Going over these last pages in the book was very helpful to me. It was fun to see all of the different activity ideas that they have in the book. I liked the evaluation checklist that they had about how the student does working with their peers. I thought it gives students a good opportunity to see what they do well in a group and also what they could work on to do better as well. Doing this evaluation can also help students with social skills. I also liked the different ideas they had for literature. There are many different ideas on how to break down the ideas while reading a book This would help students with comprehension. I also liked how the book talked about having different tiers while teaching. Helping the students go from learning the basics of a concept to something really concrete. I have seen this method used throughout my life with my parents and my teachers. I also liked the journal ideas at the end. I did a few journals in school and I loved it. I know when I am a teacher I will have my class do a daily journal on different subjects. IT helps solidify what they are learning.
I have enjoyed taking the time to go through this book I think it was well worth buying. It had a lot of great thoughts and ideas. It will be nice to refer to. Learning about differentiation has been a wonderful thing for me. I was talking to my mom about this class the other day. She was an elementary teacher and never had the chance to take a course like this. She thought it would be very helpful in my future classroom. It is another part of learning what we can better do to help our students learn. Not only must we have the knowledge to do so but the concern and love to do so for each student individually. I am excited to see how applying what I have learned in our differentiation class while influence the experience I will have in field and student teaching.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Chapter 7
I wanted to start by saying sorry that my blogs are always late! Until today when we mentioned it in class I thought we could submit our blog anytime on thurs. It won't be late anymore!
Anyways I wanted to start by saying how much I enjoyed class today. Though I did not participate I did a lot of listening and loved how you talked about making our cohort a community. It was cool to hear Ruthie share how she had been feeling. It is funny how though we all look put together on the outside it is hard to know what is going on inside. It made me feel closer to Ruthie when she shared.
These expereinces in our own cohort have helped me really see the value in morning meetings. It can make students more sensitive to what their peers are feeling,
From chapter seven I felt overwhelmed at first by the long list of the tings successful teachers do. They were all wonderful things but there were so many of them. I them loved how she went on to say that it is hard to do all of these tings. She talked about how it can be hard to get to all of your students and really know them. But I really liked how she had a positive attitude in believing we can try. We can try to reach all of our students. We can try to always be supportive, patient, and loving. In trying we could affect at least one of our students. I thought she was very realistic about how it really would be in the classroom but still positive about doing the best you can. This was reassuring to me. A lot of the time I feel like I can never get enough done and am not enough. I don't study enough, work enough ,exercise enough, etc. But I thought that this really applied to our lives. That we can do the best we can and we can be proud of the progress we make no matter how small. This helped me to take a step back and feel proud of myself for how far I have come in school. I am always thinking about how much I have left but it was nice to reassure myself that I have come so far already. Instead of feeling so far from where I want to be this made me feel more excited to reach it. As a teacher I will need to assess myself and make a list of the things I not only need to improve but the things I am doing well.
As human beings we do not seem to praise or celebrate ourselves as much as we should. Maybe it is because we measure ourselves to the accomplishments of others. Just like I measure myself to the really good teachers and should take into consideration that they have had alot of time and practice.
Anyways I have really liked this book. Reading it as a teacher will help remind me what is really important, and that is my students. Making sure my students know that I care about them and love them for what they are and for what they can become.
Anyways I wanted to start by saying how much I enjoyed class today. Though I did not participate I did a lot of listening and loved how you talked about making our cohort a community. It was cool to hear Ruthie share how she had been feeling. It is funny how though we all look put together on the outside it is hard to know what is going on inside. It made me feel closer to Ruthie when she shared.
These expereinces in our own cohort have helped me really see the value in morning meetings. It can make students more sensitive to what their peers are feeling,
From chapter seven I felt overwhelmed at first by the long list of the tings successful teachers do. They were all wonderful things but there were so many of them. I them loved how she went on to say that it is hard to do all of these tings. She talked about how it can be hard to get to all of your students and really know them. But I really liked how she had a positive attitude in believing we can try. We can try to reach all of our students. We can try to always be supportive, patient, and loving. In trying we could affect at least one of our students. I thought she was very realistic about how it really would be in the classroom but still positive about doing the best you can. This was reassuring to me. A lot of the time I feel like I can never get enough done and am not enough. I don't study enough, work enough ,exercise enough, etc. But I thought that this really applied to our lives. That we can do the best we can and we can be proud of the progress we make no matter how small. This helped me to take a step back and feel proud of myself for how far I have come in school. I am always thinking about how much I have left but it was nice to reassure myself that I have come so far already. Instead of feeling so far from where I want to be this made me feel more excited to reach it. As a teacher I will need to assess myself and make a list of the things I not only need to improve but the things I am doing well.
