I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know what you think.
On 2/02/11, jt wrote: > i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your > looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff. > > > On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >> I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I >> literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with >> you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my >> school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block >> schedule. >> >> I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy >> access to lots of resources. Maybe we can get this going, and you >> can look through my materials. What chapters are most relevant to >> you? >> >> >> >> On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: >>> On 2/02/11, David wrote: >>>> I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History >>>> class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting >>>> to get it even though at times the classes can feel like >>>> death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and >>>> international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it >>>> interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're >>>> in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the >>>> foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it >>>> out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, >>>> strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov. >>> >>> I taught from that book 2 years ago when I did my student >>> teaching. It was tough, because it can be kind of a dry >>> subject, plus my coop insisted on including particular >>> readings. There were a few things that I remember doing that >>> the kids did seem to like. >>> >>> When we discussed the beginning of the nation, I passed out a >>> handout on what actually occurred to the signers of the >>> Declaration of Independence. I then had students think about >>> what they might be willing to give up for personal beliefs. >>> >>> As we progressed through the various amendments, I set up >>> scenario sheets, for instance when we discussed search and >>> seizure, I gave the kids a scenario where search and seizure >>> would be thrown out, but also discussed the idea of in loco >>> parentis, which gives the school the power to behave as a >>> parent would. Therefore, searching school lockers for drugs is >>> currently legal. >>> >>> We did a current events day every once in a while, students >>> really seemed to enjoy those. I read the paper each morning >>> and cut out pertinent articles to copy and discuss. We did >>> point counterpoint where one side took one perspective and the >>> other side argued the opposing view. My coop gave me >>> absolutely NO help in planning, I taught everything from week >>> two onward for the next 14 weeks. My advice is try to stay at >>> least one week ahead. We spent a week in the library for a >>> research project on the presidents. We ended up the semester >>> with each student preparing a 10 slide powerpoint presentation >>> on a controversial topic, for instance, the legalization of >>> pot. Again, the kids spent time researching, I took them to >>> the computer lab to do slides, and the entire project took >>> about 8 class periods. The presentations ran about 3 days. >>> Hope this helps, I still have my plans book if you need more >>> hashed out ideas. Good Luck!
On 2/03/11, Denise wrote: > > Hi David, > > I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know > what you think. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >> i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your >> looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff. >> >> >> On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >>> I've taught from various editions of this book for 5 or 6 years. I >>> literally have hundreds resources. And I will share anything with >>> you. Sorry if I missed it. What grade are you teaching? At my >>> school, 12th graders take govt. And we are on a 90 minute block >>> schedule. >>> >>> I've been trying to get a wiki going where teachers can have easy >>> access to lots of resources. Maybe we can get this going, and you >>> can look through my materials. What chapters are most relevant to >>> you? >>> >>> >>> >>> On 2/02/11, Denise wrote: >>>> On 2/02/11, David wrote: >>>>> I am student teaching 4 Am. Gov. classes and 1 Am. History >>>>> class. It's been rough so far but I feel like I'm starting >>>>> to get it even though at times the classes can feel like >>>>> death. Civics isn't my strongest background, history and >>>>> international politics is. I'm having trouble "making it >>>>> interesting" or "relating" to the students. Right now we're >>>>> in using Magruder's American Gov. and we're in the >>>>> foundations of Gov. Unit at the beginning. I'm putting it >>>>> out there, but does anyone know an effective technique, >>>>> strategy or resource to engage students in American Gov. >>>> >>>> I taught from that book 2 years ago when I did my student >>>> teaching. It was tough, because it can be kind of a dry >>>> subject, plus my coop insisted on including particular >>>> readings. There were a few things that I remember doing that >>>> the kids did seem to like. >>>> >>>> When we discussed the beginning of the nation, I passed out a >>>> handout on what actually occurred to the signers of the >>>> Declaration of Independence. I then had students think about >>>> what they might be willing to give up for personal beliefs. >>>> >>>> As we progressed through the various amendments, I set up >>>> scenario sheets, for instance when we discussed search and >>>> seizure, I gave the kids a scenario where search and seizure >>>> would be thrown out, but also discussed the idea of in loco >>>> parentis, which gives the school the power to behave as a >>>> parent would. Therefore, searching school lockers for drugs is >>>> currently legal. >>>> >>>> We did a current events day every once in a while, students >>>> really seemed to enjoy those. I read the paper each morning >>>> and cut out pertinent articles to copy and discuss. We did >>>> point counterpoint where one side took one perspective and the >>>> other side argued the opposing view. My coop gave me >>>> absolutely NO help in planning, I taught everything from week >>>> two onward for the next 14 weeks. My advice is try to stay at >>>> least one week ahead. We spent a week in the library for a >>>> research project on the presidents. We ended up the semester >>>> with each student preparing a 10 slide powerpoint presentation >>>> on a controversial topic, for instance, the legalization of >>>> pot. Again, the kids spent time researching, I took them to >>>> the computer lab to do slides, and the entire project took >>>> about 8 class periods. The presentations ran about 3 days. >>>> Hope this helps, I still have my plans book if you need more >>>> hashed out ideas. Good Luck!
