Tuesday, I met with Dr. Cook about my observation, and it feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. There were certainly aspects of my lesson that could've used some improvement, but overall I think it went well and apparently so does Dr. Cook.
Now I have completed one of my observations by the teacher and one by my professor, which means I only have one more to do before the end of this semester. But I'm not merely two down and one to go on this semester, I'm two down one to go as a whole. I've had my professors observe both Professional I and Professional II, and that leaves only student teaching! Yippie!
Entering student teaching is not merely nerve wracking in and of itself, it's nerve wracking because for the first time since I was probably 12, I'll be completely and utterly unemployed. I'll be quitting a decent paying, blue collar, union job to student teach. This is frightening. You see, in the past I always had the next job before I quit the other. Before I quit my paper route (as a 12 year old) I had a few grass mowing clients, and before I quit cutting grass, I was washing dishes at a restaurant, and before I quit that I had a job at UPS, and before I quit that I had my current position. Now, I'll be completely unemployed, which is frightening.
I have all of these doubts about actually finding a job, since my areas of concentration are social studies and language arts--not special ed, science, or math (which are higher in demand).Then there's the pay-cut which is amplified by my new student load debt. Added to all of the other anxiety the fact that I'm starting a new career path later in life--makes me even more anxious. YIKES!
Well, I guess I just put that weight that had been lifted, right back onto my shoulders, huh?
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Just Thinking
As Thanksgiving creeps closer, so does my December 4th observation. Needless to say, I am doubting my ability to create a "meaningful and engaging" lesson that "dazzles" Cook. I don't want to hear "Well, I was expecting more from you..." again. I'm hard enough on myself for my lackings, but if feels ten times worse when someone else confirms it.
This comes up because today I found out what I need to teach that day. So my brain cells are in overdrive to create amazing lessons for 348, 304, 394, and HIS 594. I guess I know I'll be alright creating and developing, but performing is a whole other area of concern for me. I don't get a lot of practice teaching, twice so far this semester. I don't feel ready for student teaching... I hope that feeling goes away when I go to meet with my co-operating teachers on Friday.
This comes up because today I found out what I need to teach that day. So my brain cells are in overdrive to create amazing lessons for 348, 304, 394, and HIS 594. I guess I know I'll be alright creating and developing, but performing is a whole other area of concern for me. I don't get a lot of practice teaching, twice so far this semester. I don't feel ready for student teaching... I hope that feeling goes away when I go to meet with my co-operating teachers on Friday.
Dangerous Crossroads
Today I sat in on a meeting in which the likely fate of a boy hung in the balance. The vice principal asked my teacher's team whether or not he should put through the paperwork to send the boy to a special school for children with severe behavior problems.
The vice principal was in a very sticky situation. On one side of the coin, most of the students, who are sent to this school, end up dropping out, and a majority of those dropouts end up in jail. Yet, the vice principal had to keep in mind the fates of the other students in his care. This particular boy is huge, probably 6'3" and about 300, and he's only 13. He's been using this size to bully and beat up many of the smaller middle schoolers.
I found this discussion troubling, yet it gave me some insight into the tough decisions that administrators and team members must face. I coupled what I learned from this meeting, with what I've learned from one of my professors that taught in a prison, and the sum of the two gave a pretty dim potential future for a boy this young. Dr. Faulkner said that when he spoke to many of the inmates, they gave middle school as the point their lives took the wrong path.
The teachers on my teacher's team knew all of this, so they were very reluctant to essentially condemn this young man. Yet, they really had no other recourse. The safety of their other students hung in the balance. The tension in the room was palpable.
Sitting in on team meetings has really helped me to see how many non-teaching, yet tough, tasks that middle school teachers do. So I recommend that if any preservice teachers have a chance to sit in on such meeting, they should.
The vice principal was in a very sticky situation. On one side of the coin, most of the students, who are sent to this school, end up dropping out, and a majority of those dropouts end up in jail. Yet, the vice principal had to keep in mind the fates of the other students in his care. This particular boy is huge, probably 6'3" and about 300, and he's only 13. He's been using this size to bully and beat up many of the smaller middle schoolers.
