Most of the video made sense to me. He goes into real depth with some of the things he discussed and it sounded off the wall to me, but he had a way of making it understandable. I agree 100% in the things he was saying. Our young people today are indeed going to and are going through things we could never imagine and we really do need to always have that on the back of our mind when we begin our daily routines of teaching. I have shadowed in classrooms where the teacher treated the children as though they were below them and the students fear this teacher. The biggest thing I agree with (I have felt this way and thought I was thinking incorrectly because of the way I have seen some teachers treat students) was the area he discussed about "how teachers need to make a commitment ot the students even before they enter the classroom; to see everyone who comes into your classroom as a worthy human worthy of your full attention as a person who is active in their own way." Treat the children with respect and care as I would my own children, thats what I keep in my mind. He discussed 3 commitments that teachers needed to make sure we have before we become or see ourselves as teachers. I am only a substitute teacher right now and I have only been doing this for 8 months, I have been able to tell that I can speak to the children on my level without the screaming and slamming things to get their attention. I have noticed huge differences in how they treat me vs. some other teachers. I treat every child that approaches me as I would want them to approach me or as i would want my own children treated. At 1st I started out loud and tough--this is what I saw in the other teachers. I told myself; this is not me, I tried a different approach and there is less tension, more smiles and more accomplishments throughout the day for us. At the end of my class periods if the group did their work and behavied we play a game for the remaining 15 min of the class and they love it. You never now how something as simple as noticeing one of your students in the grocery store and speaking to them on a personal level outside of school will connect to a child.
The 2 inventories did give me a hint on what the future might hold for my career as a teacher. I feel the cirriculum will begin to change a little but I do not feel they will lighten up on the testing, I feel those test will only get worse. For some reason it seems our personell feel the only way we can improve the curriculum or prove that our teachers are doing a good job is to test and I think this really turns the student away from wanting to go to school. The 2 inventories were alike by touching on culture and racial issues. Should it be discussed in school systems? Yes, drugs are, why not add another issue that is growing among our nation?? I feel we should make cultural and racial and diversity part of our curriculum and offer courses to help our children feel comfortable to talk about their issues and questions and come to a mutual understanding while putting the guns and gangs aside.
What type of classroom would I create? I would like the atmosphere of my classroom to be friendly, laid back, up to date, and joyful. I want my children to be comfortable with and around me. I would like to chill out on test, test, test and concentrate on the individuals and what they want out of life before we get the school year started, get to know one another. I would like to create an "eager to learn" environment instead of a "man I'm ready to go home" atmosphere. I would like to be able to connect with my students and us work as a team to all get to know each other together. I want a structured classroom with plenty of diversity, cultural backgrounds and minds, I think I could really have fun with a multicultural classroom. I have all kinds of different assignments, activities, games, etc. in mind that I could use to promote social skills among one another. I would be sure to keep my eyes and ears open at all times for them and my own reasons. Above all I would not put myself on a pedistal, I like to treat all of my students with the same and level as anyone else. Never would I act as though they were beneth me, I would respect them and that is what would gain my respect from them.