I am doing a TWS on Matter for the first grade. I am wondering if anyone has any great ideas for assessments. and individual lessons? Anything helps! Thank you.
Every teacher has a philosophy of education but most don't know that they do or what theirs is. But it completely colors what they do in the classroom nevertheless. You could look out for that. What impact does teaching and learning have on the student? Many teachers have different answers to that if they can answer it at all.
What kind of a classroom environment do you want? A comfortable community ? A tight ship? Are you their guide or their policeman?
Just some thoughts to start with. > I'm still a student at a University, and I haven't begun my > student observations or student teaching yet. However, I'm > extremely excited to get started and to begin to learn how > to teach. Does anyone have some tips for a student who is > just starting out? I would love to hear some experiences > and things to look out for during my student observations!
I've been having to fight off the jitters a lot though, and want to know if it's normal.
When I was in college and doing my first two practicums I felt confident as a teacher. I had a lot of passion for children and always kept my eye on the bigger picture of helping to build a better future... I still maintain those sentiments.
I was always confident in teaching, always pictured myself making a difference, and when I taught, my lessons seemed effective.
Enter student teaching. I was in a different country (I chose to do it overseas through a program, which may or may not have been a great idea.) My teacher was an amazing master teacher who reminded me that she liked to "throw me to the wolves." Needless-to-say this led to a few weeks (out of 12) where I hit a brick wall. No matter how much I planned it seemed like it was never enough and my students weren't engaged. I had developed a great rapport with them and even was okay at managing them while I taught... But I wasn't feeling it. I was questioning going down the teaching track for the first time.
Things got better and I spent my last month feeling pretty good about what I was doing.
Still, a couple of months later, I can't help but obsess over that feeling I had when I wasn't connecting with my job or my lessons or my students. I'm paranoid that I have what it takes but I don't know that one thing... how to teach. I need my confidence back.
If you've had the same feeling please let me know.
Many good and effective teachers believe that learning is done often in increments and we, as teachers, are to time well what tasks we give our students and when so as to best foster their learning. If we 'throw our students to the wolves' what is to gained from doing that? I find the very expression an inappropriate one to be used as an approach to teaching - and this mentor teacher was to be that to you. She was to be your teacher. But for some reason, she threw you to the wolves. Sink or swim mentality? Neither serves well in the point is to teach well.
So you found your limits, not your farther horizon. If I had been thrown to the wolves as a student teacher, I would have found my limits too. (did she do the same with her young students?) A great disservice was done to you and now you have a teacher's version of some post-traumatic stress disorder. Fortunately you just have the jitters and you're not hallucinating or having trouble sleeping at night or have turned to drinking. ( I hope)
Your jitters are a normal response to what was done to you. You need to see the injustice of what that teacher did - you need to understand you were the victim. She victimized you and - she was supposed to be your guide, your mentor, your teacher. That's awful. She betrayed your trust and the trust that was placed in her by your university and her school. No one learns from 'being thrown to the wolves' except that wolves have sharp teeth and can eat us up if we're thrown to them without someone at our side teaching us how to calm the wolves and teach them to have better ways.
All that said, I don't teach because I believe I'm building a better future - that's too big a picture for me and too big a bite. I teach because I believe - and can see- that I'm making a better day for the kids in front of me (and for me too!) I take it a day at a time and believe each day in school should be a safe day for my students. Each day should be another day where they leave school looking forward to coming back to it the next day. Everything else is gravy. If I model healthy behavior for them along the way, wonderful. If I can share my passion for my subject, super. If they learn healthy behavior and come to explore their own passion, that's tremendous. But all those things are more likely to happen for them if I don't throw them to the wolves and I do everything in my power to keep them safe. optimistic and positive toward themselves, each other and the world.
