Five wonders… Five questions... Five things to do…
As some of you are beginning your careers as an educator or maybe some of you have been already worked in schools for a while – there are things that you may wonder or that you have questions about being a teacher or that you have ideas of things you want to do.
I know when I first started teaching I did not really think that much about how I would do things in a classroom. I was happy to get a job and I that I had to start planning my classes. I graduated in December and then started teaching at the end of January; I started teaching mid year at the change of semesters. I liked very much the high school where I would begin my career and was very excited.
Since I started teaching mid year at the change of semesters I actually had the luxury to observe the teacher that I would be replacing. So I knew for sure some things that I would not do by observing her and I knew one thing for sure that I would do. I decided I was to have a discipline classroom. I was not sure how I would do it but I knew that is what she did not have it and I was going to. I had less than two weeks to get my plans intact but whatever I planned worked.
I cannot remember back to specifics those 40 plus years ago when I first started teaching but I know I did have some wonderings; I did have lots questions and I did have ideas, lots of ideas. I was fortunate to have a principal who mentored me and allowed me to be creative and to take risks.
As you are preparing to be a teacher or if you already teaching, share in your reply to this blog post:
1. Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
3. Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
I look forward to learning your thoughts. Maybe we can get some explore your lists and get some strong responses.
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63 comments:
Five things that I wonder about being a teacher are will I be able to teach effectively. Can I have good discipline for all of my students? Will I be able to help each of them in one way or another individually? How do I gain the love and respect from my students? Will I be capable of doing everything in my power to help them gain knowledge that will last a lifetime?
I can be a little shy at times and I don't always like speaking in front of large crowds. 1.) How can I over come my fears of being an excellent speaker? 2.) How can I demonstrate daily life skills in my curriculum. 3.)How can I become more inspiring to my students? 4.)Will my classroom be the class that parents and children are desiring to be apart of? 5.)Will I be the type of educator that can instill in my students and help boost students self-esteem?
In society today, people as a whole lack affirmation. I want to thank and appraise my students. By appraising students it will allow them to feel that they are just as special as others. In my classroom I want to teach all of my students that "Responsibility," is the benchmark of the mature individual. I want students to believe that they can achieve their dreams and aspirations. I want my student to explore places that will allow them to demonstrate and use their imagination.
Since I'm currently a practicing teacher, I will be responding to this post with my own experiences. To begin, I often wonder why some teachers only look at their occupation as a "job". I wonder if I've had a positive impact on any of the numerous student teachers I've mentored in the past. I wonder if my influence follows my students outside the classroom. I wonder what types of new curriculum will inspire me and make my teaching more interesting. Finally, I wonder if I'll enjoy being a teacher all the way up to my retirement.
As for the 5 questions I would ask, I suppose they're more like opinion questions. Such as, how do you see differentiation working in your class? Do you think multi-grade teaching is a positive strategy? Do you feel the use of technology in the classroom is having a positive impact on your students? How do you feel about science & history taking a back seat while math & literacy is all everyone is talking about? How do feel about the constant changing of state standards(CCSS)?
The 5 ideas I would want to institute in my class or school... interesting. One idea is to bring back my "drama club" which I led a few years back (I really enjoyed it!) I would like to have a "Career Day". I've always heard about it but I have never tried it. I think a school-wide American history lesson would be interesting. I would have each grade level focus on one decade and create projects to share with the rest of the school. I really would like to have the resources to conduct weekly science labs. And lastly, I would like to see more school-wide competitions, besides the spelling bee. I believe competition promotes motivation for most (not all) students.
I'm sure I have more, but I'll end here saying: After 15 years of teaching, my own experiences have taught me a lot but I know I can always learn something new.
Tami Morgan
Since I'm currently a practicing teacher, I will be responding to this post with my own experiences. To begin, I often wonder why some teachers only look at their occupation as a "job". I wonder if I've had a positive impact on any of the numerous student teachers I've mentored in the past. I wonder if my influence follows my students outside the classroom. I wonder what types of new curriculum will inspire me and make my teaching more interesting. Finally, I wonder if I'll enjoy being a teacher all the way up to my retirement.
As for the 5 questions I would ask, I suppose they're more like opinion questions. Such as, how do you see differentiation working in your class? Do you think multi-grade teaching is a positive strategy? Do you feel the use of technology in the classroom is having a positive impact on your students? How do you feel about science & history taking a back seat while math & literacy is all everyone is talking about? How do feel about the constant changing of state standards(CCSS)?
The 5 ideas I would want to institute in my class or school... interesting. One idea is to bring back my "drama club" which I led a few years back (I really enjoyed it!) I would like to have a "Career Day". I've always heard about it but I have never tried it. I think a school-wide American history lesson would be interesting. I would have each grade level focus on one decade and create projects to share with the rest of the school. I really would like to have the resources to conduct weekly science labs. And lastly, I would like to see more school-wide competitions, besides the spelling bee. I believe competition promotes motivation for most (not all) students.
I'm sure I have more, but I'll end here saying: After 15 years of teaching, my own experiences have taught me a lot but I know I can always learn something new.
Tami Morgan
MICHELLE MARTIN - MLE 300 - 01/23/12
1. Five things you wonder about being a teacher…
•I wonder about the time I would have to put in before and after class
•I wonder about the discipline of the student I am to teach
•I wonder about being respected in the class
•I wonder about the material to be presented…will I make a mistake or lose my train of thought
•I wonder about being all I am to be
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers…
•When did you come to a realization of becoming a teacher?
•Did you come from a family of teachers or are you the first?
•How did you prepare to take on a task to teach?
•Why do you teach?
•Did you ever think that teaching is not for you once started?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
•In the classroom, I want to invite the students to openly say good morning to one another and the teacher once attendance is called (e.g. instead of saying here or present each student would say ‘good morning ______’)
•How are you doing to the staff and students?
•Bring back the days of saying “excuse me and thank you”, in class and throughout the school
•10 minute weekly assessment from the students to the teacher, reserve the time into curriculum
•Although it may be difficult, get to know your students/their guardians, instead of waiting for report card pick-up
Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
1. I wonder how you manage to stay organized all year. After teaching for a couple of years you probably get the hang of it, but the first year you started teaching, how did you know how to organize all the papers for your classroom.
2. I wonder what type of discipline you have set up in your classroom. I know this is a very important part of the classroom environment and I am very curious how you decide what type of discipline you use. Is it chosen by the school? Is it chosen by the individual classroom? If it is chosen by the individual classroom how do you decide what type of discipline in right for your students?
3. I wonder how you choose how you grade your students. When I was working in a 3rd grade classroom, the teacher did not assign grades to any of their homework or activities. I know that there are different ways to assess students other than a point system, but are there any grades that are required by the school. And how to do decide what to actually grade and record and what to assess to make sure it is done correctly.
4. I wonder how teachers are able to fit the entire curriculum that is required, into one year of working with the students.
5. I wonder what sources teachers use to come up with different fun and exciting ways to teacher their students.
Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
1. How did you choose what grade you are teaching, and if you didn’t did you feel prepared to teach a different grade level?
2. How did you decide on what discipline you were going to use in your classroom?
3. Was how you assess your students something that you picked or is there a certain way that the school says the students need to be assessed?
4. Did you feel overwhelmed your first year of teaching having to start every activity from scratch?
5. How did you stay organized? Were a lot of the idea for your classroom things that you learned while students teaching or things you came up with on your own?
Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
1. Team work. I think it is very important to make sure that you are having students work together to complete certain assignments. Learning form peers can be very valuable.
2. Using technology and different programs for students to present activities to the class. The research for the assignment might not be fun, but I think putting together a Prezi or different animated cartoon with that information will be fun for the students.
