Educational Issue: Teacher Evaluation

            The presentation done of teacher evaluation and the paper were both very interesting. I really enjoyed the paper and the way in which it was written. It made it very intriguing and entertaining to read, which is what made me feel as though I obtained more information from it. For instance, federal requirements have made it so there are more teacher evaluations. I feel as though in ways this could be beneficial and not. It is beneficial because teachers are given more feedback and opportunity to be evaluated numerous times, meaning that the chance of improvement is much higher. Also, this gives more examples of ones teaching, which can be helpful when it comes to terminating jobs. However, one has to make sure they are following the guidelines, which is important in the evaluation. One must also make sure to constantly be working towards improvement though this should always be a goal.

            Another aspect I found interesting was the idea of self-awareness and self-assessment. I feel as though evaluation is important in many different ways. I feel as though as mentioned at the end of the presentation, having multiple means of evaluations helps in the best results. I want to have multiple ways of being evaluated even if this is not something the school system comes up with. I believe my students should have the ability to evaluate me, much like we do with our professors here at the end of a semester. I want to give them opportunity to critique my teaching and projects because I want to interest my students. The only way in which this can be done is through asking their opinion. I also wish to ask a colleagues opinion on occasion because I want to know that what I am doing is good especially in my first years. Also, it is nice to have a mentor or someone to turn to to evaluate your class when you see an area that needs improvement. As a human being, I have accepted the fact that I am not perfect. This unfortunately means that there will be areas in which I need to improve. This is one reason why I need to be open to teacher evaluation because it is better for my teaching, my classroom, and my students’ education, which is important. I need to take what is said into consideration and remember everyone continues to grow.  I am hoping this will make me more open to criticism.

            Speaking of criticism, though I know parents are not really trained for evaluations, I would like to also have their input in some ways. This group had mentioned this possibility in their presentation and I found it interesting. I believe that we should have multiple types of evaluators and parents happen to be one of these. I feel as though evaluation is crucial because it helps one grow as a learner and educator. I only hope that this all will have positive effects on the teacher and classroom, because according to this group it can go different ways. This is what is being used, so it needs to be implemented in positive ways. These are my views on teaching evaluations and such.

Educational Issue: MCL (Mass Customized Learning)

            I feel as though this form of education has the potential to be beneficial in the classroom; however, at the moment it is not ready to be fully implemented into most classrooms. I remain critical because it is something beneficial for many classes, but seems difficult to implement into an English classroom fully. It I were to use this system in my classroom it may not be my main focus for my classroom. I could see myself using it in certain aspects of my class, such as vocabulary lessons and such. It is a great system and the idea of not having grades, tracking, and such make the learning atmosphere less stressful for students and educators. It allows one to focus on the individual and give students the proper education needed, which is an aspect I believe is important in education. This allows there to be diversity in learning and is a flexible system for teachers to involve in their classes.

            The idea of Mass Customized Learning has been the buzz lately. Commonly, friends of mine who are out in the school system have mentioned it on numerous occasions. Before Dan, Rachel, and Kate’s presentation, I did not know anything about it except for what had been spread around about many schools switching to this system. I had done a bit of research to see what the discussions were talking about; however, this presentation and paper are the areas in which I was able to really break it down and see it for all the elements. Though it is not something I like completely, I do enjoy this method and feel as though it would be a helpful tool that will monitor and make sure students are constantly being challenged and pushed to learn more. It is a good system that has a few kinks much like any item experimentally being placed in schools. We must move forward even if that means having to discover new ways of learning and systems to help with education. This is one of those systems used and commonly mentioned. It is nice to know what it is and does for the individual student, the teacher, the classroom, and the school itself.

Philosophy of Education: Impact on the Classroom

           My philosophy on education will have a great aspect on many areas of the classroom. I am a clipboard at heart, which was discovered two years ago as a sophomore in college who had really just began to explore the thought of having my own classroom. This has shown me the person I am but also has helped in shaping my philosophy and ideas on teaching throughout the next two years of my college career. I plan on having an organized class that has the main focus being on students and their different ways of learning, much like my ways of learning are clipboard and puppy meaning I learn best around others and must have an organized list of what is to be done in a given day. As a future educator, I plan to have my class organized in such a way that I know what type of learner each student is and have them paired up in a group that will benefit them best. I care about students and having a productive and comforting classroom. I want to feel welcome and safe, which is what I would imagine my students would also want. This is one of the many aspects of the classroom I strive for this safe learning environment that is not a distraction but helps engage my students’ want for knowledge and understanding. I plan to have my classroom do just this in hopes that it will encourage and motivate students to do their best.  This is the main reason behind the organization of my classroom to make it a great learning environment that inspires and motivates.

            I will do this by setting up the desks in the best way possible for what is being done that day. I will make sure there is a clear list of instruction, so students who want organization will have an understanding on what I hope to get to in the class time. I want them to be active members in the class and know they have a voice that can be heard, so I will sit at their level and we will work together on disciplinary rules and guidelines for the class to follow during the first week. I want my students to feel as though there is no dumb moment and that everything they have to say is important so I plan on applauding them for the thoughts they bring forward and find nice ways to critique off topic responses. I want to give us time in class to work together and individually so that way depending on one’s best learning environment we are all satisfied and learning. The key importance for me as a teacher is to find the best way to get as much information across in many diverse ways so my students not only stay engaged but are growing in understanding and development on a certain subject area.

