Ready, Set, Teach!

Teacher Appreciation

Dear Mrs. Leon,

    You are an amazing teacher. You may have only been at it for a while but you always make us feel that you are always here for us. You are great at making every student feel special, wether they try to make an A in the class or wether they are more focused on making friends. I am so glad that I was able to have a teacher like you my last year in highschool, one that I could see grow and love teaching. Thank you for being a shining example for anyone looking to be a teacher or just a better person.

Thank You

Parents

In Response to Susan Steven's blog "What Teachers Want Parents to Know"

     As a future teacher this topic brought up some interesting points. Today, the public expects different traits in the "perfect teacher". Usually the public assumes that because you are a teacher your only job is to create a safe place for students not to learn but just to spend their time. Safe places are good put parents today have degraded the schools into daycares which creates tension between teachers, students, administrators and parents. 

     Teachers are here to teach. Simple really, yet today's public does not understand the full context of this statement. Today, parents think that the skills taught in schools are worth less than their child's present happiness. What they do not realize is that sometimes a little pain is what is necessary for a student to move to the next level and to eventually succeed and be happy in the future. And a teacher is not there to facilitate the pain but to encourage, excite and push greatness from every child. Greatness takes time, energy and sometimes a little pain. Teachers need all the help they can get so that their child will feel the burn of greatness and rather than deciding it is too much, go for more! Without the Parents and the Teachers working together such an accomplishment can never happen. Parents need to see the teachers as a partner, not a nemesis. 

     In short, teachers are not here to coddle but to encourage and cannot do it alone. Without the parents, teachers can hardly hope for the students to succeed and flourish. With the parents though, anything is possible for every student. 

To read more on the subject read this article by Ron Clark

Creativity Counts

In Response to Susan Stevens blog post "Creativity"

    Creativity is frightening. Teacher, adults and other role models tell students and children that they can't achieve their dreams. That they are not smart enough or not creative enough or that they might not ever achieve anything. Adults tell children, not to kill their dreams but to "save" the child from the destruction of their dreams. Creativity or dreams cannot be controlled by ourselves though. If we believe that humans own creativity then it becomes hurtful to artists and others who choose to use it. However, if creativity is from an outside source that we can't control who is to say that anyone can't achieve their goals.

     As teachers, we should not only try to exemplify this creativity but also build their actions toward it. As Elizabeth Gilbert expresses in the video below, it is impossible to harness this feeling we call creativity and if children know that anyone can be creative, all they have to have is a pencil, then they will not only believe in themselves but also have a creative life which cannot harm them.



     In this time period, people feel that being creative is dangerous. Maybe creativity is dangerous, but it is still a necessary part of the world. Without creativity there is nothing to say "Ole" too and without "Ole" there is no glimpse of perfection or amazing acts of genius. In today's teaching we have to show children that everyone has a talent and that a little help from a genius, strong wind or little song coming from the world around you can change our lives forever.

How to use the Glog!

Objective

Have a better way or practice learning multiplication tables.

Exercise

1. Go on tagalong teacher.com
2. Start with your 2's and watch the video and complete the activitie
3. Complete the 3's exercises
4. Complete the 4's exercises
5. Complete all the other exercises starting with the 5's and continuing down the glog.
6. When completed play the Mathcar Racing game at the top of the page. Have fun!

State Standards

111.15.Mathematics, Grade 3(b)Knowledge and Skills(3.6)(B)

Third Grade Multiplication Glog

My First Semester as a Teacher

In response to Susan Steven's blog post "My First Semester as a Teacher" I go to North Ridge Elementary School to intern with my mentor, Neita Campbell.

I am there for Mrs. Campbell's third grade class during their math time. When I first came in I was a little afraid that the kids wouldn't like me or that the teacher would not appreciate my help. Now I feel very secure in the classroom and I know that the kids not only like me but also have a little respect for me. I am very excited to get to spend even more time in the classroom and continue learning what types of activities are effective.
Here is a link to more about my Internship.

My Plans for the Future

My Goals

1. I want to stop procrastinating. To do this I will keep better track of my planner. I will also actually look at my planner and use it. Also I want to schedule time after school to work just on homework. This will help me be able to concentrate on College Applications and other graduation prospects.

2. I want to get accepted into my top 3 colleges. To do this I will spend time each Saturday filling out applications and other necessities for my colleges. If I am able to do this now then I won't have to worry about it towards the end of the year.

3. Last but not least, I want to retake my SAT so that I can get the next level up in scholarships for my colleges. I am already registered to take it on Jan. 26 and now I need to put in the study time in order to get the better grade. I will do this by spending time on the SAT website practice questions and focussing on the areas that my college cares about. I can do some SAT practice tests to make myself even more comfortable with the environment and testing tendencies

Reading

     When it comes to reading, I realize how important this is. When I do my readings I always do better. Even if I do reading just for fun my spelling, gammer and other english skills will improve for a time. Readings are important for students, teachers and everyone. The more you read the more you know and the better you will become at most all activities.

    As a student, you can truly see if other students pay attention yes to their readings. You can also see if students read outside of class as an intern. The students that have read are obviously better with not only writing and reading in class but just communicating with the others in the classroom.

    When I read it will take me a long time to get into a book, if may take me a few chapters before I feel a connection with the characters but when I do get into a book I enjoy it and read it non stop. Reading other books for school will take my interest even longer to get involved. However, doing my reading makes me feel better because it means that I am up to speed with the class and the teacher.


If you are interested in some good books, I put a link to the beset books of 2012 here.