Goodbye Edu 100

Education is something that has always been very important to me. In this education class it has opened my eyes to so much more. It is more than just getting a grade or a diploma. It is how children grow and develop socially, emotionally, and even spiritually. Helping students reach their full potential should be one of the teachers top goals. Education is like learning how to ride a bike, at first it might be hard to grasp but once you have figured it out it can get you anywhere is life. Education  goes beyond the walls of a classroom.

Some interesting things that I learned this course would be philosophies, theories and inclusion in the classroom. I thought it was so interesting to learn about all of the different philosophies their are out in the world. Before this class I never really even knew that there were so many different kinds/ or really even what they are. Taking the quiz to find out what philosophy would suite me was so cool. I ended up finding out that Humanism is something that I can really relate to. Another thing that I did not really know anything about was all the different theories that are out there. I liked how we got the chance to educate ourselves and discuss what we liked best. The Montessori was one theory that really struck me and I looked into it even more. Lastly, learning about how to create an inclusive classroom was extremely important to me because I want to work with children who have special needs. All three of these aspects of the course will be very helpful when I become a teacher.

I liked getting the opportunity to have a blog because it gave us the chance to get to know our classmates more, especially because this is an online course. The blogs gave us the opportunity to speak our own opinion on issues or things we find interesting to, and often found that they are important to others as well.

Social Justice in the Classroom

How will you make a child feel hopeful, joyful, kind or visionary?

In one of the articles I had to read for my education class talked about social justice in the classroom. This is just one part of creating a class that will stand up for what they believe in. In another article  I found they talk about creating a classroom community where students voices can be heard. This gives the students the opportunity to be able to discuss what they are feeling and give feedback to other students. This is something that is really important and can helps students turn in to great leaders and who fight for equality and social justice. Opening up discussions to real world problems helps student to develop high level thinking skills  and give multiple views so student can see different side all while creating a safe environment for learning.

Here is a cool classroom activity that shows students what privilege is.




Image source https://www.google.com/search?q=social+justice&es_sm=93&biw=942&bih=941&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=2ieBVLbiEsGVyASt_oGYBQ&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAQ#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=YLvGPlIUmfNsYM%253A%3BZTo1aUJhKUM6cM%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fhulshofschmidt.files.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F12%252Fpride-social-justice-progressive.jpg%3Bhttps%253A%252F%252Fhulshofschmidt.wordpress.com%252F2012%252F12%252F24%252Fchristmas-eve-2012-feeling-grateful%252F%3B616%3B795

Place Based Education

This week in Edu 100 we learned about place based education and the environment! After looking through pins on pinterest I found a school that does place based education in Virginia. I had never heard of this type of education before I read about it this week and I think that it is so fascinating! The school talks about how important it is to go beyond the regular curriculum of math, science, language arts, and social studies. They cover other activities such as artistic, social, athletic, and  more. This is private school that goes above and beyond regular public schools. Students get smaller class sizes and gets a hand on experience with what they are learning. The school is located on 137 acres of land so the students can take their learning to a whole different level. As much of an awesome experience it would be to have gone here, I think that it would such an incredible school to teach at! Being given the opportunity to take the class on a "field trip" right in the backyard would educate the minds of so many students! Would this be a type of school you would want to send your child to? Would you consider teaching here?

 The goal of a Hill School education is to build character, self-confidence, and scholarship through academic and co-curricular excellence, individualized attention, and a strong sense of community.
I think that this gives both the students and the teachers an amazing education opportunity.
 You can click here to learn more about the school I am talking about!

The Montessori Learning Theory

The Montessori method of learning was developed by Dr. Maria Montessori. This type of learning style focuses on multiage groupings that foster peer learning, uninterrupted blocks of work time, and guided choice of work activity. This type of learning encourages the children to be independent by letting them have the choice of what they are interested in within the limits the teachers set. With the range of ages within the groups it helps the students who are older by reinforcing what they have already learned and it also helps the younger child learn by example. When they grow they will be working with people of all ages so this is an important aspect.

When comparing the Montessori method to the Banking Concept  they do not fit together. The Montessori method is all about communication and group work. Doing what the students finds to be interesting and going with it. Whereas the Banking Method focuses on what the teacher has to teach and what the students have to memorize in order to "succeed" in their school. Their is no line of communication, in which case how can a child fully understand what is being taught if they cannot think critically about the subject, for their own opinion, or ask questions? It is said in Freire's article "the Banking Concept" that "he or she is rather the possessor of a consciousness: an empty "mind" passively open to the reception of deposits of reality from the world outside" (Freire 4). I think that this is an excellent example of how to explain that students are not really gaining any knowledge if they are not challenged to think about what is going on. They just do what they are told and that is all.

