Well, here we are, half way into the winter semester for my teaching classes. This semester I have really had to come out of myself, open up, and become comfortable with really putting myself out there. From blogging and tweeting, to having observations done in the classroom, I have definitely established a new “comfort zone”. I have always been comfortable working with kids and being around them, always felt it was my “calling”, but my younger self put the teaching dream on a shelf because I didn’t think I could ever stand up to be observed and have someone watch me teach.

I realize now I put the teaching dream off for no reason. I needed to push myself, give it my all and understand that the people observing me are not “criticizing me” but simply helping me to be the best teacher I can be. I’m excited to continue on my journey and look forward to the day I have my own classroom and am a certified teacher! The knowledge I have gained to this point has made me stronger and more confident in the classroom and I can’t wait to continue the learning journey. I think once you take the path, the learning continues forever. There is always something a teacher can learn and shouldn’t ever stop trying to be the best educator they can be! Ultimately every student matters, teachers touch so many lives whether they know it or not and I can’t wait to be part of that group. I will continue to absorb as much information as possible and continue learning!

I just completed a reading assignment for a class and it was in regard to standardized testing. The question posed to us was do we think standardized testing is a good or bad thing. After watching a video with Dan Koretz ( Standardized Testing: What’s Wrong. (2017, November 2). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com /watch?time_continue=1579&v=t4g7-NCtrl) check it out on youtube!) I have to wonder if the tests even make sense. According the the video, teachers generally end up teaching to the test or only teaching what parts of the curriculum will be on the test. One teacher even went so far as giving color coded candies to match the correct answers for the test.

I don’t know that standardized tests, the way they are given now are very helpful. I personally feel that maybe if the tests were given in the beginning of the year it could help teachers learn where the students are at, where they need help and what they are excelling at. Also, by having tests mid year it disrupts the entire schedule a teacher has worked half the year to create. We are experiencing this now in my class with our “Access” testing for our EL students. For the past two weeks they have been doing testing and now our schedule is a mess. They don’t have reading or math groups and the change in their routine causes some behavior problems.

I think these standardized tests should be done earlier in the school year, not just as an assessment tool for the teachers to create lesson plans but also to allow students to stay on their normal routine during the year and provide a consistent work routine for them.

What are your thoughts? I would love to hear from you!

So, I had my first observation today on my journey to becoming a teacher. I must admit, I was so nervous I had half the school staff as nervous as I was! As I mentioned in my last post, the snow threw a little snafu into the mix with a two hour delay. I have to admit, now that it is over, it wasn’t bad at all!! Truthfully, the build up is far worse than the reality. I was such a wreck but honestly, once you get started, once you engage with your students, you completely forget you are being observed and you just engage with the students. It was a really positive experience and I received awesome feedback thanks to my FPF Emily! Thanks Emily! She made it so easy and truly you forget they are even in the room. Those of you getting ready for your first observation, I know it’s so hard to believe but truly, it isn’t so bad. I guess nerves are good because you know you are stepping outside your comfort zone but that is a good thing. Take the feedback you are given and use it to make yourself a stronger educator. I can’t say I won’t be nervous next time but at least I know it’s an exercise in making me that much better. Best wishes to everyone about to experience their first observation! You got this!!!

Tomorrow morning is my first observation by my Field Placement Faculty member and I have to say I am nervous. Not because I am unprepared but it’s just something I have never done before. I know the material and I know the kids (it’s the classroom I work in everyday) but it’s just the fact it is something I have never experienced before. I guess that is what makes us grow right?! I am sure somehow, the nerve factor will be built into the final outcome and I hope it isn’t too bad. I can only hope to grow from the experience and become a better teacher. Just for fun, of course we haven’t had any snow days or problems with snow and of course, we are getting blasted with cold air and……you guessed it…SNOW!!! Hopefully I get the observation in tomorrow regardless of the snow!