3. Having one specific place where students turn in their homework. This will help the students learn how to be organized as well as the teacher.
4. I think it is important to have the desks in your classroom in groups not rows. I think this will help the students learn how to work with their peers and it will also make the classroom students centered.
5. Reading centers. When I was working in a 3rd grade classroom they had reading centers at every table and different activities at each table. The students had the week to complete the activities on the story that they read as a class. During those centers the teacher also had a chance to take the different level readers aside in groups to work with them to accommodate their learning needs.
1. Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
Will I be a successful classroom manager? Will the students know that I am a new teacher (can they tell)? How much time does it take to prepare lessons after you get the hang of it? Can I get extra curricular activities (coaching, after school, summer school) and get paid for it as a new teacher? How much of the curriculum will I have to re-learn?
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
How do you budget your time? Do you feel like people value and respect you? How much time do you prepare for school outside of the classroom? Do you re-use past ideas or do you create new lessons yearly? How often do you integrate technology?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
I have noticed poor writing skills from students and even my peers. I will insist that my students practice their writing skills on a regular basis with journaling and free writing exercises. One cannot be a good math or science student if one is not an efficient reader. To be a successful student, one must be a successful reader. This goes for every grade and age group. Because of this, I will always make time for my students to free read, regardless if I have them for one class period or all day. I also wish, dependent on my school district, to be able to integrate technology in my classroom. Technology can make learning more interesting and individualized and it is often a lot more fun. Tech can also help parent get involved or stay informed. My classroom will also be democratic in nature. Students will have a say in their learning. They will be the captains of the ship. I will be the rudder helping to guide their learning. Finally, I will use hands on learning and exploration in my classroom. The telling of information will be limited at best.
Starting a new career in teaching is like a breath of fresh air; however there is also a great feeling of the unknown. How will I be as an educator? Am I going to be well enough prepared to have my own classroom? These were just
some of the questions I had while thinking about this response. Here are some of the things I came up with.
Five things I wonder about being a teacher:
- Will I succeed in being an educator?
- Will I have the proper knowledge and resources to be a well respected educator?
- What type of value can I bring to a team of teachers who have 5-10 years of experience already?
- What qualities must I possess in order to be a mentor to my students?
- How will I know if I am providing a valuable education to young adolescents?
Every day a new question pops into my head about the future. The only thing I can do at this point is wait and see what
the future brings in teaching.
Five questions I have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers:
- How do you ensure your students are focused and interested in the material you are learning?
- What techniques do you use to make sure each student's voice is heard in the classroom?
- How do you conduct discipline in the classroom without being the "bad guy"?
- What are the best ways to get parents involved in their students learning?
- What excites you most about being an educator?
Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school:
This one was a bit more difficult for me only because I just began this new path. I have been more focused on learning
the essentials and basic of teaching that I really haven't put much effort in to what new ideas I can bring to my school. As
time goes on, I am sure this list will be never ending, but for the time being:
- Make my classroom an environment where no student feels threatened by what they do, think, or say.
- Incorporate the community in to the classroom to broaden student's thinking on how they can be involved in their community.
- Come up with a "Question of the Day" each morning (or something similar to the Marble Jar) to open discussion and get student's
minds thinking and flowing
- Have a theme week/month in which student's are encouraged to bring in/speak about something related to that theme
- Team Environments--do not want to be singling out individuals, rather mix up teams each month so that student's get to know everyone in their class
1. I wonder will I be a good mentor for my students.
I wonder if I will be able to effectively teaching multiple learning styles
I wonder about successful methods of enculturation.
I wonder if I will form meaningful relationship with other colleagues.
I wonder if I will effectively teach to the standards.
2. What was your first day like?
Did you ever feel like you were going to forget or miss something important that you wanted to teach/say?
What happens when you have a behavioral challenged student who hits you?
How do you establish a good relationship with your students?
How can I teach something differently than the way I was taught it?
3. Leveled reading groups
Use concrete objects when teaching math concepts
Establish field t classroom rules
Science center in the classroom available for students to explore
Organize educational field trips
I found this post very interesting. This topic made me think about my future in teaching. My five thoughts about teaching are 1.) How would I run my classroom. 2.) How would I group my students. 3.) How would my classroom layout be. 4.) How would I organize my lessons. 5.) How I can help all students beyond the classroom.
The questions that come to mind to ask a experienced teacher are 1.) How did you determine your lessons? 2.) Have you ever been nervous? If so how did you over come it? 3.) What has been your most memorable experience and why? 4.) What is your biggest fear in the teaching career? 5.) What do you feel has been your impact on your students? How do you know you have had an impact?
The ideas I would bring into my classroom and/ or school are as followed: I would want to use the partner method where the student reflect with peers. I would like to dedicate extra time to my students before and after class. I would like to discover more ways to get the student involved ( social clubs). I would like to utilize more technology in the classroom. I believe the most important thing is doing more family projects to involve the parents in the child's learning process.
5 things
1. will the kids like me
2. how can i make a difference
3. how do i stay motivated
4. will i be a good teacher
5. will the kids learn anything
5 questions
1. how do you get the kids to learn
2. how do you deal with discipline issues
3. how do you make a change to the curriculum.
4. how do you deal with diversity in the classroom.
5. how do you deal with the lack of resources
3 ideas
1. more technology in my class even if i have to buy it myself.
2. i want a better working partnership with the student's parents.
3. do away with no child left behind.
I wonder often but in regards to teaching I do wonder what kind of teacher I will be in twenty years from now. Will I have achieved all that I set out to be? Will I have children that I will inspire to do the same as me? Will students in years to come up to greet me, like they do my mom, and say "you were amazing! Remember me"? Most importantly, I know I change everyday but will I be able to keep the joy for years to come?
I know it sounds a bit negative but I have seen some teachers that started on the right track and have always wanted to ask them, how did you get here? Was your career everything you thought it would be? Hopefully they would smile and just say "don't worry, it's just a bad day".
Perhaps a more positive spin is in asking who they are as people and how that has affected their teaching positively .
I wonder often but in regards to teaching I do wonder what kind of teacher I will be in twenty years from now. Will I have achieved all that I set out to be? Will I have children that I will inspire to do the same as me? Will students in years to come up to greet me, like they do my mom, and say "you were amazing! Remember me"? Most importantly, I know I change everyday but will I be able to keep the joy for years to come?
I know it sounds a bit negative but I have seen some teachers that started on the right track and have always wanted to ask them, how did you get here? Was your career everything you thought it would be? Hopefully they would smile and just say "don't worry, it's just a bad day".
Perhaps a more positive spin is in asking who they are as people and how that has affected their teaching positively .
Five things that I wonder about being a teacher are how to effectively teach a class of diverse learners. How can I teach every child based on their learning style? How do I challenge their level of thinking without certain students getting more attention than others? I tend to focus more on struggling students while those at the top of the class aren't being challenged as much as they should be. What are best practices?
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers
How do I manage to keep my sanity and personal life while devoting my time to my students? How do I get parents more involved in their child's education? How do I encourage boys to be brave learners? How do I celebrate what they enjoy while encouraging them to be open to different topics? For example, every boy wants to read Captain Underpants or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I don't want to take that away from them I want them to expose them to other books. How do I stay true to who I am as a teacher while doing what's required of me. The school I currently work in is primarily data driven. I'd rather focus on inquiry based learning opposed to preparing students for a test with low standards. (ISAT)
Five ideas, as an educator,I want to use in the classroom are..
exposing students to learning through performance art,give more minutes toward Social Studies lessons, move learning outside of the classroom through educational field trips,bringing in guest speakers, and I'd also like to set up pen pals from a different country for each student.
