Student Sample Reflections

If you had 10 more hours or 10 hundred dollars ($1,000), what would you do differently to improve/change your student sample?

I think this project would have been a lot easier for me to complete and would have been better done if I had more time. I live almost an hour away so it was easier for me to use friends from home to help me. The only problem with that was finding a time we could all meet, when we did meet we had a little over an hour to do all the filming. It was a short news clip but I could have used more time. Another thing is the fact that this lesson is designed for students to work in groups with their other classmates during class time. I did not have a classroom full of students to work with, well I did but they were an hour away and I work all the time. Also I didn't have class time to work on my student sample as my students would. I am giving them two class periods to work on their projects which I think will be the perfect amount of time for them to create a well designed news report.

Now that you've put yourself in your student's place and created this, what expectations of your future students have changed?

I have realized that there are some changes that need to be made on my rubric now that I have completed this student sample. One portion of the rubric was on music used in the video but little or no music is needed in a news report so I think I may want to take that portion out. They have two class periods to work on this so I think that is plenty enough time to complete the video and they can use out of school time to work on it as well.

How much fun did you / didn't you have and what did you learn about yourself through this process?

I had fun working with my friends to make the video. I did not have fun editing the video clips because I have decided that I really don't like windows movie maker, it just doesn't have much to offer and it doesn't really allow for your movie to look all that professional. I only used it because my time on campus is limited and I did not want to take out a mac and have any technical problems. But I have come to the conclusion through this project that I am going to purchase a mac next year. It has better software on it and as a teacher I will want one because all the schools purchase macs so it is a good idea to have one and get familiar with them because that's what my students will be using.

How to help someone use a computer...

I need to tell myself, "you've forgotten what it's like to be a beginner."
An important rule in using a computer is "never do something for someone that they are capable of doing for themselves."

Reading this web page reminds me of my mom. She never really knew how to use a computer until she married my stepfather who has a few in the house. I got really frustrated with her, and I never thought to myself that I was a beginner at one point on the computer, because I learned how to use a computer when I was young and it is just a natural thing now. I would always fix whatever problem my mom had on the computer for her without ever thinking to coach her through it.

From now on I need to be more patient when helping someone with a computer, or even when I'm getting help myself.

http://polaris.gseis.ucla.edu/pagre/how-to-help.html

Copyright and Fair Use LR

Well, it was hard to pick just one. In my personal opinion copyright laws are crazy, there are too many rules, vague rules that can be gotten around in some way. Copyright laws mostly have a lot to do with money, if money didn't exist then what would a copyright law even mean? Copying in general is hard to determine, because a lot of this world is constantly stemming from other thoughts and ideas and advancing in this way. But anyways, I chose number 17 to go into more depth about. This is the one about taking pictures of a street and posting them on the web. It states this is okay, which I agree with, but then there is a catch. The catch is that if is a landmark like a theme park in the picture then the owners of this facility can ask you to remove the picture from the web. Everything in this world is owned by someone or something, the road in the picture is owed by the town, so do they have the right to ask you to remove the picture if you distort the road in a way that they don't like. I just don't see where the line can be drawn in situations like these.

Copyright and Fair Use SR

2. This surprised me a bit because it is similar to taking the software and copying. But in this way the software is available for the whole school on the server. Doing this and copying the software seem very similar and I want to know where the line is drawn between the two.
4. I was really hoping this one would be false, which it is. It would seem ridiculous to allow schools to buy as much software they can afford and copy the rest. That would not be fair to other schools with money.
6. I agree with this one, it is the right way the software should be used. If the students do not have access to a certain software it seems plausible that the teacher should be able to extract certain things from the software for the students use.
9. This one really confused me because mp3. com seems similar to illegal software for downloading music. The only difference here is that they offer the choice to buy the music, but they still offer free music as well. It seems that as long as the site buys the music then it can share it with others for free?
10. This one threw me off a bit too, using the media in the classroom is fine. But once the teacher puts it in an e-mail to co-workers it's not? the only difference seems to be spreading it via person or via e-mail. Could the teacher print out copies of the lesson plan with the media and personally give it to others and have that be okay?
14. Once again I am confused by this one as well. Just because the PTA bought the movies and not the children then it cannot be shown? Does this apply to a day care as well?
15. A teacher purchased the videos themselves and wanted to compile them together in another movie cannot happen. But a website can provide the clips you want to use for free? HUH?
18. A person can copy PART of a song to use in their project to present from class? But a person cannot copy entire songs from a CD? What is the difference, copying is copying.