            As an English teacher, I plan to do English type work such as vocabulary, reading, writing, etc. However, due to my views on education, I feel as though it is important to have different instruction methods along with incorporating different subject areas to get the best results for students. I feel as though this will impact my class in a positive way because even if students struggle in English they will have multiple ways in which to discover the information. I also feel that English is a diverse topic that is flexible and can be easily combined with other subject areas to get better results in understanding material. When my students read the classics, I know there will be some that struggle. As a student in high school and middle school, I remember struggling with some of the material. Due to this problem I faced, I have come up with ideas of how to relate the information to students better. I want to teach the classics but bring in other mediums to help embark on a further investigative study of these texts. I hope to relate it to art, music, movies or film adaptations, young adult literature, and so much more. I want my students to reach the goals set out by the school and myself. The best way for them to do so is by giving them as many possibilities to get something out of the course as I can. This is why I wish to bring in these areas of art, as well as, with the idea that many schools are cutting out art programs so by incorporating them into the classroom our students will get more variety and opportunity to find new ways of learning. I plan to use a diverse grouping of materials to teach students because I feel as though it will have a positive impact on their learning. As a student, the class that stands out most to me is one where a teacher I had gave us choices and options. We read the important texts such as Macbeth and Hamlet; however, he found young adult literature that related in genre and concepts. He also had us watch horror films and adaptations of these Shakespearean plays. We were also given options when it came to final projects. This class I remember vividly and feel as though I learned a large capacity of education in many unique ways. Due to my experience, I want to incorporate this in my classroom because it helped students benefit in the past and gave them a voice in their education. It had a positive impact in motivating students, making the classroom open for all to discuss, and helped students grow and learn in more than just the content area of English.

As stated before, I want my students to have choice. I want to assess them in multiple ways and see the many ways in which they can excel and succeed. I believe with choice and options, we are setting our students up to succeed and gain more information from the material, because they are engaged and making their own decisions. I want to give different forms of assignments and projects that deal closely with what is being done in class, but also challenges them to think in new and exciting ways. Variety in assessment will have a positive impact on my classroom and my students. Students are more engaged and proud of the work they have done when they feel as though they have a choice in the matter. If I were to constantly assign quizzes for the vocabulary and reading my students would lose interest and not bother. It would also note show a very accurate representation of how they are doing and what they are learning because some learners are not good with tests and quizzes. These students would not benefit from one form of assessment and eventually it will lead them to not caring. If I instead do a quiz sometimes but have them write a paper or creative story using the vocabulary they learned it could be far more exciting and engaging to the students. If I were to take this a step further and have them come up with a game that uses the vocabulary this would get them collaboratively working together, engaged, and taking their knowledge to the next level where they do not just reiterate words and definitions but implement them into a game then it is far more enjoyable. I will be able to assess them in multiple ways and it will help both the students and myself branch into a new branch of learning which is this idea of applying what we know to something constructive. When it comes to assessment it is always important to have multiple means of assessment because it has the best impact on student learning and understanding.

This being said it is important to have resources as a tool to help students. I really want to incorporate technology in my classroom because I believe it is a beneficial tool in the classroom. I want my students to get creative with their learning and one way in which we can do this as a class is using technology. I feel as though technology integration is key when it comes to the classroom and learning. It allows us the opportunity to go beyond the given text and discussion into a realm of new possibilities and understanding. I feel as though having technology will have a positive impact on my classroom. I certainly do not want to make it the focus of education; however, I want it to be a tool we can all use. They could use it for a part of the variety of assessments. I could use technology to show my students the different mediums and content areas I wish to incorporate in our learning process. It will give us helpful tools to use in discussions and when presenting ideas. It allows us the opportunity to look at others opinions on English and learning. It is a wonderful tool that allows there to be more variety in the classroom, which I really enjoy. It also helps me see the different learning and levels of understanding my students have reached. This is why I believe it is such a positive impact on the classroom.

With all of these different areas of understanding and teaching the teacher must remember the way in which they want to run the classroom. As a teacher, I want to keep in mind that is in charge and what the leadership roles will be. I want to be the instructor teaching them the important knowledge they wish to know; however, I also was to be the facilitator by letting them do what they can to apply it to their lives and move past just learning it. I want my students to have a voice and be heard as well as I want to have a voice and be heard. I plan on allotting time in the class in such a way that this happens for both, my students and myself. I will lay out the goals and such and they will give me their input. I believe a collaborative leadership will give me the best results as a teacher, because the best way to know what students are thinking and where students are in their learning is by listening to what they have to say and ask. This is the way in which I believe I will have the greatest improvements and best impact on my classroom and teaching.

            These are just some of my many beliefs I wish to incorporate and work towards in my classroom. I believe they will all have positive impacts on the many areas of my classroom. These points will help me succeed in educating my students as best as I possibly can.

Teaching Philosophies: Voices Response

         When reading The History and Philosophy of Education Voices of Educational Pioneers by Madonna Murphy, there was no one philosopher who stood out as someone I clearly identified with. It was more so that in each of these philosophers’ views on education I found aspects that I could relate to my views on education. As I look at what I want for my classroom, I see many different aspects that should be implemented in the classroom. For instance many of the philosophers including, Confucious, Augustine, Sappho, Socrates, Aquaina, Pestalozzi, Froebel, Rousseau, Dewey, and Pigat, believed that students are the most important part of the classroom. They all seemed to have a focus amongst students and making sure we shape curriculum around our students, what they are capable of doing, their interests, and a teacher-learner relationship. We must make the learning environment a comfortable and safe place for all students. They believed in equality amongst all students; however, as teachers, we need to make sure we are paying attention to all students individually as well as treating them all equal. Our information and instruction should be based on the students needs not what we as the teacher think is most important, but more so about what the students need help on comprehending. As teachers, we must be role models as Augustine states, making sure we are compassionate to our students. We should challenge our students to think and go beyond basic recitation and instead encourage them to ask questions and delve deeply into the material. Confucius’s thought about how we should inspire students with great ideas and such. As teachers, this is what we should strive for to inspire and encourage students to learn by being passionate and making the classroom a safe place.

            I found myself interested in the idea presented by Socrates as the thought that students cannot simply learn from a teacher projecting information. Students must discover and question with the teacher to help learn and achieve an education. In this aspect of understanding one needs to explore further to really develop a strong education for students I related to many different philosophers once again gripping on to small portions of their beliefs that made the most sense to me. In Jesus’s philosophy the concept of having many activity methods seems crucial in the classroom. As teachers, we need to engage our students in a variety of ways so they are able to have ample opportunities to delve deeply into a subject and gain knowledge from it. As educators, we need to take into consideration the knowledge students already have and grow off of this so there is this progression in learning making students engaged and alert. Augustine touches upon this in the philosophy of education. Hilegard also touches upon this saying that education should be more active allowing students to dive into diverse topics in new ways using art and truth and culture to discover something. The idea of allowing students to move past initial knowledge into a realm of more possibilities is present in Aquina, Eramus, Comenius, Jefferson, and Dewey where they believe an education should focus on inquiry and a comfortable atmosphere in which students can ask questions and delve deeper into topics. As seen in many of the philosophers we need to encourage students to go further using hand on activities, questions, multiple ways of learning, and comfortable atmospheres. If we want the best results in the classroom, we need to find what fits our way of teaching and remember to look at the many options and piece together the best possible way to educate students.