And all that said, my first year in a classroom on my own was one of the hardest years in my life and one of the hardest things I've ever done. Four years of sleep a night... tops. I felt like I was drowning there was so much to do. But through it, I enjoyed it and so do the kids. That was a clear signal to me that I'd chosen well despite the unending work and the rough days when my lesson didn't work and everything was chaos.
Understand the first year is a LOT Of work and there will be days that go better than others but you learn a LOT from those bad days. "Well, that didn't work..." We make mistakes but if we're open to admitting that and learning from them we can become very good teachers who never believe that throwing students or student teachers to the wolves is the right thing to do. Much good luck to you - the kids and the world alike need caring teachers like you.
> > I've been having to fight off the jitters a lot though, and > want to know if it's normal. > > When I was in college and doing my first two practicums I > felt confident as a teacher. I had a lot of passion for > children and always kept my eye on the bigger picture of > helping to build a better future... I still maintain those > sentiments. > > I was always confident in teaching, always pictured myself > making a difference, and when I taught, my lessons seemed > effective. > > Enter student teaching. I was in a different country (I > chose to do it overseas through a program, which may or may > not have been a great idea.) My teacher was an amazing > master teacher who reminded me that she liked to "throw me > to the wolves." Needless-to-say this led to a few weeks > (out of 12) where I hit a brick wall. No matter how much I > planned it seemed like it was never enough and my students > weren't engaged. I had developed a great rapport with them > and even was okay at managing them while I taught... But I > wasn't feeling it. I was questioning going down the > teaching track for the first time. > > Things got better and I spent my last month feeling pretty > good about what I was doing. > > Still, a couple of months later, I can't help but obsess > over that feeling I had when I wasn't connecting with my > job or my lessons or my students. I'm paranoid that I have > what it takes but I don't know that one thing... how to > teach. I need my confidence back. > > If you've had the same feeling please let me know.
I would love to do lessons and use it but I feel like there is no way to unless I work on her computer and do stuff. I really wish smart board has a program where you can make documents and keep them on a jump drive and bring them to use at any smart board. I would love to work on documents and interactive activities when i'm doing my lesson plans at home but I can't. I feel like everything I do is really uninteresting. I want to be unique in my teaching, but then I feel like I'm just constantly stealing others ideas and not coming up with my own stuff.
I am just really frustrated. I see studnet teachers who are amazing and teach like it comes so natural to them. I wish I had natural teaching ability and I feel like if I keep trying it will come, but sometimes I feel like I just dont have it. Then I worry that I shouldnt be a teacher. I truly want to become a teacher and have my own classroom, I just don't feel secure in myself at all. I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing and I've just been thrown in there. Hopefully I am saying all of this now and after my student teaching I will feel more confidant.
The computer tech support people in the building are even better sometimes, becasue they know more than the teachers. When viewing video clips (as in those promethian boards), you will need to know which setting to use with the clips if you use them. Of course, like with all stories or material you use with students, always, always check out the whole thing before presenting so that you know all of the material is appropriate. I always showed my CT what I was going to use because it was her room and she had to answer to the parents and it helped me too. Good luck, you will be fine and enjoy the board. I am guessing we are talking about the same board, if not, please excuse this post. These are the things that helped me when I had to do that.
On 2/15/11, Amy wrote: > I just started doing my Reading Block student teaching. > Basically it is student teaching, but only for language > arts. I will be doing actual student teaching in the fall. > My teacher ALWAYS uses her smart board, and I'm a little > nervous about using one. First of all I asked her how to > make documents on it and make stuff on it and she was very > vague. She gave me her username and password but you can > only log on to it at the school. I don't plan or spend time > at the school unless i'm there for reading block because > i'm still a student. I cant access it outside of the > school. I'm just a little confused about how a smart board > actually works. my college uses them in every class but > they have never taught us HOW to use one. I have seen > teacher use them all through high school and college but I > don't know how to use one well enough to teach with it. > > I would love to do lessons and use it but I feel like there > is no way to unless I work on her computer and do stuff. I > really wish smart board has a program where you can make > documents and keep them on a jump drive and bring them to > use at any smart board. I would love to work on documents > and interactive activities when i'm doing my lesson plans > at home but I can't. I feel like everything I do is really > uninteresting. I want to be unique in my teaching, but then > I feel like I'm just constantly stealing others ideas and > not coming up with my own stuff. > > I am just really frustrated. I see studnet teachers who are > amazing and teach like it comes so natural to them. I wish > I had natural teaching ability and I feel like if I keep > trying it will come, but sometimes I feel like I just dont > have it. Then I worry that I shouldnt be a teacher. I truly > want to become a teacher and have my own classroom, I just > don't feel secure in myself at all. I feel like I have no > idea what I'm doing and I've just been thrown in there. > Hopefully I am saying all of this now and after my student > teaching I will feel more confidant.
your post expresses uncertainty with the smart board but goes on to express a general uncertainty - which is very normal and very healthy too. Teachers who approach teaching with unquestioned confidence are not being realistic - we all have lots to learn and from our students too.
the address below will take you to a Smart Board demonstration on youtube. I think if you keep punching such a phrase into google, more sites of help will come up.
