I am becoming more apprehensive about student teaching. The time is getting closer. I hope I can take all of the stuff I have managed to absorb and somehow apply it to the teacher I visualize myself being.
I am really glad I decided to do this program and become a teacher. I have been extremely indecisive about my career path since I started college. I believe this is the right way for me to go.
I have learned much from each and every person in this program. Our different backgrounds have opened my eyes even more to seeing things differently. I believe this will help me in understanding who my students are and where they come from.
After listening to the former MACers yesterday I believe one of the most important parts of the jobs is getting to know our students as well as possible, especially during our observation hours. And I think the technology survey is a great idea. I am going to administer a technological survey during my observation period.
I also want to, pending my mentors approval, hand out a brief questionnaire. The questionnaire will have a spot for students to place a small photo of themselves, their names and a few questions that will help me to get to know them. This will be a good way for me to attatch a face with a name before I start student teaching. I am awful with names so I am going to have to think of creative ways to memeorize the names of my students.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
New Take on Technology
I thought Friday was excellent. I am so happy we were able to speak with those children. I am amazed by how much children inherently seem to know about technology today. I am also from Brooklyn, NY and know what struggles many kids face in the NYC educational system. I am really proud of Lauren and her students.
After today's technology leadership presentation I began to think about ways to incorporate technology into classrooms when the situation may not be ideal. I was also thinking outside of the box about technology. Technology does not necessarily mean computers. Technology could encompass a plethora of things.
I plan on, at some point in time, incorporating Lauren's myspace project into my classroom. (So, thank you for that brilliant take on technology in the curriculum.) I began to think about other ways to incorporate technology without having the ability to use the technology. One assignment I am going to attempt to implement when I begin to student teach is an Ipod playlist. I am teaching history and world geography, so I am planning on giving the kids a time frame and asking them to pick a historical figure from that time frame. I will have them research the historical figure and find five songs from that era to add to their playlist. They will write a miny biography on their figure and give reasons as to why they picked those five songs for their playlist. They will be practicing research while focusing on incorporating technology without being required to access that technology.
I am racking my brain for more ways to do this. Anyone have any suggestions? We should absolutely colaborate on these things to enhance our ability to teach and incrporate all learning styles into our classroom.
I also believe it is time that we stop looking at technology as just the internet and Microsoft Word proficiancy. What about the children who society expects are going to be laborers and blue collar workers after high school. Why aren't we teaching them how to use percision lasers and computer operated tools? They too need to be marketable. Why are we so centered on sending everyone to college? College is still a privelage in this country yet society forces it on everyone in order to succeed. That is an unfair sitgma and as future teachers we need to reinvent these ideals. No child should be left behind.
After today's technology leadership presentation I began to think about ways to incorporate technology into classrooms when the situation may not be ideal. I was also thinking outside of the box about technology. Technology does not necessarily mean computers. Technology could encompass a plethora of things.
I plan on, at some point in time, incorporating Lauren's myspace project into my classroom. (So, thank you for that brilliant take on technology in the curriculum.) I began to think about other ways to incorporate technology without having the ability to use the technology. One assignment I am going to attempt to implement when I begin to student teach is an Ipod playlist. I am teaching history and world geography, so I am planning on giving the kids a time frame and asking them to pick a historical figure from that time frame. I will have them research the historical figure and find five songs from that era to add to their playlist. They will write a miny biography on their figure and give reasons as to why they picked those five songs for their playlist. They will be practicing research while focusing on incorporating technology without being required to access that technology.
I am racking my brain for more ways to do this. Anyone have any suggestions? We should absolutely colaborate on these things to enhance our ability to teach and incrporate all learning styles into our classroom.
I also believe it is time that we stop looking at technology as just the internet and Microsoft Word proficiancy. What about the children who society expects are going to be laborers and blue collar workers after high school. Why aren't we teaching them how to use percision lasers and computer operated tools? They too need to be marketable. Why are we so centered on sending everyone to college? College is still a privelage in this country yet society forces it on everyone in order to succeed. That is an unfair sitgma and as future teachers we need to reinvent these ideals. No child should be left behind.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Harlem Children's Zone
Professor Stanzler asked me to introduce the cohort to the Harlem Children's Zone. I whole-heartedly believe in the system Geoffrey Canada has created in Harlem to combat the societal view that poor children cannot accomplish what wealthy suburban children accomplish on a daily basis.
Canada himself was from a poor neighborhood and became a young father and college dropout. Later in life, as remarried middle-aged father to a second son, he realized that children in urban areas lack one large aspect that children in suburban rich areas often have access to, mental stimulation from an early age.
Canada began his work to combat truancy issues in urban areas in the 1970’s. Today the Zone has grown to covering 100 NYC blocks and helps nearly 7,400 children. See the Zone website for a full breakdown of the history. http://www.hcz.org/what-is-hcz/history
Canada has found the proper mix between giving children access to quality education, healthcare and after school programs while also forcing parents who might otherwise ignore their child’s education to be involved in the process from infancy to high school grauduation. See the websites for details on progress. I promise you will be amazed by how well these children test and how successful they are in life given their socioeconomic status.
Listen to the This Life Story here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1262
Geoffrey Canada’s This I Believe:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96667434
Listen to NPR stories here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94977387
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94576366
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102246990
Canada himself was from a poor neighborhood and became a young father and college dropout. Later in life, as remarried middle-aged father to a second son, he realized that children in urban areas lack one large aspect that children in suburban rich areas often have access to, mental stimulation from an early age.
Canada began his work to combat truancy issues in urban areas in the 1970’s. Today the Zone has grown to covering 100 NYC blocks and helps nearly 7,400 children. See the Zone website for a full breakdown of the history. http://www.hcz.org/what-is-hcz/history
Canada has found the proper mix between giving children access to quality education, healthcare and after school programs while also forcing parents who might otherwise ignore their child’s education to be involved in the process from infancy to high school grauduation. See the websites for details on progress. I promise you will be amazed by how well these children test and how successful they are in life given their socioeconomic status.
Listen to the This Life Story here: http://www.thisamericanlife.org/Radio_Episode.aspx?sched=1262
Geoffrey Canada’s This I Believe:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96667434
Listen to NPR stories here:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94977387
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94576366
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102246990
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