Five things that I wonder about being a teacher are how can effectively teach a class of diverse learners. How can I teach every child based on their learning style? How do I challenge their level of thinking without certain students getting more attention than others? I tend to focus more on struggling students while those at the top of the class aren't being challenged as much as they should be. What are best practices?
Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers
How do I manage to keep my sanity and personal life while devoting my time to my students? How do I get parents more involved in their child's education? How do I encourage boys to be brave learners? How do I celebrate what they enjoy while encouraging them to be open to different topics? For example, every boy wants to read Captain Underpants or Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I don't want to take that away from them I want them to expose them to other books. How do I stay true to who I am as a teacher while doing what's required of me. The school I currently work in is primarily data driven. I'd rather focus on inquiry based learning opposed to preparing students for a test with low standards. (ISAT)
Five ideas, as an educator,I want to use in the classroom are..
exposing students to learning through performance art,give more minutes toward Social Studies lessons, move learning outside of the classroom through educational field trips,bringing in guest speakers, and I'd also like to set up pen pals from a different country for each student.
I can honostly say that I have always wondered whether or not I will succeed as a teacher. Will my teachings get across effectively to my students. How will make sure they are learning to greatest potential. I have always wondered how will I be effective and whether or not I will mark their lives positively.
How is it that teachers keep their children engaged in the lessons? How do you teach children with different learning styles? How can we implement all types of learning styles in one lesson plan? How does one realize when a child has to e accomodated to learn better? How can a teacher keep a well organizewd classroom?
As an instructor I will like to incourage students to help me help them. Reflections are something I loved when I was in school. Having the students give suggestions on how to be more effective would be wonderful. Allowing students to do more team work is also a great strategy I beleive. Children can learn a lot from each other and so putting them into groups does not seem like a bad idea at all. I also want students to learn that their education is something that will very beneficial to them and that good study habits start from early on. Teaching them good study habbits and techniques can be very rewarding to them.
I can honostly say that I have always wondered whether or not I will succeed as a teacher. Will my teachings get across effectively to my students. How will make sure they are learning to greatest potential. I have always wondered how will I be effective and whether or not I will mark their lives positively.
How is it that teachers keep their children engaged in the lessons? How do you teach children with different learning styles? How can we implement all types of learning styles in one lesson plan? How does one realize when a child has to e accomodated to learn better? How can a teacher keep a well organizewd classroom?
As an instructor I will like to incourage students to help me help them. Reflections are something I loved when I was in school. Having the students give suggestions on how to be more effective would be wonderful. Allowing students to do more team work is also a great strategy I beleive. Children can learn a lot from each other and so putting them into groups does not seem like a bad idea at all. I also want students to learn that their education is something that will very beneficial to them and that good study habits start from early on. Teaching them good study habbits and techniques can be very rewarding to them.
Response to Michelle Martin... My realization of becoming a teacher actually didn't begin until my third year of college. I was an accounting major and my roommate was an education major. She would come home with these interesting assignments and I would work with her. I soon found myself bored with OMIS and accounting classes so I changed majors. No one in my family is in education and my mother was none too happy when I told her I was switching majors until I explained to her how excited I was. As for preparation, I've always been an organized person, so leading a group of students in learning was a perfet fit. When I first started teaching, my reasoning and purpose were based merely on the students. I thought I could make a difference in so many lives. Now, after 15 years, seeing how politics are involved in education, I see my task is not only the students but the school as a whole. I'm very involved in every aspect of my school. As for ever thinking that teaching was not for me, yes. I think every teacher has their moment when they question whether they made the right choice. It's not an easy field and you have to be strong to take on this task.
morgansponderings.blogspot.com
I wonder how my past students are doing. I sometimes find myself thinking about how old my very first class of students must be by now. The first time I counted back and figured they would be in college by that time, my first thought was 'I wonder if they went to college. Did I in some small way instill that in at least one of them? I hope I did. Did I discourage anyone? I hope not.'
I wonder if I might have spent too much time at school and not enough at home. My oldest is 19. My middle child is 12. And my youngest is 5. I put so much time and energy into my job when my oldest was little that I really think I cheated both of us of time and memories together. I'm trying really hard not to make that mistake again.
I wonder how my students will remember me--if they will remember me. I know that some of my own children's teachers have been--well--not memorable. I don't want to be one of those teachers students would rather forget.
I wonder if I'm doing the right thing for all my current students. Am I giving them the most effective instruction? Am I using the right program? Is this really going to help them be better students? Better people?
I wonder if I should further my own formal education. This class has, so far, reminded me of how much work it is to be a student, and work full time, and have a family. Yet I would like to see "Ph.D." after my name...maybe some day.
Teachers are expected to do a lot, and every year, somebody comes up with something new that teachers are responsible for teaching. How do you keep everything straight?
The students I teach tend to have a lot of baggage. Said baggage can make academic endeavors seem less achievable and less desirable. One result of that can be lower academic achievement, which is often reflected in lower reading ability. My question is—how does one address the instructional needs of middle or high school students who are still learning how to read?
Teachers are seldom positively portrayed by the popular media. What can I do to alleviate that perception? What small role can I play? Is being the best teacher I can be enough?
I worry about students bullying one another. I don’t allow unkind words in the classroom, but bullying happens outside of school too. What can I do to prevent bullying when there are no teachers around?
With all the focus on testing reading and math, how do we balance content instruction (science, social studies, exploratories)?
It may sound cliché, but I don’t care: You have to love them for who they are.
You have to keep the kids in mind. Whatever we do or don’t do in, for, near, about school, it should be in the best interest of the students.
The moment you stop caring about education, please look for other employment.
If you love teaching, don’t ever let them make you a coordinator or consultant or coach or anything else that will take you out of the classroom the whole day. You will miss it.
*Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
1. If the students will actually learn from me or will I just completely ruin them for future teachers because I couldn't prepare them.
2. Will I be able to manage my class or if they will somehow “manage” me.
3. Where do they come up with all these creative lesson plans?
4. Will it be okay to still ask questions? Who do I turn to?
5. How much planning outside of school will I have to do?
*Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
1. How do you go from being stern to friendly with your students?
2. How do you regain control over your class when things start to get hectic without becoming frustrated and yelling? I do NOT want to be that teacher.
3. How do you motivate your students to get excited about learning? How do you help them realize that getting an education is really important?
4. Why do you teach?
5. What have you learned from your students?
*Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
1. I want to be an approachable teacher; I want to make sure that my students realize that they can come to me for anything. I think this is important because sometimes teachers seem closed off from their students and then students fear them. Clearly this is bad because if the student is confused or scared they won't approach their teacher for help.
2. I want to make school fun for these kids. I know how tedious school can feel and sometimes it can get so frustratingly dull that you just stop going or caring about school. So maybe fun exercises like "Be the teacher for a day/lesson" could motivate these kids to love school and see its importance.
3. I personally love learning different languages, and learning about different cultures that are different than my own. I would really like to incorporate different things from all around the world into my class because I believe everyone should be open minded and experience new ideas and ways of living.
4. I want to start a karaoke club as an after school program at a school so that these kids can blow off some steam after class. As a shy child I always felt unqualified for many of the other after school programs but I think that this idea would attract a lot of different students from all types of groups. Karaoke is fun!! Music is universal and everybody loves to sing so I don’t think it would be a bad program. I mean it sounds silly, but when adults are stressed out we go out to have fun and then come Monday morning we feel ready for another busy week. But at this age what do kids really have to help them get rid of all stress that isn’t competitive or academic?
5. Growing up I always made up jingles in my head that could help me in my studies. Whether it was to help memorize my times tables or to help me remember what an adjective meant I always had songs running through my mind. I would really like to include some of these jingles into the classroom curriculum because it can be a new way for a child to grasp a concept or really help a student to fully understand (and never forget) something!
