Thursday, February 25, 2010
Week 7 Response
After the music lesson we had in class I thought a lot about how it applied to differentiation. Every week in class, I learn more about what it really means to differentiate your class. Even though I'm still not fully aware of the concept, I am understanding how to treat your students differently and to make adjustments to your lessons according to your students needs. The music lesson made it so much more clear and applicable. It my future classroom, it will be important for me to get to know my students on an individual level. This will be so important so I can discover their needs and also their strengths so that they can help other students learn. Also, I think taking some extra time to tweak my lessons will be so rewarding and beneficial to myself and especially my students! My worry is having enough time to differentiate every lesson... I'm sure that the more I get to know my students and how they learn, the tweaking part will come more easily!
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Week 6 Response
1. WOW, It was very difficult for me to choose only 4 bullets!! Every one of these points are exceptional and so so true!
-Students consistently want teachers who respect them, listen to them, show empathy toward them, help them work out their problems, and become human by sharing their own lives and ideas with their students.
Even though our students never will admit this to us, it is so true! I think it is vital to be human with our students. It is important to be real with our students so that they not only see us as their teacher but as their friend. Looking back as a student, I truly remember those teachers who shared their lives with my classmates and I.
-Teachers who create a warm and supportive classroom environment tend to be more effective with all students.
I believe this to be true as well because it is SO important to create a warm and loving environment for your students. Some, may not have a happy environment to go home to so as teachers we need to create that environment for them in the classroom.
-Teachers' enthusiasm for learning and for their subject matter is an important factor in student motivation that, in turn, is closely linked with student achievement.
I feel that if the teacher has a positive attitude and enthusiasm, it definitely rubs off on the students and they will be excited to learn!
-Effective classroom managers increase student engagement and maximize use of each instructional moment.
I believe this is true because without classroom management, it is very difficult to effectively teach. Classroom management is KEY to effective teaching and will greatly benefit your classroom in many ways!
2. I loved all the different metaphors in this chapter because it allowed me to see things in a different perspective! When making "gravy" or bread it not only requires the recipie but your love and devotion. Also as the text said, "we learned to ride a bike not by studying about it until we were confident, but by getting on, falling off, and climbing on again." As teachers, we can only learn so much from textbooks and professors but in order to become a successful teacher we need to gain experience in the classroom. Even though we may make mistakes and want to give up, it is important that we keep going and we will eventually learn to love and have a passion for teaching!!!
-Students consistently want teachers who respect them, listen to them, show empathy toward them, help them work out their problems, and become human by sharing their own lives and ideas with their students.
Even though our students never will admit this to us, it is so true! I think it is vital to be human with our students. It is important to be real with our students so that they not only see us as their teacher but as their friend. Looking back as a student, I truly remember those teachers who shared their lives with my classmates and I.
-Teachers who create a warm and supportive classroom environment tend to be more effective with all students.
I believe this to be true as well because it is SO important to create a warm and loving environment for your students. Some, may not have a happy environment to go home to so as teachers we need to create that environment for them in the classroom.
-Teachers' enthusiasm for learning and for their subject matter is an important factor in student motivation that, in turn, is closely linked with student achievement.
I feel that if the teacher has a positive attitude and enthusiasm, it definitely rubs off on the students and they will be excited to learn!
-Effective classroom managers increase student engagement and maximize use of each instructional moment.
I believe this is true because without classroom management, it is very difficult to effectively teach. Classroom management is KEY to effective teaching and will greatly benefit your classroom in many ways!
2. I loved all the different metaphors in this chapter because it allowed me to see things in a different perspective! When making "gravy" or bread it not only requires the recipie but your love and devotion. Also as the text said, "we learned to ride a bike not by studying about it until we were confident, but by getting on, falling off, and climbing on again." As teachers, we can only learn so much from textbooks and professors but in order to become a successful teacher we need to gain experience in the classroom. Even though we may make mistakes and want to give up, it is important that we keep going and we will eventually learn to love and have a passion for teaching!!!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Week 5 Response
1. The bullet point that explains that "Teachers must struggle against coverage and strive for uncoverage of meaning-distinguishing between what is essential to the discipline, what is important, and what would be nice to know if there were time to do so." I learned that it is important that instead of having the mindset to "cover" what students need to learn, that we as teachers need to "uncover" material for them. I feel that we need to teach at our students level and pace so that they fuly understand and contrubute to the lessons. To be a successful teacher, I think that we need to "uncover" what we teach so that we reach ALL of our students.
Another bullet point I liked stated "the imporatnfce of curriculum lies in helping students master and retain essential information, organize knowledge around essential concepts, develop essential understandings, and competently utilize essential skills". This quote made me realize the importance of realizing what will really help your students master what you are teaching them. If we focus on what will help them succeed, and allow them to grasp waht you are teaching, the classroom will be a learning environment full of success and celebration. I also liked how this passage said "Studetns weave a fabric of learning that is ridled with holes and is insubstantial." This is important to realize because if we focus on what is important, it creates a pathway or weave of fabric to shape their future.
2. "There are many ways to give students choices of work while still ensuring that they work to master essential knowledge, understanding, and skill." I really like this quote because it is great advice to teachers. I feel that it is important to give your students choice because it creates community and responsibility within your class. Also, while giving your students choices it is still possible to ensure that they work and learn.
