No Longer a Muggle .. am I?

Well ... social studies has suddenly gotten interesting! Just kidding! It has always been interesting, only now there's a new topic. Geocaching. Interesting, huh? I thought so. I think that it's not only amazing that there's such a thing, but that there are so many people involved and a lot are right on campus!

It was fun geocaching the other day during class. I, personally, did not think we looked inconspicious (sp?) at all! 24 students and a professor :) anyways .. it was fun and that's what counts .. even if we did have to do it in the rain!

I hope you all had a great Halloween weekend!
Amanda

Happy Fall Break

Well, can you tell that I'm better? I'm getting cabin fever and doing HOMEWORK! haha. For those of you who did not know, I had a virus in my throat and mouth. It was only contagious if you ate after me. So, for those I have been around Monday and on.... you are fine. I have been in the house for the past week, basically and had to miss a day with my classroom and amazing mentor!

Another thought: my last two posts ... were on the same subject. I noticed it a few minutes after posting the latter. Yeah, I'm so good that I had two completely different thoughts on one subject.

Alright, now for the actual reason of this post: ideas and standards for our box city. I am in a second grade classroom, so I searched for 2nd grade activities. For Geography, 2nd grade standards: 3.01 Understand how to use maps, globes, and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process and report information from a spatial perspective. The activity that I would use would be to have the class create a box city on day one. On day two, I would have copies of a sketch of their city that they created. The students would place the compass and other map tools on their sheet. Students would work in groups and ask each other questions then plan a day together, visiting as many places in their city as possible.

Another idea is from the 6th grade standards: 1.05 Understand the role that diverse cultures and historical experiences had on the development of the world. The activity that would be associated with this standard would be to having the students look at their town in a different area, whether another city, state, or country. Students would question how the buildings would change, what shops would be different, what scenary would be added or taken away, etc.

As we have talked in class, there are endless ideas to this subject.

Have a great Fall break!
Amanda

New Teachers Turning Old

Reading the Critical voice documents made me a little worried, simply because as much as everyone hopes to bring fresh ideas and new learning styles into the classroom ... sometimes it simply is not enough. Although new teachers are taught to go outside the box and become a voice in their schools, new teachers are often pushed to the back burners in order to learn how the school is ran and how they can fit into the mold instead of creating one themselves. I am not saying that ALL new teachers become "old" fast, but some do. Those who are in a dictator school system and want to continue to have a job, do what they are told and follow the rules. They rarely step outside the box with which they are given and side with co-workers and fellow teachers rather than their own students. Others are impeccable and try their very best. Always "sticking up" for the students who are underdogs and watching out for the students' interests is the very best type of teacher. Trying to find the best methods and styles in which to teach the so called "unteachable" students, that is the type of teacher I yearn to be. And, truth be told, I hope it's one that others do to.

Fearless Teachers

When a person hears the word "teacher", most people would think, "They taught me how to read one year" or "One time we did this math this and it was really cool!" Teachers' jobs and reputations have went from teaching the basics and learning how to keep students interested enough so kids would behave to teaching chidren how to survive in this world and believing in themselves. It is sad, I believe, that teachers have been given this responsibility, however, when I become a teacher, I will more than gladly stand up for what I'm in a school building for and that is, to fight for the right for ALL children to receive an education. Speaking in a Critical Voice makes me cringe to think that there are such people who do not believe in the newfound skills others have or do not have such skills at all. Simply because two teachers teach in two different ways mean nothing. As the article reads at one point, "Every teacher has to have a solid grasp of his assumptions about how people learn and how that translates into the kind of environment the teacher will provide." Each and every person has an idea of some type of how to teach a child something, no two are alike. When new teachers' ideas are pushed to the side, this issue is only pushed to the backburner and as From Silent to Dissent says, "it only takes about six weeks for new teachers to look like old ones."

Teachers have to take a stand for their students. Simply because there is no one else with the time, energy or effort out there to do so.

That's all folks!