Thursday, October 29, 2015
Teachers Reputation
In the book The First Days Of School by Harry K Wong there is a quote that I think is extremely important. "Right or wrong, accurate or not, your reputation will precede you"(Wong 101). I clearly remember being a young girl getting assigned a teacher that every parent wanted to steer clear of. She was labeled as a harsh and unrealistic teacher. My parents tried their hardest to get me out of her classroom but their efforts were for nothing. I remember not wanting to go to school on the first day. Then before I knew it I was standing before her classroom eyes all red and puffy from crying. I walked into class the first day of school to this teacher with the biggest smile on her face. My parents were at ease right away when they saw her come up to me after seeing my face. Then all the parents left and that when I saw why people were cautious of her. She started telling us that we were possibly the most troublesome students she had met. I remember for the rest of the year no one would do their work and everyone would act out. Know that I think about this experience I think this behavior might of had something to do with her expectation of us. Without even knowing us for more than a day she had made it seem like she had given up on us. Teachers reputation is an important part of who they are. Students will hear about you and have their minds made. Before even knowing you some students have already determined if they are going to be successful this year or not. Teachers can protect their reputations by being an effective teacher. Doing the best you can and being a great teacher is a great way to insure your reputation.
Welcoming students to your classroom
This week I am reading the classroom management section in How To Be An Effective Teacher The First Days Of School.
I believe that it is very important to welcome your students to class everyday. Doing this makes it look like you care about the students. This will help build a great relationship with students if they feel like you genuinely care for them. This is especially important to do on the first day of school. Standing at the door ready to greet your students is a great way to start off a successful year! Douglas Brooks found that a question students ask on the first day of school is "am I in the right room?" By standing at the door telling your students your name you minimize the risk of students being in the wrong classroom. "Finding the correct room on the first day of school can be one of the most frightening experience for a student"(Wong 105). With this being said don't greet students with a frown. Always make sure to "stand at the classroom door with a big smile and a ready handshake"(Wong 105). It is also nice to have a little welcome sign somewhere around your classroom to get students excited about the school year. Like Wong said "everything possible should be done to welcome the students and to make sure they know where to go"(Wong 107). All of this will make your start to a new year very successful. For my future classroom I would like to implement the greeting students everyday. This to me is something that I believe students notice. It makes them notice how you aren't just trying to teach them something but that you truly care for them.
I believe that it is very important to welcome your students to class everyday. Doing this makes it look like you care about the students. This will help build a great relationship with students if they feel like you genuinely care for them. This is especially important to do on the first day of school. Standing at the door ready to greet your students is a great way to start off a successful year! Douglas Brooks found that a question students ask on the first day of school is "am I in the right room?" By standing at the door telling your students your name you minimize the risk of students being in the wrong classroom. "Finding the correct room on the first day of school can be one of the most frightening experience for a student"(Wong 105). With this being said don't greet students with a frown. Always make sure to "stand at the classroom door with a big smile and a ready handshake"(Wong 105). It is also nice to have a little welcome sign somewhere around your classroom to get students excited about the school year. Like Wong said "everything possible should be done to welcome the students and to make sure they know where to go"(Wong 107). All of this will make your start to a new year very successful. For my future classroom I would like to implement the greeting students everyday. This to me is something that I believe students notice. It makes them notice how you aren't just trying to teach them something but that you truly care for them.
Thursday, October 22, 2015
Important factors governing students learning
This week I read part c of How To Be An Effective Teacher The First Days Of School By Harry K Wong. Today I will be answering the question "define and describe the most important factor governing students learning according to Mr. Wong?"
Mr. Wong starts off by saying that classroom management is the number one important factor governing students learning. Like Wong said "Effective teachers Manage their classrooms. Ineffective teachers discipline their classrooms."(Wong 83) He uses a restaurant as a comparison to classroom management. Wong says that you may know how to cook a stake but to have a successful restaurant you need to know accounting procedures,federal state, and local regulations. Cooking a stake is the last thing you must know. Just like being an effective teacher you must know all the procedures, learning styles, academic learning time, ect.. before hand. Classroom management refers to all the things teachers do to organize students,space,time, and materials so that instruction and student learning can take place (Wong 84). Ineffective teachers have classrooms that are not ready... This causes a ripple effect. Confusion leads to problems which then leads to a non-managed classroom. To minimize the problem be ready before the problem arises. For example, making a seat chart to separate trouble students or have all the students facing forward towards you. Put a small space between you and your students so that if a problem does arise you are close to the source.
To have a well managed classroom make sure you post an assignment everyday in the same spot. That way you don't waste any class time giving directions when students could be learning. Also don't start the day with taking roll. "Your first priority is not taking roll; it is to get students to work immediately."(Wong 121) Getting students involved in the process of roll taking you are wasting precious valuable time. Having a well managed class does not mean having a disciplined class. It just means having a well organized and thought out classroom. Many teachers are not very focused on how to manage a classroom. I recommend teachers read this book since it has very helpful advice. 