How does my vision of a classroom relate to the video? Dr. Ayeers discussess 3 commetments; 1st commetment-of understanding that every person is a complete human being, treat them all with respect, 2nd com-we don't know everything just because we got teaching authority (maybe we could learn something from them if we are willing to just listen and ask them questions), 3rd comm-tell the truth as we see it (Be open to the fact that everything you see is not right, you gotta keep you mind and eyes open) My mother used to always tell us 'things aren't always as they seem, so make sure you investigate!' or the famous 'You can't judge a book by its cover.' What he discussed in the video are all the things I wanted for my classroom before I even watched the video, before we even got this assignment. I can't stand to see someone act down at a child just because they have authority and they can-i don't think teachers should be allowed to do that. All of the things he discussed equal to a successful classroom environment, I feel it begins with the teacher. As far as conflicts or contradictions, I don't see anyh way of not having an actual conflict in any classroom. Churches have conflicts, families have conflicts, we all do thats just part of being a human. Being able to work through them and discuss the conflict is were we are supposed to step in. Contraditions, I think thats along the same lines as conflict, everyone contradicts themselves, again we are human we can't help ourselves. We just need to treat our children with respect and try to befriend them not just teach and cram them with facts. Give them a chance to show you what they can do, don't look at the test scores, GPA or grade book and look at them an intellegent child ready to learn and confide and see what happens.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Sunday, March 15, 2009
2 interesting topics
The first topic that I choose is the Cherokee Phoenix--I choose this topic because it was really neat to read about how the Native Americans really took a stand for themselves and tried to fight for what they believe in. The outcome of their work published a newspaper in 1828 that is still current today and that is really neat. I liked the fact that one of these resources actually allows you to read the Cherokee Phoenix and see what its all about. The other resource that I choose was really interesting to find out just how long this actuall paper has been published and what they went through to get this paper published and to keep their language current 1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cherokee_Phoenix
www.CherokeePhoenix.org
The second topic that I choose was the Committee of Ten. I wanted to find out a little more information on this committee. Like 'what they did, how were they choosen, when did it become apparent that there was a need for educational standardization? Who recommended this committtee? What did the committee do, what did it establish?' The two resources I used:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Ten
2. http://en.books.google.com/books (search Committee of Ten)
I choose the second resource because it allows you to actually see an old copy of the Committee of Ten book. It is an actual copy and it explains; who was on the committee, the conferences, the questions for the conferences, the composition of the conferences,and the members that were on the actual committee, its a really interesting site.
www.CherokeePhoenix.org
The second topic that I choose was the Committee of Ten. I wanted to find out a little more information on this committee. Like 'what they did, how were they choosen, when did it become apparent that there was a need for educational standardization? Who recommended this committtee? What did the committee do, what did it establish?' The two resources I used:
1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committee_of_Ten
2. http://en.books.google.com/books (search Committee of Ten)
I choose the second resource because it allows you to actually see an old copy of the Committee of Ten book. It is an actual copy and it explains; who was on the committee, the conferences, the questions for the conferences, the composition of the conferences,and the members that were on the actual committee, its a really interesting site.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
My letter
I am Trista Robinson from a little town in North Carolina. I am a student at UNCP working towards a Bachelors Degree in teaching, and I hope to impress positive futures in millions of students including my own two children.
My opinion on testing is a little different. The book that my class is studying is Teachers, Schools and Society by David Miller Sadker, Myra Pollack Sadker, and Karen R. Zittleman. My book stated, "Results of state and national tests, from the state subject matter tests needed for graduation to the SATs, influence what is taught in schools." I feel testing is relevant but a little overrated. I don't feel we should base a child's 12 years of school on some standardized test. According to the website, " http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/ " "At grade 3 they take their 1st pretest within the 1st 3 weeks of school." Now I do agree and feel this is a great way to see were these students stand. I feel grades 3-8 should be setting these students up for high school and high school should be setting these students up for college as well as life in general. I don't agree with allowing these test to influence what we as teachers teach, why should these test influence what we teach our children? I feel once they get to high school they should be offered subjects that can help them be successful in life and college.
I feel schools should offer courses to teach children what to say during an interview. Teach these children how to focus on their positives and how to do so without getting so nervous they throw away a perfect opportunity. We could teach these children how to dress, how to present themselves, how to talk and what to talk about with the person authorizing the interview. Also, I think we couild offer classes that teach children how to manage bills, balance check books and other finances. I know we offer business law classes but they don't really teach what we need. I took a business law class and i couln't tell you what it was about if I tried. Maybe if we teach these kids how hard it is to pay bills , buy clothes, pay car payments and familiarize them with these things they wouldn't be so eager to move out and have kids. I feel these kids need to know more than 'r+s=q' or what's the square root of 45. I personally don't see how problems like this will help set our children up for sucess, it didn't help me in my future after high school. I couldn't tell you 1 time I had to actually use things like that.
My book also stated,"Students around the nation study from the same books, do the same excersises and are expected to master the same material." If students around the nation are practicing the same studies we could offer a SAT class thats mandatory for them to take, like an elective. Instead of spending 12 years of their little lives going over material that will more likely not be needed throughout life. I also feel like we should promote more religion than we do. If we can spend a whole month on African American history why can't we set aside a month on God? What more important for our kids to be researching?