            Throughout the reading of this text I found myself finding commonalities amongst the philosophers as well as common themes I really enjoyed. Though I did not relate personally to one philosopher, I found myself piecing together what I wanted through their examples. It gives many options for what a classroom could like showing the diversity in learning environments and philosophies for education. This allows us as future teachers see that there are endless possibilities and we just need to find the right fit.

           

Response to Film: TEACH

I am not normally a fan of documentary type films, which is the type of film I would classify TEACH as. However, I really loved this movie; it captured my attention and enthralled me throughout the whole film. TEACH was inspiring and a glimpse of what a day in the life of a teacher might consist of. As a prospective teacher, I watched this film thinking about what I would do in the situations these teachers have been put through. There were certainly moments when I thought to myself, oh man this job is much harder than I thought it would be. What would I being doing in this situation? I would probably be crying or struggling to stay positive. At first, as they were struggling, I was thinking about how being a teacher means having struggles. I was not sure if I was ready and prepared for all the struggles I might have to face. By the end, I knew that this thought process did not matter and that we will never be prepared fully for everything being thrown at us. As a teacher, all we can do is talk to colleagues, work things out, keep trying, be resourceful, and never give up on these students because they are counting on us, so we must be strong for their sake. This movie showed dedicated teachers who did all of this and more for their students. I looked at these teachers and I was impressed. After this, I was once again reminded of the reasons why I was going into this profession. It is not for the money or because it is easy. It is because everyday I must face a new challenge and try to overcome it. It is because I am doing what I love to do and helping students who need a push, friend, or someone to believe in them. I want to go into the profession of being a teacher because of those who inspired me in the past. Also because I know I can face any challenges that may come due to the fact that teachers are some of the strongest people out there.

This movie educates society on the struggles that are being faced everyday in the classroom. Much like the director, Davis Guggenheim, wanted to show, this film demonstrates the fact that “there are great teachers in these schools fighting the good fight and doing great” (Guggenheim 6). This film demonstrates how hard teachers work and fight for their students to get the best education they can. These teachers show how educators are determined to do their best and help their students succeed. This film demonstrated that much like in any other job there are problems that must be overcome, but teachers are fighters striving to move past these problems. In society today, there is a lot of pressure on teachers because people are arguing that teachers are not doing their job. This opens up societies eyes to the fact that teachers are trying as hard as they can to help these students. It is not the teachers fault that students are being pushed through the system at rapid speed without seeing that student’s strengths and areas that need improving. There were students in this movie a few grade levels behind in their learning; it is impossible to expect these teachers to get the students past grade level when they have fallen so far behind. The expectations are high and teachers are only human; they are only capable to do as much as they can. As seen in this movie, teachers are doing all they can and showing results. Though these results are not up to the impossible expectations of some, they are still helping students learn and showing tremendous improvement. This is what the real goal should be. We should not have to work toward a goal that cannot be reached, but be praised for the achievements that we can accomplish like having students’ best interests in mind, helping students move forward, helping students strive for a goal, inspiring students to learn, and doing all we can to help students grow and improve while also enjoying the education they are given. We as teachers want students to feel passionate and happy about their learning because this will bring the best results. As seen in the film, when students read things they are interested in, they are more apt to learn and grow. We as teachers should strive toward helping our students and making learning interesting for them, so we can gain the best results. Focusing on our students rather than on the high expectations of society will allow us to succeed and be much closer to achieving the expectations laid out before us. This can be seen with the AP History class. When he was trying to teach them all the information he could, he was not giving them the chance to be active learners. He was focusing on the requirements of the AP rather than the pace of his students. When he finally focused on the students, he not only saw results, but also was able to teach them much more than expected. They were able to go into the AP exam confident and satisfied with the learning they received. He changed many of these students’ lives and helped them to overcome their doubts and fears. This is what I took away from this movie. I am excited for the path laid out before me even though it may contain obstacles. I believe with my students and colleagues by my side I can overcome it all and focus on what I do best, which is teaching. 

TEACH. Dir. Davis Guggenheim. Perf. Queen Latifah,. CBS, 2013. DVD.

Guggenheim, Davis. TEACH Discussion Guide. N.p.: Great Teachers Project, LLC, 2013. PDF.

Reflection on Educational Issue: Non-traditional (Alternative) Schools

            Throughout this presentation and even reading over the paper written, I feel as though I became more interested in non-traditional schools and the ways in which they work. Growing up, I had certainly heard of non-traditional schools more by the term “alternative schools” and also knew people who left my school to attend these school; nevertheless, the true definition of these schools and their methods were not a topic widely discussed and explained. I feel as though this is something we as teachers should change. I do not think non-traditional schools are for me personally because I am a strict by the book type person, but I knew people in school who struggled and would have benefited greatly had they known about these schools. As teachers, we should let students know about their options because though we may want them to be in our class in our school a different type of learning experience might be what benefits them more. As a teacher, I plan to educate my students on the options laid out for them. If they desire more AP classes and we do not offer them at my school I would give them online and alternative programs to help them achieve this. This project has helped me see that non-traditional schools are also very interesting and beneficial to students.

            This presentation and information on non-traditional schools has also shed some light on areas I wish to add to my classroom whether I work in a non-traditional or traditional setting. I want to add more hands-on and project-based learning. I wants students to be involved in what they are learning because it is a good strategy in helping them learn and be more engaged. As a future educator, I want my classroom to be a positive learning experience much like what was expressed when discussing HCA in the paper. I want my students involved in the community and feel comfortable in my classroom especially. I want my students to feel connected and comfortable with me, so I can hear what they have to say and be open to catering to what they wish to accomplish. I believe that students learn best and the teaching experience is more exciting when the teacher and students work together. I believe that these methods presented in non-traditional schools could also be incorporated in the traditional schools as well.