Fires: Chapter 10 - Going Beyond the Classroom

Not only is going outside of the classroom and school and good thing to incorporate into learning but bringing new people and objects into the classroom is a great idea as well. Field trips are always a good idea especially when they can relate to the subject matter in class. Guest speakers are a great idea too, as an English teacher that is something to seriously consider such as having writers come in to speak. Kids have their own interests and it is great when their interests can be used in the classroom to spark interest on a subject.

I went with the 7th grade at Mt. Blue to Titcomb Mtn today and it was really interesting to see the kids in that kind of environment. This field trip did not really have anything to do with what was being taught in their classes. I think it was more of a social experience, and I am beginning to learn that socializing is an important aspect that kids need to learn in order to succeed in some situations. Field trips like this are great for the kids to bond, and hopefully use these friendships in the classroom as well.

Fires: Chapter 9 - When Things Go Wrong

This chapter explained not only how students can get discouraged and give up but how teachers can as well. Students may start skipping school for different reasons. They may get some bad grades and just give up all together or they don't feel comfortable at school. No matter what the reason is teachers should recognize a students absences then find out why and try to help. Also as a teacher, even if a student is getting good grades it should not be okay for them to miss school all the time. Kids know they need to learn, and teachers responsibility is to make sure that this learning occurs within school as well. Teachers may want to give us as well, but there are things they can do within the classroom to avoid this. Mainly a teacher needs to focus on teaching and their goals, and not let a frustrating student or confrontation consume them.

I have an experience that I may have let bother me a little too much the other day when I was at Mt. Blue Middle School. One girl was sitting at the very front of the room and another in the way back, I quickly found out there was a reason to this. The girl in the front was turned sideways in her chair and constantly looking at the girl in the back (who I was sitting directly behind). They would make faces to each other and laugh all while the teacher was up front. The teacher didn't seem to notice, but I sure did and it was driving me nuts. I didn't want to say anything and interrupt class and I didn't feel comfortable telling student what to do with their teacher right there. So all class I let that get me very angry, so by the end of class I wasn't very happy and neither was I when I left school, I guess it just put me in a bad mood. I shouldn't have let a situation like that frustrate me so much, but I did, and in the future I will try to make a situation like that better without letting it make me mad.

Fires: Chapter 8 - Teaching Teenagers Who Are Still Learning English

This chapter focuses on students who may not be fluent in English, where it is their second language. The chapter explained how some students are uncomfortable with their English Language abilities and get frustrated when speaking to other students because they may laugh and just not understand them. Although speaking to other students may be the best way to learn the language in the first place. This is where the teacher needs to create an inviting environment where everyone is helpful of these students who are still on a path to learning. I saw all the ways a teacher should treat a student learning English similar to how the book has been telling how to treat students in general. A teacher needs to be patient with them, leave room for revision, and be there to encourage and help them.

One thing as a teacher that I do not want to do is discourage a student that is learning the language. One student explained how a teacher helped them to write their answers down, but at the same time gave him all the answers. I don't want to do that, I want to find another way for the student to complete the assignment without simply giving them the answer. That can be a slap in the face to the student where you are basically saying they can't do it themselves. Students learning English should be treated like any other student, they just may need a little more guidance than others.