"It is likely that we underestimate what any student can accomplish, often establishing as performance ceilings goals that ought to be planks in the floor." I really had never thought about underestimating your students. Now that I realize that it most likely will happen, I know that it is important to aim high and teach your students to always do their best. Also, as a teacher, it is vital that you set high standards for your students so that they are always striving to do their best. I think for me, I will need to see each student at their best ability and push them at their own level.
Another bullet point I liked stated "the imporatnfce of curriculum lies in helping students master and retain essential information, organize knowledge around essential concepts, develop essential understandings, and competently utilize essential skills". This quote made me realize the importance of realizing what will really help your students master what you are teaching them. If we focus on what will help them succeed, and allow them to grasp waht you are teaching, the classroom will be a learning environment full of success and celebration. I also liked how this passage said "Studetns weave a fabric of learning that is ridled with holes and is insubstantial." This is important to realize because if we focus on what is important, it creates a pathway or weave of fabric to shape their future.
2. "There are many ways to give students choices of work while still ensuring that they work to master essential knowledge, understanding, and skill." I really like this quote because it is great advice to teachers. I feel that it is important to give your students choice because it creates community and responsibility within your class. Also, while giving your students choices it is still possible to ensure that they work and learn.
"It is likely that we underestimate what any student can accomplish, often establishing as performance ceilings goals that ought to be planks in the floor." I really had never thought about underestimating your students. Now that I realize that it most likely will happen, I know that it is important to aim high and teach your students to always do their best. Also, as a teacher, it is vital that you set high standards for your students so that they are always striving to do their best. I think for me, I will need to see each student at their best ability and push them at their own level.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Week 4 Response
I really enjoyed these chapters and found some really great quotes... It was hard to pick just 3!
1. "Teachers are not perfect people. They lose sight of the vision from time to time. When they do, however, they understand that they have lost their compass, and they hunt for "North" until they find their way again. They have no road map for the journey. It is their expectation, nonetheless, that they will learn more than they teach and that each discovery will reveal another step along the way.
This quote really opened my eyes to see that teachers really are NOT perfect and will make mistakes just like anyone. I realized that as a teacher, we need to realize that everything will not go as planned. I think it is important that we take each mistake we make, and learn from it. I am excited to take risks in my classroom, and if something doesn't go as planed, I need to learn from it and realize that it is just another step along my journey!!
2. "The classroom must be ours, not mine. The rules for living in the classroom must be our rules. The solutions to problems must be our solutions. The procedures we follow must come from a shared logic about how things need to work here for each of us to succeed."
I really liked what the author said here because it is SO true! I feel that a classroom should be a community and everyone should be united. I liked how everything was used as "ours" not "mine" the text made me realize how important it is to have your students involved in the class and make sure everyone is welcome. As soon as I read this the first thing that popped into my head was morning meeting!! I really love the concept of morning meetings because it truly will help your class be unified and feel welcomed. I definitely will incorporate morning meeting every day because I really feel that it not only benefits you, but your students as well!
3. "Environment will support or deter the students quest for affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge in the classroom. Environment also will speak to the presence or absence of invitation and opportunity to each child individually and, ultimately, to the class as a whole. It will often be the first messenger of how learning will be in this place."
I liked this quote because the environment in your classroom can really alter how your class will be during the year. I believe that if you, as the teacher, have a positive attitude then your class will be positive as well. It is so important to create an effective learning environment because your students depend upon it! Again, I think morning meeting definitely sets the environment for the school day and really has the power to change students attitudes!
1. "Teachers are not perfect people. They lose sight of the vision from time to time. When they do, however, they understand that they have lost their compass, and they hunt for "North" until they find their way again. They have no road map for the journey. It is their expectation, nonetheless, that they will learn more than they teach and that each discovery will reveal another step along the way.
This quote really opened my eyes to see that teachers really are NOT perfect and will make mistakes just like anyone. I realized that as a teacher, we need to realize that everything will not go as planned. I think it is important that we take each mistake we make, and learn from it. I am excited to take risks in my classroom, and if something doesn't go as planed, I need to learn from it and realize that it is just another step along my journey!!
2. "The classroom must be ours, not mine. The rules for living in the classroom must be our rules. The solutions to problems must be our solutions. The procedures we follow must come from a shared logic about how things need to work here for each of us to succeed."
I really liked what the author said here because it is SO true! I feel that a classroom should be a community and everyone should be united. I liked how everything was used as "ours" not "mine" the text made me realize how important it is to have your students involved in the class and make sure everyone is welcome. As soon as I read this the first thing that popped into my head was morning meeting!! I really love the concept of morning meetings because it truly will help your class be unified and feel welcomed. I definitely will incorporate morning meeting every day because I really feel that it not only benefits you, but your students as well!
3. "Environment will support or deter the students quest for affirmation, contribution, power, purpose, and challenge in the classroom. Environment also will speak to the presence or absence of invitation and opportunity to each child individually and, ultimately, to the class as a whole. It will often be the first messenger of how learning will be in this place."
I liked this quote because the environment in your classroom can really alter how your class will be during the year. I believe that if you, as the teacher, have a positive attitude then your class will be positive as well. It is so important to create an effective learning environment because your students depend upon it! Again, I think morning meeting definitely sets the environment for the school day and really has the power to change students attitudes!
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