            Overall, I really enjoyed the presentation on non-traditional schools and found it very educational. Lauren, Mel, and Kalib did a wonderful job giving me a clear idea of what these schools were like, and showed me the different aspects that went beyond what people generally hear and know about these types of schools. I found myself wishing I could have experienced HCA for myself. Though, this school did not sound exactly like the kind of structure I like in a school it would be a wonderful job opportunity and great learning experience overall.

Promising Futures

This article seemed very interesting and had many strong key points being made. From the statistics at the beginning to the challenge and its focus, this article has helped me discover a diverse range of information on Maine schools. The challenge presented in Promising Futures is an area of education I wish could have been implemented into my school in the past. This system acts as a great equalizer in making sure students, parents, faculty, educators, and administrators get an opinion and job in the learning experience. The core principles and practices help create this idea of a learning community that caters to all. I really enjoyed this aspect of it because it mainly shows that all these people play a role in education that is equally important, even if some of these members are aware of their roles. This shows how schools can come together to promise students the best education they deserve while also staying true to their interests and goals.  

Many of the aspects discussed in this article were areas in which I wished to look at further. There were many that I had already desired for my classroom and learning atmosphere. This article emphasized the fact that most of the areas I wished to pursue in my classroom were possible. I really enjoyed the main principles that dealt with making the classroom a safe environment for all and dealt mainly with understanding students as a whole but also individually. I also really enjoyed the focus on students and the multiple ways to educate students that will help them better understand. This article encourages us to focus on students needs but to also work collaboratively with many different people within the school environment. I really liked how the 15 practices help to show this collaboration and allow all to see their importance in the learning experience. This article was really educational and I found myself desiring to see it being used in a classroom.  

Promising Futures. Augusta, ME: Maine Commission on Secondary Education, 1998. Print.

Educational Issue 2: Authentic Curriculum

The idea of authentic curriculum is very interesting and not something I would have generally thought about on my own. I am not sure how I feel about this topic. I feel as though this group did a great job making me enjoying many the issues being presented. I really enjoyed the links and videos they gave us it is a lot of information defining this idea of authentic curriculum. After this project, I found myself wondering how I could implement this into my own classroom. I find the idea of using students’ interests to help them learn more. I feel as though this would be a beneficial way of teaching; however, I would not fully implement it into my classroom because I am not really a fan of not teaching. I would still give students a choice while also teaching. I want students to know I have their best interests in mind, and I am trying to keep them intrigued. I would use many of the aspects presented in this lesson to my own classroom. For instance the thought of creating new communities and see new perspectives is really great because it is the idea that they are working together and collaboratively. This is something all teachers look forward to in the classroom; however, it is not the only reason.

This is beneficial in many ways such as it creating an environment in which students are excited to learn because they have a say. This means fewer students will be dropping out or disengaged. It creates positive environments amongst teachers and students. They seem to get along better when they get to know one another on a more personal level. It also creates a version of creativity and ambition in students to help them perform at the level the teacher always knew was possible.

Though it is a very beneficial issue to be presented in this research project, teachers sometimes feel as if they do not have a place in the schools. There is also the belief that these teachers are not able to do their job as teaching. They supervise as the students do their own opinions. It is also difficult for a teacher fully immersed into their classroom they must deal with students driving along the education. I feel as though this is an area I could not fulfill this strategy because I really enjoy this strategy just not the idea of not being the teacher. I studied to be a teacher because I really love it. Nevertheless, I plan to incorporate the student-based learning, student interests, and student happiness and comfort.

This group has done a wonderful job presenting this issue and allowing us to see the benefits and struggles that one might see as a teacher implementing this into their classroom. One aspect of this I really enjoyed about this groups paper and presentation is the fact that they clarified the idea that one does not have to go to one extreme or the next. As teachers, we do not have to always drop everything to implement this strategy into our classroom. We can take certain aspects and implement them as they work with our classroom. This issue can be brought into the school in many different ways making it a flexible and beneficial aspect to add to the classroom. This group did a wonderful job showing this and showing this interesting issue allowing me to see another model I want to implement into my class.

Sub-Categories of Philosophies

Perennialism: These people believe in similar ideas to that of essentialists mainly focusing on the concept of having a set of common core informational goals. They are often practicing mental discipline but believe that learning is an on-going process where facts are constantly changing, meaning their students focus on big ideas and concepts that remain the constant focus. They teach everlasting importance to all people everywhere. Perenialists focus on the most important topics to develop a person, because they believe you must treat people as people first. It is a teacher-based system, but its importance is dependent upon the students and is open to student criticism.

 Essentialism:  They believe that one should have a common core of information and skill set. These types of people are hard workers with very strong mental ability and self-discipline. This form of sub-category is mostly teacher-centered in the classroom and draws from the concepts and ideas brought forward in idealism and realism when dealing with the four basic philosophies. They are very organized because they believe this is the best possible way for them to get the common core of information presented to their students.

Behaviorism:  This sub-category closely deals with the philosophy known as realism. This is a theory that believes ones self and behavior is based on and determined by the environment around them more so than heredity. Behaviorists believe that by controlling the learning environment teachers can significantly influence students and teach them. They believe in strong organizational skills as well as a curriculum based on behavioral objectives. They believe knowledge is a behavior that is observable. These forms of teachers use positive and negative reinforcers to get their students to behave a certain way. They believe good behavior is observed than positively reinforced to help students better understand what is good and bad.

Positivism: These philosophers believe that essences, intuition, and inner causes cannot be measured; therefore, they cannot be taught or used to teach. They believe that knowledge can only be found in statements and points of observable fact. They reject beliefs of the mind, spirit and self and only accept reality that can be explained using measurements, laws, etc. Teachers believing this philosophy often use direct instruction and do not think about student engagement. There is learning and teaching process where the teacher is expected to teach in a clear and precise manner with evidence to back up what is being stated. Teachers are expected to use repetition and memorization of fact. These are the ways in which behaviorists have an effect on the classroom in a more logical atmosphere.

