Blog #9 Assignment

     I have really enjoyed this online class. The service learning aspect of this course, provided me with a window into real time teaching. I was able to work with a special needs student as well as watch her interactions with normal peers in a classroom setting.
      While my student was working with her special ed. teachers, I stayed in the classroom and helped the class teacher do different projects. I was able to help in grading, assessments and providing extra help to students.  I did everything from lunch room duty to recess. I experienced firsthand the many hats that a teacher can wear in a day.
       I had my group interview last week to be accepted into the Elementary Ed. program.  I was ready to go into it full steam when I was pulled aside and told about the new grant that they have for those students wanting to major in special ed., with a minor in Autism.  Now I am a bit conflicted as to what I want to do. I plan on applying for the scholarship and see where that takes me. Without the service learning that I did for this class, I never would have had the opportunity to work with special needs and experience the joy and fulfillment they can bring a teacher.  

Classroom Assesment

   

Keeping a blog about my service learning has been so helpful in assessing myself.  I have grown and learned so much. I honestly had no idea what engaged learning was! Being in a classroom, I have been able to be an observer as opposed to when I  substitute teach where I am just trying to survive the day. I actually have used some of the tools that I have learned, to better help me when I sub.  
     My biggest growth has been the engaged learning. I have noticed how much better kids respond and learn when they are engaged. I love how the teacher in my class teaches a concept and then has them teach her. I love how she lets them know that there is no wrong way to solve a math problem and how proud the kids are when they actually come up with a different way to solve something. I remember back when I was in school that kids who learned differently just kept quiet for fear of being labeled different and therefor wrong.
     I have also observed how better behaved students are when they actually take a part in the reward system as well as the rules. Kids behave so that their peers won't be disappointed in them, rather than the teacher.
    I want to be a fun teacher who engages all students in learning. Who empowers and encourages their students and who go home every day knowing that I love them. I want them to not only gain knowledge but become kinder and gentler citizens both in the classroom and in the world.  

Standards and Accountability

   

 One standard that I have noticed in the classroom I volunteer in is the Math Standards.  I think that I have noticed it the most because it is a new way of learning. I really like how she teaches the students a concept in Math and gives them multiple ways of solving it. She then, turns around and has the students teach her and the class how they solved it.   When I was in school, we learned Math but never really why. We memorized our times tables but never really understood what 3x5 meant where with these new standards, the children learn the method behind a math problem and how all different kinds of solutions came come up with the same answer. It empowers children to think and know that different is OK as long as they understand the concept. they also use a lot of awesome programs like I-READY math that gages what a student knows and adjust accordingly so that students don't feel like they are failing but will get extra problems to help them learn.  
     One standard that I haven't seen much of in the classroom is art.  I don't ever see art projects hanging up in the classroom. Sometimes I feel like the teachers have so much  on their plate that they let something else go or else they touch on it just a little bit. I think they focus more heavily on the subjects that the students will be tested on.