Last Blog :-(

     Going to University Elementary school was an eye opening experience today.  We finally found out that our class was in the computer lab's once again which struck up the conversation between the other students teachers and I about technology.
     Our class is learning about all the countries and capitals of Europe and are using a game that I mentioned in my previous blog to help them prepare for the test that they have this Friday.  Sitting down and doing the game really helped me learn the different countries and capitals that I wasn't sure of or even know of before.  It's a great tool to help students study and can be looked at as a game as well.
     Technology is becoming so advanced that the students are just learning all these countries and capitals with out having to be lectured by the teacher.  This makes me wonder if technology become so advanced, could it put teachers out of jobs? I personally don't want that to happen but really enjoy incorporating technology into my classroom because it makes it interesting and fun for the students.
     I realized that I am really going to miss going to University Elementary because the students that I had really inspired me to become a great teacher.  With a great role model, my field experience cooperating teacher, I have really learned a lot about what not to do and what to do within my classroom to keep it fun, interesting, and enjoyable for the students.

Countries and Capitals

     Today in my field experience class we were in the computer lab and the students worked on finding the countries in Europe.  Within talking to Elise and Katie, we discussed how we had to do this in our Geography class for IU.  Even though we took the class not that long ago we still didn't get 100% on the test.  In a way I was a little bit embarrassed knowing that the 6th graders in my class were getting 75%'s on their 1st try while the three of us were struggling working together to get above that.  It was interesting to see how much we improved, in the 30 minutes we were in the computer lab, as well as the students.  

     We had one student that was so determined to get 100% and by the end of the class he was able to reach that personal goal of his.  I thought that it was interesting how he set up is own goal and made it into a game but was also learning valuable information while playing it.  I really enjoyed this website and would recommend it to anyone that needs their students to learn stuff about geography.  There are all different types of  games and it was really fun exploring this web site.

http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/European_Geography.htm

     Overall today was really fun (I think it was because of the EXTRA recess....haha).  It was fun to interact with the students and do the activity with them.  In that sense, I feel like I was learning with them which I thought was very effective.

A day "off" is ON!

     Today in our Field Experience, Ms. Coake wasn't there so we had a substitute teacher.  With talking to the other student teachers in my class, I realized that taking a day off takes a lot more planning than assumed.  Knowing in advance that you will have to take a day off for either personal reasons or teacher conferences will be very helpful for your students as well as the substitute that will be teaching your class.  Having the day off is really on if you think about all the work that needs to be done before the day even starts.  Waking up sick as a teacher is almost one of the worst things that can happen.  For the substitute that  teachers your classroom, the schedule for the day has to be very precise so that everything is easy to go through.
     The substitute in our classroom today has been a substitute in the classroom before which was easier for her as well as the students.  It was helpful to have the 3 of us student teachers there to help her out if there was a question we could search around for the answer.  The activities are set but sometimes things are left out that are not always thought out.

     Ex. Doing a Social Studies lesson/activity and needing Atlas' but not knowing where those are affects the lesson.  By not being able to do the lesson without the Atlas's causes a problem.

     For substitute teacher, I could see how it could be a challenge to make it through the day.  Connecting with the students could also be challenging so I think that it is important to give substitute teachers a lot more respect and credit for stepping into an environment that they are not in every day.

Final MGRP

     I learned a lot from doing the MGRP.  I think that it allowed me to see the different types of genera pieces that I would like to include into my classroom someday.  I think that even this  project would be great to incorporate into my classroom as long as my students are picking topics that are relevant to what we are learning about in the classroom.  I think that it would be a great way to incorporate bibliographies into the classroom on a historical figure.

     I have learned a lot in the Cluster that I am taking now and I feel like it has really prepared me a lot more than I thought at the beginning of the semester.  I think that I know a lot more strategies for reading and writing that I can incorporate into the classroom. I really would like to incorporate invitations into my classroom because I feel like the students will benefit from that.  I think that it is an interesting way to open an activity.  

     I have been making a lot of lists in my writers notebook about the books that I would some day like to incorporate into my classroom.  Suggestions from other inspiring teachers has really helped me know what kind of library I would like to have for my students.  Along with fiction books, I have learned different ways to incorporate reading skills into those books and create a productive lesson. 

Play On

     My MGRP project is on Carrie Underwood.  I think that the reason I chose her to do for my project is because her music lyrics is so inspirational to me and it gets me through a lot of things within my life.  I have always wanted to take a closer look at her lyrics and figure out what they really mean and I feel like this project is perfect for allowing me to do it. 

     One song that sticks out in my mind is "Play On" and it had really helped me see the big picture of things.  Whenever I am down or don't think I can do a certain task, playing that song just inspires me to keep going and 'play on.'  A lot of her songs I realate to a lot of different things in my life such as teaching.  In my field experience class I realized that there are always going to be struggles but if you continue to 'play on' it will get better.  Working hard and having the drive to do better and be a better teacher in your classroom I think is very important.  I realized that after having difficult days, doesn't have to be looked upon as bad experience.  Instead it can be something that I as a teacher can grow from and come into class the next day with something completely different and throw my student off in a good way (suprise them). 

     Recently I have really needed inspiration because it's coming to the point where I am so close to having my own classroom, yet so far away and not prepared yet.  I want to walk into my classroom on my first day and feel like the most confident teacher which I know might take somet time but I want to reach that point where I and my students feel as if our classroom is their home away from home.  I want them to experience that feeling of 'playing on' and having the inspiration and drive to go after their dreams. 

Mid-Year Reflection

     I have really enjoyed this semester so far.  I feel as if I have learned a lot about different Language Art techniques in my classroom.  I have really enjoyed learning about the MGRP project as well as different things in my other classes.  

     My field experience has been great and I really enjoy my teacher.  I have learned a lot of techniques from her and how to keep the classroom fun so it engages the students in the learning process.  I have really enjoyed getting to know the students as well.  A lot of them are a lot smarter than I am which is a little bit intimidating but I think that it can be a challenge.  I would like to bring a lot of resources that I have found out about into my classroom.  I have taken note of a lot of ideas that I like in my Writers Notebook and I think that having that as a reference will be very beneficial in the future.  

A Junior (in College) learning about herself in a 5th Grade class....?

     Wow, so many things have been on my mind since we have started observing in the classrooms.  I found out a lot of things about myself as well as questioned some things.  I have found out that I really do LOVE being in the classroom.  I LOVE interacting with the students.  When you see the light bulb in their head go off or when they say something that makes you laugh or think "wow, I never thought of that," it really reassures me that this is what I want to do.

     I have recently been really excited to start getting the ball rolling with signing up for student teaching and student teaching abroad.  I have my meeting this week which I am both nervous and excited for.  10 weeks will be a long time away from my friends and family in a place I have never been but I am thinking of it as an experience of a life time that I can't pass up.  I feel as if it will be a great way for me to get to know how different school systems can really be. Australia, Here I Come!

     Through my observation class I have come to ask myself the question of: Am I prepared to teach a class of 30 students?  Will I be able to have enough control that they will pay attention and stay on task when I ask them too? Will I ever have enough lesson plans to last them through the whole day? Will I have enough lesson plans to last the students through the year? Will my students learn something in my classroom?  WILL I MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

     I want to feel confident and prepared when I walk into my first day of class as a teacher.  I think that with a few more classes under my belt I can feel more prepared to walk into my class and be a great teacher.