If you don't like people (especially children),
If you think "not getting it" makes me dumb,
If you don't think of your students as important,
If you can't handle repeating yourself more than once,
If you can't stand to go an extra mile to help another mind grow,
And if you can't respect your students or self THAN DON'T TEACH.
It irritates me to know I see teachers who seem miserable to know they have to work hard, are forced to label another student as "misunderstood", and mindlessly have to work longer hours than they thought. It's part of teaching and when I doubt that I'm going to be a good teacher because I wont have every answer and every fact down to teach my students I realize that at leastI can hold my head up and say I'm here with an open mind, a large heart, and a passion to make a difference.
So if your an old OR new teacher who finds yourself doing any of the above, rethink what your doing and let others who do want to be there, changing a life, molding a mind, and making a difference to the world be there.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Friday, April 8, 2011
Iowa Reading Association Conference 2011
Well I have returned from the Iowa Reading Association Conference in Ames, IA. I would highly recommend checking this conference out if you live in the area or are a teacher yourself. I was able to gather a lot of great resources, meet new teachers from around the state, and learn even more about the importance of reading. One idea from the keynote speakers that I enjoyed was making a "Reading Graffitti" wall where students write quotes from the books they are reading on the wall. Students than are able to see what other books hold, grasp an understanding of the book, and even journal about it at a later time as far as what they think it means. I also learned about different types of writing you should allow your students and that you need to allow them to have choice. I went to a small session which was about blogging and tweeting (follow me @learnlaughteach) It was amazing to see how many people you can connect to and share your students work with, connect to classroom world wide, and have authors even connect to your classroom and comment on students writing. I wish we could of had more time for this session.
I also really enjoyed going with the people I was able to go with. I was really able to connect with my professor (who is truly inspiring herself) and talk with a few classmates about books, reading, techniques and methods,etc and share information from different sessions. The school treated us to a dinner so we celebrated my 23rd birthday (which is today) and it was pretty amazing :) I keep using that word. Amazing. Maybe I need to create a word list for words that a similar to that and use them instead. Anyways, It was a great opportunity and awesome experience and I enjoyed all the teachers I was able to meet and gather ideas from.
Another update, I have my student teaching placements. I will be teaching at a 6th grade level for seven weeks and than move on to a 1st grade classroom for seven weeks, and finish up. I won't walk and graduate until that following May where I than get married the weekend after. Pretty intense!!
I also really enjoyed going with the people I was able to go with. I was really able to connect with my professor (who is truly inspiring herself) and talk with a few classmates about books, reading, techniques and methods,etc and share information from different sessions. The school treated us to a dinner so we celebrated my 23rd birthday (which is today) and it was pretty amazing :) I keep using that word. Amazing. Maybe I need to create a word list for words that a similar to that and use them instead. Anyways, It was a great opportunity and awesome experience and I enjoyed all the teachers I was able to meet and gather ideas from.
Another update, I have my student teaching placements. I will be teaching at a 6th grade level for seven weeks and than move on to a 1st grade classroom for seven weeks, and finish up. I won't walk and graduate until that following May where I than get married the weekend after. Pretty intense!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
Supervised Participation
So first off, I know it's been way TOO long since I joined you all in the blogging world but I have been terribly busy with classes picking up, the wedding planning, plus the general hoo-raw of life! I figured I should catch up... Then I'll be able to reflect on this all later and remember how far I have come!
J-Term Observations:
First of all, at my college we go through what we call J-Term or January Interm where you are able to take one course which goes for three weeks every day. Classes range from art courses, interesting language courses, and lots of options as far as traveling. This is also the time where the education major go through a course called "Supervised Participation." It can be either the best experience of your life, or the the experience that changed your life.
PLACEMENT:
I had planned to stay around and work my after school job (as she would be needing me!) and ended up being placed in the school as well. I was placed in the K-4 Reading Room and spent afternoons working in the kindergarten. It was such an amazing experience. I can't even begin to rave enough about how much fun I had! I finally view myself as a professional. All the staff members treated me as if I had worked there for years, and when the last day came, so many people were sad to see me go. In fact, they ended up calling me the following Monday since classes had not started yet and asked if I could fill in for an aid! HOW AMAZING IS THAT? It's like an elementary education majors dream!
