The last blog...

Whew....

That is all I can say. I feel like a balloon that finally can deflate. This is the last blog for Social Studies Methods! And we all shout: HALLELUJAH!!!~

This week has been super busy with trying to complete the final assignments that wrap of the semester. I have been confined to my living room at my desk or to my kitchen table with doing projects, test, discussions, and of course a UNIT. I wish I was able to enjoy the blog experience, a little bit more, actually talk about thinks when they were more meaningful. But because I was overloaded with four classes, projects, home life, a full time job, extra-curricular activities, and more... this was just another assignment that HAD to be completed. I understand that Dr. Parker wanted us to become familiar with another avenue of technology-- but maybe for future DCP
students, maybe make it like a months worth of blogs (to get them familiar) and then let it go. This class alone comes with so many components that dragging out these types of assignments can make them become a nuisance.

But this class is now over. I appreciate the many ways that Dr. Parker has tried to bring different ways of teaching to his students.

Believe me when I say I take full responsibility in agreeing to take 3 other classes with this class. I think I got caught up in just wanting to finish my degree within a certain time period that I was making unrealistic commitments that aren't conducive with my life style. I have learned my lesson and plan to continue my DCP program according to the flow of my life.

As  future teacher, we all will have to learn how to not live in the OVERLOAD! But rest in the  OVERFLOW. This means we have to understand we are not superheroes. We cannot tackle everything at one time. That causes stress and eventually we become wore out and unproductive. We need to find time to rest in the overflow of Gods love and trust that He will provide and take care of you.

I relate my blog to standard 4: Teachers facilitate learning for their students- however, this time I am the student. I know the way that I learn best and know what I need to be successful in my future DCP classes. I am a consumer of my education and have to make sure that I am  doing whats best for me.

I did it!!!

So, do you remember when I said I was going to the fifth grade class to do a teaching lesson? Well I did it and it was a success. I was completely nervous, having being in front of a age group that I was not use too, but once I got in the flow of things-- I was off!

The teacher, Ms. Unferth, was very supportive in helping me to prepare my lesson. She wanted me to do a lesson on the American Revolutionist Patrick Henry. Of course, I had to refresh my memory on the events that lead up to the war and the role Patrick Henry played with in it. I had to seriously, "know the content (standard 3)" I was going to teach so I would not make a fool of myself. Most importantly, I did not want to confuse the students from what their teacher had already told them.
During my observation, Ms. Unferth provided me with handouts and her teacher resource website (password and login). She told me the suggested learning targets of the lesson.  From there, I conducted my own research, lesson plan, notes, and formulated a mini presentation introducing Patrick Henry on Google Slides.

Yes. You heard me right. I used GOOGLE SLIDES!!!  (Standard 4- teachers facilitate learning for their students; B and C)

When it was time to teach, I didnt believe I that I did as wonderful as I know I can do. My lesson plan was full of things that I could say to make the subject relate-able, different approaches-- basically I over planned (the words of Ms. Unferth), which I learned later was common for most teachers. Most important;y, the students were wonderful listeners. They were engaged during my lesson. They gave me deep, meaningful conversation. They enjoyed their learning tasks within the lesson. They had fun reciting part of the famous speech "Give me liberty, or Give me Death!"-- this was hilarious.
When I was finished, Ms. Unferth was amazed at how energetic I was. She said me being excited about social studies made them excited about learning it.
She also liked that I connect Patrick Henry to being a politician-- something the students can relate to with the upcoming election coming up. She found many highlights within my lesson that made me feel much better than what I had thought took place.


All in all, it went wonderfully. I enjoyed experiencing teaching through a different perspective and a completely different age group. But now it is time to get back to my preschool age babies and prepare for my future LOWER elementary students!!!

I think I Can, I think I Can, I think I Can...

Its Almost Over, and I am feeling like the little engine that could. Spring break was a good mind relief for me and I hope it was for everyone else.


Todays blog will be, once again, coming from personal experience. I was talking to a parent who was expressing her feelings about the way she felt things were going for her kindergartener child. She was worried that the teacher was not doing her best to make sure that she reached the needs of every student in her class- especially hers. Because of this, the parent begin to blame the school for experience that she was having from her child's teacher.

While I am a member of this particular student body, I had to handle this in a professional manner by NOT undermining the parents feelings and perception. I also did not want to throw my co-worker under the bus. So I proceeded to handle it the best I knew how. I redirected the situation with a question... "have you talk to you administration and addressed your concerns and perception to them?" The conversation continued, concluding with the parent realizing that she needed to speak to the teacher and/or her administration. I reassured her that often, a "teaching problem" is not always a "school problem".

Here's my point....
A lot of times we may think that what we teach and how we teach are the only factors that count in the classroom. But it is not. The parents matter just as much as the students. It is important, just like we have been taught in our professional teaching standards, to know your parents. Ask them what they need, what they want, what are their goals for their student, what is their perception of their childs learning experience. Make your face known to them. While I will probably never know why the parent is just now expressing these feelings with two months of school left, I do not want to have that issue ever in my own classroom.

We have to make sure that we put just as much effort into parent "building" as we do preparing our students for the future. Its like customer service-- its okay to ask them, "how may I help you?'

Now, you may have some parents that are not involved and don't seemed to interested in their child's academics. Its still okay to offer the same amount of availability to them as you would with an very active parent. You might even get some parents that want to be involved but don't know how. Its all about how you present yourself.

Remember...
Perception is greater than truth. If someone perceives something (good or bad) about you, its because you might have presented something that gave them a reason to believe that. Is that perception the truth about you? Sometimes not. But its up to us to change that perception into something positive.

Make the connections:
This blog is in connection to standard 2e. Teachers work collaboratively with the families and significant adults in the lives of their students.