Thursday, October 15, 2015
5 educational blogs
1. http://mscassidysclass.edublogs.org
This blog is Filled with pictures of students learning. It also shows us very fun and creative project the students have done. This is a great way for parents to get to see what is happening in the classroom while at work or anywhere else! This also gives teachers the opportunity to get a look a new ideas to try. It gives them great visual representation of how efficient the ideas may be.
2.http://4theloveofteaching.blogspot.com
This blog is just of a teacher posting pictures of what the students are working on. For example she puts pictures of nice interactive ways to engage her students. She has a graffiti wall where students can write amazing quotes. It's great how excited the students get with these fun ways of learning this teacher is introducing to her classroom.
3. http://kauaimark.blogspot.com
This blog is a bit unique from the others. This one is run by a substitute teacher who tells very funny stories and blogs about his experience at school. This sub shows the great techniques teachers use in their classroom and how affective they can be. Not to mention it's a nice change of perception to see these techniques beinging used by someone other than the teacher!
4.http://youthvoices.net
This blog might probably be the best interactive one yet. Not only does the teacher get to post stuff but also the students get to get involved. This is a great way to get students involved since we are so dependent on technology in today's world. It's nice to see students write about whatever they want. It's extremely important that students write very frequently to get better practice does make perfect.
5. http://www.fernsmithsclassroomideas.com
This blog is where a teacher post stuff like fun activities to do. Ranging from coloring pages to fun games to play for math. It's a great way to get students to have fun while also learning at the same time.
This blog is Filled with pictures of students learning. It also shows us very fun and creative project the students have done. This is a great way for parents to get to see what is happening in the classroom while at work or anywhere else! This also gives teachers the opportunity to get a look a new ideas to try. It gives them great visual representation of how efficient the ideas may be.
2.http://4theloveofteaching.blogspot.com
This blog is just of a teacher posting pictures of what the students are working on. For example she puts pictures of nice interactive ways to engage her students. She has a graffiti wall where students can write amazing quotes. It's great how excited the students get with these fun ways of learning this teacher is introducing to her classroom.
3. http://kauaimark.blogspot.com
This blog is a bit unique from the others. This one is run by a substitute teacher who tells very funny stories and blogs about his experience at school. This sub shows the great techniques teachers use in their classroom and how affective they can be. Not to mention it's a nice change of perception to see these techniques beinging used by someone other than the teacher!
4.http://youthvoices.net
This blog might probably be the best interactive one yet. Not only does the teacher get to post stuff but also the students get to get involved. This is a great way to get students involved since we are so dependent on technology in today's world. It's nice to see students write about whatever they want. It's extremely important that students write very frequently to get better practice does make perfect.
5. http://www.fernsmithsclassroomideas.com
This blog is where a teacher post stuff like fun activities to do. Ranging from coloring pages to fun games to play for math. It's a great way to get students to have fun while also learning at the same time.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Field site experience
My experience at my field site so far has been fantastic! I couldn't have asked for a better mentor teacher or better children. This year I was a bit nervous since last year I was with a 1st grade class. Despite this I feel like this year is going to be an awesome year! I feel like I am meant to be in a classroom setting. Thanks to my mentor this year I am getting more independent experience in the classroom. This week I have been sitting with my students and helping them with their sounds and writing. The only bad thing we don't have a lot of time to be able to get a better experience. So far I am really liking this year.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Top 10 things I wish I knew my first year being an educator.
Today I read the article 10 things I wish I knew my first year as an educator. It got me to think what I wish I knew my first year of being an educator. So here is a list of 10 things I wish I would of known when entering the teaching environment. But before that Go watch this video first it's a great inspirational video about teachers.
1.) Have confidence in yourself.
Trust me you need to have confidence in yourself. I remember being in front of my first graders trying to read to them being so unsure of myself. I felt myself shaking and thinking they probably couldn't hear me or didn't like how I read. You know what happened when I finished? The kids told me that the book was their favorite and asked me to read another. My mentor teacher gave me this piece of advice when I explained to her I couldn't ever be a great teacher. "If you don't believe in yourself how can you ever expect me or anyone else to believe in you?" She said she doubted herself a lot to but great teachers have confidence in themselves, their lessons, and their students most importantly.
2.) There will be days when you feel like you aren't helping but hurting instead.
I can't tell you how many times I felt like I was just hurting my students. I couldn't help them with whatever they need my help with and they were relying on me to give them guidance. It took some time to understand that as a person you will have some down days but that does not mean you aren't a great educator! To help me get through these types of days I had a journal where my friend and I wrote some motivating notes and quotes to one another. Just remember your whole career is not determined based off of a couple bad days. It is determined by how you inspired students and gave them all the information they will need in life. Or next year which ever comes first.
3.) Have fun and enjoy what you are doing.
Although teaching can be a stressful job remember to take deep breaths. Then take a step back and remember doing this should be fun and hard work. If you keep on focusing on all the hard work you are not going to want to do this for years down the road. So let's just remember you can work hard but play just as hard!
