Technology Final

I believe that technology is key in the classroom. For one, if you have something you would like to show the whole class you can use a document camera so that each students has a clear view of what you are showing. I also believe it is important to have atleast two student computers in each classroom. I believe this because some schools now have subscribed to the computer programs called MathWiz and Read About. Because these schools have these programs, if a student has free time, they can use these programs and be learning at the same time.

Some cons for technology are that some people may not be able to use certain technology such as smart boards and then these technologies just get shoved in a closet and not used. Another thing is sometimes the schools/classrooms are not set up for these types of technologies. Another con is the expense. Most schools these days do not have the financial means to buy these products and even though there are grants the school has to find the person and the time to write these grants.

Although technology is expensive I still believe it is very important for schools to have computers, document cameras, smart boards etc. If every school could have these in their classrooms I believe the visual and hands-on students will be better able to learn.

Multicultural Approach

My approach to multicultural education is to incorporate books and activities that celebrate holidays, heroes, and special events from various cultures. I think it is very important for my students to be able to read books that not only have pictures of people from their culture but also have ideas associated with their cultural norms and backgrounds. I will give students a chance to teach about their own culture along with building my instruction around different cultural happenings. When we talk about holidays I will include curriculum that incorporates different cultural celebrations. I will make sure my students understand that different cultures celebrate in different ways.

            In order to interact with all of my students I understand that I have to be able to understand their background and culture. If I do not understand the cultural background in which a child comes from I may not be able to understand why they act or learn the way they do. Not understanding their cultural norms may cause me to assume things about the child that may not be true. Such as, why they are not getting homework done, why they act out or speak out in class. These may not be behavioral problems but they may be directly connected with what is going on at home or how their culture deals with different situations.

            To be culturally competent means I am able to understand cultural differences and have a good attitude towards different cultures. It also means to be able to work with students of different cultural backgrounds in order to make the best of their education. We have learned about different cultural backgrounds and what we should expect to see as a teacher. I know that I will have to adapt my classroom and learning environment to accommodate different children’s cultural backgrounds. In order to do this I will talk to parents about things the child might expect to see when they enter my classroom, how students are expected to behave at home, how they interact with friends and family members and what the parents expect of their child. This will give me a better understanding of their culture and what I need to do to accommodate the students. 

Equity 4.1 and Ch. 3

Kids I find it easy to like: The kids that are more laid back and do what is expected of them. The ones that follow the rules but don't try to be the 'best' but try to be themselves.

Kids I find it hard to like: There really are no kids I find it hard to like. I learn their strengths and weaknesses and then I go from there. 

Kids I am sorry for: The kids that do not have support in the home. The ones that struggle because they were not set up for success in their homes before they began school. I do not think it is fair that a child struggles because their parents are not supportive or helpful in the child's learning. 

Kids I feel threatened by: The "I don't care" child. The child that no matter how you try to talk to them, what questions you ask them, or what you try to teach them, their response is usually I don't care or I don't know. I get stuck trying to figure out how to get through to them or move them past the I don't care stage. 

Kids I identify with: The children that are not necessarily struggling but have self esteem issues that effect how they act and what they learn. I tend to gravitate to a quiet child to try to get them to talk and interact with their peers. 

Kids I gravitate toward: See above

Kids I feel inadequate around: The same kids that I feel threatened by. This is because at that point I don't know what to say or do with that child to help them open up. 

Kids I don't notice: The child that sits quietly and works with no problems. Because I gravitate toward the struggling kids, I tend to let the other children go on ahead unless they have questions. 

Ch. 3

I did not have a chance to do an interview but if I did I would do 3.10. I would definitely like to know what students think their teacher/s think of them. It would be interesting to ask a child what they think their teacher thinks they will be when they grow up. I tend to wonder if teachers tell kids what they think they will be or if they only ask kids what they WANT to be when they grow up. Also, what does the child think the teacher labels them as? Smart, Average, struggling? Some students may misinterpret things the teacher says to them. The teacher may think one student is very smart but if the teacher does not make that clear or has said or done something to make the student think otherwise, this can have an effect on student progress. I think this question would be great to put in a survey for a class just so the teacher can be aware of how the kids feel and of what they say and do to make the student feel a certain way. 

ED Tech Websites

Teacher planet.com is a great website for lesson plans, worksheets, and themed lessons.

Theteacherscorner.net is a great website that shows teachers ideas for bulliten boards, printable worksheets, lesson plans etc. 

busyteacherscafe.com is a website that is for teachers of k-6 grades. It includes teacher resources, and a busy teacher cafe blog spot. Being able to talk to other teachers that are as busy as you are helps us understand the business of our work. 