Five things to wonder about being a teacher? I think about so many things like for example will I have the patience to keep trying my best day after day and year after year? Another thing I wonder about is wether I will continue to push my creativity once the middle of the year has passed? How much work will be done after school hours? How will I react to certain situations where the students are causing mayham, and are not listening to reason, will I shout or get upset? There is so many scenarios and situations that will for sure challenge my very own being, but will I remember why I became a teacher in the first place.
1. Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
I wonder how I will be at organizing all of the paperwork I'll have not just from assignments but for the school I work at and making sure I get that done? I wonder how well will I understand what standard boundaries I'll have to follow to allow my students all they can but not get myself fired? I wonder how will I be able cut down my words? I wonder if I'll be ready to manage time effectively? I wonder if I will be good enough as a teacher? I wonder if I'll be able to help them achieve in each of their own ways?
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
What are some tricks to help be better organized? What are some skills to help with time management? I have a tendency to use too much teacher speak, are there any tricks to help with that? How can I organize situations to allow some of my students to be the experts and bring culture to the classroom? where can I get some cool posters that have positive messages for school?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
I want to definitely use technology such as Prezi, animation websites,and voice thread to give multiple choices to doing certain projects. I want to have certain lessons that have my students show something cool that they like to do that is appropriate for school and ask if they could teach it to the class sometime allowing them to allow them control over some of their learning. I want to teach some culture days to allow my students to learn about different cultures. I want to bring more artistic things to the classroom such as some instruments,visual, or drama art projects to allow things to coincide and keep learning fun. I want to also keep a positive relationship with parents by keeping in constant contact as much as possible, if possible, to allow them to have as much knowledge as their children.
1. I wonder how you manage to stay organized all year. After teaching for a couple of years you probably get the hang of it, but the first year you started teaching, how did you know how to organize all the papers for your classroom. 2. I wonder what type of discipline you have set up in your classroom. I know this is a very important part of the classroom environment and I am very curious how you decide what type of discipline you use. Is it chosen by the school? Is it chosen by the individual classroom? If it is chosen by the individual classroom how do you decide what type of discipline in right for your students? 3. I wonder how you choose how you grade your students. When I was working in a 3rd grade classroom, the teacher did not assign grades to any of their homework or activities. I know that there are different ways to assess students other than a point system, but are there any grades that are required by the school. And how to do decide what to actually grade and record and what to assess to make sure it is done correctly. 4. I wonder how teachers are able to fit the entire curriculum that is required, into one year of working with the students. 5. I wonder what sources teachers use to come up with different fun and exciting ways to teacher their students.
1. How did you choose what grade you are teaching, and if you didn’t did you feel prepared to teach a different grade level? 2. How did you decide on what discipline you were going to use in your classroom? 3. Was how you assess your students something that you picked or is there a certain way that the school says the students need to be assessed? 4. Did you feel overwhelmed your first year of teaching having to start every activity from scratch? 5. How did you stay organized? Were a lot of the idea for your classroom things that you learned while students teaching or things you came up with on your own?
1. Team work. I think it is very important to make sure that you are having students work together to complete certain assignments. Learning form peers can be very valuable. 2. Using technology and different programs for students to present activities to the class. The research for the assignment might not be fun, but I think putting together a Prezi or different animated cartoon with that information will be fun for the students. 3. Having one specific place where students turn in their homework. This will help the students learn how to be organized as well as the teacher. 4. I think it is important to have the desks in your classroom in groups not rows. I think this will help the students learn how to work with their peers and it will also make the classroom students centered. 5. Reading centers. When I was working in a 3rd grade classroom they had reading centers at every table and different activities at each table. The students had the week to complete the activities on the story that they read as a class. During those centers the teacher also had a chance to take the different level readers aside in groups to work with them to accommodate their learning needs.
5 things you wonder about being a teacher
1. I wonder how you prepare for your classes during the summer months and breaks.
2. I wonder how teachers know how to pick one thing to cover over another in a limited amount of time.
3. I wonder how you earn students respect.
4. I wonder how you teach all students in your class, even if some are at one performance level and others are at another.
5. I wonder how you deal with students who are at the borderline of failing near the end of the year.
5 questions to ask to a practicing teacher:
1. How do you motivate students to do something that they don’t care about?
2. How do you care for students who are having problems outside of school?
3. How do you overcome a lack of supplies or technology?
4. How do you prepare for a topic that you do not know a lot about?
5. How do you vary assessment enough to know that all students have an opportunity to prove their learning?
5 ideas you want to use in a school:
1. I want to give all of my students a chance to prove that they have learned the material. I want to vary assessments to where my students can pick one of several different mediums to prove their knowledge. Very rarely do I want to give students a multiple choice exam.
2. I want to have a good relationship with all of my students and I want to encourage that by meeting students as they enter my classroom each day. I believe that this will be the best way to motivate my students by showing that I care about them and I am willing to cultivate a relationship.
3. I want a student centered classroom where I do very little lecturing to the class. I want the students to work in groups and learn by bouncing ideas off of each other and working co-operatively.
4. When working as a class, I want every student to feel like they can speak whatever is on their minds, which means that I have to create an inviting classroom environment.
5. I want to use all types of technology to teach my students because I believe that it will help students to learn best by receiving the information through something that they use during their free time. I want to use technology and social media to the full extent that my school will allow me.
Five things I wonder about being a teacher....
1) Will I still love it 15 years from now?
2) If students will remember me when they graduate or come back to say Thank you?
3) If students will love and respect me as a teacher.
4) Will I ever get a chance to eat my lunch during my actual lunch period?
5) If I will be teacher who students find fun and want to come to my class.
Five questions I have...
1) When will I finally find a balance between school life and home life?
2) How do I deal with irate parents upset over their child's grades?
3) How to handle the silence in a classroom when I have lost their interest?
4) When will I feel as though I have a grip on what I need to do in the classroom and how to do it?
5) How to build good relationships with students when you feel as though you have to be so strict in the classroom to keep everyone in line?
Five ideas to use in the classroom
1) I want to take students outside on a nice day to use math concepts in the park.
2) Using class experiments (even though its not a science class) to show how math and science connect. Maybe have both science and math as a double period?
3) Do a cool activity throughout the school on PI day (March 14th)
4) Allowing students to spend a day pondering ideas that relate to math? Anything at all and the class has to figure it out.
5) Spend one whole day a month playing math games with prizes. (Like Math Bingo)
6) Find an awesome field trip to take my students on where they learn about math without even realizing it at first.
In response to Morgan(Morgan Ponderings):
I enjoyed reading a veteran teacher's response to the 5 things questions. It was very interesting to see how your point of view changes with experience. As a first time teacher, a lot of questions I have/wrote down were general conceptions of teaching where as you, someone with years of experience, were able to dig deeper. For example, I liked your question about your relationship with student teachers. I was so focused on being a mentor to students that I failed to realize how you can be a role model to other teachers as well as future teachers. That is exciting to think about!
One thing I found interesting was your comment regarding different importance on school subjects. To be honest, I hadn't realized there was such a barrier between Math and Literacy compared to Science and History. It's unfortunate that in some cases there may be such a big disparity between these subjects; if only they would even out. I do feel it's important as a new teacher coming in to try and ensure importance on all types of subjects.
In all, it was very informative to read answers from someone considered a "veteran" in teaching. It really opened my eyes to even more questions, ideas, etc I had as a new teacher. As the days go by and more learning is obtained, I jot down these questions that I hope to have answered once I have my own classroom.
Five things I wonder about being a teacher:
What will the profession of teaching be like in the long run?
Will standards in teaching be increasingly influential in education?
