This past semester has been the shortest five months of my life! They have flown by with tons of material being pelted at us. Even though my grades have not been the highest they have ever been, I feel that I have learned so much.
I have learned:
-NCTCS: which is how we teach
1. Leadership
2. Diversity
3. Content-Knowledge
4. Facilitate Learning
5. Reflection
-NCSOS: what we teach
-Importance of Classroom Climate and that students learn best in a safe place with a loving teacher
-How common and broad Diversity is and that there are many ways to work with diversity and that diversity can be actually helpful for student learning and social skills
-That making subjects Relevant to your students is extremely important for student learning and enthusiasm
- That there are proactive forms of assessment that happen during learning and are for learning and are in the forms of blogs, discussion, check points, exit tickets.
-That there are reactive forms of assessment and these are assessments of learning and are in forms of tests, finals, and EOGs.
-Feedback has to make your students think and it requires them to do something. Needs to be more than a good job.
-Etc. the list could go on.
Although we all have gone through our moment this semester of thinking that Clarker is crazy and has a death wish for us (Just kidding ;) They have taught me a lot about becoming a teacher, they lead (the first standard of the NCTCS) by being an good example of how to access their students and have shown us how to be strongly passionate about their content area. I can tell they take their job very seriously and want us all to succeed and become the best teachers we can be. Someday, I want my students to see how passionate I am about health and show them why I believe it is so important, like Clarker has done the past five months. I enjoyed watching their faces as Sara and the other girl that came to teach us. It was easy to see how proud they were of them and they should be proud, those two girls hit all of the NCTCS standards and are well prepared for their student teaching. It was encouraging to see these girls and know that our class will one day in the near future will be able to teach a class like they did.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
Saturday, November 14, 2015
Integration of Ideas
Integrating of subject content is beneficial for student learning. When teachers mix in different ideas into their lesson plan it makes the student make connection to more than one subject and it will in the long run make more sense to the student and they will learn more. For example, say a reading teacher is teaching reading and she uses a book or article that is about what the students are learning in social studies then the students will understand their social studies class more and be reading or learning a type of literature.
There are four Cs that we use as teaching methods and they are creativity, collaboration, communication, and creative thinking. teachers should use all of these for student success. When students do all of these things not only are they learning content but social interaction, problem solving, and thinking outside the box.
The north Carolina standards call for integration and one way they do it is that every teacher has to teacher literacy in their subject. Even though I want to be a P.E. teacher, I still have to incorporate literacy into my games. Lately, I've been getting observation hours in at schools and these teachers actually do use literacy in their physical activity and I think that it is great and has been a great example for me to see literacy being incorporated into the P.E. classroom.
There are four Cs that we use as teaching methods and they are creativity, collaboration, communication, and creative thinking. teachers should use all of these for student success. When students do all of these things not only are they learning content but social interaction, problem solving, and thinking outside the box.
The north Carolina standards call for integration and one way they do it is that every teacher has to teacher literacy in their subject. Even though I want to be a P.E. teacher, I still have to incorporate literacy into my games. Lately, I've been getting observation hours in at schools and these teachers actually do use literacy in their physical activity and I think that it is great and has been a great example for me to see literacy being incorporated into the P.E. classroom.
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Learn Something New Everyday
If we don't learn something, then what are we doing? Everyday we have an opportunity to learn and then change. A favorite quote of mine from the movie Anne Of Green Gables says "tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it." This is always a good way to look at your life because when you live your life with that quote in mind you will strive for better.
In our class we have been doing our lesson plans! I have enjoyed them thoroughly. It is great to see my peers as my teacher. The lessons I have seen thus far have great potential. During one of our peer's lesson we learned about high school math, and even though I haven't done math in years, I tried to pay attention and learn. And you know what?! I actually did learn some. The teacher really knew what she was talking about and did a good job of explaining it. We, her class, could tell that she was well prepared and organized. I really respect her for that. She is going to be a great teacher!
I did my lesson on Monday and I think that I could have done better. I could have prepared my lesson better so that I could have hit on some important parts of why dance is important and how it is beneficial to them. In the future I will make sure to incorporate that into my lesson. However, in a positive light I feel that my lesson was a fun and different vibe than we are used to at 2 p.m. and it was fun to get up and move.