I think that the Montessori style of teaching helps a child reach their full potential. "Montessori students learn to think critically, work collaboratively, and act boldly--a skill set for the 21st century"(American Montessori Society). They are learning about things that interest them all while being independent, working in groups and being about tho discuss what they are learning with a range of  ages. I cannot really see where the banking concept will actually help a child develop and learn, especially if they do not think about what they are learning.

Follow this link and it will bring you a website with a bunch of information and a video that helps describe what Montessori is in more depth.


Sources:
http://amshq.org/montessori-education/introduction-to-montessori
https://www.google.com/search?q=montessori&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=3XVlVOqJLcyggwSUhISoCA&ved=0CAsQ_AUoBA&biw=942&bih=941#tbm=isch&q=montessori%20quotes&revid=1992072903&imgdii=_

What is your Educational Philosophy?

This week in class we got the opportunity to find out what type of teaching philosophy we have! I found this to be very exciting! I know that I have certain beliefs for what and how things should be taught in a classroom but it was nice to see exactly what category my thoughts fell into. If you would like to find out for yourself click here for the assessment! and once you are down you can click here for your results!

When taking the assessment I had a feeling I was going to get Progressivism for my educational philosophy but it turns out that one took second place. I ended up with Humanism! After reading what Humanism stood for I do believe that is one is the right choice for me!

Humanism
Humanist educators consider learning from the perspective of the human potential for growth,
becoming the best one can be. The shift is to the study of effective as well as cognitive dimensions
of learning. Beliefs include: human beings can control their own destiny; people are inherently good
and will strive for a better world; people are free to act but must be responsible; behavior is the
consequence of human choice; and people possess unlimited potential for growth and development.
There is a natural tendency for people to learn, which will flourish if nourishing, encouraging
environments are provided.

I think that many of these beliefs are truly important. If someone set their mind on something they believe is important they will try their best to accomplish it. The opportunity for growth is endless and if you want to strive for something better you have the potential to do it, no one is stopping you besides yourself. You can do it! We learn something new everyday, education is never going to stop, we are just going to get smarter and smarter. When teaching I think that it is very important for students to learn personal growth as well as being able to work together and develop ideas. I also believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions and  with that there is unlimited potential.

How would you go about inclusion in the classroom?

     When planning a lesson for an inclusion classroom it can be hard to know where to start. There are many resources available to help set up lesson plans and include ideas within the classroom. It is important to plan out things that you would like to teach in class. Of course not everything will go the way that is expected but it is important to be able to adapt to the different things you may encounter.
     Different teaching methods are very important when teaching an inclusion classroom. Not every student learns the same and it is important to be able to provide different options for lessons. We want students to be able to succeed in the best way possible.
 

          Do you know what UDL or IDEA is when we are talking about school?

UDL is a form of curriculum that provides an appropriate challenge for all students. The materials that are being discussed in class are flexible and include multiple ways that students can go about different assignments.

IDEA is an act that helps provide the help and support to the individual students that need it. The four components need to be applied to all students including goals, media and material, teaching methods, and assessments. All students need to be treated equally and be provided the same opportunities when it comes to learning. These opportunities can be both physically and mentally.

I think that both of these ideas are very important when it comes to the education system. Every student deserves the right to the best education that they can receive.

The picture to the right shows a great example for all different types of people and how they may look and learn different but they can all learn the same thing, just in different ways.


The image above gives many different examples of how students may learn. This can help develop different concepts that teachers can provide alternate ways of doing assignment. I think that students will really benefit more when they can discover what kind of learner they are. This will help them to work on the lessons easier and faster so they can understand what they are being taught.

What are some ways you would go about inclusion in the classroom?

Diversity in the Classroom

     The topic I am choosing to write about in my post this week is how teachers will work with students who are gifted or students who may have disabilities. Both of these types of students will be apart of your classroom setting and it is your job as a teacher to be able to accommodate them in the best way possible!
     As a teacher what can you do for your exceptional learners so they can succeed in your classroom?
     I think that it is very important to get to know every student you have, that way you can get an idea of how they learn and what type of person they are. This may include going out of your way to do research on their giftedness or disability so you can help them learn in the best possible way.
--There is not a law mandating special services to children who are "gifted or talented" but there are things that you can do as a teacher on your own that will challenge them and help them get the most out of their education.
--Students who do have disabilities often have more than one. It is important to in cooperate lesson plans that students at any level can take part in. If students need extra help, it is also important to be able to provide that as well.
More and more students are being discovered with exceptionalities than before because of the resources that are now available. Students representing all different levels are going to be in our classrooms and it is important that we are prepared to teach them in the best way we can. Discussing diversity in the classroom is a major step to creating a safe, accepting place where student can feel comfortable. Everyone is different and that is okay.