How will technology play a role in education for teaching, and what students will be required to know to be competitive in the global marketplace?
How will what is required for the jobs of the future influence how we categorize disciplines? I.e will subjects like math still be taught by themselves or will multiple subjects start to be combined like math and science to form a comprehensive class that utilizes both disciplines.
How will the school day change over time? Will it be longer or shorter?
Five questions I would ask other current teachers:
What strategies have you used to drive student interest? Motivation
What is the biggest road block you have experienced that stifles student achievement?
What technological advances do you feel make it easier for you to accomplish your goals inside and outside the classroom?
Where does it seem to be the most crucial part in students' development and where can all teachers make the most progress?
How do parents or close relatives fit in to your overall lesson planning?
Five ideas I would like to use in my own classroom are:
Student centered learning. Giving more responsibility to students to guide their own learning experiences while I play a role of support instead of constantly lecturing and dictating to them.
An inquiry based lesson plan. Planning projects where students will have to find and analyze information which will ultimately require them to make informed decisions.
Finding ideas that are of interest to students. Trying to open up to what interests students and utilizing those ideas and incorporating important strategies and concepts from the classic lessons that students will be required to master in order to complete their work.
Incorporating technology more into the lessons. Jobs today are requiring more knowledge of how to use valuable tools like iPads and other computer programs.
Incorporate real world experiences that require hands on learning whether it be field trips or inviting different professionals into the classroom to give students an idea of what lies ahead of them.
I really like Natalie's idea of having students working in groups and using technology in her classroom. All the research that I've read and from what I have been taught at National-Louis points to having students collaborate and claims that students learn the best that way. It is really discouraging to do observation hours in CPS classrooms and see students cornered off and not able to work together. Students are forced to work by themselves and it does not appear to produce material that is as substantial. The necessity to work together once you get out of high school is a necessary skill and I will definitely work to build that skill up in my classroom.
In response to Natalie123:
You asked "1. I wonder how you manage to stay organized all year. After teaching for a couple of years you probably get the hang of it, but the first year you started teaching, how did you know how to organize all the papers for your classroom."
I have known a lot of teachers in my forty years and have learned one thing...unorganized teachers are unorganized in everything they do. Sure, teachers learn new and more effective techniques to stay on top of things (or to make things easier) but, a messy person is a messy person. I am a neat person. I have an organized home, car and work environment. My files on my computer are tidy and thought out. I have a place for everything and everything is in it's place. I was like this as a student, as a business professional, and as a teacher. I suspect that, if you are an otherwise naturally organized person, your classroom will be so as well. You make take longer to be organized but you will be organized nonetheless. In time, you will just be more efficient and effective.
1.) Five things I wonder about being a teacher….
There are countless ideas that I ponder about in
regards to becoming a teacher. Nonetheless, I can narrow them down to 5 general ideas. The first would have to be the initial meeting with my classroom of students. I wonder if they will be receptive to me or discourteous. This, in turn, leads to my second inquiry: If I am rejected, how will I deal with this in a merciful, yet professional manner?
I also wonder if I will be the teacher that most students will cherish long after my instruction with them. I wonder if my students will feel comfortable enough to confide in me their personal issues, to a certain degree, if it conflicts with their studies. Finally, I wonder if my instruction can be so profound that it is embraced by my students beyond the classroom setting.
2. Five questions I have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
A. Was teaching a longtime goal, or did it suddenly become a desired career choice?
B. Generally, how many hours outside of the classroom do you spend on tasks?
C. What/Who do you feel is the most influential on your style of teaching?
D. If you can teach any other grade level, what will it be and why?
E. What do you feel is the most rewarding/challenging aspect of being a teacher?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, I want to use in a classroom or in a school …
A. “Points-reward” system: I plan to allow my students to earn points according to their participation, attendance, behavior, etc. for a monthly reward (e.g. nice school supplies, passes to a movie).
B. Role Play: I plan to assign my students a variety of roles (e.g. Points Keeper) within the classroom that will change on a weekly basis, allowing each student to be able to assume a role.
C. Heritage Exploration: I think it will be an enlightening initiative to celebrate different heritages each month within the school and have a person, or two, of each specific heritage to come in and tell narratives.
D. Mock Trials: I believe mock trials are a good basis for exploring governmental structure and practices within the U.S.
E. Team Building: I think each week a lesson should include a specific project that involves teamwork. For instance, creating a poem together or collaboration on a science project, outside of the routine science fair requirement.
Five things I wonder about being a teacher:
1) I wonder if it’s possible for a single teacher to change the way things are done in his or her department and school, and if so, what’s the best way or strategy to go about doing that?
2) I wonder what is the best way for a teacher to handle the situation where the administration may not back the teacher’s efforts to have discipline in the classroom?
3) I wonder how much a teacher should stick to the curriculum a department decides on and how much a teacher should depart from that as long as state standards or common-core standards are being met by year’s end?
4) I wonder what the best approach is in dealing with the gossip-y and clique-y way that teachers can behave.
5) I wonder how to strike a balance between coming across as a caring teacher while at the same time being firm in my expectations of the students. How does one avoid coming across as a hard, inflexible disciplinarian?
Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers:
1) Is the best advice to simply do want the administration asks of you and not be one of those teachers that always seems to be complaining or “bucking the system”?
2) What is the best frequency to contact parents, what should be the mixture of methods, and what should be the percentage breakdown between positive and negative contacts?
3) What is the worst part of the job from your perspective?
4) What are some of your specific strategies to classroom management and discipline?
5) What is the most difficult situation you have encountered, and how did you handle it? Would you handle it differently if you had a second chance?
Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school:
1) As an English teacher and a former desktop publisher, I want to institute a year-long project where kids document their experiences in and out of the classroom using a program like Adobe InDesign. The document would include still images, video, text, and design, and the document would integrate a student’s experiences inside the classroom as well as outside the classroom. At the end of the year, I will have some kind of Presentation Night to view the documents.
2) I’d like to have a “Question Day” every once in a while. It would be an opportunity for students to explore for the answers to questions they have about anything.
3) I’d like to have my students do their own creative writing alongside the authors they are reading so that they view themselves as fellow authors, not just passive readers.
4) I want to have music be a part of the classroom, both when students are entering class as well as when they’re leaving class. I want the students to pick the music, and part of the activity will be for them to learn about how to talk about music intelligently and make arguments for the reason for their music selection.
5) I want to create a classroom that creates a mood through lighting that’s different than the “white florescent light from directly overhead” that most classrooms have.
Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
1. What kind of atmosphere will my classroom have?
2. Will I be good at classroom management?
3. Will my coworkers and I work well together?
4. How can I make the connection between school and home life?
5. How can I tell that I am making a difference?
Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
1. How do you reach students who have trouble connecting to the material?
2. When did you start feeling completely confident in your lessons?
3. How do you establish positive relationships with students while maintaining good classroom management?
4. What was your first year of teaching like?
5. How do you make the connection between school and home life?
Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
1. I want to have a very inviting and open classroom. A place where students want to be.
2. I want to implement plenty hands on activities. It is more engaging, and students find it fun
3. I do not want to assign busy work, students know that it holds no value
4. I want to help all students achieve and feel confidant in who they are
5. I want to nurture social and emotional development. It is the most important part of middle school and leads to healthy, happy and intelligent students.
Although, I believe that teaching or providing instruction is my calling, I have been avoiding this career based on all of the horror stories and urban legends that I have been hearing my entire life. I have just recently embraced the idea of teaching, during which, I have accepted my responsibility to help others see the importance of education and higher learning.
With that being said, five things I wonder about being a teacher are:
1. Will I be an effective role model to African-American males, in order to affect at least 1% of the negative statistics reflecting black education?
