As I left class today feeling miserable, a real fear came into my mind. In high school, I was one of those kids, always picking up viruses, suffering from allergies and sinus trouble, and the occasional asthma attack. I ended up missing quite a bit of school.
In a high school environment in the future, I can only hope that my poor immune system will have stepped up its game. I know that it's stronger than it once was, if it wasn't I would've been sick all semester with my roommate. In all honesty, how many sick days for a teacher are too many? And how many days do you go in feeling borderline... should I stay in bed or try and suck it up? What happens to the class if I really need to leave?
With so many questions on the issue, I get a bit afraid of getting sick, ever. I don't want to be the teacher whose never there (though I write lesson plans that are intended for anyone to be able to teach)... I can't assess my students properly if I'm not regularly in the classroom. Though I may be over reacting, the fact that I have a tendency to get sick makes me nervous... and I have to be exceedingly careful not to use up time off.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Sunday, April 27, 2008
The praxis... again
So, I expressed concerns about the Praxis in the past. And I quite frankly felt more anxiety waiting for the results than I ever did leading up to the exam itself. And finally A MONTH after the exam, I received my results. I needed a 162 to pass to be certified as a Secondary Education Teacher in the State of New Jersey.
I GOT A 189!
I am thrilled that the process is over with and unless the state moves the standard to 190 or higher, I will never have to take it again.
I GOT A 189!
I am thrilled that the process is over with and unless the state moves the standard to 190 or higher, I will never have to take it again.
Friday's Lesson
So... despite having taught in class on numerous occasions, Friday received the least amount of interaction of all of them.
I went in thinking, I've got a fun, visually, musically pleasing lesson that will get the class talking. But when I first started speaking, just after the first video, the lifeless faces of the class shocked me. I lost my words for a moment. But I kept plugging through. Then when it was time to ask the class to brainstorm, still no one seemed awake. I felt like I was pulling teeth getting one or two responses.
Quite frankly, it made me feel awful. What had I done wrong? Talking with Dr. Luongo and Mrs. Millite (sp?) after class made me realize, it may not have been my lesson format, or even the way I presented it. There are days when the first class in the morning is still going to be asleep. And at least I kept going... I suppose that was something.
The lesson made me realize that as a teacher you can't bat 1.000 with lesson plans. It's much more about the trial and error. That's why it's important to reflect on individual lesson plans, so the next year around you can make adjustments to fit your class better.
I went in thinking, I've got a fun, visually, musically pleasing lesson that will get the class talking. But when I first started speaking, just after the first video, the lifeless faces of the class shocked me. I lost my words for a moment. But I kept plugging through. Then when it was time to ask the class to brainstorm, still no one seemed awake. I felt like I was pulling teeth getting one or two responses.
Quite frankly, it made me feel awful. What had I done wrong? Talking with Dr. Luongo and Mrs. Millite (sp?) after class made me realize, it may not have been my lesson format, or even the way I presented it. There are days when the first class in the morning is still going to be asleep. And at least I kept going... I suppose that was something.
The lesson made me realize that as a teacher you can't bat 1.000 with lesson plans. It's much more about the trial and error. That's why it's important to reflect on individual lesson plans, so the next year around you can make adjustments to fit your class better.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Higher Education
The reality of being a secondary education teacher means we must prepare students for oh-so-dreaded standardized testing but ultimately for higher education. Aside from the burden of preparing students for the rigorous academic expectations, having knowledge about financial concerns and the reality of applications is essential.
As an English teacher, I will certainly offer my services with writing essays, even making it a part of the curriculum. It is, after all, a persuasive essay.
A high school teacher must be aware of the problems that face students looking at higher education, the potential that they may not be able to attend because of financial concerns. The article included is all about the potential of decreasing the costs. High school teachers can be the first line of information for students about college. Not every parent is thinking about this matter. So having a teacher there who knows the ropes can help, a lot. Hearing that the amount of money a student spends on their education does not necessarily equate the value of the education received. Encouragement from a high school teacher can be the first step in the right direction for a student.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/education/edlife/essay.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin
As an English teacher, I will certainly offer my services with writing essays, even making it a part of the curriculum. It is, after all, a persuasive essay.
A high school teacher must be aware of the problems that face students looking at higher education, the potential that they may not be able to attend because of financial concerns. The article included is all about the potential of decreasing the costs. High school teachers can be the first line of information for students about college. Not every parent is thinking about this matter. So having a teacher there who knows the ropes can help, a lot. Hearing that the amount of money a student spends on their education does not necessarily equate the value of the education received. Encouragement from a high school teacher can be the first step in the right direction for a student.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/20/education/edlife/essay.html?_r=1&ref=education&oref=slogin
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Dyslexia in Different Parts of the World
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080408/ap_on_he_me/dyslexic_differences
Being a bit of a psychology dork, on top of having a great curiosity about reading disabilities, I was intrigued by this article. New research shows that different parts of the brain are impacted in different parts of the world in regards to dyslexia. In places like the US where much of the language is learned through phonics, there is a different part of the brain affected than those learning whole word, like many in China.