[link removed]
> But let's remember that teachers have been around for years and smartboards haven't. Of course you need to learn it and likely use it - but there's more to good teaching than that and you could still be a good teacher without it - you'd just look like a dinosaur.
How do you know smartboard doesn't allow a jump drive? You can tell I am a dinosaur and don't use a smartboard. Call smartboard - likely they have people on an 800 who would be happy to talk with you. Maybe even a local distributor who'd invite you in to learn. Tell them your problem - "My mentor teacher won't let me near the SmartBoard!" "Oh no, that's not fair" they'll say (and it's not!) and they'll want to help.
Unique in your teaching is a heady goal... I hope you get there and we are each of us unique but in the beginning maybe it would be good to aim at interesting, engaging, effective. Those alone would make you an awesome teacher. And there's an old saying that says some of the best teachers are the best thieves... there's nothing wrong with borrowing good ideas and it's certainly in our students' best interest. (I used to go through the recycle box in the xerox room to see what lessons I could 'borrow'. And by the way punch that into google too - best lesson plans for _____. There's no end to the Internet or the good lessons and ideas it has for teachers.
And you can and will give even 'borrowed lessons' your own special flair - you'll make them uniquely you. There are natural teachers but that means people who naturally have the ability to establish relationships with students. There's no one who has the natural ability to plan good lessons without planning. Good luck.
> > I am just really frustrated. I see studnet teachers who are > amazing and teach like it comes so natural to them. I wish > I had natural teaching ability and I feel like if I keep > trying it will come, but sometimes I feel like I just dont > have it. Then I worry that I shouldnt be a teacher. I truly > want to become a teacher and have my own classroom, I just > don't feel secure in myself at all. I feel like I have no > idea what I'm doing and I've just been thrown in there. > Hopefully I am saying all of this now and after my student > teaching I will feel more confidant.
Do you guys want to teach in another environment? This is the job for you. Requirements are: 4 year degree minimum with a BA or BS Master's and TESOL is a plus
You can check more information at [link removed]
Thank you and looking forward to speak with you guys soon!
I had 4 student teachers. Three of them were excellent. It took many hours after school to answer questions & work with them, but I did it, because I went into the experience wanting them to have the same great experience I had. I believe in being very hands on & bringing enthusiasm to instruction. When the st took over, I gushed to the kiddos about whatever he/she taught. (I had 3 females & one male st).
The fourth had difficulty turning in her educational course work, difficulty turning in lesson plans on time despite my help, organizational skills, etc. This teacher needed lots of help after school & I gave it until the prof asked me to back off & let her take on more responsibility. She was a good person, the students liked her, & she enjoyed coming in each day. Her prof & I recommended that she teach in a daycare setting & get more experience with young children. She was just not ready for public school.
I think the main problem is that classroom teachers are MADE to take a student teacher. It is very difficult to work in student teacher time these days with the rigor of the classroom & the excessive testing. It would be hard to turn over a classroom when the expectations are so tough these days.
I really feel for the new teachers coming in. I had so many positive experiences & positive feedback when I did student teaching. I also had nurturing from vet teachers my first year of teaching.
You all must really want to teach to go through what you have described! Don't give up! It will happen!
My CT's style is more reprimand without positive boosts. So be it, I appreciate what she's doing, opening her classroom to me. However, I would appreciate a little more encouragement. It's just not her style I think...or is it me!? My reflective self (a good trait for a future teacher I hear? ) is left unsure how much I've messed up, and wondering what she's thinking. Am I hopeless? Here, I have to find my own sense of purpose and belief in myself to keep my chin up, and my spirit up. 'tis hard!