I found this discussion troubling, yet it gave me some insight into the tough decisions that administrators and team members must face. I coupled what I learned from this meeting, with what I've learned from one of my professors that taught in a prison, and the sum of the two gave a pretty dim potential future for a boy this young. Dr. Faulkner said that when he spoke to many of the inmates, they gave middle school as the point their lives took the wrong path.
The teachers on my teacher's team knew all of this, so they were very reluctant to essentially condemn this young man. Yet, they really had no other recourse. The safety of their other students hung in the balance. The tension in the room was palpable.
Sitting in on team meetings has really helped me to see how many non-teaching, yet tough, tasks that middle school teachers do. So I recommend that if any preservice teachers have a chance to sit in on such meeting, they should.
Monday, November 12, 2007
My practicum teacher made a deal with me that I could teach the China unit when Dr. Faulkner was there if I would be willing to do a unit on Mohenjo-Daro. He said that Mohenjo-Daro is the most boring lesson ever so he'll do me a favor if I do him a favor. So I made my lesson plan. I am doing a PowerPoint with guided notes and watching a short video. Then the kids have to use play-doh (thanks for the idea during the microteaching!) to make an artifact we use today and tell me how that would give future archeologists clues into our daily living habits.
My teacher loved it so now I'm doing that for Dr. Faulkner. I am really nervous but I hope it goes ok. I've still not done a single lesson in front of this group so it'll be my first time but they seem like a good group of kids.
My teacher loved it so now I'm doing that for Dr. Faulkner. I am really nervous but I hope it goes ok. I've still not done a single lesson in front of this group so it'll be my first time but they seem like a good group of kids.
Sunday, November 11, 2007
On line assignment
I read one article from the Washington Post and one from the the US Dept of Ed. The first article was about the four student athletes in Maryland who died in a car crash on the way home from a basketball workout. Four of the teens died, one remained in the hospital. The driver was driving with four teammates in the car, but he was subject to a law in Maryland that prohibits teenage drivers from having non-family members younger than 18 in the car with them for five months after getting a license.
I chose the article because it's one of the first articles I saw, and it looked to be a sad story. The article effects me since I coach basketball players who are just getting their licenses'. We make it a rule that they can't drive to games, but they all ride home from practice together. It hits home, since it really can happen to anyone. As an educator couldn't imagine dealing with all the grief that would go along with a situation like this.
The second article called, "Doing What Works" is about a web site created by the Dept of Ed to help teachers with stategies that have been know wo work. As a new teacher this is very beneficial to me, especially since I lack creativity. It also will help with diverstiy in the classroom. If a teacher needs to mix up the types of activities the teacher could easily log on a do a little research. I thought it was a very beneficial for me to read. I chose it because, how can you go wrong by choosing an article that teaches you what works!!
I chose the article because it's one of the first articles I saw, and it looked to be a sad story. The article effects me since I coach basketball players who are just getting their licenses'. We make it a rule that they can't drive to games, but they all ride home from practice together. It hits home, since it really can happen to anyone. As an educator couldn't imagine dealing with all the grief that would go along with a situation like this.
The second article called, "Doing What Works" is about a web site created by the Dept of Ed to help teachers with stategies that have been know wo work. As a new teacher this is very beneficial to me, especially since I lack creativity. It also will help with diverstiy in the classroom. If a teacher needs to mix up the types of activities the teacher could easily log on a do a little research. I thought it was a very beneficial for me to read. I chose it because, how can you go wrong by choosing an article that teaches you what works!!
November 6 assignment
BIRTH CONTROL IN MIDDLE SCHOOL
The first story I reviewed came from the Edutopia website concerning the distribution of birth control pills within a middle school. In one of my other education classes this story was mentioned so I had a little background knowledge that played a part in choosing this article. I also wanted to see what the arguments were… who supported it and why and who did not support it and why.
I view education in a big picture way. I see it as an institution that helps shape and guide children into adulthood to help prepare them for life. Not everyone sees education in that way. I am neither for nor against, but I am very interested to see how this plays out and does affect middle schools nationwide.
I think this article is a reality check for everyone involved… the student, the parents, the educators. Some middle schoolers are having sex and some are having babies and otherwise. What does this mean for the education system? Should they become involved, when so many things are easily blamed on the parents and/or the education system? Do schools have the right to prescribe and distribute birth control? I do not know how this will turn out but I find it interesting.