2. How will I inspire the new generation students?
3. I wonder which grade of students that I will be most effective with?
4. I also wonder how the atmosphere of my class will be.
5. I wonder what type of students I will have during my first teaching experience.
I would ask a teacher,
1. What were the hardest things that you faced early in your career as a teacher?
2. What do you feel are some of the problems that you face now in your current grade level or in education as a whole?
3. What should I focus on as an individual just entering education?
4. Do you have any secrets to provide to someone that is just starting out?
5. How was your first teaching job? What did you experience?
I would want to use in my class,
1. Projects and different presentations that will utilize teamwork.
2. Books that will connect with young readers in order for the child to gain interest in education.
3. Knowledge that will make the students as ready as possible for the next level.
4. I would like to incorporate real life events and information into the curriculum in order to make the information real.
5. I would like to use any techniques that have been determined effective in my classroom, in which I will do through continuous research while I am working.
It took me a bit to come up with the five things that I would do in my classroom because I want them to count. First, I would create a place of serenity, peace and positivity.
Secondly, I want to share my experiences with my students. At least some of my mistakes will no be repeated. Thirdly, I want my kids to feel comfortable enough to share. This blends in with the forth, to create a family in the class, where we all share and trust each other. Lastly, create a scrapbook of all our feelings, important events and whatever happened that has changed our scope positively.
In response to "CIS":
"I wonder how my students will remember me--if they will remember me. I know that some of my own children's teachers have been--well--not memorable. I don't want to be one of those teachers students would rather forget."
I really like this one 'wonder' you list. When I think back on ALL of the teachers I have had ranging from Kindergarten to Senior year of college, it sometimes takes a few minutes to remember exactly who I had each year.
What I have noticed over the years is that I always remember the ones I really enjoyed and the ones I really disliked. When it comes to thinking about everyone in between the 2 spectrum's, they all kind of just blend together. So the question I guess I have for myself is, if I'm not viewed as a favorite in some student's eyes--do I want to be that teacher that is remembered quite possibly as a challenging, no nonsense type? Or one who simply goes unnoticed and is quickly forgotten about by students as they move through their years?
It is a scary thought to me that I can simply forget about one teacher and what I learned in a year's time in their classroom. I think my biggest objective as a teacher will be standing out and being that teacher that student's not only respect for knowledge but also remember as someone they look up to in the future.
Not sure why this didn't post last weekend....
Five Things I wonder:
1. I wonder if my students will remember me when they move on in school?
2. I wonder if I will still enjoy teaching the same subject after 25 years?
3. I wonder if I will ever be able to feel competent enough in the classroom.
4. I wonder if schools will ever have enough funds to improve technology.
5. I wonder if teachers will ever get the credit they deserve.
Five Questions I have:
1. When will I be able to remember all the students’ names?
2. When will I feel like I have a grip on everyday teaching, situations?
3. When will I ever be able to end class having met my goals for that day without running out of time?
4. What are some interesting hooks to use to engage students in math?
6. Will I be ready for the technology of the future to use in my classroom?
7. Will students come back to say “Thank You”?
Five Ideas:
1 Going outdoors to use the playground for a math experiment.
2 Finding a play that incorporates math for students
3 Working on a project that involves the whole school (Data collection, analyzing) so students get involved with other grades
4 Learning more technology on the calculator so students have more confidence using it. (Using and Elmo in the classroom to display- GRANT Funds?)
5 Using as many situations instead of plug and chug style math problems so that students can remember information better.
I agree with some of you wondering what kind of teacher you will be twenty years from now. That is a great question that I think about virtually everyday as I teach. As a new teacher, I often feel like I am doing a horrible job and worry all the time about my students and what they may not be getting due to my lack of experience. Its hard to imagine being better in twenty years based on what I know today. In fact, it scares me! I hope that even in five years I will feel totally different but right now...YIKES!
1. Five things that I wonder about being a teacher….
When will TV go back to being substantive versus emphasizing reality shows, etc.?
Why do we allow Family Guy to air on Sundays @ 6:30 pm (CST) when children and adolescents may be watching TV at this time?
As an educator…
How will the field of education change within the next 5-10 years?
How does my philosophy and values drive my teaching?
What specific things will I do to evaluate my own teaching skills?
2. Five questions that I have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
Do you know of any resources that would further educate me on autistic children?
What things can I do to make my teaching more effective?
What are some effective strategies for differentiating lessons in the classroom?
Which strategies would I use to better engage parents and get them involved in their child’s education?
Do you know of any additional issues or trends that are currently affecting middle level teaching?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, I want to use in a classroom or in a school …
I would like to limit the amount of visuals that I put up in the classroom to simply reflect what students are learning.
I would like to try the concept of grouping cards in my classroom. I like the idea of four different themes (numbers, sports, shapes, symbols, etc.) on a card; selecting a theme and grouping students according to these themes.
I would like for students to choose an adjective (practical, thoughtful, investigative reflective, creative, helpful, etc.) and write about why they chose this descriptor to represent themselves and how it helps them in their learning and in general, in life.
Based on Martin Luther King’s speech, “I Have a Dream,” I would have students complete a free write to describe their dreams. If they could achieve anything they wanted to in life, what would it be and why?
Ask students to list what situations make them HAPPY…
Response to Morgan:
Tami, I agree with what you said about teachers looking at their occupations as a "job." Teaching in and of itself is a calling. I wonder what you thought about this...I had a conversation with another educator who thought that teachers are born and not made. Do you agree with this statement? As for me, I think teachers who are passionate about what they do goes beyond just fulfilling the duties of a job. I think some educators get caught up with the routines of their occupations and forget the true reason why they are there - to positively influence students and provide them with experiences that will last a life time. It seems as though some schools are doing a better job of recruiting better teachers. This, in turn, will help students to have better educational experiences.
As for the positive impact that you have on students, it is always great when students come back to you and share how you have helped them in certain areas of their lives. It is always enlightening when you see students years later and hear about what they are doing with their lives. It's also pleasing to see how they have matured and become productive citizens of society. This is what helps teachers to continue doing what they do best.
I liked your lesson idea of having students trace an inanimate object from raw material to finished product. This made me think of a favorite show that I watch on the Discovery Channel (How It's Made). Something as simple as having students look at the label of products to find out where it was made can be interesting - students can learn a lot from something as simple as that!
Speaking of differentiating lessons, this is definitely an area worth exploring. And as for science and history taking a back seat, with there being an emphasis on math and reading...it goes back to standardized tests. However, education does not solely rest on standardized testing. Regarding state standards, I think it will be very difficult for all states to embrace and use prescribed national standards. You just cannot put all states in "one box" and have them utilize one set of national standards. As for weekly science labs, that would be awesome! Lastly, healthy competition is fun. In actuality, I think that when students compete, they are actually competing with themselves (as it is unhealthy for one to compare themselves with others.) As educators, learning never stops nor does it end.
I have taught in the University of Chicago Charter school and my comments on on five things to do before you begin teaching. Real important is to obtain a copy of the text and all related materials that are required by the school. It is also important to sit with your direct supervisor and get a concrete discription of how the school views education and the expected outcomes of you lessons, and how much freedom you will have to get there. Obtain a copy of the text and any associated workbook, read them thoroughly and get a set of instrution for where your lessons will begin and end and the time frame for each semester/quarter. Then begin lesson planning with a creative approach always keeping the core/national standards in mind while always reinforcing reading and writting skills with an ultimate goal of having each student obtain abstract thinking skills...
In response to Jacqueline, I think that is a great idea about having a song in your head just to rid yourself of any stress/anxieties; we should find ways for the children not to mention ourselves when it comes to studying for an exam, projects, or just free-time in listening to music from within. Yes, music is universal and that has some doing on our connectedness as a people.