Fires: Chapter 7 - Teaching Difficult Academic Material

In this chapter I found a lot of recurring themes when it came to explaining how different subject areas can go about teaching new and difficult material. First of all a teacher should take it slow. Weather it is doing a math problem or reading Shakespeare, it shouldn't, the teacher needs to stop and check for understanding. Also repeating the math problem over and over again in different ways and breaking down the text into different pieces is important. The two biggest concepts within this chapter was the plain fact that text books should not be completely relied upon in any class. As a student explained in the chapter, their history teacher had them take a few text books and look up the same event, and each text book had a different view on that given event. It shows that text books may put their own twist on things. Also relating the material at some point to the students is always important in all subject areas. This was a repeated idea throughout the text, so relating personal experiences to school can be very helpful.

This important thing I picked up from this chapter was the stuff that was continuously repeated, which was relate my material to the students in some way. I could possibly relate current events in some way to Shakespeare or a book that were are reading together. As the chapter pointed out, it is difficult to read something that is not only difficult in itself but something the student is not interested in. So I need to find ways to interest them in material that may not first appeal to them. I want to be creative in my teaching so that my students will be able to learn in different ways and from different things. I don;t have many ideas as how to do this. But that is what practicum is for and that is why I want to be a teacher. I'm going to learn from my experiences once I am a teacher, once I'm in the field I think it will be a whole lot easier to find ways of relating to my students once I know them a little better.

Fires: Chapter 6 - Motivation and Boredom

This chapter was all about ways a teacher can avoid their student getting bored with the subject area and how to motivate them. At first it explains how school is a sort of restriction in some kids eyes because it's something they have to do everyday, Because they see it as a restriction they may not be as motivated to succeed, they just to get it over with so they can do what they want. I think the most important thing the chapter brought up is basically the teacher has to care about what they are teaching because the students will then see the teachers passion and will be drawn in by it. Giving feedback on assignments and providing help when needed shows that the teacher cares and can motivate the students. Also to shy away from boredom it is important to try and include the students lives and interests in their school work in some way. Homework was another issue where it can be very time consuming for students with other commitments outside of school, so if a teacher is going to assign homework make sure that it is important to classwork the next day and correct it or at least provide feedback on it.

Homework is the topic that really stood out to me in this chapter because it was something we had been discussing in class before vacation. Homework is a risky thing for a teacher because some students may not get it done and if it is something important that will tie into the next class then they may become lost if they did not complete it. As a teacher I would like to think that my students will complete homework assignments, but that's just no reality. Personally, I don't find homework all that important, if the work assigned in homework is so important then it should be assigned during class time and finished then to make sure everyone has done it and has a good understanding. There are some situations where homework can be helpful such as when the book said that homework should be assigned when it is something that can only be done outside of school like an interview of a family member. I think that is so true. My material is important to me and I want my students to understand it to their fullest so any assignments that are important, which are all of them, should be taught and done within the classroom. Homework is not something I will assign on a daily basis, only when it is absolutely necessary because that is what the classroom is for.

Fires: Chapter 5 - Teaching to the Individual, Working with the Group

I really liked this chapter because not only did I look at it in the role of a student but in the role as a teacher as well. When the chapter began by describing different types of students I found on that best fit myself. The chapter explained how in classroom discussions all students may not speak up for different reasons depending on what kind of student they are. All students should be able to contribute to a classroom discussion without feeling nervous. The teacher has to be encouraging, respectful and elaborate on any question a student may ask, in turn students will be supportive as well. In groups students should be grouped based on their skills so they can all contribute in their own way as an individual. Just like every student is an individual the standards for a given assignment need to be as well, also standards need to be very specific so that the students know what to expect.

I found that I fall in the wallflower category for a student. I may have something to say in a class discussion but I am too afraid to blurt it out. I don't want to interrupt someone and sometimes I'm not sure if it's even worth saying. The worst is when I hold back from saying something and then someone else says it instead and then I regret being quiet. As a teacher I need to think of my own experiences as a student and what would have helped me to speak up more. This chapter has helped me to realize that my own experiences as a student will be very helpful to me as a teacher.