A WEBSITE TO HELP EDUCATORS
On the US Department of Education website there is now a link that encourages and helps educators become more effective teachers. I think it is obvious why I chose this news article… because it is relevant and very useful information to know for my future career.
This site was very helpful as I found it to be a great resource. It mentioned the importance of bridging the gap between research and action within a classroom and the importance of having this information accessible to all educators, hence the new website devoted to teaching teachers learning strategies. First the teacher learns what works, then sees what works and finally does what works.
This article was helpful and hopeful. I keep worrying how I will remember everything I have learned and how to keep learning new and useful strategies so that I can become a great teacher. This may be part of the answer. It is a positive and useful tool accessible to all educators.
The first story I reviewed came from the Edutopia website concerning the distribution of birth control pills within a middle school. In one of my other education classes this story was mentioned so I had a little background knowledge that played a part in choosing this article. I also wanted to see what the arguments were… who supported it and why and who did not support it and why.
I view education in a big picture way. I see it as an institution that helps shape and guide children into adulthood to help prepare them for life. Not everyone sees education in that way. I am neither for nor against, but I am very interested to see how this plays out and does affect middle schools nationwide.
I think this article is a reality check for everyone involved… the student, the parents, the educators. Some middle schoolers are having sex and some are having babies and otherwise. What does this mean for the education system? Should they become involved, when so many things are easily blamed on the parents and/or the education system? Do schools have the right to prescribe and distribute birth control? I do not know how this will turn out but I find it interesting.
A WEBSITE TO HELP EDUCATORS
On the US Department of Education website there is now a link that encourages and helps educators become more effective teachers. I think it is obvious why I chose this news article… because it is relevant and very useful information to know for my future career.
This site was very helpful as I found it to be a great resource. It mentioned the importance of bridging the gap between research and action within a classroom and the importance of having this information accessible to all educators, hence the new website devoted to teaching teachers learning strategies. First the teacher learns what works, then sees what works and finally does what works.
This article was helpful and hopeful. I keep worrying how I will remember everything I have learned and how to keep learning new and useful strategies so that I can become a great teacher. This may be part of the answer. It is a positive and useful tool accessible to all educators.
On-Line Assignment
The first article I chose was on birth control because it's something I've heard a lot about in the news and on the internet recently and I've read or heard other peoples' view points from both sides. Even in their wildest dreams, most parents (especially those who have a middle schooler) probably never thought birth control or condoms would ever be considered being brought inside schools in order to help protect young teenage boys and girls. Due to the lack of media and high family values twenty, thirty, fourty + years ago, it was very uncommon at the time period for sexual intercourse to take place prior to marriage. However look around today and see how much sex is used in the media. About a month ago I was watching t.v. and a commercial came on for horse racing. The commercial started out with a beautiful woman dressed in black lingerie 'talking dirty' to the viewer. The woman talked dirty and moved into sexual positions and tiuched herself and then suddenly the emblem for the horse race location (it think it River Downs) flashed for three seconds and the commercial was over. At that moment I began wondering what the world has come to when a seducive woman is used to get the viewers' attention for a horse racing commercial. AND THAT'S JUST A HORSE RACING COMMERCIAL!!!!!! Look around at billboards, clothing lines, or the music videos middle schoolers see on MTV and VH1....sex and sexual innuendos are used EVERYWHERE to gain our attention. On the other hand, we as a society wonder why the teenage rates on pregnancies, STD's, among other things have gone up. Right now schools represent a "sex-free" environment as they are expected to. However, let's face the facts...with the techniques the media uses to sell things and get our attention (sex) students are surrounded by sexual innuendos among other things the second they walk out of the schools' doors. I've read and heard of the most recent advertisement technique which is "SEX SELLS!!!". It's as if schools represents a fantasy world where sex and its consequences are hardly discussed but when students leave school for the day they are "back in reality". As long as middle schoolers, and everyone in general, is going to be surrounding by sexual interferences through the media among other things, then something has to be to help prevent the spread of STD's and teenage pregnancies.