Wish me luck all………

I have to admit, when I first started my journey of becoming a teacher, I was asked to create a Twitter account, a Facebook page and a Blog, I didn’t really understand why. Yes, it was explained to me that it was a great way for educators to share things, things they have found that work or the best practice to do something. I accepted this as simply part of the process to my certification.

It was not until this week, when reading a chapter on Bloom’s Taxonomy, Chapter 9 Questioning (Hattie, n.d.) ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=246&v=VFcO2SUj4jc check out the video) that it made even more sense why I should have all these social media outlets. As John Hattie states, often times children will not ask a question of a teacher, even when the teacher is standing directly in front of them. Why? Perhaps they are worried the question will sound dumb, or they just don’t want to ask it in front of the class. The same can be said for teachers, sometimes it is hard for a teacher to ask a question that perhaps they feel he or she should know, and they don’t want to feel like they are not as “good” as the teacher next to them. Social media gives students as well as teachers a place to go to post those questions, and now, not only get an answer from one individual but have the opportunity to be able to hear from many different sources. Not only do these medial outlets allow students and teachers to ask questions but also to share great ideas. What good is a great idea if you don’t share it with someone. I am more than happy to give someone praise for sharing an idea with me, whether it’s dealing with an “active” child, or a great way to really “hook” kids on a certain theme for a lesson. I think it’s a great way to come together as a community of educators and learners. I think regardless of how much you know you never truly stop learning. Everyone should be open to always learning more, whether it is from a colleague an ocean away, or a student in the next town over, or someone right in your own school, we should always be open to new ideas and improvement. And that……. is something that I am really working on.

Until next time…..keep learning!

References

Hattie, J. (n.d.). UQx:LEARNx Deep Learning Through Transformative Pedagogy. Retrieved from https://granite.pressbooks.pub/teachingdiverselearners/chapter/questioning-2/

My first grade EL class (English Learner) will be learning about Civics and our Government. Some of the things they will be learning range from citizenship, community helpers and American symbols to name a few things. It seems to me that the subject of Social Studies encompasses so much. I have seen lots of videos and lots of tweets talking about how vast the subject of Social Studies is. Civics and Government is simply one “strand” of five for Social Studies.

This stand teaches students not only about rules and laws of their own community but also in the United States. It delves into how we choose our leaders, what the role is of the United States in the world and what our rights and responsibilities are citizens. This strand addresses things such as how we can be involved in our community, why it is important for us to work together as well as work with other countries and teach students what symbols represent our country.

It is especially important for my students who all come from different countries to understand these themes and standards. As educators I feel it is incredibly important to be sure students understand where we have been as a country and where we are going.

I am about to prepare lessons to teach 1st graders about social studies. As I look over the information, I realize most of the information I will be teaching them is going to be the base for all their future learning in social studies. No small task considering these students are all from different countries.

While every morning they understand that we stand an recite the Pledge of Allegiance as an entire school, they look at our flag and understand it represents the United States of America. Many of them do not recognize this as “their” flag. This is incredibly apparent as our class walks down the hallway to the cafeteria. Since our school is so diverse, the hallways are lined with paintings of all the different flags of all the different countries our students come from. To see their enthusiasm as they rush to the flag to show me the flag of their country strikes me how brave each and every one of them really are.

Even though children are much more resilient, I can’t imagine leaving my country to go somewhere I didn’t initially understand the language, the food was completely different and I had to leave all my friends behind. These students adapt so well and are so eager to learn, I feel I am so lucky to work in a school where students are so excited about learning. I look forward to teaching them about social studies.

Thanks for joining me!

“Every kid needs a champion.” – Rita Pierson

I am creating this blog for a class I am taking on my journey to become a General Special Education/Elementary Education teacher. I hope to share things I am learning along the way as well as gain lots of insight from not only my fellow students but seasoned teachers and beginning teachers as well. I am truly looking forward to this journey. Stay tuned……