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Expert Teacher in Training

My journey to become a better teacher

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avoid burnout

avoid teacher burn out by making teaching fun. Relate lessons to real life scenarios. We use the dictionary because some adults are not meant to be spelling bee champs. We use manipulatives because not everyone can remember how to visualize the adding of fractions. We use calculators when we are being tested on reasoning, not computation. We use non-standards units of measurement when a ruler just isn't handy.

never do this

never tell the sitter of your student to forward a bad behavior report to the parent. Sometimes you have parents who just don't have that close of a relationship to the sitter.

how to handle class parties

hope you have a class with very generous parents, who are willing to donate supplies and food, and come to help you pass out food for twenty!

powerful moment

...when you encourage a child to do their best....they are still frustrated, but they take 10 minutes to solve a difficult math problem....then the student proudly shows you that he succeeded.

Parent Conferences

I enjoy parent conferences when the parents totally agree with your observations and evaluations of their child. I find parent conferences difficult when the parents expect perfection from an 8 year old!

theme units in 3rd grade

do you use this instructional strategy often to tie in multiple standards into your day?

my class

I love my class this year...like I don't say that at first every year...
This year, they may not be the brightest, but definitely the kindest I have had in a while. ...

first day of school

it went well! I was flexible and just had fun with the kids. tomorrow is when the real work starts: spelling, reading novels, math book, etc.

OH SO TIRED

I am trying to prepare my classroom for the school year in less than 3 days and it's been SO overwhelming!

Staying Organized

How do you keep on top of filing originals? I've tried binders and page protectors, but just seem to end up with a pile of paper. ..or is that just a teacher thing???

micrograms software

Has anyone used this software in their classroom?

Wondering

Have you ever had days at work and felt that you just didn't have any of the student's attention? Was it your lack of motivation? What did you do?

Why I went into teaching

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Observing a child who was just learning how to read is a fond memory.  Early in my career, I had the opportunity to tutor second and third graders in literacy.  One of my first tutees, Marie, overcame her anxieties as we learned phonics, fluency, and other whole-language reading skills. As she understood the complexities of reading, to my surprise, stated that she tried harder to impress me. The feeling of accomplishment and goodwill touches me.  I don’t strive to be the center of every child’s motivations.  I enjoy being able to scaffold their growth and feel responsible for their learning experiences. Tiny notes of appreciation or even moments of enlightenment remind me of my responsibility to help students succeed.  Being a teacher today is demanding, stressful, and challenging.  Even after teaching for seven years, I still struggle with the many factors that surround this career. As a professional, I do the best I can within my power.  Completing my masters is one step I am taking to make a difference. 

Self-Reflection

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My late grandfather was a “great teacher” who positively impacted my life.

 

As I reflect on my experiences, my grandfather can be called an “effective teacher” because of he led his life with diligence and compassion.  He worked hard for his family and excuses were not an option.  He retired honorably at age 82, hardly taking any sick days.  He was also compassionate, patient, and fair. Part of becoming a professional teacher is to understand my identity and what this line of work entails. My grandfather’s hard work and love underline my philosophies as an educator.  Respecting my grandfather’s work ethics, I work hard for each of my students because I love them and care for their academic future.  Similar to other teachers, I arrive to school early, leave late, and sometimes bring work home.  I develop my knowledge of core subjects by reading academic literature and communicating with veteran staff members.  I am an effective teacher if the students benefit from my genuine love and work.

NCLB law name change

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The NCLB law is necessary to measure accountability for the learning that takes place in schools.  However, will changing the name to include the word “investment” be enough to spur teachers to further examine their teaching methods?  I've read that the name may be changed by the Department of Education. Reflection leads to motivation, motivation leads to change. Teachers, like me, have the NCLB theory looming above to remind us that we have to strive to become more effective teachers.  It also reminds us of our motivation to teach—in our belief that all students can succeed.