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.

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.

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.

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.

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.