of life or death because it may or may not cost them their tenure or their career.
After winning the $500 million reward for participating in the Race to The Top education grant, Tennessee schools are starting to get serious by making tougher teacher evaluations and curriculum changes. Teachers are nervous to lose their careers and are starting to not want student teachers in their classroom in fear that they might damage the student test scores. The fact of the matter is that this is not something just happening in Tennessee, it is starting to form worldwide. If there is not a shift of focus in education, it can and WILL cost people their jobs and cost people their education.
Student teachers and education majors will only learn how to be an effective teacher by experiencing first hand what works and what causes issues. Due to the over-valued and overrated testing is America really going to deny future educators the experience they need to continue EFFECTIVE education?
Testing can have upsides to academic placement and other areas of education. However, it should NOT be the main focus of student AND teacher evaluation. When it comes to a point where citizens who are full heartily committing to a profession are DENIED an opportunity to excel and develop as a professional, then a change HAS to be made.
I read this beginning of an article on banning student teachers from schools and I already know the reason, the amount of value wrongly placed on test scores. Teachers are so desperately focused on how their students perform on testing. It almost seems a matter of life or death because it may or may not cost them their tenure or their career.
After winning the $500 million reward for participating in the Race to The Top education grant, Tennessee schools are starting to get serious by making tougher teacher evaluations and curriculum changes. Teachers are nervous to lose their careers and are starting to not want student teachers in their classroom in fear that they might damage the student test scores. The fact of the matter is that this is not something just happening in Tennessee, it is starting to form worldwide. If there is not a shift of focus in education, it can and WILL cost people their jobs and cost people their education.
Student teachers and education majors will only learn how to be an effective teacher by experiencing first hand what works and what causes issues. Due to the over-valued and overrated testing is America really going to deny future educators the experience they need to continue EFFECTIVE education?
Testing can have upsides to academic placement and other areas of education. However, it should NOT be the main focus of student AND teacher evaluation. When it comes to a point where citizens who are full heartily committing to a profession are DENIED an opportunity to excel and develop as a professional, then a change HAS to be made.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Lure of the Labyrinth
LURE OF THE LABYRINTH
Lure of the Labyrinth is a mathematical computer game for middle school pre-algebra students. In this game, students draw connections from math to simulated real life experiences. The game also matches to state standards in educations so teachers will love it!
I could see how this could be used in my future classroom. Video-games are a big hit with the youth of America and children will love to do something that is not the normal routine of math lessons. The site goes into detail for educators of how this game meets math standards and discusses the math involved.
I encourage everyone to click on the game title that I listed at the top of this post to go check out the site for themselves!
Lure of the Labyrinth is a mathematical computer game for middle school pre-algebra students. In this game, students draw connections from math to simulated real life experiences. The game also matches to state standards in educations so teachers will love it!
I could see how this could be used in my future classroom. Video-games are a big hit with the youth of America and children will love to do something that is not the normal routine of math lessons. The site goes into detail for educators of how this game meets math standards and discusses the math involved.
I encourage everyone to click on the game title that I listed at the top of this post to go check out the site for themselves!
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Music For The Mind
Over the past week in my education courses, the musician Gary Lamb was briefly mentioned and praised for his music that helps children learning in the classroom. I decided that this sounds like something I would like to do in my future classroom and went to research more about Gary Lamb. What I found, I LOVE!
Gary Lamb worked hard to create the Music For The Mind series which is a series of CD's that is meant for classroom use. Each song is approximately 60 beats per minute (BPM). Why use music in the classroom, and why specifically 60 BPM? Research shows that music can help reduce stress, increase cognitive functioning, and improve productivity and creativity. Studies also show that using music that is 60 BPM is most effective because it is the same tempo as a resting heart beat. Using this tempo is what calms us and puts us in that state of relaxed alertness (AKA- what you want in your classroom for your students!).
