Reflection 07/03/07

Class today was one of the most beneficial classes we have had this year. The instruction was the same, but the content was something that all teachers in teacherED programs are looking for, strategies and ideas!!

One of my goals for the coming year is to try to do an exit slip everyday. I believe that they are very beneficial but I often run out of time to do them because of my time management and the question of what actually to do during an exit slip without repeating something or making it just busy work.

Today in class I felt like I learned a lot of tools that will help with both of these. Actually in class we checked out Toondo specifically and I loved and know that my kids will love it too. It will allow them to answer questions and review while also being creative.

I can also use ToonDo in class for activities. My students look comics and for them to write them in Spanish and then develop them on this site would be fun and educational for them. I have them do comics on paper but they often complain about having to draw because they are terrible but this will cut that aspect out and still allow them to be creative.

Chapter 18 Reflection

What is a natural teacher? Can you teacher a teacher to teach? These are two questions I often think about because I truly believe in the "something special" aspect of effective teaching of natural teachers and wonder if that can be taught. How effective can an un-natural teacher actually be?

I have come to the conclusion that every teacher can be effective and that teaching can be taught. However, I think teachers/administrators/theorists/etc. must recognize the ranges of effective teachers; not everyone is going to be the best teacher; natural teachers are going to naturally be better than others when putting their best step forward.

I also want to say that I completely disagree with the book when they say that effective teachers often come out of a successful lesson thinking about what they did wrong, and how this is unproductive. I believe that a natural teacher accepts their ability and accomplishments but refuses to accept mediocracy and realizes that there is always room for improvement. A great lesson can always be a better lesson. Natural teachers naturally see how things can be better, and this to me is very productive.

This I believe...

I believe that you cannot teach without teaching writing. Think about what is writing. It can be directions for an assignment, an article that concerns your content, a blog, an email. As a teacher you are a model for writing because without it you cannot teach. Your students will see and maybe not at first recognize this, but eventually or subconsciously realize that you have been one of the greatest influences on their writing. Do you ever write and the voice of your writing sounds familiar, yet you cannot give a name to the voice? I sometimes wonder if the voices that I hear in my head as I am reading and/or writing aren't the voices from my teachers years ago. They modeled for me the importance of writing, the need for writing skills and how to write in order to be successful. Now, I do have to say that I am a pitiful writer, I don't know as this says much for me, since I now realize that they were modeling success and I just didn't grasp that concept, but I am still learning and listening to those voices from so many years ago.

Adolescent Literacy chap. 12-13 Reflection

I teach Spanish to the point where I know each student has understood. I had a hard time learning different concepts during my education and I want to always make sure everyone is understanding. One common phrase I always use is, "You know?" Because of this I am a good teacher, I love my students, I love my job, and I love to be involved, but I am a poor writer. Does this mean I am a poor teacher?

Adolescent Literacy chap. 11 Reflection

"Imagine yourself at your kitchen table, in your pajamas. Imagine one person you'd allow to see you that way, and write in the voice you'd use to that friend. Write about what makes you different." (Sandra Cisneros)

Writing is difficult for me. I always tell people that English was too hard so I just learned Spanish. (I am a Spanish teachers.)

I feel completely incompetent when teaching a portfolio piece. I did graduate from college, but I still feel that it is a weakness for me. I sometimes like I am in the same confused state as the students. They are so self-conscious about their writing that they are always asking, "What should I write here?" or "How can I re-write this sentence?" To them I act like they should be thinking on their own, and come up with their own ideas, but truthfully I am just as self-conscious as they are.

This statement made by Sandra Cisneros sounds great, in fact I would love to write like this, I would love to instruct my students to write like this, but is this going to get them to pass their Senior portfolio?

Book Trailer

Now, what is a book trailer used for, to introduce a book to students or should we be having the kids do book trailers for the books they read? I could see where having students do them would be awesome. We have Drop Everything and Read at my school and we have to provide the books; a lot of my kids do not know what to read when they head to the back of my room for a book. I could have each kid read one book and then create book trailers to advertise that book to the rest of the class so that they get excited about DEAR and get ideas about what to read. However, I also feel that would be so time consuming and not geared toward my content. The books in my room are supposed to be books kids would like to read, not necessarily anything to do with my content, but I guess if I am going to have to put my efforts into DEAR once a week then creating book trailers will be less time consuming than waisting one day a week for the entire year.

Adolescent Literacy Chapter 17 Reflection

As I reflect upon my own experiences with testing as a student and then as a teacher, I go from, "what is this crap? I am not even being graded on it," to "I get it, we need to test kids, but hopefully it is still in the beginning phases and it will adapt through time to become better."

I remember thinking in high school, "I am so tired, thank goodness, this does not count for anything." Now, I realize my teachers were probably hoping I would help raise the scores for their school, and here I was...tired.

As a first year teacher I remember thinking, "These kids could care less, I have one who doesn't feel like doing anything today, and all I can say is, 'Do your best.'" This past year we had a kid diliberately take the entire test in one (20 minute) time frame. He said he didn't care how the school did and that he was tired and ready to go home. He spent the next 5 days at home for suspension, but hey that is what he wanted in the first place. Congratulation kid on a job well done; you went for something and you got it.

I just am hoping for change, and soon.