Chapters 5B and 5C

5B 

When I started this part of the chapter it reminded me of Freedom Writers.  I say this because when the new teacher started she was boggled that the librarian would not allow her to check out real novels for her students to read, remind you they did not have regular text books either. So she set out and was determined to get donations of books for her students. I feel like if I was put in a situation like this, I would try my best to be able to provide for my students learning. I am actually starting to collect books now to display and use in my classroom. Reading and other outside sources are a great learning tool. Like the book said there more information out there then the text book. When I was reading the three organizational requirements i was thinking that this is an outside for a great lesson plan. In my opinion I think it is important to be organized and have a well thought out approach. As teachers, we need to be well read and kept in the loop on current events and current arising issues. by doing this I think i could see myself keeping up with my education and also attending classes and meetings to be a life long leaner. 

5C pages 202-220

While reading this section, I was remembering back to my 215 class where we learned more in depth about blooms taxonomy. I believe that it is very crucial to remember these steps and use them in our teaching career. I feel that if we use these in our classrooms, we are setting us as teachers as well as the students up for success instead of failure. As i continued to the reading to the Integrated curriculum, it gave me some anxiety. I know that as teachers we will have to do this a lot, as a new teacher i would hope that teachers with more experience would help me with this. Give me pointers and the ins and outs. I had no idea there were 5 levels of the curriculum integration. and personally I think the Team levels are the best. IT is always nice and a good idea to get feed back and other ideas on how to teach a lesson. Maybe a different teacher or colleague has a great point or a previous experience that helped teach a certain subject or content area lesson. 

Chapters 4C and 5a

4C

When I started reading this part of the chapter one of the teacher caused student misbehaviors caught my attention. It as the Embarrassment. When I was in my field experince last semester, my coopoerating teacher would always make this mistake. there where a chosen few who where always in trouble or in trouble according to her standards, which in my opinion way to high for 2nd grade. So when these few students where in trouble and she had enough of them she would have them sit on a square tile in back of her desk, and then proceed to call home/caregiver. While this is going on, I always thought to myself, I never want to be that person. Why would she think that this action is okay. I felt horrible for the students. While continuing on in the chapter I thought that it was interesting when I got to the part about pacing teacher talk and learning activities too fast. I don't remember ever being told, that while writing a lesson plan to write in transitions and transition times. In my opinion, this is a great idea. As teachers we liked to get carried away and forget that it is easier for one person to change tasks, but not all the students in the class. We have to allot time in the schedule for taking time and switching subjects and or materials before starting something new. As a new teacher, I hope to not be that teacher that no one likes or wants. I want a smooth run classroom, where there is fun and downtown. And also I would like be able to sit down and talk to my students about the rules and policies on the first day. and come up with reprocautions as a class for their misbehaviors. 

5A

While reading through this chapter I liked how it said that us as teachers should not be planning alone. That we should be collaborating with other teachers in the same age group/ concentration and developing a curricula. I think that is a great advantage of teaching middle school. That each teacher is able to help each colleague. The greatest advantage is being able to apply your input and also learn how other teacher think and teach. Now I personally want to teacher peek-1st, so I would wonder if collaborating planning is the same in that age group. I believe that this is the most beneficial thing a teacher can do, is collaboration. while we are in school we are taught to collaborate and then it just disappears, so its nice to know that we are encouraged to do so while teaching. 

Chapter 4A and 4B

4A

As I was reading throughout Chapter 4A, I really thought that classroom management is a very important characteristic of a teacher. As you run a classroom, you need complete control over what is going on. I personally have been in classrooms observing where the teacher had no control and the students did what ever when ever they wanted. in that kind of environment, no one learns anything. Each teacher has there own style of controlling the classroom, and normally stick to what works. Which in this case probably works best, since control over the classroom should be key when entering a school. 

4B

When starting a new school year it is important to have certain rules and standards for your classroom set in stone. And on the first day of class teachers should go over what they expect from the students. After going over the rules and expectations students should have to sign a piece of paper stating that they understand the consequences and rules of this classroom. When an issue arises, teachers who have set those rules in place should follow through with the consequences so students know it is not a joke. When students exceed the teachers expectations or follow the rules they should be receiving positive reinforcement. Following the guidelines and rules goes back to classroom management because if you have a good handle on your students and know what is going on and the students understand what is expected of them, the class should run smoothly and hopefully no issues arise. 

chapters 2a,2b,3

2A

When I was reading thought the first part of chapter 2 I came across somethings that I thought would be really helpful for when I get into my profession. Such as while we are teaching and also before we teach a lesson. We as teachers have so many decisions to make that will impact our students learning. Sometimes we also have to make quick decisions while actually teaching a lesson. Also as I was reading, I learned that the students have rights in the school. This was new information that i have not heard of before. I think that students should be more informed of these rights, because as i look back at being in middle school, I do not remember my teacher or principal describing these to use. I thought it was interesting that they had to put into the book the safety of the students. I would hope that our main concern while being a teacher is the students. They are the reason we are there, they should be our number one priority. But I have heard horror stories of this not being the case, so as some of us think that this would be common sense. Others may not think that way.

2B

First of all, when I started this section of the chapter I must say i was very overwhelmed. 22 competencies i was going to have to learn and remember as i am becoming a teacher. while going through the competencies, i was like this is what it is to be a teacher. I knew what these characteristic where all a long just didn't know the name. Continuing through section B of this chapter, it is explaining and describing the atmosphere of a classroom. and the characteristics of a teacher. The one thing that stuck out to me in this chapter was that most teachers use lecture style teaching. and going back to middle school and even high school, that was the only type of teaching style teachers were comfortable using. Lecture teaching is not fun for neither the teacher and the students. it wasn't until college that professors used think, pair, share or student based learning. I must say that is why when students enter college they are unaware of the change, but if teachers in middle school and high school changed their style of teaching students would be prepared and probably learn more. 

3

Chapter 3 is explaining and describing the way of thinking in the classroom. How different ways of thinking and questioning can open up your horizon to a whole new level of learning.  I learned that there is more then one way to question your thinking. As I went through the list I believe there was only one or two that i knew before. Having all these different types of questioning is a great way to make your brain think harder then it already is. I wish that when i was in middle school my teachers taught us these strategies. I think these are a great way to understand something that you don't understand by just questioning the material. I am making a mental note for myself in the future to use these when i am stuck on something. It is great to use a different style of learning for students. this helps them to not get comfortable with what they already know and do.