Blog Post #5: Blogging for Practice

Blogs serve as a way to share information and gain insight into your own potential experiences by reading about someone else's. In this way, I feel the blogging has helped. However, I think it would have been better to allow us to share what we had experienced in our PDS's and what stood out to us the most. Sometimes, even asking questions or posting worksheets we created, sharing activity ideas and "things that worked" in the classroom. I felt we were too often asked to comment on the process of things and not enough on the details of them.

I think in general, blogs are meant to serve as a support system and a basis for other opinions, information, and encouragement. As pre-service teachers, it is important to have that "I understand, I'm in your shoes, too" type feeling when we read about our partners' experiences and thoughts. Also, it's important to have that over-head voice of our facilitator commenting to us and sharing with us more advanced and experienced thoughts/ideas. Both opinions are valued and can help build us up as preservice teachers.

My question to my partner: What is the biggest change (in yourself) you felt you have made since we started blogging (in the classroom, in teaching philosophy, in style of blogging, etc. etc.)?

Revisiting the Plan

I'll be doing a little bit of backtracking here because I realized I missed the blog assignments. I'm sorry about that, Anna.

Back when this was assigned, I had to revisit the "plan" I had originally made to tailor it to what my host teacher wanted me to cover. In her classroom for the first 8 weeks of the semester, a student teacher from the post-baccalaureate master's program was present in the same room. This was sort of "buzz-kill" from my previous semester of being given so many opportunities to teach and run through activities with the students. I was disappointed to simply "sit" in the corner and observe.

After the student teacher left, I had to re-evaluate my plan based on what they had already covered and also based on my observations as to what they needed. In this way, observing the students for 8 weeks helped me determine where they were lacking or what style of teaching I would need to use to reach them better. So, blessings do come in disguises!

My re-evaluations taught me that while I wanted to implement more interactive activities and ways of making sure students participated, different classes respond in different ways. I am in my PDS for two class periods. One class is cooperative and willing to participate no matter what the assignment. The other class is much more stubborn and less willing to participate, often needing reminders to stay on task and, at times, disciplinary action from my host teacher. I try to only call attention to problems if they become a significant issue. I realize that I need to figure out a method to deal with behavioral issues in the classroom, but I am not so sure there is one "hard and fast rule" to abide by. Thoughts on that would be appreciated.

Blog Post #3: Digital Storytelling

A regular "story" is only interesting when it is well-written, shares many details with the reader, has good "action" or conflict, and shares something worth telling. Likewise a digital story should have the same elements. It should be presented in a fashion that peaks the interest of those watching, should include music and media (Powerpoint/photos/etc.) to highlight the "action" involved and should share information worth knowing and sharing.

When students observe the tools we as teachers use, they notice whether we've put time and effort into what we have them do. A presentation like this is good practice for using the same tools for student lessons and the same elements as well. It shows careful consideration and planning behind our lessons.

The digital story examples I have seen have given background history on the school itself and then gear more toward the content of the participant. I think this is important because it gives the viewer a context for your content area and then shows how it relates to or affects the students. Music, photos, etc. can be used to supplement the slideshow information.

Blog Post #2

My experiences in my PDS have been very valuable to me as a prospective teacher. I feel that my host teacher has given me many opportunities to interact with the class as a whole and experience what it might feel like to have the responsibility of helping over 30 students learn. That being said, I've also gotten to see how hard it can be to form relationships with students by merely "teaching" to the whole class. Because I am only there for two hours per week, it makes it that much harder. I was surprised to learn how easily I remembered students' names; but, I often only remembered their names if they participated frequently in class discussion about the material I was presenting.

About a week ago, I had my first real disciplinary run-in with a student. He was the "ring-leader" in disrupting two other students while they were assigned to a group discussion. Instead of staying on task, he chose to make a point of doing anything but that, often leading to talking about very inappropriate things. When I confronted him, he made a show to the students around him, and tried to pick apart everything I said to twist my words and make other students laugh. Eventually, he crossed the line--my host teacher threatened to kick him out of the class. He turned to me, and said, "She won't kick me out--she doesn't have the balls to kick me out of class." I later relayed that message to my host teacher, who ultimately brought the issue to the principal and handled the situation by removing him from the class for good. Part of me wishes I could have somehow handled that student in a better way; though, I'm not sure what (if anything) would have made him stop acting the way he did. I hope I did the right thing in that situation.

So, as you can see, I've definitely had some experiences. I think the situation mentioned above could have perhaps been handled even better had I had a better relationship with the student or the other students who were just as disruptive. Perhaps they show me little respect because they feel I know nothing about them. I do try to get to know them with the opportunities I am given, but they almost seem to be more curious about me (a new face "teaching" them) and less concerned with letting me get to know them. I hope that makes sense.

My question is: Have you experienced any behavior issues with your students? If so, what would you suggest from your experience that may have been better than how I handled my situation?

Blog Post #1

I have used various blogs in order to stay in touch with friends across the country. We share updates about our lives, experiences (including photos), and comment on each other's stories. I find blogging interesting because it is like a public journal or diary--the writer is free to share advice, opinions, thoughts, etc. with his or her readers. The open-discussion format is also appealing; it allows the reader to have a "say" in the thoughts of the writer.

This is what makes blogging a good idea for teachers and pre-service teachers. The ability to post thoughts and experiences and allow other teachers and pre-service teachers to respond to your writing is very helpful. It allows us to bounce ideas off each other and give advice, tips, or criticism when appropriate. It also allows us to see what others experience in their schools and with students to see if we can apply their wisdom to our situations.

Because I have used blogs for years, I envision using a blog in much the same way as I have done before. If I have an experience that is noteworthy, if I need advice or suggestions, if I have developed an activity that is particularly successful with students, or any other worthwhile topic concerning educating students that would generate discussion, I feel this would be appropriate for a blog.

The possibilities for blog-writing can include the aforementioned ideas along with including pictures, personal experiences in the classroom, interactive activity ideas, technology questions and inquiries regarding other teachers' successful experiences, etc.

It is important to find others who may be able to share their experiences. Who better than other pre-service teachers and teachers? Blogs can be a wonderful way to communicate back and forth, ask questions and have questions answered, and show general support and encouragement for our efforts to teach students.