Tips for working with students with exceptionalities
This link provides just a few things to keep in mind when teaching students with excetionalities.

I think that it is very important to understand that all students are different. Patience is key, all students learn differently and at different paces. Every student is unique in their own way. We of course do not need to point out what makes them different because that can often put the students in uncomfortable situations. We just need to be able to understand what the best way to accommodate them is and do our best to provide am awesome classroom where everyone feels comfortable to learn.

 Image resource and Fairness image

Columbus Day in the Classroom

     Talking about Columbus Day in the classroom can be a kind of tricky. The students already come in with an idea of who Christopher Columbus was and what they have been told. In the two articles I read for class they gave good examples and different ways of how to go about it in the classroom. One teacher used an example with the topic of the word discovery.  She explained what it meant how Columbus used that as an excuse for "discovering America". The teacher then gave them questions to talk/think about when reading other books about Christopher Columbus. I think that this was a good way to getting them thinking and questioning whats going on. In the other article I read it talked about how to approach talking about Native Americans and stereotypes. Many of these topics are very important to talk about even at an early age so the students can get a better understanding of what they are saying/how they are acting towards one another. I think before starting the lesson of Columbus it would be interesting to have them draw up an idea of who they think Christopher Columbus was and explain. This idea came from the article on stereotypes.
     When I have children of my own I would like to use some of the example of articles like the ones I've read to teach them about the real Christopher Columbus, not the glorified one. I think it will be helpful having a teaching background when it comes to this kind of topic when talking to my own kids. I would like to teach them about stealing and discrimination as well.

I found this picture when researching Christopher Columbus. If you notice it says "brave" and "hero" as a characteristic Columbus might have had. the children in this classroom were introduced to all of the things that Columbus really did. Everything is being sugar coated and hidden. Children at an early age should know the truth and the lessons that can come along with it.
     I think that all students should learn the truth about Columbus such a who he was as a person and all of the things he did such as stealing and taking over other peoples land. There are many different approaches, just find one that you find the most interesting! How would you go about it?

Resources:Columbus picture
The articles we read for class

Reflection of Me

I think a big contribution to who I am and what I love comes from my family and friends, they are a very important part of my life and without them I have nothing. 

Answering question 8 on page 285 

In every corner of the globe, we can find people searching for a larger purpose in life. Sometimes educators describe their desire to make a difference or to be a part of something bigger than themselves. Do you have these thoughts?

     I think that it is very important for someone who wants to teach to want to make a difference in the education system. We have all had different experiences and all have different things that we want to bring into teaching. When I was in middle/high school I remember certain qualities that teachers had that I never wanted to reenact when I became a teacher. That is something I would want to make a difference with when I become a teacher. 

     I am looking forward to becoming a special education teacher more and more each day. When I do my observation hours in the classroom I never want to leave. The children motivate me to do my best in school so someday it will be me up in front of the classroom doing what I love.

     Being a part of the education system is much bigger than myself. It is building a strong community where we can all work together to benefit the children. I want to provide so many skills to my students to help them in so many different ways that they can carry with them throughout their life. 

I like this saying because it goes along with if you want to see a difference in the world then you must be that difference. I talked above how I want to make a difference in my student’s lives and by doing so I need to try different approaches and do my best to help succeed.

I think that with just these few words it gives so many example of what it means to be a teacher. These are qualities that I would like to have when I start teaching.

I think that this was an excellent quote because it is true. Both the good and not so good teachers have a place in everyone’s mind. When you look back you can normally recall one teacher that you really liked and one teacher that you didn't.  I want to be the teacher that influences and inspires students in a positive way.

I found this cute video that is a pep talk to both teachers and students. It asks the question “What are you teaching the world?” which goes along with question number 8 “what is the difference you are trying to make?”

Pep talk to teachers and students!

                                                                                                             

Why Teach?