As a class we also hit on the point of RELEVANCY which I find extremely important because even for me personally, I don't study or learn things that I don't think applies to me. I understand the importance of making it relevant for the students to be interested into my topic. For my topic to be relevant is easy because it is easy to make P.E fun! Us P.E. majors drew a picture of the "Pot Of Soup" game, which is a game that got the students involved in exercise but also taught them about protein, carbs, and fats. The game benefits their fitness but is also teaching them about health. Not only is it teaching health and fitness but it is incorporating the students spelling skills. This is a great idea and I will in the future incorporate games like this in my class room and may even use this specific game. This game is great for hitting the standards because it is using a loco motor skill and you can even have the students change loco motor skills as they run to the pot of soup, but they also are learning what they should eat for their health, and lastly there is a literacy skill in the lesson that has the students problem solving and spelling.
In our class we have been doing our lesson plans! I have enjoyed them thoroughly. It is great to see my peers as my teacher. The lessons I have seen thus far have great potential. During one of our peer's lesson we learned about high school math, and even though I haven't done math in years, I tried to pay attention and learn. And you know what?! I actually did learn some. The teacher really knew what she was talking about and did a good job of explaining it. We, her class, could tell that she was well prepared and organized. I really respect her for that. She is going to be a great teacher!
I did my lesson on Monday and I think that I could have done better. I could have prepared my lesson better so that I could have hit on some important parts of why dance is important and how it is beneficial to them. In the future I will make sure to incorporate that into my lesson. However, in a positive light I feel that my lesson was a fun and different vibe than we are used to at 2 p.m. and it was fun to get up and move.
As a class we also hit on the point of RELEVANCY which I find extremely important because even for me personally, I don't study or learn things that I don't think applies to me. I understand the importance of making it relevant for the students to be interested into my topic. For my topic to be relevant is easy because it is easy to make P.E fun! Us P.E. majors drew a picture of the "Pot Of Soup" game, which is a game that got the students involved in exercise but also taught them about protein, carbs, and fats. The game benefits their fitness but is also teaching them about health. Not only is it teaching health and fitness but it is incorporating the students spelling skills. This is a great idea and I will in the future incorporate games like this in my class room and may even use this specific game. This game is great for hitting the standards because it is using a loco motor skill and you can even have the students change loco motor skills as they run to the pot of soup, but they also are learning what they should eat for their health, and lastly there is a literacy skill in the lesson that has the students problem solving and spelling.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Diversity is...
"No two snowflakes are the same" this is equally equivalent to students and their learning. When asked in class today what is the first thing that comes to mind when you see the word "Diversity" not going to lie my first thought was "race" even though I know diversity is so much more than just that. Diversity is... race, gender, attitude, socioeconomic status, home support, physical/emotional, culture, religion, and the list goes on and on. Now knowing this information, think about how there are multiple methods of teaching styles and methods. As a teacher we have to be up to date on our students lives, students learning styles, how they differ from other students, and also aware of new teaching tools and research in order to best teach every child.
There are so many types of students and learning styles/diversity in every single class. In fact I find it very daunting because it is our job as a teacher to get our content into their head and also have them want to learn. Students are all motivated by different things and interested things. How do we motivate every student? How do we reach every student? Is it possible to reach every student? I don't expect every student or parent to like me. I know it isn't possible for every parent to agree with my methods and as for students, they don't want to be told what to do or corrected and I am sure that for some reason I will rub a student the wrong way even though that is not my intent.
In my observation hours that I have been putting is at an Elementary school, for a different class, it is easy to see diversity. These students all handle themselves differently and play differently and sometimes this causes issues with other students because some kids do not appreciate the way other students play and do not understand why they are acting in this way. Multiple occasions of tattle tailing take place and the teacher does a good job of correcting their behavior without insulting either student. Students also are on totally different athleticism levels and some can skip and some struggle to, but it doesn't matter because they are all having fun even when the teacher helps some students learn how to skip. The teacher uses different games that incorporate different styles of using the loco motor skills and the games don't always require a winner or a loser. This is a good idea because then students do not feel inferior and thus will enjoy P.E. and continue to participate and to learn.