On 3/02/11, jentx/eceRet wrote: > I just cringe when I read about bad student teaching > experiences. I had two great co-op teachers during my own > student teaching. Both were younger than I since I went > into teaching when I was 39 after my children were in elem. > > I had 4 student teachers. Three of them were excellent. > It took many hours after school to answer questions & work > with them, but I did it, because I went into the experience > wanting them to have the same great experience I had. I > believe in being very hands on & bringing enthusiasm to > instruction. When the st took over, I gushed to the kiddos > about whatever he/she taught. (I had 3 females & one male > st). > > The fourth had difficulty turning in her educational course > work, difficulty turning in lesson plans on time despite my > help, organizational skills, etc. This teacher needed lots > of help after school & I gave it until the prof asked me to > back off & let her take on more responsibility. She was a > good person, the students liked her, & she enjoyed coming > in each day. Her prof & I recommended that she teach in a > daycare setting & get more experience with young children. > She was just not ready for public school. > > I think the main problem is that classroom teachers are > MADE to take a student teacher. It is very difficult to > work in student teacher time these days with the rigor of > the classroom & the excessive testing. It would be hard to > turn over a classroom when the expectations are so tough > these days. > > I really feel for the new teachers coming in. I had so > many positive experiences & positive feedback when I did > student teaching. I also had nurturing from vet teachers > my first year of teaching. > > You all must really want to teach to go through what you > have described! Don't give up! It will happen!
Like jentx/eceRet, I also cringe, when I see posters share their experiences on T-net. Please remember all CTs were student teachers once. Who knows...he/she may or may not have had good experience(s) either. Or maybe he/she had fabulous experience(s). So, what do we know?
Whatever the reason being in regardless of his/her teaching style including reprimands or encouragement, we are here to learn.
We have remain resilient and focused on our own goals of WHY we are on our way to become teachers.
You mention reflection as a good trait to have. Yes, I have agree with you. I also find ACTION is another good trait to have. I found this quote to be helpful and would like to share with you and all:
"How can we know ourselves? Never by reflection, but only through action. Begin at once to do your duty and immediately you will know what is inside you." Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe
In all, everyone has opinions. We all have to begin somewhere. We will remember good and the bad at the beginning, middle, and end of our journey.
We are students forever. Teaching never stops. The only person that knows you the best is YOU. Best wishes to you and all who want to become teachers.
~Thank A Mentor~
On 5/06/11, Carlyn wrote: > you sound wonderful~! I'm looking at this chat room because > I'm student teaching and am not sure where I stand with my > CT. Some days seem good, some I mess up the focus of my > lesson, and I feel like I'm in the dog house. > > My CT's style is more reprimand without positive boosts. So > be it, I appreciate what she's doing, opening her classroom > to me. However, I would appreciate a little more > encouragement. It's just not her style I think...or is it > me!? My reflective self (a good trait for a future teacher I > hear? ) is left unsure how much I've messed up, and wondering > what she's thinking. Am I hopeless? Here, I have to find my > own sense of purpose and belief in myself to keep my chin up, > and my spirit up. 'tis hard! > > On 3/02/11, jentx/eceRet wrote: >> I just cringe when I read about bad student teaching >> experiences. I had two great co-op teachers during my own >> student teaching. Both were younger than I since I went >> into teaching when I was 39 after my children were in elem. >> >> I had 4 student teachers. Three of them were excellent. >> It took many hours after school to answer questions & work >> with them, but I did it, because I went into the experience >> wanting them to have the same great experience I had. I >> believe in being very hands on & bringing enthusiasm to >> instruction. When the st took over, I gushed to the kiddos >> about whatever he/she taught. (I had 3 females & one male >> st). >> >> The fourth had difficulty turning in her educational course >> work, difficulty turning in lesson plans on time despite my >> help, organizational skills, etc. This teacher needed lots >> of help after school & I gave it until the prof asked me to >> back off & let her take on more responsibility. She was a >> good person, the students liked her, & she enjoyed coming >> in each day. Her prof & I recommended that she teach in a >> daycare setting & get more experience with young children. >> She was just not ready for public school. >> >> I think the main problem is that classroom teachers are >> MADE to take a student teacher. It is very difficult to >> work in student teacher time these days with the rigor of >> the classroom & the excessive testing. It would be hard to >> turn over a classroom when the expectations are so tough >> these days. >> >> I really feel for the new teachers coming in. I had so >> many positive experiences & positive feedback when I did >> student teaching. I also had nurturing from vet teachers >> my first year of teaching. >> >> You all must really want to teach to go through what you >> have described! Don't give up! It will happen!
I emailed several things to your address. I have some more, let me know what you think.
On 2/02/11, jt wrote: > i literally put this site up today. once you let me know what your > looking for (chapters./content), I will start uploading stuff. > > > On 2/02/11, jt wrote: >> I've taught from various e...See More