Definition

I can demonstrate that I understand the importance and role of diversity in constructing meaningful teaching and learning experiences for children.

Definition

I can demonstrate that I understand and have the ability to employ appropriate technology for developing students' knowledge, understandings, skills and dispositions.

Entomol-whata?

Above: My cousin Bryan Reese holding a picture of a dragonfly

My cousin Bryan just completed his dissertation for his PHD in entomology. Entomology for those who don't know is the study of insects. Bryan has been studying entomology for around 15 years now, specifically dragonflies. Now I know, what all is there to know about dragonflies, but really they are quite interesting. Like did you know that a dragonfly spends most of its life underwater and once they fly they only live for a few weeks? Dragonflies have 30,000 individual lenses on their eyes. Because of these lenses and the size of their eyes, dragonflies can nearly always see 360 degrees all the way around at all times. See they are quite interesting.

So what does this have to do with class? It shows that even the smallest things are interesting and have a lot of information on them. Bryan dreams of becoming the world's renowned entomologist on dragonflies. He has to study every aspect of the dragonfly.

As a teacher this inspires me to become very knowledgeable about my content as well as the world of teaching.

I put this in personal goals because it is a goal of mine to become knowledgeable and to truly understand what I am teaching as well as many ways to teach.

Counting Down to Stage time!

Above: The kids I taught at church and me on my last day before I left for college.


This morning I got the chance to go and see my home church again, before any of the kids were there. While there the family pastor, a very dear friend of mine, kept asking, "When will you be back to teach?" This question just fired me up. I will be back to teach in 14 days. Teaching these children was something I looked forward to every week and it's something I've missed lately. When I taught, I knew that I was impacting kids life's and that I was making many little friends. I loved getting off the stage and having them rush and hug me or to see me somewhere and want to come talk to me or say hi.

I can't wait until I am a teacher and the same things happen with the children in my class. I look forward to waking up every morning knowing that I get to impact children's life's.

I put this in philosophy because it connects to the passion I have for teaching and the passion I believe teachers should have. A teacher should look forward to work, and see each day as a new opportunity to impact a child's life.

Cramming?

I'll sit in a BOX if I have too!

The other night I was making my backboard and I was getting stuck with how to actually make it. See, I was given 2 small boxes so I had to come up with how to put them together to get one big board. When I started, I quickly cut one down the side so it laid flat. I realized I should have waited. Well, being the person I am, I put the other box over me. I literally sat in the lobby of Pearson's for an hour with a box around me. It really helped me get my mind thinking though.

I was able to sit, analyze , and think out of the box ( quite literally) I came up with the idea to cut the second box, glue the two boxes down the side, cut off some flaps, and ta da! I had my board. I was even able to add some red stripes to really make it look like the Cat in the Hat hat.

When I changed how I was thinking, as well as my perspective, I was able to get the job done. Sometimes all you need is to think outside of the box, even if that means sitting in one.

I'll listen if you write and they act

In classroom's today there are many types of learners. Some have to do an activity to gain a concept while others have to hear it and others have to see it. How can a class be formed to meet the needs of all the different groups?

This is a question that we all have to ask ourselves right now with our learning center. I keep asking myself, is there equal amounts of activity for all three types? Are the concepts the same among the activities? These are sometimes difficult questions but they are helping with our future classroom.

In our learning centers, we are placing many activities so that the child may pick the one that suits them. A student knows typically how they learn best. In a classroom, a child should have a wide variety of activities that are open to them that allow them to choose.

Children need chooses and classrooms need options. I feel like many classrooms today consist of the same thing- worksheets. Yes, some children learn from these but many don't. Some view it as busy work and do not learn the content.

In my classroom , as well as learning center, there will be options so that children of all learning styles are able to learn.