 Progressivism:  this is an educational theory that through questions and experimentation students can learn. They favor human experience as the way to obtain knowledge and understanding. Progressivists believe in the scientific method, student involvement, and belief of an individual are the ways in which students are able to learn. These teachers prepare their students for change. They believe the classroom is like a democracy where the students and teachers work together to make the classroom the best learning environment.

Reconstructionism:  They tend to address this idea of being familiar with social issues and social questions. They deal with specifically looking at trying to make the society better and worldwide democracy. These students take action on social issues being presented in the world around them.

Humanism:  This philosophy deals with thinking of people as individuals. It believes that students should be treated as individuals, and it rejects group-oriented learning. This stems off the idea of existentialism. They believe that students should be actively participating in making their own choices and decisions. These teachers emphasize instruction and assessment that is based on each individual student’s interests. They believe in students having and making choices.

Constructivism:  They believe in doing hands on learning, and activity-based learning and teaching. This is closely associated with the philosophy of existentialism. They are student-based learning making it active for students to learn based on personal meaning and questions. In this form of curriculum, students are encouraged to answer their own questions and formulate their own opinions based on the answers they developed for the questions. Teachers are thought to be guides helping the students along while they embark on finding the answers for themselves.

I personally see myself as being a mixture of many different aspects of a few fields because they all have aspects I wish to implement in my classroom. As a perennialist, I have been learning in this type of atmosphere throughout my time at University of Maine at Farmington and feel as if I obtained so much information to benefit me in life. I really enjoy this method, because I feel as though it has students’ best interests in mind while also allowing the teacher to still have control, and this is what I wish to accomplish. It is the way in which I am able to learn best. The concept of thinking of students as people first is one I wish to live by making this ring true for myself.  I really enjoy the idea of teachers teaching but leaving it open to the students to be a part of the class and have a voice as well.

 I believe this is why I also feel as though I relate to progressivism in some ways. I am a firm believe in giving students choice and having their best interests in mind. The idea of observing and experimenting is very interesting. I have always been a hands-on learner while in school and this philosophy seems to focus on this idea. It is a project-based instruction with a variety of different ways to assess students. It also gives students choice and a voice, which are very important aspects I believe should be present in the classroom. I also believe that catering to students’ interests is essential in the classroom because it keeps them engaged. These are the areas of progressivism I would implement in my classroom because it works and helps my students retain more knowledge.

It is crucial to have a comfortable environment for all students. I believe that the philosophy known as humanism uses this as the key aspect to the philosophy. This deals mostly with creating a positive environment in the classroom for all students to feel good. It also deals with activity-based learning and thinking of students as individuals. This is important for teachers to remember because it is an area that seems important in the classroom because there are many students and they all learn in their own way. As a teacher these are the important aspects of this philosophy I wish to put into my classroom.

Empowerment

In entry 139, I felt so bad for Ramiro because he put so much effort into his education just to pass the tests and he could not pass the test. As a future educator, I despise the fact that one set of tests decides whether a student can move on in school. This form of assessment is not an accurate representation of a student’s progress and learning throughout because it bases what they know on one day of testing when there are so many factors that can affect their test scores. Ramiro studied and worked so hard in the weeks leading up to the test and still did not pass. If our goal as educators is to discourage students from wanting to learn more I feel as though tests are the way to do so after reading this entry. In order to have an accurate account of our students’ progress in learning, we should have an assessment that demonstrates their learning for everyday they are in our class. Our students are capable of being able to learn no matter who they are but when they are constantly failing the end test it frustrates them and makes them assume they cannot learn anything. This teacher tried her best to help him and all of their hard work paid off as he finally passed. She showed dedication and understanding for her students, which was both inspiring and beneficial. As a teacher, I want to do the same and always be there to understand my students even when a pointless test is telling them they are failures.

            In entry 142, is very empowering in the aspect that they were able to go be a part of a world culture event. They were able to make a difference and do what they love. This was able to show the opportunities we as teachers can give our students. We can be a part of the school community by taking control of an event, coaching, doing after school programs, and giving kids a place after school to relax and unwind while getting things done. You can show your students you care by being a part of their life and making your career more than just a job where you show up when you are supposed to and leave as soon as you get the opportunity to do so. These students got the dream of a lifetime and it was all due to their teacher saying yeah I have time and would love doing this for my students. They dominated students from all over the world at soccer, and were able to gain a confidence and understanding they may not have been able to obtain in the classroom. It gave these students a positive role model that they knew was there to help them. It was inspiring to see what this teacher did for his students and athletes. It was also a remarkable adventure for them to embark upon. Overall, this story did a wonderful job showing that one is only able to achieve their dreams and others dreams if they give a little fight for it.

Teaching Philosophy

Idealism: This was invented by Plato and thought as the only reality and philosophy worth knowing. It deals mostly with reasoning the using ones mind in a logical aspect. The emphasis of learning for teachers of this model is subjects that challenge the mind such as literature, history, philosophy, etc. This is generally focused on teacher-based learning meaning it deals mostly with lectures, discussion, logical questioning and thought process, etc. These are the ways in which this philosophy deals specifically with.

Realism: The realists are the opposing belief to the idealists. Realists look for reason. Aristotle created this philosophy. These philosophers believe in the more scientific approach by using senses and the world around them to better understand information and find truth. This philosophy emphasizes the subject matter of the physical world, particularly science and mathematics. The teaching methods focus on one’s ability to master facts and skills through the process of demonstration and reiteration. It deals with the idea of critical thought scientifically through observing the world around us and experimenting the thoughts/theories one may have. This form is strict rule system set up mainly teacher-based with an emphasis on scientific subject matter.

Pragmatism: This is the philosophy tat believes reality is through experience and observation because there is a constant evolving and changing. This philosophy believes that the world is constantly moving into a different path of change and so are people. This philosophy believes that one learns best through experience and discussion of one’s experience. Those who believe in this theory are active learners producing thought then acting upon it to better understand the world around them. When implementing this philosophy into the classroom one deals with communication, hands on learning, experiments to experience the truth behind a question, collaboration, and have different projects because the mind is always changing and should be challenged in new ways. This form of learning consists of mixing different concentration areas to give students a full range of information. This system is one that is student-based and has the student’s best interests in mind.