Fires: Chapter 4 - Creating a Culture of Success

This chapter is about students and how they should be treated in the classroom and what challenges they may be facing. First of all it mentions that a teacher needs to encourage their students and make it clear to them that you know they can do well if they try hard enough. A teacher should never give up on a student and should always make it clear to their students that they are there to help at any time. Any kind of feedback on an assignment is good because it will help them to improve. Also when it comes to grades they want to be graded fairly and no kid should be centered because they are doing good or bad, all students need to be focused on equally. When a student doesn't understand something it is important to look for signs of this because they may not want to admit that they don't understand. Also their friends and even family can be holding them back from doing well and that it another thing to be aware of. But most of all every student wants to be treated the same.

As a teacher I want to be very encouraging for all of my students, I want the students that aren't doing so well to know that I expect more from them because I know that's what they can give me. If I set my expectations high for my students and let them know that I think it is a good starting point. I don't want to pick favorites because one student may be doing better than others. Also I'm nervous to have kids that do have something holding them back like a certain group of kids they hang out with that don't think it's cool to do well in school or their family doesn't believe in them. I want to keep my eye out for stuff like this because I know it is something that all students may go through at one time or another, so I have to be the strong one for them and show them that school is a great place to shine. I want my students to understand just how important their education is.

Fires: Chapter 3 - Classroom Behavior

This chapter was all about students behaviors and how to interpret and deal with them. First of all a teacher needs to come to class prepared and engage the students right when they walk through the door so it leaves less room for the students to be off task. But when a student of students are being disruptive it is best not to yell at the in front of the whole class, it is better to speak to them individually of tap them on the shoulder if they are not paying attention. When dealing with a misbehavior it is important to get all sides of the story before any kind of punishment is determined. Students voices need to be heard in all situations. Teachers need to respect the students feelings and opinions in to to establish a good student teacher relationship.

The biggest topic in this chapter that I thought was so important as a teacher was the fact that teachers need to see all sides to a misbehavior before anyone is punished. I have gotten in trouble in high school before because someone slapped my books out of my hand and so I yelled at them, but I didn't swore. I was just mad. But the teacher punished us both for the confrontation and I think that it could have been worked out in a better way if the teacher would have talked it out with us. Also in middle school I was really shy. One time this boy and I weren't paying attention and so the teacher told us to stop flirting in front of the whole class and they all started laughing. I didn't even like boys at this point so I was extremely embarrassed and started crying. I know as a teacher I need to be very careful if I decide to crack jokes and I need to not make the kids misbehaving the center of attention.

Web 2.0 Educator

I chose Cool Cat Teacher Vicki Davis because there was a lot to explore on her site. She seems like a teacher who is constantly trying to keep up with all the technologies and advancements in the world so that she can apply it to her teaching. There is so much that a computer can offer within the classroom and she seems like she is very interested in finding these technologies, testing them, and seeing if they can be used in her classroom. I read the blog about wiki spaces because it obviously caught my attention because that is what we are using right now in our classrooms. Her specialty seems to be Web 2.0 in general. To teach her students about wiki spaces she had them complete a project on web 2.0 on a wiki space. I also liked the idea of having the students create a wiki page that may help them to study for a test. Personally I like the wikis that we use for class, it is a very organized way of assigning homework assignments and compiling the classes information together. I like the idea of integrating different technologies in the classroom like wikis or even you tube. But I just hope that technology does not take over classrooms or replace other ways of doing things in the classroom. My fear as a teacher when it comes to technology is that schools will become too dependent on it, I think technology needs to be integrated into all classrooms but to a certain extent.

Type I and Type II Technology

Type I and Type II uses of techonology all depend on the way that the peice of technology is being used, such as a computer. Computers in the classroom can be used to make things a little easier for the teacher to get a point across to the students, or the students can use the computers themselves to create projects and type their essays. Type II is using a computer to its full benefit.

Type I Examples: A student talking to friends on AIM Express on a laptop while sitting in class, learning how to use cretain features on microsoft word, Encarta dictionary.