One more thing, I hear that some classical music can stir your brain activity...to me, I think you are on to something.
In response to Emily...I agree with you about bringing math into the class and making it fun, not just for the students but the teachers too...
I am currently taking math as a concentration, right now, I have History of Math, and then one more concentration. Anyway, learning about the forefathers of math is one expedition I propose. Learning about the greatest mathematicians, scientists, and philosphers will relve up the students psyche.
Math, too me, is very serious to endure, but I like the challenge of it.
So, go and make due of your math/science expose for the students...teach...learn...grow...
I commpletely agree with David and I ask my self these questions everyday. Will I have what it takes to be the best educator possible? What about organization and my tempermant? Will I continue to produce creative lesson plans or will I get stuck in my ways as I see many others doing? I think every teacher has a question or to about their first year and thinking about it makes us so anxious that we often began to question, whether or not we are even made for the job. Our goal is to become the best educators possible and once I overcome my first year jitters, I will be much better off.
In response to Linda, I think everyone's main concern is organization and discipline. I myself know that I tend to lose my temper and raise my voice. This is my biggest obstacle, learning how to control myself when my limit is pushed. I understand your concerns and I agree, this assigntment has really made everyone really think about their future as a educator. I wonder about creating creative lessons and having ideas to produce enrichment activities. soemtimes I feel like I've have ran ot of ideas and my mind has reached its maximum number of creative thoughts. My biggest concern is going beyond the classroom and i wonder, just as you, will I be able to help my students in EVERYWAY???
In response to Pat... I agree that the use of technology will be use more often in the classroom once we have our own classrooms. I just wish there was enough time in the day to plan great lesson for the all the subjects at task. I think we all go with great passion to teach and I think the biggest struggle is not teaching the lessons but sustaining the initial passion that led to us choosing this field. And ofcourse you are going to be a good teacher, I think everybody has something to offer to their students. However, the trick is to learn what strengths best suits us and if we are willing to adapt, change and begin from the begining once a challenge presents. For example, I might feel I know what kind of teacher I'll be, but once I encounter students that need to be taught differently will I change myself to reach all of my students. I certainly hope that all of us, who are going through this road comes out great. The idea that you want to have a couple days of sharing cultures sounds like a great way for the classroom to bond and feel like a family. Good thinking.
In response to Natalie... Your original post had some really good questions. It seems like you really thought about it. I feel like you'll be a great teacher. The five things you wondered about being a teacher are the kind of questions that all of us share. To me, right now, still seems to comfortable to set in in my head that it is a reality. I mean are we really going to have our own classes with 20-30 students. Are we really going to be responsible for teaching a year's worth of curriculum in all the required subjects. Right now, we have teachers teaching us how to be teachers, but soon we'll be let out of the nest. I, like everybody else can't wait to day that we finish this road. In regards, to your ideas about having them work in groups was similar to my own views, I also agree that it encourages for them to learn how to work together. I also like that you pointed out "team work" because I feel when everybody has a common goal everything runs smoother. The centers will be great to implement into a classroom if there is time and space. Overall, while reading all the posts everybody wrote makes you realize that we all have so many concersns, questions and ideas that are alike.
In response to Linda... I think your post was very intriguing. I feel you have all the things that may a great teacher. One for sure, is your passion for teaching and lending a helping hand to those in need. For example, in your post you mentioned how you would like to spend some time before and after school to help your students. Also, you said you would like to be involved in social clubs. Well, to me that just tells me that you are willing to go out and give a 110% to everything you are involved and that is what makes a successful teacher.
In response to Jacqueline... Your post was definitely more creative than some, especially mine. I think that is great though because it shows that you are willing to go outside the norm. The fact that you want to incorporate music with karokee is awesome and lots of fun. If I could sing that would be something I would try with my classroom. Nevertheless, it is really good that you are in touch with knowing what works for you(jingle). I think half of the battle is to try to connect to the students understanding of how they best learn wether is through a jingle or in a different way. Your questions for teachers were really from within and thats is good because you really care to learn what makes them tick. Good post.
This is in response to Emily’s post
I definitely have many of the same questions as you. I think that technology in the future is something that as a teacher you will have to keep up with so you are able to understand it. Knowing new technologies will always be a great way to engage your students.
I always wonder if the students will remember me when they move on in school. I think that is a yes. I know that I still remember the good teachers as well as the bad teachers, unfortunately. Making a good impact on your students in a good way to help them keep you in mind.
I think going outside on the playground for math is a great way to engage your students. Making different math experiments for them to follow will help keep them on task and still have fun.
Sorry accidentally posted this on my blog instead of yours.
Five things I wonder about begin a teacher….
1. How much teaching I will be able to do before the bureaucratic nonsense of the system drives me for the profession?
2. Will I be able to teach special education in high school?
3. How hard will it be to get the services that my students need?
4. How much impact will I have on my students?
5. How will I deal with teacher who I have a difference of an option?
Five questions I have about begin a teacher and would like to ask a current practicing teachers…
1. Do students get the services they need every week if not how often do they not get the services?
2. How much time do you spend outside of the classroom preparing for the next day?
3. What is you greatest challenge you need to overcome to keep teaching?
4. How do you keep fresh in a job that is known to burnout a lot of teachers?
5. What are your feelings about special education, should teachers who specialize in special education take the student out of the classroom or keep them included in the class?
Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school
1. I think that it is important to keep students included in a class room even if they have special needs.
2. I think that it is more important to help a student find what their passion is instead of just teaching them what is on the test.
3. Students need a safe place to learn.
4. Students need to have a person they can come to tell them what is bothering them.
5. Bureaucracy of schools is secondary to learning.
I think that a lot of students learning to be a teacher think they know what questions they will have but I think that when they start to teach those questions change. We think we know what will be hard for us to learn when we are in school but I feel that will all change when we as students start teaching. You may think that how a student will learn is the most important thing when you start teaching but after you get into teaching you learn that a student’s safety and health is really more important. While thinking about what is important now is helpful keeping an open and flexible mind when you are staring to teach is also important.
Five things I wonder about being a teacher are will I really be able to impart book knowledge onto students? Will I ever be 100% comfortable with lesson planning? What age is best for me to teach? Should I teach Art, Reading or ESL? Will I be a fair teacher?
I just recently started teaching and between discipline issues, ISATs coming up, and a million other things that schools throw you each day (and believe me when I say there are so many things my school is giving me, I sleep very little), I am finding it difficult to be creative right now. I am just trying to learn the ropes and make sure the students get what they need. I feel as I get better at the everyday routines, then I will feel more comfortable to add to lesson plans and improve upon my teaching. When I was not teaching yet, I found it so much easier to say "When I am a teacher, then..." but now its a different world. My goal is not to be one of those teachers doing the same thing a few years from now. Hopefully I will be able to break out of the culture shock of entering an urban school a be a teacher students love to learn from in the classroom.
This is in response to Felicia's post which is based upon teaching and enabling children to love themselves and most importantly instilling responsibility and self respect.
Once a student feels welcome and trusts the teacher in the classroom, self esteem builds up naturally in that classroom. It is a safe place place for them! The student is happy to be in class and everything they accomplish within that classroom will be stored in the 'happy , I feel great about myself' part of the brain.
Also, being a bit shy isn't that bad because after all, some middle school students are a bit shy too. This will help them realize that these feelings of shyness are okay and pretty common. This will make them feel better and will build their self esteem in the process.
To Emily...