Existentialism: These philosophers believe we are who we are and that each individual is different. This deals with the thought process that everyone should be given his/her own individual choice. They believe that we create our own lifestyle and way of learning. According to this philosophy teachers should have a focus on students and each individual student. They should focus their teaching on student feelings, individual selves, personal preferences, etc. They believe each individual is in charge with coming to his or her own conclusion on subject matter. They do not believe that students’ abilities can be measured, tracked, evaluated, or standardized. They are very student-based mainly focusing on student preference rather than curriculum.

            I personally feel as though I relate more to the concepts laid out in the philosophy of pragmatism. This is due to the fact that I always find myself wondering how I can incorporate all disciplines in my classroom to help my students get the most out of the content I am teaching. I also always want to implement multiple ways to discover one subject area due to the fact that this is a good way to help them learn all they can. I am a hands on learner who learns best through organization, discussion with others, and working with subject matter in multiple ways. I would have benefited from a class based on pragmatist belief and this is most likely why I would associate it with myself. I was never the type of person who learned through memorization or learning then reiterating. I had to be the one experimenting and exploring the possible answer in multiple ways so I would not get bored and give up. I want to someday incorporate the elements needed to help my students learn as much as they can which means I will be flexible in creating a system of methods that are uniquely different but all help them explore a new topic. I want to inspire them and get their opinion on the class. I want a system that is student-based because that is the way in which one is able to get the best results from students. I want to encourage students to do different projects that demonstrate their learning in the best possible way. My students will be able to discuss with peers different subject matters as well as work on their own to come to a conclusion. Variety is key in exploring a subject and topic to the fullest and this is what I believe pragmatists do. This is the reason why I feel as though I associate with them more so than any other philosophy.

Rejuvenation

I really enjoyed entry 115 because it was such a great idea that the teacher had. Allowing her students to be pen pals to students from different areas is a great learning experience, it seems as if these students are able to see how though people are from different areas they experience very similar problems. The students were so encouraging as they dealt with their pen pals problems much like there own. This allows students to understand one another on a deeper level. It is also a great learning experience of the many different home lives people face on a personal level. I also really loved the idea that the students got to go to the other school and experience a completely different setting. I believe this is a great learning experience for the students and the teacher. I also believe that I would enjoy doing something similar to this with my class, allowing them to see diversity in this interesting way.

Entry number 117 was also a very intriguing journal to look at. The idea that this teacher moved away from teaching but somehow found his/her way back to it was amusing. The idea that they were teaching again shows that it is the kind of job you find your way back to it. I really enjoyed this entry because I enjoyed the way he taught music and commented on how it relates to poetry. As an English teacher in training, I find myself knowing how difficult certain genres of text can be for students. Much like this teacher, I want to help my students obtain as much information as possible. I want them to understand instead of hide away not knowing. This story encouraged me because I have been thinking about how I want to use other materials to help my students learn. I want to connect the classics of literature to young adult literature and film adaptations. I want to do what this teacher does when he/she relates poetry to music. I want to give my students the materials needed to help them get a more complete understanding of the material, so they will in turn be better suited for their future. This entry inspired me because it informed me that this is something I will be able to implement in my classroom.

The last entry that really connected with me was entry number 121. When I was in school, I had struggled with reading I had a hard time reading aloud. I was the type of aloud reader that would accidentally skip words because my eyes would flash by them without me realizing that I had missed saying it. I had been made fun of by students and even teachers. This struggle I faced encouraged me to read more but it also discouraged me from participating in the classroom. I was angry with myself and disappointed at the same time thinking I was horrible because even my teachers mocked me. After reading this, I was inspired to be like this teacher and help my students. The way this teacher handled the situation was amazing and I really enjoyed this entry as a whole.

Episode Four of The Story of Schools

At the beginning of Episode 4, I was shocked about what was to come in this section due to the first question answered. When asked who won the civil war the boy replied, “ I have no idea and I don’t care.” This was a surprising confession being made. I had an idea of what this period till present day would look like but this shocked me even more. Though this time seemed to be one in which they claimed students were not being challenged, there were many different types of schools being presented showing kids true potential to learn. This movie demonstrates the fact that students are unique and need learning systems that help them excel instead of hindering students by not meeting their educational needs. This movie shows the benefits of hands on learning and being interactive with students’ learning. As everything around them progresses, it does not make sense to keep school the same as it has been throughout the decade. School itself needs to keep moving forward however the strategies being introduced and the testing systems seem to be pushing students back into the past. They are unable to move forward in learning because they are forced to sit and listen as teachers talk to them. I believe interactive learning would be a positive help to students’ education. After hearing that in the 80’s 500 million was the cost of testing, I realized there are many more tests being placed into the schools now showing that much more is spent on testing every year. This is absurd and the money could be used to help the progression of education and make a unified test that would be more beneficial to our students.

Funding seemed to be a topic that was mentioned many times in this episode. This showed what government funding is used for in the field of education. It was interesting to see the kids getting a choice of what type of education they want and getting paid to go to that form of school. I think it would be interesting to implement these different learning strategies into the public school system. They claimed they were worried about the students leaving the public school system for these alternative schools. If these different strategies were implemented in the public school they would have nothing to worry about. As a future educator, these topics are ones in which I will have to think about in the future. I want to make sure my students are being satisfied with their education rather than getting bored because they are not being challenged. This episode helps me get the information presented in the past.

Response to Episode One: Story of School

            In the beginning times, it is interesting to hear that there was not a free or public education being offered. This shows the progression schools have made over the years from the start forming a free public education for students. This episode of Story of School allows one to see the progression school has made in some areas, such as expanding from the beginning one room classroom. This episode shows the many influences there were on education such as Jefferson, Horace Man, Douglas, Catherine Beecher, etc. There were many different arguments, which could be the reasoning for why the schools are still being discussed controversially in present day as well. This made it clear that overtime we have slowly adapted to new issues being presented; however, the idea of the school system still needs improving and fine-tuning to make it better. It showed that the schools have not reached their full potential, allowing the viewers to wonder if the education system will ever be being altered.

