Group 9: Chapter 13

The main focus of this chapter is to make sure we are motivating our students.  Student motivation should be a real world experience, and should be personalized to the students.  As a teacher these are some characteristic of a motivating teacher:
-Become a role model
-Be enthusiastic
-Get to know your students
-Set realistic performance goals
-Give praise and constructive criticism
-Give students as much control over their own education
Teacher planning is very important also.  Teachers need to select topics that relate to students and have objectives. Some skills include: caring, personal, positive expectations, enthusiasm, organization, focus, introductory reviews, questioning, feedback, and closure and application.  Also, a teacher needs to choose an instructional strategy that will provide students with the highest level of learning.  There are four different of instruction strategies: Direct Instruction, Lecture-discussion, Guided Discovery, and Cooperative Learning.  I believe students of the 21st century will relate most to the last two styles.

The Science Express

http://www.facebook.com/scienceexpress

On class Tuesday we went to visit the Science Express.  This is a trailer that goes around to schools and provides hands on science experiences to all levels of students.  The Science Express also provides teacher workshops, and that is what we did.  We went through a simple pipetting experiment and then discussed the many benefits of hands-on experiences.  The great thing about the Science Express is that it has a wide curriculum of activities for students.  Also, modifications can be made to ensure that every student has a fun learning experience.

My Educational Philosophy

            My educational philosophy has been influenced by many factors.  It is also not complete; I believe my philosophy will continue to grow as I do.  My calling to the field of special education came naturally to me.  I couldn’t see myself being in any job field other than education.  In my paper I will discuss the following topics in order: the role of the learner, the purpose of schools in society, the duties of teachers, preparing students for the 21^st century, and my ideas on classroom organization.  I will discuss how my philosophy of education fits into each of these categories.

            As someone who believes in Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism, I believe that students should be able to explore and develop their own personal growth through education.  The learning experience of students should be experimental, fun, and real-world based.  Students should be able to relate to the information they are learning.  Also, I believe the students should be their own teachers.  They should be able to choose how they want to learn, and what they want to learn.  Teachers should be guides to help students stay on track with the curriculum and help the student strive for success.  This idea of teaching is completely student centered.  As stated in The Finland Phenomenon, I believe students should do 60% of the talking and teaching and the teacher should do 40%.  This allows students to become more responsible for their own educational success and gives them a sense of empowerment.  Also, it allows student to have more hands-on experiences, more critical thinking, and problem solving.

            The education system we have now in America is failing the majority of our students.  There needs to be a complete reconstruction of the system in order to help our kids.  Right now our schools are only concerned about the adult needs.  We are trying so hard to protect the jobs and programs at schools we are failing to address the students.  We continue to have failing educators who are under tenure and cannot be disposed of.  Students must always be the number one concern in the schools, community, and budget.  If our schools were more students based I believe we would have higher test scores and lower dropout rates.  Students’ input helps them control their education, and if they feel in control they are more likely to want to achieve more.

            Our classrooms need to be more open to different teaching styles.  Students learn best through experience.  Classrooms where there are hands-on activities and experiments will benefit students more than a lecture.  Students can manipulate the experiences to fit their own style of learning and relate that to their own lives.  Students can explore and find ways to make every lesson fun and educational.  This will create a safe learning environment for all students and can indirectly affect many other areas of the school.

            Lastly, I believe that schools must do a better job of preparing students for the “real world.”  Instilling values that students will need in their everyday lives is imperative.  Every school is different and some students are exposed to more diversity than others.  It is every schools job to produce respectful and knowledgeable citizens.  Also, another quality student learn through school are their social skills.  So, by having an open area for expression is very important.

            I believe that everyone has the potential to be an amazing teacher; they just need to be relatable.  I know in every class I’ve really enjoyed and excelled in I had an amazing teacher.  Your duty as a teacher is to help your students grow and learn, but also to been seen as an equal.  As a teacher I think your students should think of you as an equal mind.  We are not superior to our students; we are there to be with them on their educational journey.  Also, I believe you must have compassion for every single student.  An effective teacher is patient, understanding, relatable, and willing to spend extra time.

