Teachers are lighthouses

The purpose of a lighthouse is to guide a ship to shore. Think of a teacher as a lighthouse. Their purpose is to guide students in the right direction. Teachers guide their students in many different ways. They teach them right from wrong. They make sure they are learning the material. They ensure they are being treated equally. They create a safe, welcoming environment. They help them with outside influences that may be impacting their academic performance. The amount of ways teachers guide students is countless. And just like a ship, it is up to them to make it to the shore. Although they see they light, they might sometimes steer off into the wrong direction. Our jobs as teachers is to do everything in our power to help our students. We always hope it is enough so that our students can reach their full potential. We want our students to achieve their goals and most importantly be happy.

One of the most important things I learned about in this course was diversity in the classroom. I grew up in a very small town where almost all of the children were of the same ethnicity and background. This made it easy for my public school teachers. They never really had to change their teaching methods to adapt to different students. After this course, I now realize how many schools have foreign students. I am more aware of their struggle in our school systems. If I become a teacher in the future, I will make it high priority to ensure these students are getting a fair shot at an education.

At the beginning of this course, we learned some facts about the career of teaching. When I originally took this course I thought to myself, "I'm not going to be a teacher because they don't make enough money." After reading the first chapter in the book, I became more aware of the actual salary. I learned that although it is true teachers are underpaid and unappreciated, it is possible to make a decent living. The chapter stated that public school teachers make more money than private school teachers. The book also suggested to get a summer job that could possibly put you at salary of $75,000 per year. These facts gave me comfort about choosing teaching as a career. Every job is going to have its pros and cons. It is up to you to decide if teaching is something you really want to do for a living. I really enjoyed the assignment that made you ask yourself, "Why teach?" This really made me think about why I would want to pursue this career. Do I just think kids are cute and want summers off or do I really love the rewards of molding young minds.

Overall, this course taught me a lot about Education. The information I learned is going to benefit me whether I decide to be a teacher or not. It is helping me now with my toddler classroom. I am more aware of the different learning behaviors children have. This helps me better understand them and teach them more effectively. I have more patience by trying to figure out different things that work for each individual child. It was also very helpful to read my classmates blogs. Hearing their opinions made me more open minded. Sometimes I would reevaluate my own opinion and reconsider because they made valid points. Most of the time my classmates and I had very similar beliefs. Reading their supporting information helped me look at things from different viewpoints I hadn't considered before.

The Career of Teaching

Is bullying taken as seriously as it should be?

This week in EDU 100 we talked about social justice. One topic I believe deserves social justice in schools is bullying. Students who experience bullying whether it be verbal, physical, or on the internet face serious disruptions in their school-work. Children should go to school feeling safe. They should have the opportunity to focus on their schoolwork. They should not have to worry about dodging mean kids who are going to bother them. I do believe bullying is being taken more seriously nowadays due to the number of tragic incidents that have happened. Not only do they suffer academically, but many students result in self-harm or suicide from bullying. We talked about the zero tolerance policy for violence this week and I believe that policy should be implemented for bullying as well. Sometimes parents and teachers do not take minor incidents seriously, but they do not understand the tole it may be taking on the child. Bullying in an any shape or form should be unacceptable. This should be reminded and encouraged in all schools. There should be services and offices that students feel safe to go to for help. When I was in high school and was dealing with bullying, I wasn't even aware there was a specific office I could go to talk to someone. It should be continuously reminded that there is always somewhere to go for help. The bullies should face serious consequences if there behavior continues. If they just get a "slap on the wrist" they will never stop. In order to ensure every child has an equal opportunity in their education and success, we need to make sure we put a stop to bullying.

Why is Environmental Education Important?

"Tomorrow's leaders need to be equipped for tomorrow's challenges." 

Today's generation of children spend majority of their time indoors. According to Hofferth & Sadberg, children spend 27% of their time each week watching television and only 1% of their time indoors. It is extremely important for parents and educators to encourage environmental education to their children. We need to reconnect our children with nature. If they do not understand or value nature our future environment may be in danger. Less exposure to the outdoors has also caused a number of health problems for our children such as obesity, hyperactivity, and diminished use of senses. "Our schools need more encouragement, resources, and time to devote attention to environmental education."