There are so many types of students and learning styles/diversity in every single class. In fact I find it very daunting because it is our job as a teacher to get our content into their head and also have them want to learn. Students are all motivated by different things and interested things. How do we motivate every student? How do we reach every student? Is it possible to reach every student? I don't expect every student or parent to like me. I know it isn't possible for every parent to agree with my methods and as for students, they don't want to be told what to do or corrected and I am sure that for some reason I will rub a student the wrong way even though that is not my intent.
In my observation hours that I have been putting is at an Elementary school, for a different class, it is easy to see diversity. These students all handle themselves differently and play differently and sometimes this causes issues with other students because some kids do not appreciate the way other students play and do not understand why they are acting in this way. Multiple occasions of tattle tailing take place and the teacher does a good job of correcting their behavior without insulting either student. Students also are on totally different athleticism levels and some can skip and some struggle to, but it doesn't matter because they are all having fun even when the teacher helps some students learn how to skip. The teacher uses different games that incorporate different styles of using the loco motor skills and the games don't always require a winner or a loser. This is a good idea because then students do not feel inferior and thus will enjoy P.E. and continue to participate and to learn.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
The Great Assessment Debate
In my past experience of being assessed my teachers have mainly used the summative form of testing. Summative testing I just learned is the use of tests, finals, or EOGs. This is not the best approach because it is comparative to throwing a child into a pool without every swimming before but only watching someone else swim. So.. yes I am saying that teachers drown their students. I have been drowned multiple times and I am sure tons and tons of other students have been too. I am not a believer in the summative assessment use.
Before taking this class I was unaware of the proactive form of assessment. Also known as the formative assessment. In Education 250 we do checkpoints, discussion, exit tickets, and blogs. When we use these formative assessments our teachers still figure out what we know and what we don't because it is extremely easy to let them know what we don't know in our personal blogs and in our informal class discussions. This method of assessment is a non stressful way for the students to let the teachers know what we know and have learned.
When we assess students it should a teachers top priority to let their students know what they are doing well and what they can improve on. In class we qualified feedback as "does my feedback require my student to do something to continue/improve learning?" I think that feedback should be used all the time during regular class. Especially positive feedback, I think that encouraging students is such a great way to boost their leaning moral. When giving constructivism feedback it should be phrased in a way that student want to achieve it.
In my future class I am going to give my students a flotation device until they are ready to swim without a life jacket.
Before taking this class I was unaware of the proactive form of assessment. Also known as the formative assessment. In Education 250 we do checkpoints, discussion, exit tickets, and blogs. When we use these formative assessments our teachers still figure out what we know and what we don't because it is extremely easy to let them know what we don't know in our personal blogs and in our informal class discussions. This method of assessment is a non stressful way for the students to let the teachers know what we know and have learned.
When we assess students it should a teachers top priority to let their students know what they are doing well and what they can improve on. In class we qualified feedback as "does my feedback require my student to do something to continue/improve learning?" I think that feedback should be used all the time during regular class. Especially positive feedback, I think that encouraging students is such a great way to boost their leaning moral. When giving constructivism feedback it should be phrased in a way that student want to achieve it.
In my future class I am going to give my students a flotation device until they are ready to swim without a life jacket.
Thursday, October 15, 2015
Changing Our Minds
This week I had the pleasure of being able to shadow a elementary P.E. teacher. I really enjoyed the experience and am even more excited to begin being more involved in schools and P.E. classes. The teacher did an excellent job at everything. He held the classes respect and their attention. Not only were the kids having fun but they were learning all of the things that are stated in the NC standards. The kids were learning loco motor skills and what they are called. The teacher incorporated games that made the kids identify the name of the action while being able to do it and even switch actions quickly. I was very impressed with the teacher and I now have an understanding of how to incorporate standards but also incorporate literacy. For example,the teacher was using the children's vocab in class and asking them what it meant and how it related to what they were doing.