Here's the problem in a nut shell: Twenty, thirty, fourty + years ago individuals were told repeatedly through family, friends, neighbors, and in some cases the media to wait to have sex until you are married. You were to SAVE yourself for "THE ONE" (your life-long partner). In today's world, individual students are encouraged to have sex before they graduate from high school, and in some cases even sooner.
With that being said, we as a society have two options. 1.) Lock your kids their rooms and not let them go out so they aren't exposed to possibly having sex or 2.) Better inform them of the potential consequences on having sex and provide with the most protection possible (birth control and condoms)
The 1st option is extremely unreasonable and obviously the 2nd option logically makes more sense. My cooperating teacher informed me Thursday that one of his male students just found out that he got an 8th grade girl pregnant. One of my professors at NKU told the class on Friday that she heard that there are three 6th grade girls pregnant at the same school that I'm at. I don't know if that's true or not but if it is then there's at least four pregnant girls at that school (3 in 6th grade and 1 in 8th grade). In the end, parents have two very good arguements. By providing birth control and condoms at school may protect students but at the same time it may also promote more sexual activity to take place. Maybe handing out birth control and condoms isn't the best solution to the problem right now. Instead, we may need to repeatedly inform students of the consequences of having sex and if that doesn't work then develop other means of informing them or protecting them.
This was an excellent article because it addresses a problem that most parents don't want to accept really exists. I found this article quite interesting and I understand that there are many perspectives from parents about allowing birth control and condoms or not. The fact of the matter is that there is a rising issue and concern and something has to done about it quickly but also done correctly. This rising issue impacts my views of education because it is quickly becoming a point that teachers are more than just teachers for some students. Some students may have a poor home life and I may be the person in their life who cares about their academic success and developing a student into an individual.
The second article I read was about the principles body being found. I selected this article because it grabbed my attention and statistics show that suicide among young adolescdents is on the rise and is something that can''t be ignored. It's sad and unfortunate that a man who's a husband, father, friend, and important individual in the educational system would take his life. This article is an excellent example of how things in life can sometimes go unnoticed. Sometimes students, or even adults as in the case of the article, don't portray other issues they may be having in their life. At times they 'clamp up' and don't want to let anybody know about problems at home, emotions one may be going through, nor do they allow for outside help. In my home community you do hear of students between the ages of 15-25 committing suicide. What I have found ironic is that people FINALLY get to know and understand what may have wrong in the perosns life after it's too late. It's as if they become popular by taking their own life. There is something wrong when we take an interest in someone's problems at home or other issues they may be facing once that person has taken matters into their own hands. This article has impacted my views of education because I have once again been reminded of the importance of recognizing and acting upon signs of a person who's potential suicidal. I'm no expert but when students are either in a deep state of depression or talk about suicide (whether it's jokingly or not) it must always be acted upon to take all means possible to prevent a tragedy. Sometimes the one thing that sends an individual 'over the edge' to becoming success with a suicide attempt is that the individual realizes that no one cares, that no one is willing to take ten minutes out of their day to get to know them or just chat with them. It important as teacher that you get to know your students and show that you care about them so that when you as the teacher see changes in behavior, attitude, ect (which may be warnign signs) then you can begin montioring the student's activity more closely and possibly take it one step further by bringing in the school psychologist. When suicidal individuals feel like no one cares about them they tend to develop the 'i don't have anything to lose' attitude. No student, or individual should ever feel that way, and it's our job as a society to show everyone that you care and they make a difference whetehr they believe it or not.
Here's the problem in a nut shell: Twenty, thirty, fourty + years ago individuals were told repeatedly through family, friends, neighbors, and in some cases the media to wait to have sex until you are married. You were to SAVE yourself for "THE ONE" (your life-long partner). In today's world, individual students are encouraged to have sex before they graduate from high school, and in some cases even sooner.