As human beings we do not seem to praise or celebrate ourselves as much as we should. Maybe it is because we measure ourselves to the accomplishments of others. Just like I measure myself to the really good teachers and should take into consideration that they have had alot of time and practice.
Anyways I have really liked this book. Reading it as a teacher will help remind me what is really important, and that is my students. Making sure my students know that I care about them and love them for what they are and for what they can become.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Chapters 5 and 6
In chapter five their was quite alot that I liked and could relate to. In the very first quote of the chapter it talked about how we need to give our students many chance to do their best according to their talents. We need to make sure they are having many opportunities to experience success. I related this to my own life and realized that I had many opportunities to experience success though not so much at school. I felt alot of success at home where my parents were able to give it to me. This would not be the case for many students though. Many students would rely on school to be a place where they can feel a sense of success and belonging. I think it will be so important to me as a future teacher to make sure I give all of my students success in whatever it is that they enjoy and are passionate about. This success if even in one area will make success seem more attainable to them in other subject areas. These chapters were very positive in what things can be done to help build a community of learners and help build a learner out of every student in the classroom.
These chapters also helped me realize they great influence a teacher has on her/his students! I will want to be so careful with the impact I leave on my students because it really will influence them through the rest of their education.
These chapters also helped me realize they great influence a teacher has on her/his students! I will want to be so careful with the impact I leave on my students because it really will influence them through the rest of their education.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Chapter 3 and 4
I will start with what I liked from chapter 3. I enjoyed reading both of these chapters. This textbook is great! It is not like the other text books I have for other classes where the author makes it hard to understand anything. I liked in the book where it said, "The very least we ought to expect of ourselves is that we figure out what we hope for in this life and to make sure we live in our hopes." This can be so hard to remember in the day to day life. It is hard to remember what impression we want to leave on ours and especially as teachers what impression we want to leave on our students. I believe that a person that lives in their hopes is someone that is successful and content with who they are.
I also loved the short statement from the principle about how her faculty is so great because they live what they believe! So many people are scared to do this. I am scared to do this sometimes. It can be so easy to follow what others are doing instead of coming up with ideas and doing things the way you think they should be done. I want to be the kind of teacher that teaches the way she believes. That lives the way she believes. I don't want to be a repeat of other teachers and the methods they use. Though alot of them are good it is always great to be open minded!
After reading this chapter I came really liked the idea "Take the time to look into your students rather then past them! I want to make sure the children in my classroom feel like they are of great worth and accepted socially. I believe that this makes such a difference throughout a persons whole life. They are so many discouraging things that happen that I think it is never bad to give a child too much praise.
In chapter 4 I liked how it discussed how important your classroom environment is. I am excited to make my classroom fit my personality and also the needs and interests of my students. I liked the idea of making your classroom so students can 'see themselves' in the room. I also liked how important it is to use humor in your classroom. Anything can be turned into a good time and create smiles. I also like all of the examples the book gave on using group work, class routines, having responsibility, etc. It gave so many great ideas. It made me realize this is a worthwhile book to have and to keep to refer to later. I liked the celebrate success section that talked about ideas to help a child gain confidence and feel successful. Some of the ideas I liked were writing an email to the parent, calling the parent, or giving the child something that represented their success.
These two chapters were helpful to read. They covered many different points and ideas that can help morning meeting and the classroom be successful. I liked reading the examples from different teachers because you can choose which idea would work for you.
I am feeling very confident that morning meeting will be a wonderful thing for me to incorporate in my classroom. I'm glad we get to learn so much about it!
I also loved the short statement from the principle about how her faculty is so great because they live what they believe! So many people are scared to do this. I am scared to do this sometimes. It can be so easy to follow what others are doing instead of coming up with ideas and doing things the way you think they should be done. I want to be the kind of teacher that teaches the way she believes. That lives the way she believes. I don't want to be a repeat of other teachers and the methods they use. Though alot of them are good it is always great to be open minded!
After reading this chapter I came really liked the idea "Take the time to look into your students rather then past them! I want to make sure the children in my classroom feel like they are of great worth and accepted socially. I believe that this makes such a difference throughout a persons whole life. They are so many discouraging things that happen that I think it is never bad to give a child too much praise.
