Introduction to Education

Hey everybody, my name is Jan, and this is the first post for my introduction to education class!  I am a junior at a high school and I can't wait to graduate! I love playing tennis and I used to play softball.  I am interested in teaching, and this class will prepare me for the classes I will need in college.  Next semester, I will actually be going into elementary classes and learning firsthand about what it takes to be a teacher.  Next year, this class will be a paid apprentice ship where we help in one class for the whole year.  I'm looking forward to it!

I am a little nervous about being in the classes with the students, but I know the other teachers will help me out.  This first semester, we have been discussing ways of learning, barriors to learning, hemisphericity, and test taking stategies. This will prepare us as much as possible for the different kids and their personalities.  I would like to work with third or fourth grade if I can, but second would be good, too.  Let me know if you have any tips on that age group. Thanks!

Comments

[Lani]

Hi Jan,

You are right on target when you mention that your Teacher Cadet course will help prepare you for college courses! It will also give you an opportunity to discover if you really want to teach. I taught a program similar to yours in Ohio and in the junior year, one student learned she did not really like being with kids. That was important because she knew she needed to follow a different path in college. Other students in the program discovered that teaching was definitely where they wanted to be and they are now in their second year in colleges of education around Ohio.

In my career in teaching, I worked with middle school and high school students so I am not an expert on third and fourth grade. But I can share this: A smile means everything in the world. A welcoming teacher and a classroom in which everyone respects each other are long remembered by students. When students feel their teacher is sincere and caring, school is fun! Building a community where everyone helps everyone is so important.

When you think back on your experiences in elementary school, what do you remember most? Do you think what you remember most can guide you as you start to work in a classroom?

Perhaps you haven’t seen this website, All Kinds of Minds, which offers tips and activities to help all students learn: http://www.allkindsofminds.org/learningBase.aspx
The learning base identifies concepts and skills to be learned, how students may have difficulty, and then hints on how to assist those students learn.

Scroll down this page to see case studies by grade level. http://www.allkindsofminds.org/CategoryAll.aspx?section#CaseStudy
These case studies introduce a student and give tips on how to help that student.

You have said you have studied learning differences. Knowing that all students can learn, but not always on the same day in the same way profoundly and positively impacted my teaching and the learning experiences I designed for my students. So, you are off to a grand start!!!

Smile, be you, be sincere, care, and always remember and believe that every student can learn, but not always on the same day in the same way---------- and your students will love you.

Best,
Lani

[Susan]

Hi Jan,
Know that you are in good company being nervous about your first teaching experience. I remember I didn't sleep a wink the night before I started student teaching. Even after 16 years of teaching, I still sleep poorly the night before school starts. I think that is probably a good sign: it shows that I still care deeply about what happens, about getting the school year started off well.

I've had many student teachers and they all have that same nervous feeling before school starts. Many of them worry that the students won't like them. Fortunately, they quickly come to realize that they need have no fears about that. Most children are delighted to have another adult in the classroom to give them attention.

Best of Luck with your Teaching,
Susan