            I feel very strongly that students learn best when the curriculum includes a hands-on learning.  I think active learners are more engaged in their schooling.  In special education I believe it is crucial for students to be able to use critical thinking and problem solving.  Special education students really need that interaction in order to be engaged.  Lecturing is a thing of the past, and has been proven to be ineffective.  I believe Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism teaching are important factors in the ability to change the educational system.

            As a student of the 21^st century I realize the importance of change, especially with technology.  It is of growing importance that students in the U.S. keep up with technology.  I believe this mindset is actually become detrimental to students.  They have become so dependent on technology their communication skills have suffered.  Also, problem solving has taken the backseat to Google.  Today’s employers are looking for people who are technologically savvy, but also great with communication and collaboration skills.  If we implement a Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism philosophy students will have more opportunities to develop those skills.

            America has been continuing to slip in global competitiveness.  We are being surpassed by many countries by astonishing numbers.  Companies are hiring people from other countries because they are equipped for the new 21^st century jobs.  The newly graduated students in America are just not up to standards that employers are looking for.  They have little communication skills or problem solving skills.  Also, many people have become completely dependent on technology.  I believe we need technology to advance in the world, but the U.S. educational system must do a better job of incorporating technology with communication and analytical skills too.

            In order to produce a safe and effective learning environment classroom organization is a must.  In my classroom I want my students to feel comfortable to explore and grow.  It is very crucial in helping students reach their full potential.  If the student is detached from the room they will have a much harder time connecting to their education.  A welcoming open environment that encourages positive attitudes is a classroom that will help students become more involved in their education.

            Classroom management is imperative in every classroom.  The classroom should be a safe place for students to grow and learn.  So, there must be well established rules and procedures to ensure an effective learning environment.  I believe students should have a role in deciding the rules and procedures they will be following.  If they have input into the final product I think they will be more likely to follow the rules.  The structure a classroom provides will help students in the future to establish a health and responsible lifestyle.  Being proactive with your students will help establish an equal ground.

            In conclusion, my philosophy of education focuses on the students.  I want all of my students to reach the highest level of achievement possible.  My calling is to become a special education teacher and I believe my style of Progressivism and Social Reconstructionism is perfect for changing the educational experience of my students.  I want my students to realize their potential and that they can achieve great things.  Every child should get the highest level of education, and I will be there to help them along their journey.  I will provide a safe open environment where my students can express their feelings and grow.  I will be one of those teachers who makes a difference in my students’ education and lives.

Field Experience Reflection

            For my field experience I was placed in 4^th grade math at Kennedy Elementary.  My cooperating teacher was Mrs. Ramler.  I was scheduled to be there Monday’s from 12:00-2:00.  I want to start out by saying that having a busy schedule and getting sick is very difficult.  I had gone to one day of my experience before I became sick with mono.  So I missed a few days because of being sick and rescheduled softball games.

            In my classroom my teacher actually had me teaching the lessons in groups to the class.  We did a lot of work with whiteboards and dry erase markers, and always worked in groups.  Many of the lessons we did were related to preparation for the state testing.  Also, my teacher did not leave time at the end of the class for me to teach the FERMI math our pre course had said we would.  Which was fine with me, I really enjoyed being engaged in the students’ actual curriculum.

            My first day was actually on Valentine’s Day!  The first hour of my time was spent helping my teacher and the students with their geography work.  After that we had a short math lesson which was split up into groups.  With thirty minutes left in school the students had their Valentine’s Day party.  I brought a candy treat for each of the students.  I didn’t not have a candy bag, so some of the students were nice enough to share theirs with me.  I was very nervous for this first day, but it ended up being very fun and easy!