Type II Examples: The use of a discussion board online for a class, use of IM for classmates to discuss ideas during and outside of the classroom, the use of powerpoint to present a project for class.

My MEL experiences

• Learning Styles: For my senior English class the main project that we worked on throughout the year was a portfolio. This portfolio had different portions to it such as a story, poetry but we were allowed to be creative with it. It allowed all the students to incorporate our different learning styles in the portfolio to get our points across.
• Connections: In another English class of mine we had to keep a journal. In the journal we had given topics sometimes but he Incorporated our own lives into the given topics. Also it was a really good way to vent when something was upsetting me and I didn't mind if my teacher read it. I think that it helped my teacher to understand what I was going through at times and if it may affect my learning in his class.
• Student/teacher relationship: I had a teacher that would use incentives for us to get our work done and do it good. At the end of class we would play games that had to do with class in a way, like one we called the dictionary game where we would read the definition to a word and everyone would try and guess what the word was. It was actually a fun game because us students would come up with funny answers. Also he told us that if at the end of the year we were good then he would rap for us. He does not look like the type of man to rap, he wears a suit and bow tie every day to school. It was the best things seeing him rap in his bandanna at the end of the year. He opened up to us and played games with us and was funny at times which created a sort of relationship between him and his students.
• Helping Students Succeed: Most of my teachers in school were very supportive when it came to struggling with work. They always stated that they would help us, and all we had to do was ask. Sometimes I think the teacher needs to take notice and ask the student if they need help if the situation calls for it. When I was struggling gin math my teacher stated to the whole class that he would be after school for help but sometimes the teacher has to take the initiative and ask their students if they need help personally. That shows that they really care and take notice in each individual student.
• Interest: I had a teacher in middle school that would have us to a sort of meditating thing in the middle of our class. She would play this soothing music and talk us into this soothing imaginative world while he laid on the floor. It was a really different exercise but all of the students seemed to like it, I know I did. I found it to be really relaxing, which is something hard to find in middle school everyday.

Fires: Chapter 2 - Respect, Liking, Trust, and Fairness

What really stood out to me in this chapter were all the comments from the students. It was surprising to hear what some of them had to say when it came to their teachers. These comments from students I found to be very interesting but very useful. It was interesting to see that students had pretty prominent opinions about their teachers. Every students voice was different and they all had different opinions. Some liked their teachers to be like a friend and others stated they didn’t.

This brings to light that every student is different whether it be their way of learning, their ethnicity, or simply how they prefer a teacher to treat them. This is important for a teacher to understand and come to terms with so that they can try and adjust to all their students differences to better their ability to learn. As a teacher I'm going to try and listen to all of my students opinions about myself and themselves to better their learning environment. A teacher has to adjust to each individual student and not the class as a whole. Some kids are going to like you to be more friendly and others are going to want you to be different, these are the cluse that I'm going to need to pick up on.

Fires: Chapter 1 - Knowing Students Well

The two things that jumped out for me in this chapter were the surveys that teachers could give their students to have a better idea of what each individual student's life is like which I found to be very good activities to use. The surveys asked basic questions about the students, which may never come up in the classroom otherwise, I think it is important for a teacher to know the basics about their students. Also throughout the chapter there are quotes from children in a classroom about their teachers and school.

What made this portion of the chapter stand out was the way that the book gave you an example of these surveys. Also the information that is provided through these surveys are so basic, but they provide a map of each students life to help the teacher better understand how the student can best learn. A student's personal life and daily schedule allows the teacher to know what obstacles they are against and how to work around them so that it does not affect their education. I would love to use this kind of activity within my own classroom someday.

Learning Style Inventory Results

Memletic learning style graph thanks to learning-styles-online.com.

I found these results to be very accurate when relating to myself. My concentration is English so it would only make sense that I am very verbal also I am a very social person which is also reflected in the graph as well. Also the graph reflects my weaknesses which are logic and anything to do with numbers.