Each CD in the series serves it's own purpose such as "problem solving," "reading and writing," and "productive flow." Each individual album is ideal for different things and all work together to enhance the learning experience of the students. The total series cost about $70 dollars and it contains 6 albums. However each album can be bought separately for $15. I think this is a GREAT deal! When I get my future classroom, I definitely plan on buying this series. Gary Lamb uses the piano wisely as a way to enhance learning that has been shown to work!
Click Here Check Out Gary Lamb!
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Gary Lamb worked hard to create the Music For The Mind series which is a series of CD's that is meant for classroom use. Each song is approximately 60 beats per minute (BPM). Why use music in the classroom, and why specifically 60 BPM? Research shows that music can help reduce stress, increase cognitive functioning, and improve productivity and creativity. Studies also show that using music that is 60 BPM is most effective because it is the same tempo as a resting heart beat. Using this tempo is what calms us and puts us in that state of relaxed alertness (AKA- what you want in your classroom for your students!).
Each CD in the series serves it's own purpose such as "problem solving," "reading and writing," and "productive flow." Each individual album is ideal for different things and all work together to enhance the learning experience of the students. The total series cost about $70 dollars and it contains 6 albums. However each album can be bought separately for $15. I think this is a GREAT deal! When I get my future classroom, I definitely plan on buying this series. Gary Lamb uses the piano wisely as a way to enhance learning that has been shown to work!
Click Here Check Out Gary Lamb!
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Saturday, October 29, 2011
The National Library of Virtual Manipulatives
Yesterday in one of my education courses, my teacher showed us a VERY handy math resource website. It is the site for the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives (nlvm.usu.edu). This website has a bunch of virtual manipulatives you can use for virtually any content area and any grade level. There are visual tools for all standard areas of mathematics that can be used as a visual aid to teach concepts such as fractions, and angles.
This is something I thought could really be helpful in my future classroom or any other classrooms in the present times or the future! I believe that this can make difficult concepts much easier to truly understand. It will also b a good resource to use for children who need extra visual aids to grasp concepts. Lastly, if classroom manipulatives are lost, destroyed, or there just is not enough for the class, this is a GREAT alternative.
I am very happy that my teacher shared this website with us and plan on using it in my own classroom someday!
This is something I thought could really be helpful in my future classroom or any other classrooms in the present times or the future! I believe that this can make difficult concepts much easier to truly understand. It will also b a good resource to use for children who need extra visual aids to grasp concepts. Lastly, if classroom manipulatives are lost, destroyed, or there just is not enough for the class, this is a GREAT alternative.
I am very happy that my teacher shared this website with us and plan on using it in my own classroom someday!
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Mastering The SMART Board
Over these past two weeks of my college courses, I have taken time two days a week to meet with a group of classmates and design a lesson that will be taught on the classroom SMART Board. I was so nervous! I had a little experience with SMART Boards in my high school math courses but never have to think of how to design anything on them.
The anxiety of learning how to do things on the SMART Board was quickly felt by my group mates and I. As a result of this (along with limited availability of using the SMART Board) we decided to design an outline of what would be included on our slides for our presentation. Then, when we were able to use the SMART Board application on some of the classroom computers, we played around with the buttons to explore how different things could be put into our lesson.
From our experience as a group with the SMART Board, we were able to discover how to add and edit text, how to add backfrounds, how to add graphics, how to insert links, and many other SMART Board features. We created a well-laid-out ELA lesson plan that we designed for 2nd graders. I am a little nervous about presenting our lesson to the class but confident that our lesson will be a fun, interactive learning experience for our Block I classmates.
The anxiety of learning how to do things on the SMART Board was quickly felt by my group mates and I. As a result of this (along with limited availability of using the SMART Board) we decided to design an outline of what would be included on our slides for our presentation. Then, when we were able to use the SMART Board application on some of the classroom computers, we played around with the buttons to explore how different things could be put into our lesson.
From our experience as a group with the SMART Board, we were able to discover how to add and edit text, how to add backfrounds, how to add graphics, how to insert links, and many other SMART Board features. We created a well-laid-out ELA lesson plan that we designed for 2nd graders. I am a little nervous about presenting our lesson to the class but confident that our lesson will be a fun, interactive learning experience for our Block I classmates.
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