Big Question #9 - How do you plan to leave your “mark” on your students, your peers, your school, or your profession?
As my students leave my classroom, I really want them to pick up on a few things. I want them to believe that they can understand literature. If they have it in their minds that they can, then they will continue to strive to be able to. I want them to know that I am not always right, and also, they will not always be right. It is OK to be wrong, because that is how we figure out what is right. In literature, as long as you can justify your thoughts with context or background information, then you can be just as valid as anyone else. I know that analyzing literature won’t be a normal part of everyone’s day once these students are out of high school; I just want to show them a little insight into how people think and interact with one another and instill in them the passion to know “why.”
I hope that my peers and coworkers will be able to feel that I have brightened their days, too. I want them to know that they can always come to me if they need anything and I will try to help. I hope that they will be able to steal as many ideas from me as I do them. I hope that as long as I am a teacher, I will be able to say that through the challenges, this profession will be rewarding and fun.
I want to let the students think, and encourage them to think for themselves. They are smart, they just have to be told that someone believes in them and that they can do it. Then they need to be pushed into their potential. That is how I hope to leave my mark.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Behavior
Big Question #8 – Why does society hold teachers to higher standards of moral and ethical behavior?
Society holds educators to higher standards, and it should. When a school district hires a teacher, it trusts that person with the youth of the community. Whether the students want to be there or not, the teachers have the responsibility to educate. It is their job to make sure that when the youth graduate from their school, they are ready for whatever comes next. That not only speaks for subject area content knowledge, but also societal behavior.
No matter what subject you are teaching, you are also teaching your students how to interact with one another. You are teaching teamwork, tolerance, and the ability to voice an opinion and stand up for that opinion. You are teaching professionalism. Students need to know how present themselves in “life after school” situations. They will need to show up on time, be respectful, and work hard. How can they possibly learn those ideas if their instructor does not show them that example?
Just as I will be teaching English from an extensive knowledge of literature, hoping that my students will pick up something from my teaching, I will be setting a moral and ethical example in and beyond the classroom, hoping that my students will pick up something from my behavior.
For some students, class time might be the only structure of their lives. As teachers, we are entrusted with that time, and we owe them that discipline. Yet, we have to be disciplined at all times, ourselves. We must know that any aspect of our public lives in and outside the classroom is up for display and criticism. Keep in mind, we never know when we will see our students, and they are always watching.
Society holds educators to higher standards, and it should. When a school district hires a teacher, it trusts that person with the youth of the community. Whether the students want to be there or not, the teachers have the responsibility to educate. It is their job to make sure that when the youth graduate from their school, they are ready for whatever comes next. That not only speaks for subject area content knowledge, but also societal behavior.
No matter what subject you are teaching, you are also teaching your students how to interact with one another. You are teaching teamwork, tolerance, and the ability to voice an opinion and stand up for that opinion. You are teaching professionalism. Students need to know how present themselves in “life after school” situations. They will need to show up on time, be respectful, and work hard. How can they possibly learn those ideas if their instructor does not show them that example?
Just as I will be teaching English from an extensive knowledge of literature, hoping that my students will pick up something from my teaching, I will be setting a moral and ethical example in and beyond the classroom, hoping that my students will pick up something from my behavior.
For some students, class time might be the only structure of their lives. As teachers, we are entrusted with that time, and we owe them that discipline. Yet, we have to be disciplined at all times, ourselves. We must know that any aspect of our public lives in and outside the classroom is up for display and criticism. Keep in mind, we never know when we will see our students, and they are always watching.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Things I Will Not Compromise
Big Question #7 – Name three things you hold dear and on which you will not compromise. Why?
This question is important to me because educators should understand their values. Knowing what is important to me as a teacher will help set the basis for my instruction style and teaching experience. Three things that I feel strongly about are: Teaching Classic Literature, Teaching Grammar and the Writing Process, and Maintaining a Safe Discussion Atmosphere.
Some English Teachers will say that Classic Literature no longer holds much value for students today. I disagree. While more modern literature is important and should in no way be disregarded, classic literature holds timeless values that can relate to students today just as well as to students from years past. When students learn to see the relationship between their lives and classic literature (such as Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Hawthorne, Blake, etc.), then they will be more apt to gain an appreciation for literature and the different perspectives on the human experience.
Students’ futures can be made or broken due to their writing ability. They need to be taught to write properly and professionally. Real life application for writing is crucial for students to see this importance. When they realize that grammar actually is important for college entrance essays or professional resumes and portfolios, then they will be able to the importance of editing, revising, and the writing process. No matter what your level of intelligence, if you cannot write effectively, you will be perceived as unintelligent. Teaching for multiple intelligences is great, but student still need to learn to write to the best of their abilities.
A safe discussion atmosphere is central to having a great learning experience. Only when differing viewpoints are presented will excellent discussion arise. Having a great discussion about literature’s relevance holds the capability to opening students’ minds to new realities. This can only happen when every student feels as though his or her thoughts will be heard and openly discussed. Education about literature happens because students are driven to learn what other people think. Then they can form their own views out of the melding of perspectives.
This question is important to me because educators should understand their values. Knowing what is important to me as a teacher will help set the basis for my instruction style and teaching experience. Three things that I feel strongly about are: Teaching Classic Literature, Teaching Grammar and the Writing Process, and Maintaining a Safe Discussion Atmosphere.
Some English Teachers will say that Classic Literature no longer holds much value for students today. I disagree. While more modern literature is important and should in no way be disregarded, classic literature holds timeless values that can relate to students today just as well as to students from years past. When students learn to see the relationship between their lives and classic literature (such as Shakespeare, Steinbeck, Hawthorne, Blake, etc.), then they will be more apt to gain an appreciation for literature and the different perspectives on the human experience.
Students’ futures can be made or broken due to their writing ability. They need to be taught to write properly and professionally. Real life application for writing is crucial for students to see this importance. When they realize that grammar actually is important for college entrance essays or professional resumes and portfolios, then they will be able to the importance of editing, revising, and the writing process. No matter what your level of intelligence, if you cannot write effectively, you will be perceived as unintelligent. Teaching for multiple intelligences is great, but student still need to learn to write to the best of their abilities.
A safe discussion atmosphere is central to having a great learning experience. Only when differing viewpoints are presented will excellent discussion arise. Having a great discussion about literature’s relevance holds the capability to opening students’ minds to new realities. This can only happen when every student feels as though his or her thoughts will be heard and openly discussed. Education about literature happens because students are driven to learn what other people think. Then they can form their own views out of the melding of perspectives.
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