Clinical Hours

For the first time this entire semester I finally feel like I'm starting to begin work more closely related to my major and my career.

On Friday I will be observing and hopefully teaching special education students in a public elementary school. From 9-2:30 I will be helping students with special needs and getting prepared for what my future classroom may entail.

With strict dress codes and proper classroom etiquette, I'm both excited and nervous for this experience. Rather than sitting in a classroom and taking notes for hours upon hours, I'd much rather actually go to a classroom and learn from hands on experience.

I feel this is the best way to prepare future teachers and also more exciting. While I do have some experience in a classroom, the school systems here differ vastly from those in Connecticut.

I can't wait!

Labels: experience, school, teaching

Posted by Kelly on 10/10/2007 03:57:00 PM
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Teachers

I have come to find that the teachers in College differ immensely from teachers in high school.

In lecture halls with over 200 kids in some of my classes you’re teachers may not even know your name or recognize you around campus. There is no personal relationship between you and them unless you make an effort to see them. Not only does it make the classes more difficult, they can make an easy course incredibly hard.

For many teachers, English is there second language it makes learning so much more difficult. Also, they can decide how many tests you have, how hard they are and pretty much what material they want to cover.

It is so important to review your teachers before enrolling in classes. This semester especially, I have come across an AWFUL teacher where some of my friends taking the same course have 1/3 of the workload I have.

From now on I am looking at ratemyteachers.com before just signing up for any teacher because it can make a huge difference in your grades.

Labels: teachers, teaching

Posted by Kelly on 9/30/2007 08:57:00 PM
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Dealing with Un-enthusiasm

I understand that not all professors have to be entirely peppy and upbeat, but when a teacher's bad attitude is clearly apparent, there is something wrong. I am sure the working world is the same, that I over the course of my career-- I will have co-workers and bosses that are overworked, don't like their job-- or just aren't happy.

The difference between school and work, is as a student we are paying an unbelievable amount of money to get a worthy and unique experience from each class. So an unenthusiastic tone throughout a class, from the teacher nonetheless, is completely unacceptable in my opinion. There really isn't all that much time spent in one individual class over the course of a semester.

So, as a teacher, I would think that engaging the students in a heartfelt and exciting way is the main priority. To do otherwise will never allow students to learn the material so that it will stick with us even after college is over. Certainly not all teachers are like this. I'm very happy to have had a great deal of teachers that have gone above and beyond to make us eager to go to class. It may be a lesson in itself to deal with those teachers who we don't agree with. I'm certain that I'll have to do so throughout a professional career--but the difference is if I really don't like a boss or my co-workers, I can always change jobs......

Labels: career, classroom, college, professionalism, teachers, teaching

Posted by jeff on 9/13/2007 07:22:00 PM
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My Major

For many college students choosing a major is a very stressful decision. Many freshman begin college with a major which is undecided or they change it a number of different times throughout the next few years. However I knew exactly what I wanted to specialize in when I began college.

Since I was as young as 4, I can always remember I loved to play with kids and had so many dolls. As I grew up I would beg my mom to take me into work with her so I could help teach her students. I had always loved teaching and I think a huge part of that came from my mom being a teacher.

While she taught "special ed" I was unsure whether that was the right field for myself. My senior year in high school I took part in a internship with very low functioning special education students. I found myself getting extremely attached to all the students in there, which made it very difficult.

After finishing up my internship I realized that may not be the best suitable field to go into, so I decided that my major would be elementary education instead. So far I have taken part in some classes which I observed kindergarten and fourth grade students and absolutely love it!

Labels: education, major, students, teaching

Posted by Kelly on 9/03/2007 10:51:00 PM
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