I think that a lot of new teachers ask one of the same questions that you did. "I wonder if my students will remember me when they move on in school?" As a new teacher, I wonder the same. But, I think that the answer will be YES. Thinking back to my school years, I certainly remember all of the outstanding and all of the horribly mean teachers. That is just about all of my teachers! There may be a stray "so-so" teacher that I cannot recall by name. So, if you are worried about being remembered, be an exceptional teacher or an exceptional jerk!
1. Five things you wonder about being a teacher….
-How I can work on being “cool,” without being a pushover, a challenging teacher, but not too demanding?
-What are some things I can do/learn that will make my first year teaching easier and more effective?
-How teach kids that have a lot of problems in their personal lives and are not interested (or able to be interested) in school at all?
-How to choose books that will interest a wide range of student abilities and interests?
-The importance (or lack thereof) of homework, and if giving homework, how to make it not just busy work, but of actual importance
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers….
-What is the most difficult thing about being a teacher and what is one strategy used to deal with that thing?
-What are good ways to involve parents in their child’s educational experiences?
-What are some good classroom management techniques for middle school students?
-How do you deal with vast differences in academic abilities and levels of students in your class?
-What is the most important thing to know as a first year teacher of middle school kids?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school …
-Incorporating the arts as much as possible into my lessons and curriculum
-Encouraging the asking of “essential questions” and discussions in the classroom
-Supporting a gay/straight student alliance at my school, or starting one if one doesn’t exist already
-Students learning about differences between people and developing a respect for those differences (race, culture, religion, gender, etc.) through literature
-Working on project and experience-based units in my class, and collaborating with my other team teachers to integrate the unit theme into all of the students’ classes (science, math, social studies, reading)
I also think like Emily. I wonder how my students will think of me a year, ten years or even thirty years from now. I think we as teachers really should remember that in the long run our students won't remember all of the standards that we used. They also probably won't remember a whole lot of the content that we taught. They will remember how we conducted ourselves in the classroom and how much we cared about them and their education. I don't think it is out of the question to hope to deal with our students for more than the one year they are enrolled in our class. I like to believe that beyond high school in college or whatever craft my students pursue my students will come back to me for advice or just to share their success stories. I think our biggest priority even above the content we teach should be to connect with our students and also stress the importance of their whole education and how it relates to the world outside the walls of the classroom. Good luck in your class and any of your future endeavors.
Cheers
Response to: Michelle Martin
I love that most of your concerns are surrounding your students in your asking ‘will I be all I can be’. We need more educators like yourself that think about the student’s needs first rather than our own. (lol Like me cause I’m actually pretty frightened!) I think it’s really important that you bring back the days of ‘thank you’ and ‘excuse me’ because those pleasantries are sort of lacking in the younger generations.I think that having the students asses the teacher each week is a great idea that I hope you won’t mind that I steal! Asking your student’s to point out what works and what doesn’t isn’t only beneficial for them but for us as the educators as well.
In response to Latis post, I have some of the exact same questions you do. It is hard to say whether our teaching will be effective or whether we will use the standards the way we are supposed to. The only thing is left to do is try our hardest and really put our all into what it is we are doing. I also think you asked a great question when you asked, "How can we establish a good relationship with students?" That is an essential part of teaching I believe.
In response to Felicia's post, I think you will be a great teacher one day. It's hard to even imagine speaking in large crowds but just think these kids are not there to criticize you or judge you, they are there to learn from you. You are very nice and have a positive attitude towards teaching and I am sure this is what your heart is set on. Appraising students is a great technique. Students remember and thank the teachers they felt really took the time to appreciate and understand them.
1. Five things you wonder about being a teacher…. There are many things that I wonder about being a teacher five of those things are 1) Will my lesson planning skills be organized and effective? 2) While I am confident in my ability to foster and nurture student’s emotional development, I wonder if I will be able to impart knowledge onto my students that meets state standards and requirements. 3) I wonder if I really will be able to make a difference in students’ lives with all the current political obstacles in education. 4) I wonder what type of environment would I excel in as a teacher; an urban environment where students face many challenges due to socio-economic issues or in a suburban setting where there are stereotypically less obstacles? 5) I wonder what age I will be best prepared to teach. I have the most experience with younger children but have spent a significant amount of time in a middle school setting and have enjoyed it.
2. Five questions you have about being a teacher and would like to ask current practicing teachers…. 1) How do you best handle a situation when you have a student that you don’t naturally gravitate towards? 2) Is teaching to the test and the standards really possible while at the same time using creative and innovative curriculum? 3) If teaching in an environment where a student have many struggles in and outside the classroom, is it possible to be effective? 4) What age group do they feel is most rewarding? 5) What would you do if faced with a student that has significant struggles with their learning and nothing you have tried seems to be effective with the student?
3. Five ideas, as an educator, you want to use in a classroom or in a school … 1) In all my classrooms, regardless of subject matter I want to incorporate the value of giving back to your community. 2) In my classroom I also want to emphasize the magnitude of cultural differences and help students to embrace and understand them. 3) The idea that it is important to foster student’s growth as a positive, successful human being, which equally as important as scholastic achievement. 4) I want to measure success on effort and perseverance as much I do on academic achievement. 5) I want to use non-traditional and more creative based plans to meet student’s educational milestones and expectations.
Five things I wonder about teaching....are will I have passion 5 years later? I wonder will I really like my new profession. Will my students respect me? I wonder will I be as good as think i'm going to be. I wonder will I win awards.
Will I learn to develop my lesson plans effectively?
Does or can a teacher change their lesson plan if it's not working?
And if I can change my lesson plan will I have the time to change it?
How do teachers get use to making so little money?
What techniques does a teacher use if a student becomes violent?
Showing my adolescents great documentaries.
For instance, I've been listening to Curtis Mayfeild all my life and didn't Know how revolutionary he was.
Having students bring in quotes that inspire them.
In the summer time I will love to teach class outside for a day.
A week before school have some kind of setting where the students and I can get to know each other.
The kids and I write and act to our own play.
Response to Morgan’s 2nd posting: Ms. Morgan, my career change is very similar to yours. I have my undergrad in accounting, but I recently decided to pursue my graduate degree in education instead of accounting. When I tell people about my modification, I am usually met with looks of disapproval and negative comments such as, “teachers don’t make enough money” and “are you sure that is what you want to do?” The pivotal point for me was my participation in the Junior Achievement program. It is a program that allows a selected number of volunteers to go to a specified school and teach a classroom of students, ranging from grades 1-8, about financial literacy. I, along with two other individuals, taught 5th graders and I was overwhelmed by their enthusiasm and engagement in our lesson. I believe regardless of the salary, teachers possess an extraordinary role in each student’s voyage to success; therefore, the act of teaching should be more about impacting a child’s life in a positive manner, rather than just teaching to get paid. All in all, I did do my own research on CPS teachers’ salaries and was shocked to discover that it is possible for educators to reach 6-figure salaries, depending on their educational background and experience. I do agree that strength is a highly required attribute for teachers, along with compassion and patience, but the rewards of educating children are priceless.
This is in response to Michelle Martin's five questions. My personal story is because I came from a family of teachers, it was the last thing I wanted to do. Only after getting my first job ( a necessity), teaching in an evening program , did I realize how wrong I was.
The first time I taught, something clicked; a lighting bolt went off; and I realized this was what I wanted to do.
I guess the point is, you can ask these five questions at various stages, one before you teach and then after. The results will vary with where one was personally and may be surprisingly different.
In response to katherinepage07 the first question that you listed stated exactly what is on my mind. I just started today as a substitute for a maternity leave position for the remaining of the school year. The teacher who is on maternity is a seasoned teacher who has 20 years of experience and I feel "its a big shoe for me to fill." I want to be the cool, fun, and respected teacher and not be pushed over by the kids. This is a challenge and there is a lot for me to learn.
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