In chapter 4 I liked how it discussed how important your classroom environment is. I am excited to make my classroom fit my personality and also the needs and interests of my students. I liked the idea of making your classroom so students can 'see themselves' in the room. I also liked how important it is to use humor in your classroom. Anything can be turned into a good time and create smiles. I also like all of the examples the book gave on using group work, class routines, having responsibility, etc. It gave so many great ideas. It made me realize this is a worthwhile book to have and to keep to refer to later. I liked the celebrate success section that talked about ideas to help a child gain confidence and feel successful. Some of the ideas I liked were writing an email to the parent, calling the parent, or giving the child something that represented their success.
These two chapters were helpful to read. They covered many different points and ideas that can help morning meeting and the classroom be successful. I liked reading the examples from different teachers because you can choose which idea would work for you.
I am feeling very confident that morning meeting will be a wonderful thing for me to incorporate in my classroom. I'm glad we get to learn so much about it!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Learning about assessments!
I loved the worksheets available in our book. This would be very helpful to use in getting to know my students personalities, interests, and talents. This would help me in differentiating because I would know how to connect with each student. I would be able to take an interest in their interests. I thought these inventory worksheets were very positive as well. The student gets to put the goods things about them. This helps the teacher see all that is good in their student. I think teachers have a hard time differentiating because sometimes they only see what their student is lacking. What their student still has to learn. These inventories help the teacher see the student in a positive light. I would want to take these inventories the first two or three weeks of school to help me know how to connect to my students and find something wonderful to appreciate in each one of them.
After looking through what was posted on blackboard I think I could use some of those in my student teaching. I few of the assessments I saw I have actuaAlly used in my field work. Such as the inventory about how the student feels about reading. Thank you for all of these great assessment ideas! I think if I showed a few to my cooperating teacher beforehand she would definitely let me do some in the classroom. These assessments all look like quick ways to get a picture of where that student is at and how they are feeling. In my student teaching these assessments would help me get to know each student better. Their personal struggles and their successes. Thank you for putting this on blackboard for us!
After looking through what was posted on blackboard I think I could use some of those in my student teaching. I few of the assessments I saw I have actuaAlly used in my field work. Such as the inventory about how the student feels about reading. Thank you for all of these great assessment ideas! I think if I showed a few to my cooperating teacher beforehand she would definitely let me do some in the classroom. These assessments all look like quick ways to get a picture of where that student is at and how they are feeling. In my student teaching these assessments would help me get to know each student better. Their personal struggles and their successes. Thank you for putting this on blackboard for us!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
fullfilling the purpose- Chapters 1 and 2
After reading the first two chapters of this book I decided it is a keeper! It has things that I will want to remind myself of as a teacher. In chapter one I liked how the book said, "what we bring to school as learners matters in how we learn." This is so true for children but also for adults. I know that who I am and what I 'bring' with me to school affects how I will learn. As I teacher it will be so important for me to look at students as everything they are. Talents they have not only inside of school but outside. Problems that are seen at school but also may be at home. I will want to take what students bring to school and build on it. Build on their interests, likes, dislikes, etc.
I also like the quote, "take into account who you are teaching not only what you are teaching." I feel like so many teachers get carried away with lesson plans, curriculum, tests, etc that they forget the children right in front of them. They forget that those children have emotional needs that have to be met not only educational needs. After reading these chapters I realize that it is so important to meet emotional and social needs even before meeting educational needs. The child needs to feel like they are recognized and appreciated in the classroom.
Another point that goes along with this is,"Instruction and curriculum are the vehicle that help student and teacher get where they want to go." It helps them get where they want to go but students and teachers need to be able to enjoy the ride as well. They need to be able to have a positive communication and understanding between each other.
From reading chapter two I learned how important it is to help students understand the purpose to what they are learning. I have had many teachers that teach me things I did not try to understand because I thought there was no purpose. Teachers need to convey an excitement and interest in the things they are teaching to their students. I know that if someone tells me to do something I do it much more eagerly if I understand why I need to do it and if I respect and love that person.
After reading these chapters I can also understand that their will always be more to improve on as a teacher. There will always be ways to do things better and to meet the needs of individual students. For me it will be learning to work on one thing at a time, so I will not be overwhelmed and not try at all.
I also like the quote, "take into account who you are teaching not only what you are teaching." I feel like so many teachers get carried away with lesson plans, curriculum, tests, etc that they forget the children right in front of them. They forget that those children have emotional needs that have to be met not only educational needs. After reading these chapters I realize that it is so important to meet emotional and social needs even before meeting educational needs. The child needs to feel like they are recognized and appreciated in the classroom.