            I have completed six days of my field experience so far.  I have two days to finish yet.  My days spent in Mrs. Ramlers class were very useful to me.  She does a great job of engaging her students, and provides a fun and efficient learning environment.  Also, she knows how to get and keep the attention of her students.  She uses a simple clapping tune to get her students attention.  Instantly when her students hear that sound they are quiet and have all eyes on the teacher.  Also, Mrs. Ramler uses a ticket system.  Student can receive tickets for good behavior, work ethic, and assignments.  The students then collect the ticket until they have enough to get a small treat.  If a student misbehaved she would simply stick out her hand and ask for their ticket.  The student cannot object to her authority, and this I believe gets students to gain respect for the teacher.

            When I was working with students in group work this ticketing system was very helpful.  I would pass out tickets at the beginning, and if the students did a good job and paid attention got to keep their tickets.  Otherwise, I would hold out my hand and the students knew to hand over their ticket for the misbehavior.  Even being just a field experience student, my students respected me and thought of me as authority.

            I have really enjoyed my field experience thus far.  I have learned many techniques I can use in my future.  I was able to develop my skills and really learn through experience.  The only problem I had with my experience is that there isn’t much diversity.  In my class there is one African American girl, and one American Indian girl.  There is also another student who is part of the special education program.  I am very upset that this student is not mainstreamed into the class at all.  I can tell Mrs. Ramler would love to have this student in her classroom more often, but he just isn’t allowed.  It blows my mind and I feel terrible because I have never even talked to him before, I don’t even know his name.

            I really would have loved to be place in a classroom that had more diversity.  I really want to gain that experience of working with students of different backgrounds.  I know being in a diverse environment would help me strengthen my cultural competency.  In the future I hope I am placed in a school with more chances to experience these differences.  I have enjoyed my class very much, and the students have been fantastic.  For my overall experience I would put this at 3 out of 5.  I know I could have built my skills and gained great experience in a more diverse classroom.  Overall though it was an amazing experience, one that will help me create a future as a teacher.

Ideal Teacher Prep Program

There are many things that can be done to improve teacher preparation.
1. Give student teachers more time and experience. I believe this is the most important change that can be made.  We have required hours that we must fulfill before we can graduate.  But sometimes we still don't experience many of the situations that a first year teacher would.
2. Requiring teachers to take a second language.  Student diversity is becoming more and more apparent in all schools.  Learning a second language and studying another culture can help with closing the achievement gap for minority students.
3. Having all education majors take more diversity and special education courses.  This will benefit all students in our classrooms.  Incoming teachers will have more experience in student diversity, and how to help and teach students with special needs.  This will help mainstreaming and helping all students achieve their highest educational ability.

Philosophy of Education

In class we took a test that exames your philosophy of education. There are four different categories: Perennialism, essentialism, progressivism, and social reconstructionism.  I scored highest in social reconstruction, then progressivism, then perennialism, and the lowest in essentialism.  Social reconstruction teachers believe in asking social questions, questions about society. It's about improving the world around them and making students think critical and make their own conclusions. Progressivism is a student centered way of learning. The idea that you learn by doing or doing  hands- on scientific experiements for example.  These two types of teaching really fit me.  I want to better my students and help them reach their highest potential.  These types of teaching push students to work out problems on their own and use a teacher as a guide, instead of for the answers.  Taking this test helped me put into words how I wish to be as a teacher.  My educational philosophy will emphasize a students' role in their own education.

Group 7: Chapter 10

Chapter 10 discusses the many areas of school law.  It's main focus was on the ethics and legal influences on teaching.  The U.S. legal system includes: constitutional amendments, state, local, and the overlapping legal systems.  The ethics involved in teaching is a very controversial topic.  As teachers we must have professional ethics.  We must know how to bridge the student/teacher relationship.  A hot topic of discussion is facebook.  Should student and teacher be allowed to be friends on facebook?  I say no, for many reasons, but the debate is still going.  The NEA (National Education Association) provides teachers with great resources to help them get started.  Also, they provide protection in the event of legal matters.  Teacher's rights and responsibilities include: licensure, contracts, collective bargaining, tenure and dismissal, teacher liability, academic freedom, copyright laws, teachers' private lives, and child abuse.  All of these things are a part of the ethics of teachers.