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
More Observtions
I really have appreciated the opportunity to go into different schools this semester. I would like to go into P.E. classes or health classes to see how my content area is taught and to see different forms of teaching. Even without going to my content area it is easy to see the teachers using the NCSTS in their classrooms with their students.
Both of the classes in elementary and in middle school seemed to be respectful and well behaved. There was definitely a set standard already there and the students knew to not go over and any that did were quickly corrected and then they continued to obey the rules. This was impressive to me because class room management is extremely important for the safety of every one and the setting for learning.
I do not really know how I would manage a class room but I am glad that I will have classes that prepare me for it. I feel that by the time that I am going to be student teaching Gardner-Webb will have adequately prepared me for it.
Both of the classes in elementary and in middle school seemed to be respectful and well behaved. There was definitely a set standard already there and the students knew to not go over and any that did were quickly corrected and then they continued to obey the rules. This was impressive to me because class room management is extremely important for the safety of every one and the setting for learning.
I do not really know how I would manage a class room but I am glad that I will have classes that prepare me for it. I feel that by the time that I am going to be student teaching Gardner-Webb will have adequately prepared me for it.
Wednesday, September 30, 2015
Hands on experience.. Kind of
This week going to the elementary school was very interesting! I am glad we went because I haven't been in an elementary school since I was in elementary school. It was good to see the kids behaving and interacting with the teacher. Going to the school opened my eyes to the fact that I think I could some day work in an elementary school. Previously I thought that I would only work with High school but after seeing those kids I had a twinge of desire to work at an elementary school not that I've totally changed my mind but I think I could be versatile. I am glad we have the opportunity to see all of the possibilities around us because it gives us a greater understanding of education and the tactics of teaching. After being in the school I am excited to go out into schools to start my experience.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Class Disscussions
Last week from our class we had a class discussion where we debated the importance of test grades and homework grades. Everyone seemed to have an opinion about it even if they agreed or didn't agree. This debate was very interesting because every one in the class was participating.
Some thought that every kid should be given a different test and that you should grade them on their personal improvements. I actually disagree with this statement because as a teacher you are responsible for having your students reach a certain level so that they are ready for the next level.
I am not sure that I believe that testing is the best way to tell how smart a kid is or if they know the content. However, I do not know any other way of telling how the students know their content other than testing. I am grateful that by being a P.E. teacher I can definitely test their fitness comparatively to them self's. In North Carolina in the schools they begin the year with a fitness test and at the end of the year they then test them again to track their improvements.
Some thought that every kid should be given a different test and that you should grade them on their personal improvements. I actually disagree with this statement because as a teacher you are responsible for having your students reach a certain level so that they are ready for the next level.
I am not sure that I believe that testing is the best way to tell how smart a kid is or if they know the content. However, I do not know any other way of telling how the students know their content other than testing. I am grateful that by being a P.E. teacher I can definitely test their fitness comparatively to them self's. In North Carolina in the schools they begin the year with a fitness test and at the end of the year they then test them again to track their improvements.
Wednesday, September 16, 2015
Kool K.U.D.
Know, Understand, Do. This concept has been recently introduced to me in Education 250. I had no idea what it was before this class. When I saw the K.U.D. on the board, I tried to figure out what it could be and my guess was way off.
But making your students know what you want is so important because if they don't know what you want then they will not do it and thus won't learn it.
Having your students understand is necessary because they need to know why it effects them, and how it should be used/for what purpose.
Having your students do is so very very important because personally I can't learn anything unless I do it and practice it.
I am still very fuzzy on the Introduction to the Common Core and it's difference from the essential standards. I think that as we go on I will start to understand it.
But making your students know what you want is so important because if they don't know what you want then they will not do it and thus won't learn it.
Having your students understand is necessary because they need to know why it effects them, and how it should be used/for what purpose.
Having your students do is so very very important because personally I can't learn anything unless I do it and practice it.
I am still very fuzzy on the Introduction to the Common Core and it's difference from the essential standards. I think that as we go on I will start to understand it.