Another point that goes along with this is,"Instruction and curriculum are the vehicle that help student and teacher get where they want to go." It helps them get where they want to go but students and teachers need to be able to enjoy the ride as well. They need to be able to have a positive communication and understanding between each other.
From reading chapter two I learned how important it is to help students understand the purpose to what they are learning. I have had many teachers that teach me things I did not try to understand because I thought there was no purpose. Teachers need to convey an excitement and interest in the things they are teaching to their students. I know that if someone tells me to do something I do it much more eagerly if I understand why I need to do it and if I respect and love that person.
After reading these chapters I can also understand that their will always be more to improve on as a teacher. There will always be ways to do things better and to meet the needs of individual students. For me it will be learning to work on one thing at a time, so I will not be overwhelmed and not try at all.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Differentiation/morning meetings
From reading the textbook, "differentiation in PRACTICE" I was able to make some connections to my own life. The main connection I made was with the quote from the book, "The teacher must balance two factors, the needs of her students and the requirements of a curriculum." This statement made me think of my own elementary school days. I definitely had some teachers who tried to do this and some who did not care at all. I have also seen many examples of a good teacher in my own home. I grew up with eight brothers and sisters and my mom did a good job of treating us all according to our different talents, capabilities, and needs. She gave each child what they needed. Growing up I often felt like one of my brothers got much more attention then me. I know realize that he needed that extra attention, where I did not need so much to feel loved and confident. This helps me realize that as a teacher I need to be able to really understand and empathize with my students while still being able to expect alot from them. This can be a hard balance to find! I have been in many classrooms where the teacher is too much of a friend to her students and not enough of a teacher, and I have seen others who are too much of a teacher and not enough of a friend. It will be hard to get a good balance.
I liked reading about all of the different components that make up a good classroom. As a teacher it would be a good list to keep to go over and make sure your classroom is well balanced. It would be hard not to focus on just one thing at a time but try to incorporate everything! I believe that there is so much more to students then teachers allow themselves to see. So many different factors good and bad make up a person.
I was excited that in this class we are doing morning meetings! I love morning meetings! I first saw them in a field experience that I had and was really impressed by the unity they seemed to create in the classroom. I think it is a great way to start the day. It is fun, positive, and interactive. I think it gets students off to a good start for the rest of the school day. I think the four components sharing, greeting, game, and news and announcements are very important. All four of these give the morning meeting a certain tone. It can be fun, serious, inspiring, accepting, and funny. I think this is a great way to create a routine in the classroom where students have a chance to express themselves and get to know their peers. As it talked about in the article it is also a good way for students to take on responsibility and be in charge. It is a good time for them to have the spotlight and a time for them to be the teacher for a little while.
I really think I will use morning meetings in my classroom! I know that I have enjoyed doing it in our class this semester. It is fun and I am able to get to know my classmates better. I am seeing the positive results of having morning meetings in our own class. It creates a caring community in the classroom which will contribute to my students learning as well. I am excited to continue getting ideas for this throughout the semester!
I liked reading about all of the different components that make up a good classroom. As a teacher it would be a good list to keep to go over and make sure your classroom is well balanced. It would be hard not to focus on just one thing at a time but try to incorporate everything! I believe that there is so much more to students then teachers allow themselves to see. So many different factors good and bad make up a person.
I was excited that in this class we are doing morning meetings! I love morning meetings! I first saw them in a field experience that I had and was really impressed by the unity they seemed to create in the classroom. I think it is a great way to start the day. It is fun, positive, and interactive. I think it gets students off to a good start for the rest of the school day. I think the four components sharing, greeting, game, and news and announcements are very important. All four of these give the morning meeting a certain tone. It can be fun, serious, inspiring, accepting, and funny. I think this is a great way to create a routine in the classroom where students have a chance to express themselves and get to know their peers. As it talked about in the article it is also a good way for students to take on responsibility and be in charge. It is a good time for them to have the spotlight and a time for them to be the teacher for a little while.
I really think I will use morning meetings in my classroom! I know that I have enjoyed doing it in our class this semester. It is fun and I am able to get to know my classmates better. I am seeing the positive results of having morning meetings in our own class. It creates a caring community in the classroom which will contribute to my students learning as well. I am excited to continue getting ideas for this throughout the semester!
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