I have first hand experience with environmental education. My toddler class is required to go outside everyday depending on the weather. When my class goes outside some kids run around, some play with the sand toys, some cling to the teachers, some climb on the fence, and some notice their natural surroundings. Some children are naturalistic learners and learn best from their environment. I always try to encourage the kids to explore their surroundings. I sing the song, "The leaves are falling down" so they noticed the leaves which teaches them about the seasons. I point out birds and planes in the sky. I encourage them to play with the dirt and grass. There is one little girl in particular who is intrigued by all of the items of nature outside. She is constantly collecting leaves, rocks, sticks, and grass. She is one of our kids who is cognitively and vocally more advanced. 

Some ways to encourage environmental education:

• Go outside
• Read books about the outdoors and nature
• Do environmentally friendly craft activities such as drinking coasters with coastal pictures (Pinterest)
• Be green! (Turn off the classroom lights, conserve water)

Works Cited

What is Waldorf Education?

Waldorf education is the full hands on experience of music, dance, theater, writing, literature, legends,
and myths. As stated on the website "Waldorf students cultivate a lifelong love of learning as well as
the intellectual, emotional, physical, and spiritual capacities to be individuals certain of their paths and
to be of service to the world."Rudolf Steiner developed this learning style in 1919. This style addresses the needs of the growing child. This type of education highly promotes learning as an art. The Waldorf curriculum is constructed to respond to three different phases of childhood: birth to 6 or 7, 7-14, and 14-18 years old. It is believed that by providing age appropriate materials to students they can grow and learn healthily. Imagination is highly promoted in the curriculum rather than learning each subject by itself. The educational philosophy's goal is to produce independent, responsible, and free students.
I do agree that a hands on and lenient curriculum is a successful learning style. I do not believe it should have to be practiced in separate schools. I think Waldorf Education should be incorporated into public school curriculum. I do not believe that Steiner would agree with the Banking Concept at all. He does not look at students in a general concept. He understands each student to be their own individual person who learns things in their own way. He would not agree with just piling information into a students head and expecting them to learn.
 

Gifted and talented students don't need help, they're already gifted and talented.. or do they?

There are countless programs for students who have difficulty in school. Sometimes we forget about those students who are doing just fine, maybe even better then just fine. These students need just as much attention and assistance as the students with exceptionalities. Say we have a student who is exceptionally gifted in science class. This student should be offered the opportunity to take a more accelerated class. Most schools offer these types of services. Once these gifted and talented students reach high school, they are given the opportunity to take AP courses which can count towards their college credits. It is crucially important that schools offer these opportunities. If these students were not offered this chance to be placed into accelerated classes they would be missing the opportunity to reach their full potential. These services make way for these student's successful futures. Some schools such as the ones in Oldham County, facilitate special programs for these students. They believe these students need special guidance and instruction.

"There are students whose intellectual capacity, rate of learning, and potential for creative contributions demand experiences apart from, but connected to, the regular classroom. We are committed to the belief that these gifted students require guidance in discovering, challenging, and realizing their potential. Under this philosophy it becomes the responsibility of the entire staff, in partnership with parents and the school system, to meet the needs of gifted students."

It is important schools and teachers meet all the needs of these gifted students so they are able to reach their full potential. 

GATES Program

Immigrant Students

How can teachers help make an immigrant student's transition into the classroom easier? 

Immigrant students face a number of challenges when first entering our school systems. They are experiencing a dramatic culture change and it can be very hard to adjust. They are expected to learn a completely new language as well as learn the required material as well. As a teacher, I intend on making sure each of my immigrant students are welcomed with open arms. ImmigrantKidTips offers some advice for teachers on how to assist with this transition.
   Teachers with immigrant students should research where their students come from. Understanding your students backgrounds with help you better understand them. For example, I had an experience with a new toddler who started in my classroom. Her family had just come to the United States from another country. My co-workers and I noticed that she was not eating at all throughout the day so we contacted her parents. They explained to us that she does not self-feed. It was part of their culture to mouth feed their children until they were 10 years old. If I would have done research or communicated better with her parents, I would have known this beforehand.
   Another important aspect is to adjust your teaching style to fit the learning styles of your students. An emphasis on visual and auditory lessons can be really beneficial to students, especially to students just learning a new language.
   I also think it would be beneficial to utilize all possible support services the school and community have to offer. Working with the parents is also an important part of the transition. It may be difficult to communicate if they do not speak English. Maybe there is a school translator or a class that can teach the parents English as well.
   Effectively teaching immigrant students takes hard work and patience. Not only do you have to teach them the required academics, you have to teach them how to adjust to their new environment so they are able to learn. I would never want a child to feel lost or helpless.