Thursday, September 10, 2015
So Much To Learn With So Little Time
As this year keeps moving along, projects and tests keep on coming relentlessly. Taking 19 hours and also doing a sport here is very demanding but doable. Keeping your head on straight and not becoming overwhelmed is necessary. I am not sure how stressful it is to be a teacher but I am sure that it is stressful. All this preparation that we are going through now is going to prepare us for the stresses of being a teacher. It is hard to believe that we will be ready once we graduate to begin our careers as teachers. I feel that four years isn't enough time to be ready. Then I remember that we will never stop learning and growing because as teachers our students will challenge us and make us grow, and also we'll grow from our reflections on our own teaching and coworkers reflection of our teaching.
Wednesday, September 2, 2015
understanding clarker
This is the first semester that I have actually been excited about classes. "Taking 19.5 hours is going to be really tough" they said. However, after the first two weeks of school I have decided that it is totally doable. Beginning my major classes is the best thing that could have happened to me in my schooling career. This is the first time I have found myself excited to learn and even be attentive in class. Not only am I enjoying my classes but I am really thinking about my future/ future career and I am excited!
Parker and Clark have been talking a lot about North Carolina standards and I am starting to see the truth on why these standards are applicable to us students in training to be teachers. Not only do I understand them but I am being to understand how I would use them in my own class (that I do not have yet). I really appreciate that Clarker lets us talk and interact with them and each other because I loathe lectures with all my heart and having to sit and listen for 2 hours to a monotone lecture is basically my nightmare. However, thanks to Clarker they do not believe in that method and explain to us why they do the things they do. When they explain why they choose to do something the way they do it I then find myself analyzing other things they do and also methods of my other teachers.
I have found myself already subconsciously reflecting on things and standards that I have not previously reflected on and I am giving that credit to my education 250 teachers and their knowledge of how to prepare up and coming teachers.
Parker and Clark have been talking a lot about North Carolina standards and I am starting to see the truth on why these standards are applicable to us students in training to be teachers. Not only do I understand them but I am being to understand how I would use them in my own class (that I do not have yet). I really appreciate that Clarker lets us talk and interact with them and each other because I loathe lectures with all my heart and having to sit and listen for 2 hours to a monotone lecture is basically my nightmare. However, thanks to Clarker they do not believe in that method and explain to us why they do the things they do. When they explain why they choose to do something the way they do it I then find myself analyzing other things they do and also methods of my other teachers.
I have found myself already subconsciously reflecting on things and standards that I have not previously reflected on and I am giving that credit to my education 250 teachers and their knowledge of how to prepare up and coming teachers.
Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Just the building blocks
As a child and even still to this day I dislike school. Sitting in class for hours just listening to a teacher talk is probably one of my least favorite things. This is probably due to the fact that I can't sit still and I would much rather be moving and playing. This is one reason I want to be a physical education teacher. I want to help students enjoy what I enjoy and learn how to be physically fit.
Since beginning this education 250 class it has made me think about the methods teachers of mine have used in the past and think about how they made me feel. Unfortunately I think I have had more bad teachers than good ones in my school career. This determines me to be an even better teacher someday.
By taking this education class I hope to learn different teaching styles so that I may be a good teacher to all students. Already from just the first two classes we have had I can tell that this teaching thing is going be harder than expected. However, it doesn't scare me but excites me.
The NCTCS requires all teachers to have a broad base of knowledge on many subjects which I believe is a good plan. Having well rounded teachers is one of the best plans for the schools. Even though I want to be a P.E. teacher I still think it is important for me to be well educated so that I can also have the respect of the students and also of the teachers I work with.
Since beginning this education 250 class it has made me think about the methods teachers of mine have used in the past and think about how they made me feel. Unfortunately I think I have had more bad teachers than good ones in my school career. This determines me to be an even better teacher someday.
By taking this education class I hope to learn different teaching styles so that I may be a good teacher to all students. Already from just the first two classes we have had I can tell that this teaching thing is going be harder than expected. However, it doesn't scare me but excites me.
The NCTCS requires all teachers to have a broad base of knowledge on many subjects which I believe is a good plan. Having well rounded teachers is one of the best plans for the schools. Even though I want to be a P.E. teacher I still think it is important for me to be well educated so that I can also have the respect of the students and also of the teachers I work with.
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