Are schools built for learning?

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog post.

An ideal learning environment for me would be lots of visuals, which would include posters, or examples on how to do certain things. As a High School student I struggle a lot with remembering how to do certain things, especially in math class. I am a visual learner, in order for me to do well on a test or a quiz, I need to have some sort of example in front of me to do well on that assignment. I like to work in groups, or partners so we can help each other out, if I get stuck on a problem, or I can't remember a certain step in math class, it's nice for me to ask my friend or partner for a little help without bothering the teacher. When I become a teacher I'll encourage my students to ask their peers for help, some students learn better when they're learning from their peers.

If I was a Middle School teacher, I think class periods should be an hour long, and have shorter passing periods, and no blocked math. Having longer classes would allow teachers to get more done in one school day. Having longer class periods would benefit students because they would get more done, and teachers wouldn't feel as rushed. If they're in Choir, they would have more time to go over their music, and sing with their group.

I would use numerous ways to evaluate my students performance, which would include;  Plickers, Kahoot, and quizzes online. Using Plickers and Kahoot allows the teacher to see what area of a certain thing his/her students struggle with the most, using that they could go back and reteach that material. On top of that Plickers and Kahoot are fun to play, I used them last week in my English class!

Learning Activity

This blog is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog.


1. 2nd grade, Math Addition Activity.

2. The objective to my activity, "Mystery Addition", was to go back over 2 and 3 digit addition, using a fun activity I made up, some of the kids weren't grasping 2 and 3 digit addition, so I asked my mentor teacher if I could come up with a fun activity to go back over 2-3 digit addition while solving a "mystery"!

3. How to make my activity:

1. Figure out a "mystery" for your students to solve.
2. Create math problems, like the picture to the right, with letters that represent your "suspect".
3. At the end of the activity, have the kids put the letters in order, and they'll solve the mystery! 

4. The materials you need for this activity, is PowerPoint, and printer paper. 

5.

Find the Treasure in Teaching

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' post.

1. The criteria I used to determine what I was going to compete in this year was, my portfolio from last year got a really good grade, and I got really good responses from my friends last year about my portfolio, and seeing how some of the year 2's from last year competed in portfolio, I wanted to give it a try, and see if I could make it to state this year on a individual project.

2. Knowing what I know now I wouldn't change my decision.

3. Some of the obstacles I encountered was mainly time, Region was a lot later last year than it was this year, so I felt like I was being really rushed and pushed on time.

4. The thing I enjoyed best about my project is that it's just me, myself, and I on this project. I don't have to worry about anyone else or rely on anyone else for their help.

5. If I did this all over again, I would've studied harder on the ELF test.

6. The thing I have gained following this experience was confidence, I feel like I have WAY MORE confidence this year, then I had last year.

7. Of course the main thing I'm looking forward to in the future is Houston! I'm excited to have another "Lubbock" experience this year with a whole different set of people, and gaining a lot more friendships!

My First Day as an Intern

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas'  post.

This year I have been placed at Grace E. Hardeman Elementary, in second grade in Ms. Gleitman's class, this is my second year with Ms. Gleitman, and I absolutely love it! This is Ms. Gleitman's 3rd year teaching, and she graduated from TCU.

On my first day as a second year intern, I wore my EAT shirt, nice jeans, and my converse shoes. During my introduction I brought my introduction poster, and I also brought a buffalo beanie baby for the kids to keep in the class so they can remember my schools mascot! (They named the buffalo Buffy). When I first walked into the classroom, I didn't feel as nervous as I felt last year, I felt more excited then nervous, because I knew what to expect this year, and having the same mentor teacher as the previous year, made me feel a little more at ease. When I was in the classroom, I observed, and introduced myself to the kids. When I left, I felt really happy and excited, because I felt as if the WHOLE school was excited to see me! Students, teachers, even the principal would stop me and tell me "welcome back", or "I'm glad you're back again!" Which made me feel even more at home! This year I'm most looking foward to being more confident in the things I do! I'm excited it's a new year, and a "fresh" start, I'm expecting myself to do even BIGGER things then I did last year! 

The similarities to this years class, and last years class is are; 1st, I have the same mentor teacher as I had last year, the schedule is the same from last year, and lastly I have AWESOME kids! I've already discussed this with my mentor teacher, but I've noticed a lot of differences with this years last then last years class, first, I feel like the kids are quieter then lasts years class,and also this years class is bigger than last years class!  

Reading Rocks!

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog.

Title: Clifford's Christmas
Author: Norman Bridwell
Clifford's Christmas, is a great book that gets students prepared and excited for Christmas! The pages aren't too lengthy, and the sentences are short and to the point. The pictures also captivates the students attention, and the pictures have a lot of color, which will keep students interested.

This book is a great book to read aloud, if you have a Clifford stuffed animal, it will go well with this book, this book would be GREAT to read around Christmas time.
Age group: 1st-2nd grade.
Key words to focus on: Shouldn't (what two words make up the word shouldn't?) Patted.
Questions: Have you been naughty or nice this year? What did you ask Santa for this year?
Activity: For Clifford's Christmas Book, I would do an Christmas activity where the kids could write what they wanted for Christmas, if they had any animals, etc, and make it into a little book!

What Do Teachers Make?

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' post.

If I was asked the question "what do teachers make?" I would reply with, "teachers make what our students give us." I want my students to know no matter what I make, no matter how tough being a teacher might be, it's one of the most rewarding jobs there is. When I get older and have a degree in teaching I'll be able to say at family get together,I get paid to do something I love."So bring on those conversations, I want my family to know no matter how much I make as a teacher, it'll never amount to how much my students mean to me. I'll never forget my 7th grade Science teacher Mr. Lane telling us, "I get paid to do something I love, and if you can find a job like that you'll never work a day in your life."