            Though this time was a giant turning point for the country, it had many issues still being presented in the new idea of public schools. For instance, not all students could afford the school at first meaning only those rich enough were allowed an education. These schools were only catering to certain students’ beliefs and cultures. Other cultures were not being addressed in the school system such as Catholics. This brought up much controversy leading to the many different immigrants wanting their own school system that they wanted the board of education to pay for. There was exclusion among the schools where African and Native Americans were placed in schools with only their race. This was the beginning of the segregation that led to all the struggles with integration in the future.  This video introduces the struggles we faced in the early stages of the education system while also allowing the viewer to see the progression and areas that remain similar in schools today.

               It is interesting to think that even over the long stretch of time there still are so many trials we face in the world of education. Though we have progressed from being those female teachers being forced to the west to live with a different family every week as we educate in a one-room class, we still have problems we must overcome. This is how life is; there will always be obstacles to overcome. We will never fully agree on one system to run the schools with so there will be constant changing and disagreements overtime. I look forward to watching the progression of education and teaching over the years to come from a front row seat. It will be interesting to have my voice heard and hopefully help aide the education system in some way.

Nation at Risk

Nation at Risk was put into order due to low test scores and a decline in students’ performances in educational scenarios. This brought to light the many flaws present in the educational system. The two articles force us to look more closely at the problems faced in the education system today; however, I am not sure if I fully agree with what is being said. There is certainly a need to fix certain aspects of education, yet there are also sections of it that are continuing to progress. Though I see the need to progress and fix these problems presented in education, how does one decide how to do so? It is difficult to find a way in which to state how to fix the system when there is always going to be contradicting opinions like the ones presented in this article. It leaves the readers confused to whether or not this movement is beneficial or not. It also leaves the reader infuriated thinking that the educational system has failed. As teachers, we need to be open to seeing when kids are struggling, so that we do not let them fall behind. After reading these articles, I have come to the realization that students are performing at such a low level because they are being pushed through the system even though they are not ready to be moving forward due to some of the laws in place. As a future educator, I want to work with my students individually to help them achieve all they can while also remembering that I must educate all students to reach their learning goals. 

Works Cited: 

"A Nation At Risk." Archived: Archived:. N.p., Apr. 1983. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. <http://www2.ed.gov/pubs/NatAtRisk/risk.html>.

Toppo, Greg. "Education." 'Nation at Risk': The Best Thing or the Worst Thing for Education? USA Today, 1 Aug. 2008. Web. 06 Oct. 2013. <http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-04-22-nation-at-risk_N.htm>.

Disillusionment

         In this section of Teaching Hope, there were many different forms of teacher struggles that one thinks about but never really knows how to deal with. It is a difficult area in which to explore this idea of having to listen to administrators and those above you who are not benefiting your class and students but hindering them. The first blog that stood out to me in this section was the blog numbered 77, which was the second blog in. As the students complain about having another test and the teacher recites the struggles they faced that one morning already, I think of the honesty being expressed in this text and even the message hidden within the greater picture. Most of these tests of knowledge are inaccurate representations of what students know and have learned. This is due to the fact that the tests show a student on one day who may have had a rough day or may be nervous. The results are not as accurate as if they were to observe their progression throughout the year much like the teacher does. The teachers know what their students are capable of and though we as teachers try to voice this opinion to those above us they refuse to listen. It is true that they have lost the memories of what being a teacher is like. They have given teachers goals to achieve in a years time yet they spend one day examining if these students have reached the goals set out by the board. These students are not given the respect and trust they deserve to show how hard they are trying to work to achieve all they can. Instead, these students are being cheated by an inaccurate judgment of what they know and beings forced to move forward when they cannot even voice their concerns. This is horrible, yet it happens in every grade level at every school in the country. We as teachers just need to encourage our students and show them that we know how brilliant they are.

            The second and third entries that moved me were the last two in this section. They were both very similar in some ways but different in others. They were numbered 108 and 109. They both discussed stories of teachers who were working hard and really impacting their students’ lives. One teacher was going to be awarded Teacher of the Year. However, their administrators then fired both unfairly. One was fired merely based on the color of her skin. The other one was told how wonderful she was then given a letter that knocked the wind out her. Neither saw it coming and both had no opportunity to say anything. The first of these teachers found in entry 108 summed it up so well. This teacher’s words were encouraging and wonderful at the same time. She claimed, “teaching is about never giving up, no matter the risks” (245). The second teacher also was encouraging stating the truth that we teachers need to remember which is that we are there in the classroom “for the kids” (246). These words are encouraging and the ways in which the many teachers handled themselves in this section were great examples and resources for when I am a teacher. I really enjoyed hearing the intricacies of this aspect of teaching and how one should conduct him or her self.

Engagement

           Based on Episode three of The Story of Schools and entry number 49, I was able to see an aspect I wish to implement in my classroom. I found this entry in the section labeled Engagement in Teaching Hope because it allowed me to see the impact other cultures play on education. It is interesting to learn about different cultures and I want to embrace my students’ different cultural backgrounds. I find it fascinating to learn about students’ lives and this is one aspect that is important in making that they are. I want my students to appreciate where they came from and where they are now. I look forward to diversity in the classroom, and would love having an ethnic day where we learn about one another’s cultures. I believe this would help the students accept diversity and become closer to their classmates. I really enjoyed what this teacher did and the impact it had on this one women. It was a moving story and a wonderful demonstration of her passion for her students.

            Another case in this book that showed a teacher’s passion for a student from a different culture was in entry number 72. This story was so moving and something I truly enjoyed reading. The standardized testing system is not a test I enjoy but it is required so I choose to accept it at this moment in time. However, I do believe it is an inaccurate representation of students due to language barriers, types of learners there are in the classroom, and the fact that is one day that could be a bad or good day for the student. It is better to see how student progress over the years than it is to judge their ability after one day and one test. I found it powerful listening to what this teacher and their colleagues did for this student who had dreams and worked hard to advance in education to make her dreams come true. It was a remarkable way to show how special each student is for what they bring to our classrooms and as a teacher I choose to remember this entry and the message it presents.

