Closure

      My last day was bittersweet. I really enjoyed spending time with my students, it was something that I looked forward to every Tuesday through Thursday. That day when I entered the room I was aware that it would be my last day with them. Most of them asked, "Is today really your last day?" I replied in a sad voice "Yes." They would tell me "No, school isn't even over yet. You can't leave us!" It made me so sad. But thankfully we were painted flower pots and watching Finding Nemo, that made us forget about it being my last day. When it was time for me to go, most of the kids were too into the movie and didn't realize that I was leaving. I got today goodbye to some of them but not all of them. I am going to miss my kids, overall this was an amazing experience. My internship made realize how much i love working with children.

My Animoto Video

Three more Monday's...

     At the beginning of my internship I was quite nervous about teaching a real second grade classroom. My first day at Foster Village made me realize that teaching in an amazing job. Getting to experience my class' ups and downs made me admired teachers much more. Everyone believes that teachers decide to take the easy career job. But after interning for an entire year i can assure you that teaching is one of the most difficult jobs. Just picture teaching rowdy children day after day, putting up with their attitudes and temper tantrums. Now picture the exact same scenario but except this time you have a really bad headache. No matter how they are feeling teachers have to deal with their students.
     But you don't just have to deal with the students, along with your students come their parents. Some parents are understanding and very helpful. If you tell  them that their child wasn't behaving in the classroom they say "I am very sorry. I will have a talk with him/her when we get home. And again I am very sorry". On the other hand, there are those parents that take their bratty child's side. Instead of apologizing for their child's action they may say, " I am one hundred percent sure that my child did not do what you are accusing him/her of doing. They are very good at home and I am sure that they would not at like that at home. You probably just don't like my son/daughter.
     After my interning experience I am still considering becoming a teacher. I enjoy working with kids and love that teachers are the ones that give people tools to success. Even though teaching has it difficulties I believe that teachers are rewarded by their students' success.  I really enjoyed being and intern and I hope that I will return to see my students in higher grades and see how they have grown over the years.

Smart Technology

 

   This week we learned more about the use of "smart technology" such as iPads and Smart Boards and how they are of great use inside classrooms. As technology's popularity increases students' interest for learning begins to fade. The use of technology is becoming an essential need in classrooms because it prevents kids from falling asleep.

    Here are a couple of iPads apps that would be handy inside and outside the learning field, both apps are found in the mathematics section of your curriculum map. The best part is that both are free!

1."Rocket Math", this math game requires kids to solve math sentences and point out specific shapes, coins, or numbers. 

2."Pizza Fractions: Beginning With Simple Fractions", this math game introduces fractions to kids, your students are required to determine the fraction of pizza that the chef has.

   Now here is a Smart Board lesson that could be useful inside your second grade classroom. This lesson would be most useful in during your science hours. The name of the lesson is "Plants", it teaches your students the parts of a plant as well as their life cycle.
   I hope you begin to use more technology in your classroom. Remember you don't want your students falling asleep during your lessons!

Financial Literacy Can Pay Off!!

   Present day educators believe that by including real life situations in everyday lessons students will become more engaged. By teaching students how to better spend their money teachers prepare them for a better economic future.
   Classes like economics, career connection, BCIS, and some math classes help students prepare for a better further, they help them deal with problems they might run into such a problems dealing with money. Even though these classes are helpful they aren't taught as in depth as I would like them to be. Instead of just sugar coating lessons these teachers should show their students all of the money problems they may deal with when becoming adults.
   These classes are useful but instead of just showing all of the good points they should also show more of the negative points that students should learn to deal with. I fee semi-comfortable with my ability to manage money and finances I would feel more prepared if I were taught a financial literacy curriculum in   younger grades.

Click here to view Mrs. Stevens' blog.

What Teachers Want Parents to Know

"The truth is, a lot of times it's the bad teachers who give the easiest grades, because they know by giving good grades everyone will leave them alone."-Ron Clark


   Today's education system is disappointing. We are loosing great educators because parents rather agree with their six year old instead of believing an educated professional. Parents need to understand that there are always two sides to their children's stories. Instead of immediately taking drastic action against the teacher like contacting lawyers. Many parents now days decide to take teachers to court because the teacher "left a red mark" on their child's face after trying to rub away marker. Parents also need to understand that all of their complaining and made up excuses drive teachers away from the education field. No one wants to teach bratty children that have parents who make up excuses for them tin order to keep them from being punished.

   "Parents as partners rather than prosecutors"- This means that parents should be a help for teacher rather than another struggle that teachers should deal with. Instead of doubting teachers you should believe that what they are saying is true. If they say that your child was being a distraction half way through story time  believe them instead of questioning them. Remember be that support system that back up your child's teacher. If they say that you have no respect for their teacher they will never respect their teacher.

Click here to read Ron Clark"s article.

The Rules

  In The Ron Clark Story a teacher known to raise students' standardized testing scores relocates in New York. After having perfect classrooms with students willing to learn, Mr. Clark find himself having a hard time at his new school. Going to school is not a priority for these new students, most of them have to watch their sibling while their parents are at work or are just used to spending time in the streets; earning money.
   Mr. Clark sets a set of rules for his students in hopes of making them become interested in school. His number one rule is "We are family". I believe that this rule is very significant because both students and the teacher should treat each other as if they were family members. This week my students have been having a difficult time respecting each other. After remembering this very important rule I sat everyone on the carpet in a circle and explained to them why this was our new class rule. After I had them work together during our reading time. Teamwork demonstrated how we are all family and how we should respect each other.
   Here are my set of class rules:
1. We are a family.
2. Treat each other how you would treat your mom/dad or sister/brother.(With respect)
3. Keep your hands to yourself.
4. Treat your teacher as the highest authority in the classroom.
5. Remain seated until you are given directions.
6. Raise you hand before speaking & do not interrupt others while they are speaking.
7. Keep rude or unnecessary comments to yourself.
8. Ask others for permission to borrow their belongings before taking them.