     This week in my EDU 100 class we talked about the question "Why Teach?". I personally think that after reading all of the articles that we have, my mind has expanded on the many ideas of why people actually go into the teaching career. I myself have always wanted to become a teacher because I love being around children and I love the thirst they have for knowledge. But after reading the article by Herbert Kohl I discovered that there are many more options. On page 22 of Kohl's story he talks about wanting to become the role model  that he never had in school. Trying your best to make a difference in a child's life is a very important part in their education. They need support and teachers to be there for them. Helping them go through school and having people there who they can count on is very important. These are just some examples of why people go into teaching, Kohl lists many more...so what's yours?
      A peer in my class shared a video showing all the different jobs that a teacher will most likely encounter--reasons why we should thank a teacher! Many of these ideas we do not necessarily think about everyday as students or possibly as parents. The video is a simple way of showing some of the hard work that teachers often do not get credit for. It makes you think about all the things that teachers actually do without realizing it! They don't just stand up in front of a class and write things on the board. They act as parents, mentors, nurses and so much more!
     My teacher shared two articles that shine some light on becoming a teacher and they were both humorous and really make you think about teaching!
7 Habits of Highly Effective Teachers and Are you sick of highly paid teachers? 
After reading both of these articles  it shows that you will not be paid the amount of money you really should be earning for all of the hard work you put in, but you will definitely will be paid with the joy of helping children learn and grow (which is enough to have me set for life). If you already couldn't tell this is more of a rewarding career in the aspect of happiness, it's more than just a paycheck. The article about the seven habits of highly effective teachers throws some humor into the game of teaching. Walking into the classroom everyday you are never going to know what to expect, anything could happen. This teacher gives examples of lesson plans will not always work out, at one point or another pencil sharpeners will break and dry erase markers will always be MIA. All these joys come with the job, you can either embrace them or let them ruin you! (but you cannot really let them ruin you because we aren't suppose to have any feelings ;P).

 After reading through both articles and finding out all that information that is shared I still know that I want to teach. Teaching has always been something I have been passionate about. You just have to make the most out of every situation and if you love what you are doing at the end of the day it won't matter if you are covered in glitter! I think it is all worth it. These articles mostly talked about all the things that will go wrong and that teachers are not making enough money. I found an article that gives many reasons why a teacher stays teaching!  

     I was researching through pinterest trying to find information on why someone would like to become a teacher and I came across a really nice article --Why I Stay in Teaching and the article gave many examples as to why that teacher wanted to stay in her teaching career. Even with all of the things that could go wrong she looks at the positive things of teaching. "I stay because I laugh and learn every day. Your children are funny, insightful, and brutally honest. If my shoes don't match my outfit, they tell me. If my argument that Invisible Man is an important twentieth century classic doesn't convince them, they tell me. But they also teach me that writers other than Aristotle effectively employ rhetorical appeals. They have taught me that great literature comes in many different forms -- sometimes even in as unlikely a place as a speech by Ashton Kutcher at the Teen Choice Awards."  Teachers are not the only ones who teach in a classroom, the students teach us too.

     I want to teach because I want to make a difference in their lives, I want to be a role model and show them they can achieve anything, I want to teach because there are too many reasons not to want to teach. After reading through many articles about teaching the good outweighs the bad every time in my book. I am looking forward to all of these experiences-both the great and not so great.      

Introduction to Me!

Hello Everyone!!
My name is Tessa and I am currently a sophomore at Salem State. I am majoring in elementary education and sociology! I plan on getting my masters in special education in hopes of becoming a second grade special education teacher! I've always known that I wanted to become a teacher, being around children brings such joy to my life. In the 9th grade a fellow girl scout and I created a club at our high school for our girl scout silver award. The club was created to bring together the kids in the special education classroom (ranged from 14-22 years old) and the kids in the mainstream classes to hangout and get to know one another. We planned trips to go bowling, to the movies, shopping, had field games, and even organized groups to do the walk for autism! Not only were some of the activities listed above fun but they helped the kids in special education class work on some of their life skills such as budgeting when we used money, being social, and emotional towards one another as well. And for me personally it was such a rewarding experience, volunteering in the classroom made my day better and seeing the reactions of the students when I walked in brought a smile to my face. You may think "What got her so interested in special education?" and I will tell you! When my nephew was around the age of two and a half he was diagnosed with autism. I was at the young age of fourteen and I didn't really know what autism was or what I could do to help. I did some research and educated myself and others. I learned that there is a low and high end of something called the spectrum. If you are interested in learning about autism click here!  My nephew is on the low end of the spectrum, in which case means he does not have severe autism. Over the years he has improved in so many ways and I am so proud of how far he has come! He transitioned into a mainstream classroom when he started kindergarten and is now in the second grade. (He started off preschool being in a classroom with ten students each having a one to one, this is a big accomplishment!) He was the one who got me interested in wanting to help others and to teach children with special needs. I loved working with the high school students, but I've always known that elementary school was the place for me!

This is my nephew and I last year at Christmas time!

Here is a link that is pretty funny, but gives some good advice for new teachers just starting out!
http://happyteacherhappykids.com/back-to-school-advice-tips-for-new-teachers/