Personally I would have liked to been able to learn things like; What do I say during an interview, How do I make one paycheck last, or why do I need college? I feel that if we could make a Bible class to help children understand we could make an improvement in our nations schools. Isn't that what we want? Test scores are dropping, children are having children and religion is taken out of schools. What are we missing? I feel if we could offer some classes that teach these kids how tough and expensive life is, hopefully, they will focus more on EOG scores and college instead of getting married, moving out and working at Hardee's. I feel like courses like mechanics, welding and drafting are "goof off" classes. If students plan to choose one or theother for a profession then thats what they should take in college. We could repalce courses like these with some of the courses I have mentioned.
In conclusion, i attened a public school here in North Carolina and I really wish I would have had some of the courses i mentioned offered to me. When i was in high school all I wanted to do was get my own place, pay my own bills, and live with my boyfriend and thats exactly what I did. Now I'm married with 2 children, living pay check to pay check and gtrying to finish college and work. After I had my children i went back to college in order to set a positive example and provide better for them.
"
My opinion on testing is a little different. The book that my class is studying is Teachers, Schools and Society by David Miller Sadker, Myra Pollack Sadker, and Karen R. Zittleman. My book stated, "Results of state and national tests, from the state subject matter tests needed for graduation to the SATs, influence what is taught in schools." I feel testing is relevant but a little overrated. I don't feel we should base a child's 12 years of school on some standardized test. According to the website, " http://www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/ " "At grade 3 they take their 1st pretest within the 1st 3 weeks of school." Now I do agree and feel this is a great way to see were these students stand. I feel grades 3-8 should be setting these students up for high school and high school should be setting these students up for college as well as life in general. I don't agree with allowing these test to influence what we as teachers teach, why should these test influence what we teach our children? I feel once they get to high school they should be offered subjects that can help them be successful in life and college.
I feel schools should offer courses to teach children what to say during an interview. Teach these children how to focus on their positives and how to do so without getting so nervous they throw away a perfect opportunity. We could teach these children how to dress, how to present themselves, how to talk and what to talk about with the person authorizing the interview. Also, I think we couild offer classes that teach children how to manage bills, balance check books and other finances. I know we offer business law classes but they don't really teach what we need. I took a business law class and i couln't tell you what it was about if I tried. Maybe if we teach these kids how hard it is to pay bills , buy clothes, pay car payments and familiarize them with these things they wouldn't be so eager to move out and have kids. I feel these kids need to know more than 'r+s=q' or what's the square root of 45. I personally don't see how problems like this will help set our children up for sucess, it didn't help me in my future after high school. I couldn't tell you 1 time I had to actually use things like that.
My book also stated,"Students around the nation study from the same books, do the same excersises and are expected to master the same material." If students around the nation are practicing the same studies we could offer a SAT class thats mandatory for them to take, like an elective. Instead of spending 12 years of their little lives going over material that will more likely not be needed throughout life. I also feel like we should promote more religion than we do. If we can spend a whole month on African American history why can't we set aside a month on God? What more important for our kids to be researching?
Personally I would have liked to been able to learn things like; What do I say during an interview, How do I make one paycheck last, or why do I need college? I feel that if we could make a Bible class to help children understand we could make an improvement in our nations schools. Isn't that what we want? Test scores are dropping, children are having children and religion is taken out of schools. What are we missing? I feel if we could offer some classes that teach these kids how tough and expensive life is, hopefully, they will focus more on EOG scores and college instead of getting married, moving out and working at Hardee's. I feel like courses like mechanics, welding and drafting are "goof off" classes. If students plan to choose one or theother for a profession then thats what they should take in college. We could repalce courses like these with some of the courses I have mentioned.
In conclusion, i attened a public school here in North Carolina and I really wish I would have had some of the courses i mentioned offered to me. When i was in high school all I wanted to do was get my own place, pay my own bills, and live with my boyfriend and thats exactly what I did. Now I'm married with 2 children, living pay check to pay check and gtrying to finish college and work. After I had my children i went back to college in order to set a positive example and provide better for them.
"
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