Did Christopher Columbus really discover America?

    "Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1942" is a rhyme we are all familiar with. I remember learning about Christopher Columbus in school as the hero who discovered America. I remember coloring the Nina, the Pinta, and Santa Maria. I remember the bearded-face man glued to a popsicle stick for us to honor. We celebrate this federal holiday, Columbus Day, on the second Monday of every October. Around this time of year, teachers are preparing a lesson on how to explain the story behind Columbus Day. After researching the truth behind the explorer Columbus, I have decided that as a teacher I will not continue this on-going misconception. Of course, I will not deny my students of tradition. I will teach the facts and celebrate the discovery of our country. Then I will dig deeper into the truth behind Christopher Columbus and explain the controversy this holiday has created. I will explain the Native American point of view as well so my students can see every perspective. I will leave them with the option to choose what they believe is right. Columbus Day is a holiday intended to celebrate the anniversary of America's discovery. Semantically speaking Columbus did not discover the America's, but his arrival did mark the beginning of a new era. This holiday is not meant to celebrate the life of Christopher Columbus and his actions.
    At first I felt uneasy about the idea of changing a lesson that has been drilled into our heads for generations. But I have learned that the world is changing and it is important for teachers to keep students up to date. This may mean straying from traditional lessons and raising questioning to things we once thought certain of. For example, my parents read the same novels that I did in high school such as The Great Gatsby and To Kill a Mockingbird. These are great and classic stories, but over the years there has been so many new and remarkable novels written that students should be exposed to. We need to stay current with our education. We were not being lied to about Christopher Columbus, we just lacked more knowledge of the man. Historians and researches presented us with the truth and now we are forced to take this into consideration when teaching our students.

Columbus Day Facts

Why do you and I want to teach?

This week in EDU 100 we discussed why people decide to teach. Some people teach because they love kids and some people teach because they had a good experience with school themselves. Some people teach because they like the work schedule and some people teach because they assume it is an easy major and career. This week I really took into consideration why I want to teach. As I mentioned before, I have worked with children my whole life and it makes me happy. But is that enough? Sometimes I fear I only want to teach because it is all I know how to do. If I had worked in retail instead of childcare in high school would I still want to teach right now? Loving children is still not enough for me to make that leap to becoming a teacher hence why I am still undeclared. I have considered majoring in business or social work as well. I can always find a way to incorporate children in my life without being a teacher. I also fear if I stray away from education I may end up unhappy and regret it. This weeks modules really caused me to start thinking about whether teaching is the right fit for me or not.

“After thinking about it, I realized everyone is different and you could ask this question for any career: Why cook? Why build? Why sell? Why operate? If you're reasoning is enough for you, then you should be happy with your choice.” 

This is one of my responses to the article “Why Teach?” I also have to remember that there is no right or wrong answer to why you want to teach. It is okay to choose this career for the reasons that satisfy me whether it is because it is my calling or it is just my comfort zone. 

Introduction

Hello!

My name is Alicia Bugden and I am a sophomore at Salem State University. I am currently undeclared, but strongly believe I will make the leap and declare my major as Education this year. I have been working with children for as long as I can remember. At age 14, I started working at a daycare center where I am still currently employed. I have coached, babysat, and tutored countless children over the years as well. I also have three younger siblings who I have helped taken care of their entire lives. Working with children is all I know. I am currently an EEC certified teacher and have my own toddler classroom. My classroom is my life. Although the children are very young and easily entertained, I always go above and beyond to make them happy. I spend my weekends cleaning and decorating the classroom. I put a lot of time into planning fun weekly activities for them. They are so young that they may not remember what I say to them or what we did, but they will remember how they felt and I want that to be comfort and love. I'm still figuring everything out, but what is definite is that I want to work with kids for the rest of my life. I will use this blog to share experiences from my classroom and my schooling. 

Halloween Craft Ideas