These are some professional organizations that support teachers:
United Federation of Teachers-http://www.uft.org/
National Science Teachers Association-http://www.nsta.org/
National Parent and Teachers Association-http://www.pta.org/
National Education Association-http://www.nea.org/
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Things I Need to Know
I read about four important things that UMF Secondary Education majors should know
•I have taken the Praxis I, but will need to take the Praxis II and can find out information for the test through Cindy Kremble.
•I have completed the requirements and have been accepted into the Secondary/Middle Education major. I will be taking practicum this fall.
•When taking practicum I will not be taking any other classes and I will have to work later in the evenings and on weekends.
•I am going to have to get a new laptop for this program and become well versed in using it so that I can integrate it during practicum.
•I have taken the Praxis I, but will need to take the Praxis II and can find out information for the test through Cindy Kremble.
•I have completed the requirements and have been accepted into the Secondary/Middle Education major. I will be taking practicum this fall.
•When taking practicum I will not be taking any other classes and I will have to work later in the evenings and on weekends.
•I am going to have to get a new laptop for this program and become well versed in using it so that I can integrate it during practicum.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Chapter 3: Families and Communities
All students can achieve at high levels regardless of the structure of their families
Whether a child grows up with his or her mother working and father at home, has a stay at home mother, a single parent, working parents, remarried parents, adoptive parents, gay or lesbian parents, extended families, grandparents, or an unmarried couple, it does not hinder their ability to succeed. The family structure does not affect the student’s ability to achieve at high levels in school and beyond. This is evidenced by the fact that so many successful professionals have been raised by single parents (99). While some children in various household arrangements may have difficulty in achieving at high levels, it is poverty, conflict, and instability that hinder them, not the family structure that they grow up in (99). What is more important is that children are loved and cared for, while also being given the tools they need to succeed. The ability to do this is independent of the structure of the family they grow up in.
Whether a child grows up with his or her mother working and father at home, has a stay at home mother, a single parent, working parents, remarried parents, adoptive parents, gay or lesbian parents, extended families, grandparents, or an unmarried couple, it does not hinder their ability to succeed. The family structure does not affect the student’s ability to achieve at high levels in school and beyond. This is evidenced by the fact that so many successful professionals have been raised by single parents (99). While some children in various household arrangements may have difficulty in achieving at high levels, it is poverty, conflict, and instability that hinder them, not the family structure that they grow up in (99). What is more important is that children are loved and cared for, while also being given the tools they need to succeed. The ability to do this is independent of the structure of the family they grow up in.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Chapter 2: Today's Students
Gender and Students
In their text book “The Joy of Teaching”, Gene Hall, Linda Quinn, and Donna Gollnick, explain the difference between sex and gender as they relate to the education of students. The biological characteristics that make individuals male or female are described using the term sex, but gender is the social aspects associated with it as they relate to behavior, cultural expectations, and psychological qualities. Males and females are not found to be different in overall intelligence even though there are differences in the use of hemispheres of the brain to perform certain tasks. It is stated that boys are more “deductive”, while girls are more “inductive” in their thinking (68). Culture also encourages individuals to take on certain roles based on their sex. The authors encourage teachers to be support and provide for all of their students learning regardless of their gender characteristics.
In their text book “The Joy of Teaching”, Gene Hall, Linda Quinn, and Donna Gollnick, explain the difference between sex and gender as they relate to the education of students. The biological characteristics that make individuals male or female are described using the term sex, but gender is the social aspects associated with it as they relate to behavior, cultural expectations, and psychological qualities. Males and females are not found to be different in overall intelligence even though there are differences in the use of hemispheres of the brain to perform certain tasks. It is stated that boys are more “deductive”, while girls are more “inductive” in their thinking (68). Culture also encourages individuals to take on certain roles based on their sex. The authors encourage teachers to be support and provide for all of their students learning regardless of their gender characteristics.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher
Joys of Teaching
Helping students understand new concepts.
As a teacher, it is my job to facilitate learning, but it is also a privilege and a joy. I look forward to all those times when I get to see a student understand something they didn’t before.
Preparing students for life outside the classroom.
Teachers have the responsibility to teach their students the skills necessary to apply their learning in the real world. I am excited about seeing how my students succeed lives outside of the classroom as a result of skills that they have developed in my class. I hope that I am able to make a difference.
By 2012 around 700,000 teachers are projected to retire.
There are going to be a lot more teaching jobs available in the future, which I hope will open up more opportunities for me as a teacher. I want to make a difference in whatever situation I end up in.
Teaching: Not So Joyous
Parents believe that teachers make a difference.
There is a lot of pressure on teachers, particularly from parents, to make a difference in student’s lives. It is going to be hard to carry that weight and to approach disgruntled parents in a professional manner.
Teachers have little control over their work.
Guidelines and policies have been put in place to set rules and learning standards that can be hard to navigate as a teacher. There is less freedom in what can be done, than there is in other jobs.
More time with less contact with the outside world and less freedom.
Teachers are not able to be talking on their cell phones or catching up with friends as often as someone else might be able to. This one really hit me, because it is not something I really ever thought about.
Helping students understand new concepts.
As a teacher, it is my job to facilitate learning, but it is also a privilege and a joy. I look forward to all those times when I get to see a student understand something they didn’t before.
Preparing students for life outside the classroom.
Teachers have the responsibility to teach their students the skills necessary to apply their learning in the real world. I am excited about seeing how my students succeed lives outside of the classroom as a result of skills that they have developed in my class. I hope that I am able to make a difference.
By 2012 around 700,000 teachers are projected to retire.
There are going to be a lot more teaching jobs available in the future, which I hope will open up more opportunities for me as a teacher. I want to make a difference in whatever situation I end up in.
Teaching: Not So Joyous
Parents believe that teachers make a difference.
There is a lot of pressure on teachers, particularly from parents, to make a difference in student’s lives. It is going to be hard to carry that weight and to approach disgruntled parents in a professional manner.
Teachers have little control over their work.
Guidelines and policies have been put in place to set rules and learning standards that can be hard to navigate as a teacher. There is less freedom in what can be done, than there is in other jobs.
More time with less contact with the outside world and less freedom.
Teachers are not able to be talking on their cell phones or catching up with friends as often as someone else might be able to. This one really hit me, because it is not something I really ever thought about.
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