4.) Teaching is a special job
When I was younger I thought teaching was for people who couldn't get a better job. Now I see that being a teacher is a special job that not many can do. To be a teacher you must have qualities that many people lack. To teach is to inspire and care for your children.
5.) Not only do students get attached but so do you.
When I worked with my first graders I thought that it was sweet how they got attached to me. When it was time to say goodbye I realized that the ache in my chest was the thought of not seeing them for a while. I thought before that teachers really didn't care for their students but I proved myself wrong. When you teach you don't have 1 child you have many children.
6.) Dont be afraid to try something new.
Doing things in a traditional style is great. Doing new things is ever better! Just imagine where we would be right now if we would of never tried something new?
7.) There are many factors that affect students and their learning.
Being a student myself I guess I understood this. When you get into the classroom though things like these seem to slip your mind rather quickly. Do whatever you can to help your students get on track. Help them in any form you can let them know you care.
8.) You cannot be too lenient with students or too harsh.
It's hard not to be a passive teacher that lets students get away with a lot of stuff. With that said that does not mean you can be a very strict teacher that students are afraid to come to. You somehow need to find the spot in the middle of these 2 teaching styles. Be the teacher students know not to try and mess with but let them know you understand if they need anything.
9.) Share any ideas you have with other educators.
I noticed teachers sharing and ideas or lessons they did with each other. We usually kept ideas to ourselves but see that's not such a great thing to do. You need to share with one another so that your students can get a better understanding of what they are learning. Plus it's fun sitting around sharing these awesome ideas you found or came up with.
10.) Be careful you might end up loving the teaching profession.
I thought I had a clear vision of wanting to be a police officer. Then I took this amazing opportunity to work along side a 1st grade teacher and guess what? I ended up having doubts about what my future career looked like. I enjoy teaching children things they will use throughput their lives. I just want to be sure that I am 100% certain teaching us what I want to do.
1.) Have confidence in yourself.
Trust me you need to have confidence in yourself. I remember being in front of my first graders trying to read to them being so unsure of myself. I felt myself shaking and thinking they probably couldn't hear me or didn't like how I read. You know what happened when I finished? The kids told me that the book was their favorite and asked me to read another. My mentor teacher gave me this piece of advice when I explained to her I couldn't ever be a great teacher. "If you don't believe in yourself how can you ever expect me or anyone else to believe in you?" She said she doubted herself a lot to but great teachers have confidence in themselves, their lessons, and their students most importantly.
2.) There will be days when you feel like you aren't helping but hurting instead.
I can't tell you how many times I felt like I was just hurting my students. I couldn't help them with whatever they need my help with and they were relying on me to give them guidance. It took some time to understand that as a person you will have some down days but that does not mean you aren't a great educator! To help me get through these types of days I had a journal where my friend and I wrote some motivating notes and quotes to one another. Just remember your whole career is not determined based off of a couple bad days. It is determined by how you inspired students and gave them all the information they will need in life. Or next year which ever comes first.
3.) Have fun and enjoy what you are doing.
Although teaching can be a stressful job remember to take deep breaths. Then take a step back and remember doing this should be fun and hard work. If you keep on focusing on all the hard work you are not going to want to do this for years down the road. So let's just remember you can work hard but play just as hard!
4.) Teaching is a special job
When I was younger I thought teaching was for people who couldn't get a better job. Now I see that being a teacher is a special job that not many can do. To be a teacher you must have qualities that many people lack. To teach is to inspire and care for your children.
5.) Not only do students get attached but so do you.
When I worked with my first graders I thought that it was sweet how they got attached to me. When it was time to say goodbye I realized that the ache in my chest was the thought of not seeing them for a while. I thought before that teachers really didn't care for their students but I proved myself wrong. When you teach you don't have 1 child you have many children.
6.) Dont be afraid to try something new.
Doing things in a traditional style is great. Doing new things is ever better! Just imagine where we would be right now if we would of never tried something new?
7.) There are many factors that affect students and their learning.
Being a student myself I guess I understood this. When you get into the classroom though things like these seem to slip your mind rather quickly. Do whatever you can to help your students get on track. Help them in any form you can let them know you care.
8.) You cannot be too lenient with students or too harsh.
It's hard not to be a passive teacher that lets students get away with a lot of stuff. With that said that does not mean you can be a very strict teacher that students are afraid to come to. You somehow need to find the spot in the middle of these 2 teaching styles. Be the teacher students know not to try and mess with but let them know you understand if they need anything.
9.) Share any ideas you have with other educators.
I noticed teachers sharing and ideas or lessons they did with each other. We usually kept ideas to ourselves but see that's not such a great thing to do. You need to share with one another so that your students can get a better understanding of what they are learning. Plus it's fun sitting around sharing these awesome ideas you found or came up with.
10.) Be careful you might end up loving the teaching profession.
I thought I had a clear vision of wanting to be a police officer. Then I took this amazing opportunity to work along side a 1st grade teacher and guess what? I ended up having doubts about what my future career looked like. I enjoy teaching children things they will use throughput their lives. I just want to be sure that I am 100% certain teaching us what I want to do.
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