            Lastly, I could not forget the first entry in this section. It is really entry number 46 and as I read further I was constantly brought back to this entry. It was the perfect entry to start this section because the job of being an encouraging teacher involves these aspects such as care, passion for subject, respect, and such for each individual student. I hope that even after teaching for many years I can have the same love and enthusiasm for students and my classes. Her story is encouraging to so many because it shows that we should care for students no matter what. We should get to know our students and know about their life out of school as well. This story just moved me and allowed me to think about how I want to be a teacher like this. I want my students to say I care too much and I want to show them my passion for the class and each of them. This is the most important aspect to being an encouraging teacher.

Response to Episode 3: The Story of Schools

          In episode three, it was harrowing to observe the way in which students were treated based on their ethnic groups. I was appalled that the white/Caucasian groups not allowing those of different races to embrace their culture. For instance, when they discouraged Spanish students to speak Spanish and celebrate their holidays. The idea of segregated schools still makes me cringe when it is brought up. I grew up in a town that had little diversity, but I enjoyed the diversity among students that we had. I could not imagine forcing them to go to a different school due to the cultural background. I found it fascinating asking those with different beliefs and cultures about their culture. As a teacher, I want to be open to all cultures and want to encourage my students to embrace their culture and share it.

            I was not only irritated with the segregation and lack of support for all students. I was also upset to hear that when integration became an element in the schools that they only dealt with students. The African American teachers were out of jobs because they did not allow them to teach in these integrated school systems. This was infuriating because if they are trying to teach students that they are equal then all teachers should be hired and treated the same way as a good example. This shows that they did not really fix the problems faced in the United States because they were not really integrating students and even in some communities further on they just found new names for segregation.

            It was interesting to hear the true stories of how these students overcame the inequality that they were forced to face. Their stories were encouraging and changed this nation for the better. Dorothy Raffel’s story was fascinating to me because it helped in pushing equality amongst genders, which was important. I think this was the story that most related to myself because I played basketball and sports, which could have never happened without this law being put into action. Though these problems of equality were fixed, it was hard to know that they have not been fully put right. Some sports still refuse to allow girls to participate. Students with disabilities still have not been integrated into classes with all other students. They still do zoning in some areas to keep schools separated by race. I look forward to seeing how much these areas will be improved overtime.

Response to Episode 2 of Video

            The progression of the school system presented in episode two of  “The Story of Schools” is an interesting process to experience. It was surprising to see some aspects presented are still being, used such as standardized tests. With all the information and opinions of past students about the standardized testing system, one would think they would have claimed they are not accurate at judging a student’s ability. This idea of tracking based on testing seems flawed; however, it is still done even with the facts being presented by those who were tracked in the 1920’s up until the 1950’s.  Many of the differences presented through the years seemed similar to what is being done today, which is not what one would picture since the world is progressing and information on how students learn is changing so one would assume that education should be evolving as well. Though some elements of education are moving forward with the new discoveries, other methods used have not changed much since the 1920’s such as tracking and testing.

            The Gary school seemed fascinating in the way it worked. The students seemed to be enjoying it and it was much more interactive in comparison to the other schools of the time. It seemed to be catering to the children’s needs and learning styles. I found this school enthralling and I wondered why it was only seen as a school training kids for the factories because it seemed much more than that to me. I feel as though some aspects of this Gary Plan are still seen today. I wish more of it were presented in the schools. It worked toward trying to get the students to retain the most information in a classroom, which suited their needs. This is what should be seen in schools more frequently a program that focuses on helping each individual student learn in the best environment for the learning ability.

            I am interested to see how much more the schools progress and what kind of changes will be made and what elements will continue to be in existence. I find it alluring to watch the progression of schools. It is also a bit frustrating to hear how certain methods hindered children’s performance, instead of helping them learn all they possibly can.

Diversity Article Response

          It is distressing that as Guild says we teachers see that students are all different, but over the 50 year span nothing has changed to help show students that we teachers see them as individuals. We should be progressing forward thinking about students as individuals instead of teaching them “as if all students [are] the same” (Conrad, paragraph 5). Guild’s statement about education having some “absolutes” or aspects that can not be changed, but there are also aspects of the class that we can change to benefit students and keep them engaged in the learning like Guild states. As Guild states in his article, there is an imbalance in teaching that we as teachers need to pay attention to. According to Guild uniformity amongst classrooms makes for competitive classrooms both with students and teachers. Our goal should not be to compete with one another, but it should be to work with one another to make the classroom experience the best for all students. By allowing students to see teachers work together, the students will realize that they should work with one another thus helping them to walk away from the class with a batter understanding. Guild’s article helps one see the realization that we are not progressing in our learning communities like we should be. He helps one see that they should challenge their students but also pay attention to the diversity in the classroom. This will help balance out lessons based on what they discover about students. This is beneficial for all to know so they know what to look for in their different learners, and Guild also shows teachers different strategies to help makes their classes better for diverse learners. This is helpful information to have.   This is in response to Pat Burke Guild's article "Diversity, Learning Style and Culture." http://education.jhu.edu/PD/newhorizons/

Generation Article Response

This article made light of the age diversity within a workplace, multiple generations of the same family for example. This is something I have seen at my summer job and did not register before. I work at a little store and one family has three generations working there. However, though I have seen this before I had not given it much thought. After reading this article, I found myself pondering the idea of many different ways to communicate amongst generations. It is fairly accurate that the baby boomers are the ones who work hard; where as, the newer generations procrastinate much more.  It was very interesting to read about the many differences among these generations.

As I start teaching, I must remember that I will be seeing this happen as I discuss with colleagues who are from one generation and teach students from another. Many students will have different situations at home and their many guardians will range in the generation they are from. I must remember the key areas of communication when I am teaching, remaining patient with those of different generations because we all just want the same for the students.  There will be various ways in which faculty, students, parents, guardians, and colleagues will wish to communicate due to which generation they are, and I will have to keep this in mind. This article was very helpful in reminding me of the realization that there are many generations present and they are all unique. It has helped me brainstorm ideas of ways in which I can handle this in my classroom.  

This is in response to Greg Hammil's article entitled "Mixing and Managing Four Generations of Employees." http://www.fdu.edu/newspubs/magazine/05ws/generations.htm