The Global Achievement Gap: Chapter 5

This chapter focused on 5 main points.

1.  The first concern is about the poor work ethic in our youth. Is it poor work ethic, or are today's students just differently motivated?

2. Today's students are extremely technology orientated. Students feel the need to multi-task. They feel that they should be doing more than one thing at a time.  Is this affecting their ability to concentrate on and finish one task at a time?

3. Young people in this day and age strive for immediate access to information. This makes us less patient and obviously more demanding.  The internet gives us easy to access to any information we need.  So this is becoming interrelated with technology.

4. Technology has been growing at increasing rate and it is important to understand the various ways that students are learning in today's world. We should incorporate technology into our lessons because students are familiar with it.

5. "Most students want learning to be active, not passive."  Students want to be challenged and given more opportunities for creativity and self-expression.  The student-teacher relationship is important!  Our students need to feel like they can relate and talk to teachers.

Group 6:Chapter 9

This chapter was based on how schools are funded.  There is major funding inequities in Minnesota between urban and suburban schools.  Each district has different needs and require different amounts of funding.  Many schools try to pass local levies.  The more commercial property in a district the less levies cost.  This depends largely upon city planning and the concentration of poverty.

The "funding formula" must be revised in order to get schools the proper funding they need.  There are many ideas floating around such as: giving more control to school boards and mayoral control.  The central issue is low performing schools in urban areas.  96% of schools are controlled by school boards, but some people believe that mayoral control would be beneficial for urban school districts.

The Finland Phenomenon

Finland is considered the highest ranked country in education.  They have continually scored highest in most areas of the PISA tests.  Why is this?  Well families in Finland value education and it is a top priority.  The educational system there is also based off of one core curriculum.  Also, the class size is much smaller and students stay with the same teacher for many years.  This is beneficial in helping students with learning teaching techniques.  Finland teachers are stressed to teach students how to think.  They say it is up to the student to learn and discover.  Less teacher time and more student time.  Also, when they reach a certain level, students are allowed to pick between an academic track or a vocational track.  The educational system in Finland is based on trust.  There is very little testing of students and evaluation of teachers.

The 3 different ways teachers are prepared in Finland are.

1. The students must study hard and have excellent grades to have a chance at being excepted into college.  Then the student must pass with high scores on an entrance exam to get into a teacher program.
2. Teachers in Finland go through a 5-year course study.  3 years will be spent in a graduates program and 2 years in a masters program.
3. Teachers in training are required to have a great deal of classroom observation.  They will critique others and will be critiqued themselves.  This is all in order to help teachers build experience to become great teachers.

Anti-Bullying Law in Minnesota

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2011/04/06/bullying-bill/

It's refreshing that there are people out there that are fighting for our students and their safety.  But, for the senate to decline the bill saying that our standards are adequate.  Why should our students only receive adequate protection against bullying.  Why can't we provide them with equipped teachers and preventive programs.  Most teacher are willing to take some refresher courses on bullying.  I think that this law would greatly benefit our students and protect them before a situation occurs.

Students First

The Students First website was created by the former chancellor of the D.C. public schools, Michelle Rhee.  She created the site after she was fired by the new mayor of D.C.  The site was made to help safe the jobs of effective teachers.  Every year thousands of effective teachers are loosing their jobs because of budget cuts.  Meanwhile, teachers on ten year, whether effective or not, keep their jobs at their fixed pay.

The mission of this site is to develop a new model of "kids first."  Too often the adults in control forget all about the needs of our future leaders.  Children are experiencing all the heat when it comes to decisions made.  They have no say in their own education.  We need to flip politicians and unions minds and make them stop thinking about the adults and put their concern for the children.  This is a great website to future teachers who will be in this category of "high risk." Effective teachers are the most important thing in educating students.  We need to protect them and our children because our future depends on them.