With that being said, we as a society have two options. 1.) Lock your kids their rooms and not let them go out so they aren't exposed to possibly having sex or 2.) Better inform them of the potential consequences on having sex and provide with the most protection possible (birth control and condoms)
The 1st option is extremely unreasonable and obviously the 2nd option logically makes more sense. My cooperating teacher informed me Thursday that one of his male students just found out that he got an 8th grade girl pregnant. One of my professors at NKU told the class on Friday that she heard that there are three 6th grade girls pregnant at the same school that I'm at. I don't know if that's true or not but if it is then there's at least four pregnant girls at that school (3 in 6th grade and 1 in 8th grade). In the end, parents have two very good arguements. By providing birth control and condoms at school may protect students but at the same time it may also promote more sexual activity to take place. Maybe handing out birth control and condoms isn't the best solution to the problem right now. Instead, we may need to repeatedly inform students of the consequences of having sex and if that doesn't work then develop other means of informing them or protecting them.
This was an excellent article because it addresses a problem that most parents don't want to accept really exists. I found this article quite interesting and I understand that there are many perspectives from parents about allowing birth control and condoms or not. The fact of the matter is that there is a rising issue and concern and something has to done about it quickly but also done correctly. This rising issue impacts my views of education because it is quickly becoming a point that teachers are more than just teachers for some students. Some students may have a poor home life and I may be the person in their life who cares about their academic success and developing a student into an individual.
The second article I read was about the principles body being found. I selected this article because it grabbed my attention and statistics show that suicide among young adolescdents is on the rise and is something that can''t be ignored. It's sad and unfortunate that a man who's a husband, father, friend, and important individual in the educational system would take his life. This article is an excellent example of how things in life can sometimes go unnoticed. Sometimes students, or even adults as in the case of the article, don't portray other issues they may be having in their life. At times they 'clamp up' and don't want to let anybody know about problems at home, emotions one may be going through, nor do they allow for outside help. In my home community you do hear of students between the ages of 15-25 committing suicide. What I have found ironic is that people FINALLY get to know and understand what may have wrong in the perosns life after it's too late. It's as if they become popular by taking their own life. There is something wrong when we take an interest in someone's problems at home or other issues they may be facing once that person has taken matters into their own hands. This article has impacted my views of education because I have once again been reminded of the importance of recognizing and acting upon signs of a person who's potential suicidal. I'm no expert but when students are either in a deep state of depression or talk about suicide (whether it's jokingly or not) it must always be acted upon to take all means possible to prevent a tragedy. Sometimes the one thing that sends an individual 'over the edge' to becoming success with a suicide attempt is that the individual realizes that no one cares, that no one is willing to take ten minutes out of their day to get to know them or just chat with them. It important as teacher that you get to know your students and show that you care about them so that when you as the teacher see changes in behavior, attitude, ect (which may be warnign signs) then you can begin montioring the student's activity more closely and possibly take it one step further by bringing in the school psychologist. When suicidal individuals feel like no one cares about them they tend to develop the 'i don't have anything to lose' attitude. No student, or individual should ever feel that way, and it's our job as a society to show everyone that you care and they make a difference whetehr they believe it or not.
Successful Lesson Plan Assessment
My cooperating teacher just gave the students a unit test which covered the material my observed lesson plan was on. A portion of my lesson plan had the students play a Jeopardy game and filled out a chart which consisted of eight of the American English colonies and characteristics of each. As each group of students chose one of the characteristic categories from the game board and point value, they were given a question to answer. If the team got the answer correct they got the points. However, if they answered incorrectly the other two teams had the chance to steal the points. In the end, if neither of the three teams got the answer correct I read the answer to them for them to wrtie down on their chart. While we played Jeopardy each student filled out the chart and that was their study guide for the test. I used an exit slip as my closing assessment however the 'real' assessment would be the unit test. My cooperating teacher has me grade the multiple choice and matching on his unit tests and then he grades the open response question. The grades were all over the board. There were fourteen multiple choice/matching questions on the test and I had some students only get one to three wrong and other students were getting nine or more wrong. Fortunately, the majority of the students performed extremely well on the 'colony characteristics' portion of the test. Even those students who got nine or more questions wrong scored well on that portion of the test. It felt great knowing that the portion of the unit that I taught was what the majority of the students performed well on. However, when the students who perforemed poorly on the test still did well on the 'colony characteristics' portion I knew that something had to be adjusted in the way the material was taught. Overall, it was nice to see students perform well on the material I taught but I believe some adjustments need to be mad to help those students who consistently score poorly to perform better on the tests.
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