Being a bit of a psychology dork, on top of having a great curiosity about reading disabilities, I was intrigued by this article. New research shows that different parts of the brain are impacted in different parts of the world in regards to dyslexia. In places like the US where much of the language is learned through phonics, there is a different part of the brain affected than those learning whole word, like many in China.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Music in Schools
I was blessed to go to a high school where music was held as indispensable, but I have been sad to find this is not the standard. More and more boards of education are cutting music from schools and the children suffer for it. Music can be the only acceptable way for some students to express their feelings.
I remember freshman year and the first concert following September 11. A lot of students were full of hate and fear over the event. My choral director asked us to write a phrase to capture the sentiment of the concert following the horrific occurrence. I recall my quote was put on the back of the program, not because of it's linguistic prowess, but for what it captured. "Sometimes all you have to do is sing the bad out of your heart."
Music can be the only way to release feelings without risk of harming another. When students lose music in their schools, they risk not knowing it's power. As one of my choral directors always told my women's choirs, "Music is the only thing, that I know of, that can make a small child laugh and bring tears to the eyes of a grown man."
With this understanding, I go into my future classroom with the hope that, even if I am in a school without a defined music program, I can show them that outlet. The appeal to the musically intelligent benefits every student.
For more information on how to keep music in schools please visit: http://www.savethemusic.com/
I remember freshman year and the first concert following September 11. A lot of students were full of hate and fear over the event. My choral director asked us to write a phrase to capture the sentiment of the concert following the horrific occurrence. I recall my quote was put on the back of the program, not because of it's linguistic prowess, but for what it captured. "Sometimes all you have to do is sing the bad out of your heart."
Music can be the only way to release feelings without risk of harming another. When students lose music in their schools, they risk not knowing it's power. As one of my choral directors always told my women's choirs, "Music is the only thing, that I know of, that can make a small child laugh and bring tears to the eyes of a grown man."
With this understanding, I go into my future classroom with the hope that, even if I am in a school without a defined music program, I can show them that outlet. The appeal to the musically intelligent benefits every student.
For more information on how to keep music in schools please visit: http://www.savethemusic.com/
Monday, March 3, 2008
Exam Preparation
Fulfilling the requirement of the state, I will be taking the Praxis Exam on the ides of March. Though I have been a fairly good test taker in the past with SATs, etc, I am genuinely nervous about this test. Maybe because it really hasn't been brought up in my classes, as how to attack it. I hope that everything turns out alright, but even with my practice book in hand, I don't feel confident.
I'm sure that many students, regardless of age feel this way without a proper review. Perhaps I'll devise some flash cards to help myself review. For this exam, it's all on me, but in the classroom, a great deal of the review has to do with the teacher. Do I want to pass out a review sheet, do a jeopardy game, leave my students to their own devises? This can often be a challenge for teachers because they don't want to spoon feed their students, but they also do not want them to fail their exam.
Since most of my exams will be literature based, most of the questions that they will see will come from class notes, class discussion and reading questions. Using the knowledge they have from these, I will (hopefully) ask a question that requires application.
When it comes to reviews for vocabulary... sometimes a good old fashion game of pictionary/charades can be exactly what they need to have the meaning burned into their memory. For me, it will always be one of my male classmates awkwardly moving at the front of the class, attempting to mime carrying something "unwieldy" that makes that word a part of my vocabulary to this day.
I'm sure that many students, regardless of age feel this way without a proper review. Perhaps I'll devise some flash cards to help myself review. For this exam, it's all on me, but in the classroom, a great deal of the review has to do with the teacher. Do I want to pass out a review sheet, do a jeopardy game, leave my students to their own devises? This can often be a challenge for teachers because they don't want to spoon feed their students, but they also do not want them to fail their exam.
Since most of my exams will be literature based, most of the questions that they will see will come from class notes, class discussion and reading questions. Using the knowledge they have from these, I will (hopefully) ask a question that requires application.
When it comes to reviews for vocabulary... sometimes a good old fashion game of pictionary/charades can be exactly what they need to have the meaning burned into their memory. For me, it will always be one of my male classmates awkwardly moving at the front of the class, attempting to mime carrying something "unwieldy" that makes that word a part of my vocabulary to this day.
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