Monday, February 27, 2012
Service Learning Project
I think this project would be a good way for me to start seeing what teaching is going to look like. This will help be more comfortable in a classroom where I am no longer the student. My main concern is whether or not I am going to be an effective teacher or tutor in this case. I still feel I am not prepared well enough to teach someone but I think this will help me get better. That was my only doubt when I heard about this project but now that I met some of the kids at the YWCA and interacted with a few of them, I'm sure it will be a great experience. It's important for me in order to get some experience as a teacher or leader. I hope that it will also benefit the students. The students I talked to said they really enjoy learning. When I asked one girl what her favorite book was, she said, "No one has ever asked me that before." That was just interesting to me because she said she enjoyed reading but maybe nobody helped her with her reading or took the time to talk to her about books. I know how important and beneficial it is for kids to read and I hope to encourage to become better readers and help them in any other way I can.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Blog 10
This chapter addresses some topics that I think I might struggle with as a teacher. From my experience as a student, I know how easy it is to make the teacher's job a nightmare. If students do not cooperate and participate in the class, then the teacher's lesson plans are ruined and the class is not the same. I remember being the shy kid, (I probably still am) who hardly raised his hand. My teachers would often persuade me to answer a question or share an idea. It just has not been the easiest thing for me to do.
Another thing that I worry about: How am I going to make sure my students engage in the lessons and actually put some effort into it? Will I be a good teacher? I just do not know? But like the weightlifter, I will have to try it myself. I know that students are not dying to read Shakespeare or write a research paper, but along the way they will acquire skills they will need later on in life. Students are different and change every year and it is their job to learn. However, it will be our job to make sure they are active and learning.
Another thing that I worry about: How am I going to make sure my students engage in the lessons and actually put some effort into it? Will I be a good teacher? I just do not know? But like the weightlifter, I will have to try it myself. I know that students are not dying to read Shakespeare or write a research paper, but along the way they will acquire skills they will need later on in life. Students are different and change every year and it is their job to learn. However, it will be our job to make sure they are active and learning.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Blog 8
In my Instructional Technology class, we have been learning many different tools that would be useful in a classroom. Many of the tools that we learned to use were discussed in this chapter. We have been talking in both classes about how much technology is taking over and how important it is to know how to incorporate it in the classroom.
Why is it so important to use technology in schools? Kids are using technology more often now and it has become a major part of their lives. It is almost impossible for a young student to do something without using a tool of technology. So, why not allow them to learn with technology? It has many benefits. Like Alexis shared, many kids are "not the ones to talk in class." Blogging is one way to get students who are shy to still take part in a discussion. Podcasts are also a way to get these students to fell comfortable sharing and give them a voice.
There are many ways to incorporate these tools into lessons to make learning fun for students. The thing is to know how and when to use it and make sure that it is actually benefiting students.
Why is it so important to use technology in schools? Kids are using technology more often now and it has become a major part of their lives. It is almost impossible for a young student to do something without using a tool of technology. So, why not allow them to learn with technology? It has many benefits. Like Alexis shared, many kids are "not the ones to talk in class." Blogging is one way to get students who are shy to still take part in a discussion. Podcasts are also a way to get these students to fell comfortable sharing and give them a voice.
There are many ways to incorporate these tools into lessons to make learning fun for students. The thing is to know how and when to use it and make sure that it is actually benefiting students.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Blog 7
As an ESL student in elementary school, I found this chapter very interesting. It made me think back to those classes to compare and contrast the styles of teaching. There were probably more similarities than differences.
I was in ESL classes from kindergarten to third grade. My first language is Spanish. Like Danling said, the teachers allowed us to use our native language to learn the concepts and at the same time helped us learn the English language. Using our native language to learn was definitely helpful because we did not really know how to communicate in English. I remember teachers telling us to try to talk in English when we thought we we were able to do it, but it was fine to speak in our native language. I think this is important because it allows students to feel comfortable in the classroom and gives them a voice instead of making them feel uneasy or embarrassed to speak another language.
When the teachers felt that the student was confident enough and fluent in English, they prepared the student to transition into an all English classroom. I finally got out of bilingual and ESL classes when I entered fourth grade. It was evident that those classes really did help me because at the end of that year, I was reading at a higher level than the students who had been in English classes the whole time. I am grateful for what my teachers did for me in the ESL classes and proud that I know more than one language. And I do not plan on stopping there.
I was in ESL classes from kindergarten to third grade. My first language is Spanish. Like Danling said, the teachers allowed us to use our native language to learn the concepts and at the same time helped us learn the English language. Using our native language to learn was definitely helpful because we did not really know how to communicate in English. I remember teachers telling us to try to talk in English when we thought we we were able to do it, but it was fine to speak in our native language. I think this is important because it allows students to feel comfortable in the classroom and gives them a voice instead of making them feel uneasy or embarrassed to speak another language.
When the teachers felt that the student was confident enough and fluent in English, they prepared the student to transition into an all English classroom. I finally got out of bilingual and ESL classes when I entered fourth grade. It was evident that those classes really did help me because at the end of that year, I was reading at a higher level than the students who had been in English classes the whole time. I am grateful for what my teachers did for me in the ESL classes and proud that I know more than one language. And I do not plan on stopping there.
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