THE HARDEST PART
It was really hard to get use to hearing them call me Ms. Carlson but now I see them as I am on my way in for work and they always shout my name and wave as if they are about to fall into pieces if I don't notice them. I also hated to leave! The teachers I worked with all put together a small "Teachers Package" which consists of erasers, white out, glue, and other school supplies. Of course this package ALSO included a source of chocolate. It was a perfect ending.
THE BEST PART
The best part was watching those kids grow in their reading abilities and other areas. Being able to believe in them and showing them and KNOWING I was making a difference, was just a great feeling. You couldn't buy that! I found myself smiling every day and full of excitement... even if I did get up at 6:30 every morning...Maybe I should add that part to the hardest part section? Oh and did I mention we had two snow days due to a HUGE snow storm?
OVERALL REACTION:
I never grew up with that feeling that I was really good at something, but after this experience, I feel like a rock star! I feel like I know what I was put on Earth to do and that was to be with kids and help them grow. I could totally see myself working in a Kindergarten, first, even second grade level. It's scary to work at the young level because it's up to you to make that difference. Although, after learning about the literacy issues we face just here in America (not JUST in cities either), I find it so important to understand how we develop language, how to teach it, and just how to make everyone the best reader they can be! It's something to consider as far as my masters.... WHO KNOWS :) I'm definitely feeling more ready for student teaching, which can't come soon enough! My future hubby and I just cant wait to move and start the next chapter. We are also getting so close to our wedding!
I hope all teachers out there experience at least one moment a day where a student calls you their friend, shares a smile with you, grows, or takes a big leap and a risk to fail. Being a teacher is hard work and takes a strong person. Give yourself a pat on the back and remember if your not a teacher, thank one today for the hard work they all do :)
J-Term Observations:
First of all, at my college we go through what we call J-Term or January Interm where you are able to take one course which goes for three weeks every day. Classes range from art courses, interesting language courses, and lots of options as far as traveling. This is also the time where the education major go through a course called "Supervised Participation." It can be either the best experience of your life, or the the experience that changed your life.
PLACEMENT:
I had planned to stay around and work my after school job (as she would be needing me!) and ended up being placed in the school as well. I was placed in the K-4 Reading Room and spent afternoons working in the kindergarten. It was such an amazing experience. I can't even begin to rave enough about how much fun I had! I finally view myself as a professional. All the staff members treated me as if I had worked there for years, and when the last day came, so many people were sad to see me go. In fact, they ended up calling me the following Monday since classes had not started yet and asked if I could fill in for an aid! HOW AMAZING IS THAT? It's like an elementary education majors dream!
THE HARDEST PART
It was really hard to get use to hearing them call me Ms. Carlson but now I see them as I am on my way in for work and they always shout my name and wave as if they are about to fall into pieces if I don't notice them. I also hated to leave! The teachers I worked with all put together a small "Teachers Package" which consists of erasers, white out, glue, and other school supplies. Of course this package ALSO included a source of chocolate. It was a perfect ending.
THE BEST PART
The best part was watching those kids grow in their reading abilities and other areas. Being able to believe in them and showing them and KNOWING I was making a difference, was just a great feeling. You couldn't buy that! I found myself smiling every day and full of excitement... even if I did get up at 6:30 every morning...Maybe I should add that part to the hardest part section? Oh and did I mention we had two snow days due to a HUGE snow storm?
OVERALL REACTION:
I never grew up with that feeling that I was really good at something, but after this experience, I feel like a rock star! I feel like I know what I was put on Earth to do and that was to be with kids and help them grow. I could totally see myself working in a Kindergarten, first, even second grade level. It's scary to work at the young level because it's up to you to make that difference. Although, after learning about the literacy issues we face just here in America (not JUST in cities either), I find it so important to understand how we develop language, how to teach it, and just how to make everyone the best reader they can be! It's something to consider as far as my masters.... WHO KNOWS :) I'm definitely feeling more ready for student teaching, which can't come soon enough! My future hubby and I just cant wait to move and start the next chapter. We are also getting so close to our wedding!