How much teachers make around the world: 

"The man (or women) who can make hard things easy is the educator."

-Ralph Emerson

Here's Where I Find the Treasure in Teaching

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog.


Why You Should Thank A Teacher Today:                   

"Education breeds confidence. Confidence breeds hope. Hope breeds peace." 

-Confucius

TAFE

Find the Treasure

This blog post is in reference to Mrs. Kallas' blog.

Last year I had a blast in Lubbock, Texas, with my chapter, and a few of my best friends. Although last year I wasn't as busy as I am this year, I want to try my hardest to make it to State, or even Nationals, who knows!

1. Last year I was really proud of my portfolio, I worked really hard on it, and I kept my resume up to date, as long with some other things. This year I want to compete in portfolio, because I'm really happy with how it turned out.

• Portfolio is an individual competition.
• I will be successful by following TAFE's rubric, and hitting all my deadlines on time.
• Since my portfolio is up to date, I don't think it should take me that long to get everything together, because I can easily work on my portfolio at home.

2. Another competition I want to compete in this year is Outstanding Chapter, last year I competed in this competition and my chapter won! So I'm hoping this year I can do it again, and do it with one of my classmates.

• Outstanding Chapter is a team competition. 
• I will be successful by staying on time and following the rubrics.

Who is Your Teacher of the Year?

Dear Mrs. Willoughby,

 I was asked who my "teacher of the year" was in my Education and Training class, and without a doubt you were the first person who popped into my mind. I first met Mrs. Willoughby when I was in 7th grade at Watauga Middle School, reading has always been a subject I've really loved, and having you as my reading teacher my 7th grade year really opened my eyes a lot more. I knew when I was younger, 2nd grade to be exact I wanted to become a teacher. I had a lot of teachers from when I was in 2nd grade to when I was in 7th grade that really "opened" my eyes about my career path that I knew I wanted to do, but no one opened my eyes even more than you have. You've really inspired me, and shaped me into the person I am today. Mrs. Willoughby was also my "mentor teacher" my 7th grade year, which meant that she would look after my grades, I had to bring my report cards to her, and I would talk to her if I ever needed anything or if I was struggling with anything I could talk to her about it. If I was passing my classes or "improving" in my classes Mrs. Willoughby would bring me candy, or a little "goodie bag" full of different things, in return I LOVED bringing her stuff for Christmas! This carried on into the 8th grade, even though she wasn't my reading teacher anymore, I still had to bring her my grades. Once I graduated Middle School, I still kept in touch with her, sometimes I would go over to Watauga Middle School and catch up with her. My freshman year of High School, my sister was a 6th grader over at Watauga, so occasionally I would buy Mrs. Willoughby Christmas presents, and have my sister deliver them to her. In a couple years from now when I have my own classroom and I'm teaching my kids reading, I'll always think back to my 7th grade teacher, who told me to follow my dreams, and always pushed me in the right direction, she's such an amazing teacher and I don't know how I'll ever pay her back, the way she helped me. Any student who has you as a teacher for reading or AVID, are extremely lucky kids, because my 7th grade year was one of the best years of my life because I had such AMAZING teacher, especially my reading teacher.

From, Kiernan Lubon

Bill to Bypass Exams OK'd

This blog is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog post.

1.  Some factors that would be taken into consideration in allowing a student who has not passed all of there test in order to graduate would be; grades, college, entrance exams scores and attendance.

2. I think Kelly Hancock and Jane Nelson voted against the bill because they want the kids to work hard and not know that they can have a "second chance" to graduate, they want them to do it right the first time.

3. I think some senators voted for the bill to be passed because they think kids deserve a second chance, they want the kids to know that people care about them.

4. For student's who don't graduate from high school, they stay in high school, and they might get discouraged and drop out of high school since they didn't graduate with there class. These kids who don't graduate it affects society because they don't have a higher education like the rest of society may/may not have.

5. In my opinion I actually support this bill and I'm all for it because, kids deserve a second chance of achieving things like STAAR test, kids nowadays are really stressed because of these tests, and sometimes rush through it in order to get it done in time, I think this would really benefit current/future kids.

My State Teach Tomorrow Summit Highlight

This blog post is in response to Mrs.Kallas post.

I really enjoyed going to Lubbock, TX this year. My favorite part was staying in the hotel room with my two close friends, Taylor and Rebekah, we stayed up a little later then we should've, and we got up super early. I really enjoyed rooming with Taylor and Rebekah because I feel like we got really close this year, and this event brought us even closer.

I would recommend this event for my fellow classmates because I feel like it would be such an awesome experience for them to experience! You get to spend time with your friends, and overall just have a great time! :)

How Do You Measure Up?

1. Did you get the grade you were expecting from your mentor?
  Actually, I'm surprised of the grade that I gotten from my mentor teacher, on my own evaluation, I scored myself with a couple of B's, (maybe I was a little harsh on myself). :)

2. What insight(s) did the comments give you?
  The comments really opened up my eyes, it's really cool to see what your mentor teacher has to say, and it's nice to see what the kids actually think about you when you're not there.

3. Name an area (or areas) in which you would like to improve.  How could you do that?
 I just want to improve in my confidence level a tad, when I did my "mini-lesson" I was a little nervous at first, so I just really want to improve in my confidence level. 

My Plans For The New Year

This blog post is in response to Mrs. Kallas' blog post.

My goals for this new year are:

1. I will send in my application for Tarleton before the deadline, to find out if I will get accepted.

2. I will improve my grades to all high B's low A's in order to get on the honor role, and to be exempt for next semester.

3. I will sign up for a tour of Tarleton by January 12th, with Alix and Gabbi, to see if Tarleton is the right school for me. :)