Ch. 2 Response

Reflection 2.9 really interested me because it is at the point I am at now in my thinking. There are so many ways to apply different concepts to a classroom. Giving students freedom in the classroom environment is a way to make sure children take responsibility for their lives and their actions. Giving the students choices that also are agreeable to you as the teacher is a way to show the kids that they have control of their own self. Also giving students power in instruction is a way to let students teach each-other. I believe that students learn very well from their peers and writing a lesson plan in which kids get a chance to teach each-other is a great way to give them power in the classroom. Within the curriculum there should always be FUN activities. Ways I believe things can be made fun is by connecting curriculum to the world in which your students live. I believe that this connections helps children build a stronger foundation of what they are learning. 

It is also amazing to listen to different people talk about their achievements and life and what brought them to those. Different people have different skills in their life that have helped them to achieve their goals. I believe in the classroom all students have different skills and their own personal skills will not only help them but may be used to help their peers learn. I hope to learn the skills of my students and use those skills to better educate other students in my class. Using students as teachers not only gives the teacher a break but also gives the students chance at power and belonging. 

My Life in a NutShell.........Autobiography

I am the youngest of two. That's right just two of us. My brother who is one and a half years older than me and then me. Although there were just two of us, we were very close to our huge extended family. My mom is the oldest of 7, we lived next door to my grandparents, my two sets of great uncles and aunts and my moms youngest brother and his wife. Needless to say I did not get away with much. Growing up in such a big family has impacted my life in so many ways. Not only did my parents have expectations for me but so did all of my aunts, uncles and grandparents. My brother and I are the oldest of now 16 grandchildren. Throughout the years this raised our expectations. I was the babysitter, therefore I had to make sure I was doing good and doing right in my everyday life. This effects me more now that I have older cousins that are watching my every move. Our family was raised Catholic, we lived in Mt. Angel, (if you don't know anything about Mt. Angel, it is a very Catholic town) and most of my aunts and uncles married other Catholics, except my mom. Because Mt. Angel was mainly Catholic, the kids I went to school with were Catholic. This begins a new step in my life.

When I got into elementary school, I remember a lot of the kids I went to school with were involved in the church. Now my mom was raised Catholic an my dad was not so I know they struggled on that part. I went to Church sometimes, I went to religion sometimes, but my friends went all the time. I struggled going to school and facing my peers when the night before I was not in religion class. I did not always know what to say. This starts another part of my struggles. Religion class was on Wed. nights. Well that's in the middle of the week. Both of my parents worked and neither of them made good money. We were on the poor end of the scale. My dad drank a lot and my mom yelled a lot. Anyways, when I did not go to religion class it was mostly because my parents were fighting that night. Now in elementary school I was not going to go tell my friends this, I was embarrassed. My parents fighting and my dads drinking affected me in many ways in school. One was that I was set off and shy and the other was that I was not able to focus and do as good as I could have.

On my journey to becoming a teacher I want to be able to learn how to help the children that are struggling in some of the same ways. Once I finally got to high school I started talking to my friends about what was going on in my home life and they were able to support me and help me find a way ‘out’ I guess you could say. To this day I wish I had that kind of support from day one of elementary school. It may not have been a friend that would have supported me but a teacher. Because I did not gain support from teachers, I felt left out and abandoned. I guess I will stop there and explain why all of this has lead me toward teaching.

I believe that in todays society we focus a lot on diversity and culture, while these two things are very important, I don’t see much focus on the children that have rough home lives. Also, growing up in a big family and always being the babysitter I was able to see where my strengths were with children. I remember always wanting to read to them and play school or house. My family and my friends have always told me I have great teacher ‘instincts.’ I guess you could say they were right. The last 2 years I have struggled to get into a teaching program but I believe that was for a reason. Someone higher up wants me to be the best teacher I can be and it seems that this program is right for me.

Now here I stand in the beginning of this program with a family that is sitting at home waiting for me to become a teacher. Because of my background I know I will be able to balance my life here at school and my life at home with my family. I cannot wait to become a teacher and show the world that I will be excellent!

Ed for Equity #1

While reading this chapter, I realized that when someone asks me why I want to teach I usually say because I love children. But now I think about it and there are so many other things that come to mind. I want to give children a chance to do their best in life, and give them a chance to learn. Growing up I did the minimum and I regret it now that I am in college. I do also believe that some of my teachers taught the minimum. I want to teach the max and be able to make an impact. My family has influenced me in one great way to become a teacher and that is that they encouraged me and told me all the time that I would be an excellent teacher.