Inventories

In the book I really liked the interest and profile survey's. I would get one of them to them before the school year started, the interest survey. I think this could help me get to know my students a little better and then after a week in school I would give them the profile survey. I think that if I compared them, and after watching them for a while I could get a lot better idea of things that I could do in different lessons that would really reach out to them. I think that with younger grades that the questions that are kind of generic like, what are some ways of learning that work for you?, are a little to general and would not get very good answers, but Im not sure how I would change them, maybe make them a little more specific to times that they remembered learning something. but what a good idea to get in the students head to find out from them what they are really like, and what they think would work to help them.
there are a few of these inventories that hold potential both in my st classroom and my future classroom. I really like the attitudes and interests one, I feel like it is really down to the kids level where they will think that they are really helping you, and they can really understand you, and give you the best idea of how they really do feel about reading and writing and why, much better than having them just tell you or write them down. I also think that the thinking about my reading is a much more easy way for kids to tell you about a book, so it is good for students who struggle with understanding, or telling about a book or story they just read, but I would make sure they had an opportunity to do a fun project along with it. I also liked the focus questions for Anecdotal notes on all the subjects as a guide before taking them, it really gives you a good idea for what to be watching for when you are observing different topics the children are doing, so that you can get an idea where each child is, and what you can do for them in that particular subject that would help them.
those were my favorite inventories and the ones that I felt could really help me teach differentiation

choices that apeal to me

what really appealed to me in the reading was the way that the teacher sees all the different students in the mock third grade classroom. I loved the choice to teach responsively ato all the parts, the who, what, where, and how we teach. she teaches different students of different cultures and backgrounds, and that each one has an individual need, that she needs to look beyond the state or district curriculum, and have each student make an improvement. The choice to make the classroom an environment of safety and learning. I know that these are the choices I would like to make in my classroom, but it also scares me. Im afraid that I will get into the classroom and be overwhelmed, and not be able to do all that, or that I won't recognize the needs of all the students. I know that it will probably be easy to just get in there and go by the book however, if I make these choices in advance I feel like I will have an easier time practicing differentiation in my classroom.

reflection 12/8

I thought that the four different moral responsibilities were very interesting. it is hard sometimes to be able define what moral responsibilities are to be taught in class. I believe that of the four different types that the most important is the nurturing, because it can encompase all of the other for moral responsibilities. If we teach the moral ideas in our lessons than we wont have to encroach on personal and religious beliefs.

Reflection 10/26

I thought the topic of the atricles, violence, and how we can prevent it in the school was a good topic. I think that there is a lot that we can do to prevent violence, but I think the problem with some of the articles that we read, is that they give and unrealistic view of what we can do, rather than a few really helpful points that we as individual teachers can do. I believe that, no we should not just expel students when they have done something bad, but that we should support them in getting into programs that will help them, even if it is an after school or saturday program. I believe that we can't wait for everything to change, or for the school to get funding to do anything in the classroom. We have to do what we can in our own classroom, becasue if everyone waits for everyone else to change, then nothing will get done.

Reflection 10/18

I thought that the idea of reforming the ideas from education to make it better from the Resnick article were very good ideas, but for most of the ideas that were mentioned that it would take a long time to be able to implement them into the schools and have it be the recognized regular.
My favorite of her ideas were that we should recognize the idea that effort created ability, and clear expectations. I think it is the main idea of school that the effort the students give is helping them gain more ability in whatever they are working towards. I also like the idea that students need to be able to know what they are working towards, they need to know the expectations so that they can focus what they are doing and accomplish more.
Her Idea that time and results in school need to be reversed is a good one, but I don't think it would be logical to implement it the way she is suggesting, but given more thought it could do a lot of good.

Reflection #6

This week I thought the readings were interesting. I think that the OCW's would be useful to really help those who either don't have the means to get and education, and also to those who are already in the field of work, but want to get a little more information on one subject or another. I had a hard time at first thinking of how this would really be useful to me as an elementary school teacher, but really I have realized that I have to be the expert on everything, so it will be a good resource to me, and through me to my studendts, instead of directly to my students.
I also think that distance education is really important because we never know with technology going the way its going, when we as teachers are going to be responsible for doing a distance education course for students.

Reflection #3

I liked the two readings for class this week. I found it interesting that even though both were not written recently, they both had really good points about teaching. I really liked how Rousseau talks about how a child needs to be a child, and we should not try to reason with them. A child can't reason like and adult can, and we are not teaching them if we are doing that, because they will not be able to understand. I also really liked that at the end he says that his 'Emile' may not be great at one thing, but he will be better at another. I believe that it is important to focus on the strengths students have, so they know that they are good at something, and we could use their strengths to improve their weaknesses. The thing I liked the most about St Augustine was the way he said to teach. if you notice a student is bored or already knows the subject just touch on it, or do something to make them interested. I also like that he talked about how if we don't teach in the same peaceful environment that we learn in, we really can't expect the students to pick it up as easily.