I hope all teachers out there experience at least one moment a day where a student calls you their friend, shares a smile with you, grows, or takes a big leap and a risk to fail. Being a teacher is hard work and takes a strong person. Give yourself a pat on the back and remember if your not a teacher, thank one today for the hard work they all do :)
Monday, September 27, 2010
Penny for your thoughts
Tonight I attended my first Quint County Reading Association meeting. It's the local level of the reading assocation. I really had some fun and the speaker was great. She was an administrator over in a nearby town and just won a-pretty-big-deal award. She had us all singing this name game song. Anywho, part of our program tonight, everyone donated a penny per student (or freewill donation) for a fundraiser for building schools over seas. It's such a simple idea. People throw pennies away every day and most can spare one here and there even if on a tight budget. So, since I am now a member of Teachers Inc, I proposed we do something like this to raise money for either school supplies & books for kids over seas or even like the thought of building a school for places of need.
There is also a program near by where a women willingly opens her home to children who can't afford to attend the local after school programming. There they are able to do homework and have a place to stay before their parent (and maybe only parent) gets off work. These are also kids who come from poor homes and unknown conditions. I may take up tutoring if I can work it out and help out.
There is also a program near by where a women willingly opens her home to children who can't afford to attend the local after school programming. There they are able to do homework and have a place to stay before their parent (and maybe only parent) gets off work. These are also kids who come from poor homes and unknown conditions. I may take up tutoring if I can work it out and help out.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Read, Write, Think!
So I ran across this website while looking for some help on an assignment and wow! All you teachers or anyone just looking for a creative project, check out this website! They have a real life community of other teachers who share their expeirence, they feature the latest research on reading and writing techniques, and they host a ton of interactive helpers for your students such as compare and contrast print outs, online concept mapping, etc! They also have a template on how to create your own school newspaper which was pretty inspiring to read! Just had to share!
ttp://www.readwritethink.org/
Did I mention they even have after school programming fun such as comic strip creators!? It has ideas on how to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Highly recommended!
ttp://www.readwritethink.org/
Did I mention they even have after school programming fun such as comic strip creators!? It has ideas on how to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month! Highly recommended!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Why we choose to teach...
A quick blurb from a recent writing assignment...
"To become a teacher, is to change your life. It is a career that you will experience glory, defeat, and love all in one day of work. Full of passion, devotion, and inspiration; a teacher is a role model to many, a lifelong learner, and friend. Daily they will think of others first, reach out to any mind in need, and most of all believe in a student when others won’t. They are there to help you understand the world, expand your biggest dreams, and push you to be all you can be. They care, they question, and they listen. They push you to be more then you ever thought you could be. These are all characteristics I have observed in the best of the best teachers. These are teachers from my first years of schooling, to my last, and to this current day who continue to prove and assist me in becoming what I want to be.
I chose to become a teacher as I realize without teachers we would not have the world we have today. From the beginning to the end, teachers are the people helping us remember to be kind, remind us how to treat others, and help us explore the world of unknown. I wanted to be a part of this. I want to inspire others as they have inspired me. I want to share my life lessons, help others create new goals, and most of all learn new things. I want to help those in need and help them connect in ways I didn’t in school. I want to work with kids and share my hunger to learn. I am passionate about becoming a teacher and I know that although I may not get things right in my first classroom, and I may not have all the facts I should to share, I have the characteristics it takes to care for my students, help my students, and exist within a teaching community."
Why did you choose to teach? Do you have any fears?
"To become a teacher, is to change your life. It is a career that you will experience glory, defeat, and love all in one day of work. Full of passion, devotion, and inspiration; a teacher is a role model to many, a lifelong learner, and friend. Daily they will think of others first, reach out to any mind in need, and most of all believe in a student when others won’t. They are there to help you understand the world, expand your biggest dreams, and push you to be all you can be. They care, they question, and they listen. They push you to be more then you ever thought you could be. These are all characteristics I have observed in the best of the best teachers. These are teachers from my first years of schooling, to my last, and to this current day who continue to prove and assist me in becoming what I want to be.
I chose to become a teacher as I realize without teachers we would not have the world we have today. From the beginning to the end, teachers are the people helping us remember to be kind, remind us how to treat others, and help us explore the world of unknown. I wanted to be a part of this. I want to inspire others as they have inspired me. I want to share my life lessons, help others create new goals, and most of all learn new things. I want to help those in need and help them connect in ways I didn’t in school. I want to work with kids and share my hunger to learn. I am passionate about becoming a teacher and I know that although I may not get things right in my first classroom, and I may not have all the facts I should to share, I have the characteristics it takes to care for my students, help my students, and exist within a teaching community."
Why did you choose to teach? Do you have any fears?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)