Author: mivanof4

My classroom observation was a little unique. I work at the Kodiak school district as the Substitute Coordinator, and a few weeks ago, we were extremely low on subs and I was placed in a classroom. I was ecstatic because I’ve wanted to be in front of a classroom for a while. I met the teacher after the 1^st period and she gave me the lesson plan for the day. I was subbing for 6th-grade social studies, and the focus that day was the Caribbean Islands.

The students came in, of course seeing a sub, and you could tell they were already about to burst with excitement. However, I started off with introducing myself, and that they had a small three-minute assignment to get through. I told them that if they completed the assignment without talking or getting off subject, they would be able to go around the classroom and tell each other what they were going to be Halloween — which they loved. After the assignment, and the 5 minutes of listening to everyone’s costume ideas, we went onto the assignment. I allowed them to talk to groups as long as they didn’t get too loud. I had to hush the class a few times, but for the most part, they were great kids.

Since I haven’t observed an actual teacher, I couldn’t tell you three transitions, but I know that before the teacher left she had to walk around the room a few times to get kids to settle down, she would walk up and check in with certain students and that seemed to help them to calm down and work on the assignments.

I definitely will be walking around my classroom a lot, and engaging with each student. And Positive reinforcement because it seemed to work so well!

Reading “What I wish my professors had told me’ was amazing. I found the article so intriguing and I couldn’t stop reading it. As a student who skims through articles, I found this one completely different because I soaked up all of her advice and words. Teachers often forget their roles, and it’s important that they remember how a teaching role extends well beyond day to day interactions with students. As a teacher, you have the power to teach children the skills they need to be successful in this world. Beyond the frustration at times, you have such meaningful work in this world. I ultimately enjoyed the part where she describes that she was more than a teacher, she was a mom, social worker, therapist, cheerleader, custodian, nurse and so on. She wasn’t trained for any of this, but she was who she was when the kids needed her at that moment. In all seriousness, I almost started crying because it’s true. As a teacher, you are the whole package, you are everything for your students. It’s vital that as a teacher I stay empathetic ad take care of the needs of the students.
There are many other important parts of the article, but I found those touching. I am thrilled to start the process of becoming a teacher, I can’t wait to change the lives of students.

This tailor’s instruction, appearance of learning and evaluation for each student’s unique needs and preferences. It is teaching that offers education, curriculum and learning environments to meet the needs of individual students. The way a person learns is intensely particular — and compound. This is true especially for elementary ages. Students need to have the chance to learn ideas and construct their own knowledge and understanding that is FROM the student’s philosophies. This is why its important to learn each student’s strengths, flaws and learning style, as soon as possible.

I am a big advocate for technology, it is both friendly and more challenging. However, every student is unique and every student has a exclusively way of learning what they need to know to go onto the higher level of education. However, this is a very new term to me and I am not in a classroom yet, so I will be doing much more research on it so I understand it better! And of course use it in the classroom.

I did not read this whole article (because it was 22 pages) but I did find the first 5 pages interesting. I will continue to read as I find this subject appealing!

DACA is an extremely touchy topic. I do feel bad for all those involved, but we have to think about the children. I think its important for children who do not have the opportunities in different countries to come to America and be eligible for the basics such as a driving license, college courses and work permits (because it’s most likely better pay). Those protected under DACA are referred to as “Dreamers.” They are called this because of the “Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) act which offered those who had arrived in America illegally as children a chance to become permanent legal residence. However, Trump has recently gave Congress six months to come up with a legislative solution. Under the new administration of Donald Trump, new applicants regarding DACA will not be accepted. Those in the program will begin to expire in March 2018. Dreamers will then lose all their status by March 2020. As their statuses lapse, they could be deported back to countries that they have not been in for years and some aren’t in familiar with! I am a supporter (to an extent) with stopping immigration into the country but don’t punish those who are doing so well in this country. What will be the benefit for them to be sent back? We need to keep them here and educate them!