Click here to view The Ron Clark Academy website.

Glogster in the Classroom!

My students have really been struggling with double digit addition and subtraction. So, this week I decided to create an interactive poster on Glogster.

Click here to check it out.

The High Cost of Education

     I plan on applying for scholarships and working part time in order to pay for college. I feel like I need to research more college information such as scholarships, tuition costs, and other types of college financial aid. I have not yet applied for FAFSA but will be applying for it very soon since it is a helpful financial aid that all college students should receive. This help from the government is very helpful since on average college students "with loans graduate with $25,000 in debt". President Obama believes that federal financial aid should slightly be shifted to students that are able to control tuition costs, instead of those that have a hard time controlling their tuition costs. He also wants to create training programs for community college students that ensures them a job after graduating.
    Overall I believe that students should not procrastinate when in comes to the word "COLLEGE". Students should research whether they are capable of paying for certain colleges before applying and/or getting accepted into them. It is highly recommended to apply for as many scholarships as possible. They are great help. And even if you don't receive the scholarship you have nothing to loose by applying for them. Remember to get as much financial help as you can possibly receive because college is not cheap!


Click here to view President Obama's article about help for college students.

Creativity!

 Creativity is a certain ability that every single human being has of viewing things in their own way. If people are encouraged to express creativity new generations would be more likely to make drastic changes to the future.

   Creativity matters in education! Now days academics are believed to be more important that allowing students to demonstrate their amount of creativity. Because not all students are interested in academics people usually assume that they have a learning disorder. This might be because students don't like doing homework, forget to study, or just have a difficult time concentrating during lectures. These students should be allowed to demonstrate their intelligence through other ways, like arts which allows them to show of all their creativity and capacity of learning through other ways. Creativity should be seen as important as academics, because not all students enjoy academics. 

Click here to view Mrs. Stevens' blog.

Hire me, please!

In an interview situation here are my strengths and how I could accentuate them:
   I am very good at dressing properly by wearing situation-appropraiate clothes as well as not talking too much about myself. Even though sometimes it's not good to talk about ourselves too much I believe that  I talk about myself a decent amount, not too much or too little. Now when it comes to clothing I decide what outfit to wear for occasions the night before. By picking my outfit the night before I relieve myself from feeling stress minutes before the job interview.

Here are my weaknesses and how I would overcome them:
   Even though I am not good with timing. I try to be professional when it comes to interviews. A solution for my problem would be to show up to my job interviews a little early. This will show my interest in the job as well as prevent me from being late. But I also need to make sure that I do not show up too early because by doing so I might seem too pushy. This might make the interviewer think I am trying too hard to impress.

I have never applied for a job but if I failed to obtain a job I would would retrace my steps. Knowing what I did wrong in previous interviews would help me make changes in future interviews. I am sure this would help me obtain the jobs that I apply for.

Click here to view Mrs. Stevens' blog.

Digital Learning Day

1. This week is all about using technology in school classrooms. Here is a helpful website for both new and experienced teachers. You can use this website free of charge. Click here to view Edutopia. Edutopia is organized based on grades levels, core strategies, and other useful tools like blogs & videos. You can join certain "communities" and receives tips and help from former teachers.

2. Unfortunately digital learning day is just another normal day for everyone. At my site school, my teacher didn't even know it was digital learning day.When I brought it up she seemed surprised that I even knew about. She was glad that she was showing the students a power point but it wasn't specifically planned for digital learning day. My high school really didn't do anything out of the ordinary for this day. The teachers didn't seem to care or were just not aware of it.    

Make It Happen in 2012!

1. I want to make higher grades in PAP Physics. In order to do this I will try to ask more questions. This isn't as easy as it sounds, that feeling you get when you too nervous to talk needs to by thrown out the door. Instead of being "too embarrassed" to ask questions because your classmates will think of you as "the dumb one", you need to remember that you're not the only one that doesn't understand the notes and/or topic.

2. I want to help students that are having a hard time understanding a certain school topic. There is always a time where you wish an older sister/ brother/or friend would help you understand those difficult math problems or pesky science worksheets. Volunteering after school at MCES would help students get the need they help as well as have a friendship with someone older that hey could possibly look up to. This would help students raise their grades and have an older "sister/brother".

3. I want my students to feel like I am some one they could come talk to when they are having problems but also be someone they respect. I will strive to be a little stricter with my students and not let them get away with some of their actions. By establishing rules like "no teasing" or "no touching others' belongings" would decrease the small distractions that happen in the middle class. I don't want my students to feel they cannot talk to me, I want to be someone they enjoy having in class but I also want them to behave and treat me like they treat their teacher(with respect).

Click here to view Mrs. Stevens' blog.

The Ideal Classroom

My ideal classroom would be set up to a "Starbucks" classroom, both educational and modern yet relaxing. The classroom would be relaxing for the students with out technology being a major distraction. Technology would be a major part of the class, students would be assigned many assignments that would involve technology. This is because technology is rapidly increasing so this would help students have a successful future. The classroom would relieve the stress that students feel while being at school. They would be placed in a comfortable environment would help them concentrate more on their education while also being able to enjoy their surroundings. Overall my "Starbucks" classroom would a pleasant experience for my students.

Click here to view Mrs. Stevens blog.