Retirement

Today I found out that my mom declared her retirement to the superintendent of Waterbury. Not that it was a complete surprise to me, but I actually thought she would stick out a couple more years. The whole thought of my mom teaching 35 years and not going back to work after a short summer is mindboggling. I think that it is hard to grasp the concept of her not being a “busy body.” Having an educator as a parent definitely encouraged me to become a teacher. Even though I have seen it first hand, the ups and the downs, I know that it is very rewarding. Just last weekend, my mother and I were at the mall. Of course the cashier asked, "Are you a teacher?"  She simply smiled and said yes and talked about the middle school were they once crossed paths. Every where we go she seems to get asked that question. It seems she has made an impact on many of her students lives. I really think I am still in major shock however, I am so happy for her! I cannot wait to celebrate with a surprise retirement party this summer. She is such an amazing and hardworking woman. I respect her so much and can only hope I will last as long as teaching as she did!

Writing about writing

Where do I start when I think I am asked to write about writing? I have always loved to write rather than read. I enjoy writing about topics that interest even memories or me. When I was younger I loved to write passages about how much my family meant to me. I would individually write about a person and how they have affected my life in a positive way and then give them the passage to them as a gift. When I look at myself as I writer, I believe that overall I can write well. I do however sometime have troubles with grammar. I think writing can express oneself as a person that sometime verbal words cannot. Many times it is just easier to write and get your words out on paper. As a college student, I have always done well on my papers and in my English classes. It frustrates me when I know I can write better I just am drawing blanks. Last semester was hard for me because I took all history classes. I enjoy history but writing about wars and events wasn’t the best for me. When I had my sister look over a paper for me she clearly stated, “This is not one of your best pieces of writings.” The bad part is I knew and it and I simply explained I feel like I just cannot write this semester. I think I had to relax and look back at my other writing accomplishments and I finished my last history paper with an A. Writing is great when thoughts pop instantly into your mind and you cannot stop! I do enjoy writing when I am familiar and know the content of the topic.

Collaborative Learning

I believe that collaborative learning does support literacy. When children work together they can help each other learn. There are many collaborative learning activities that students can work on which can help them become better learners. Reading and writing with peers can help each other interact and learn new things. By working in peers the students can benefit from each other’s ideas. Working in groups has always been my favorite activity. I like how other student’s ideas can help you understand the concept of the activity or material.

In class, when we work in groups it gives a chance for interaction and choice. I believe when we did Reciprocal Teaching the other day in class it was very beneficial. When I had a hard time thinking of what to predict the other students gave me their opinions and examples that helped me understand more. There are many elements that can help enhance a student’s performance inside the classroom. 

Classroom Ideas

In my EDU 307 class we have been talking about comfort and a fun classroom environment. I found this picture on pinterest.com under the classroom section. I believe that a fun environment for kids will help increase their learning. If the child feels comfortable, they will definitely feel encouraged to learn. This picture looks like the classroom was set up for a luau. The decorations are colorful and exciting and I bet the students loved every second of it! Pinterest.com is a great site in general for new ideas. They have wonderful recipes as well as home made craft ideas.

Reader's Workshop

I envision reader's workshop a lot like the article discussed. I believe that giving students a choice on what they will spend their time reading is a great idea. This can help the child enjoy reading. The article talks about rules during Reading Workshop that include no talking, no doing other assignments, no bathroom breaks, and no disturbance. I believe that it is good to have these rules so that the students can actually focus and get this accomplished and if there is any misbehavior there will be consequences. My components of the RW structure would be just like the articles. It would include sharing time, a mini lesson, state of the class, and self-selected reading and response. I believe it is good to start out by sharing knew thing in reading or news on literature in general. It is a good idea to share before and after the RW to start with a discussion and end with sharing what the students and teacher has learned. The mini lesson would include instruction and preparation for the RW. State of the class would help the teacher view the student progress. The self-selected reading would give a chance for the student to pick out the readings. Referring to the article, this would be a good time for individual reading conferences.

Mini lesson are very important in the classroom. During these lessons the teacher can address instructions and demonstrate reading strategies. The teacher can also help assist students with books they are having trouble with. I believe that the role of the mini lesson should be that students are grasping the point of their readings. If they are struggling the teacher can address the problem to the class as a whole because maybe other students need a reminder. These mini lessons should give assistance and be beneficial to the students by helping enhance their reading and comprehension skills. 

Family Education

            My mother has been teaching for 35 years now. She really enjoys watching her students grow and learn. I think that one of the main reasons I choose teaching as my major was because of her. When she talks about her students or tells stories about her day, her face seems to always light up with joy! She lives to teach even though she does not say it as much as she should. My mom’s teaching career is soon coming to an end due to the fact that she ready to retire however, she is still unsure if she is ready to fully ready to leave. She knows herself that she cannot stop teaching because she has such a passion for it. When I was younger she would take me to her school for bring your daughter to work day. I loved to go and looked forward to it every year.

         In relation to school, my mom has always gone above and beyond. She has always and still goes out of her way to see if I need help with my homework or anything pertaining to my academics. She has always been heavily involved in my education. I know for a fact she has never missed one of my parent/teacher conferences. She loves to hear what I am learning about and how I am doing in my classes. Even now as a college student, she calls me everyday asking how my classes went and how my day is going. I look up to her so much for pursing a job she loves and works hard at it. I hope I also enjoy and have the passion for my teaching career as much as she does!

Sisterly Babysitting

I have been babysitting for a family for a little over a year now. The children are all girls and the ages of 5, 9, and 10. Over the summer, I was with these children everyday. We developed a strong bond. The children and I became so close that they considered me their “older sister.” Sometimes I question if this is a good thing or not. The middle child has CMTA, which is a rare disease that affects her legs and feet. She wears braces to help support her walking. I would say that I am the closest with her because she needs my attention the most. She constantly is embarrassed of her braces always wearing pants and covering them with socks. You would never know that she is even wearing them the way she covers it so well. I could tell that she looks to me for guidance however; she does treat me like her older sister. Actually, all three children do. At times I find myself struggling for them to listen to me. I try to take authority by “fake calling their parents” or sending them to their room, which, works for the most part. Yet, at times it could be very hard. I believe that because of this sisterly bond we have makes it hard for them to take me serious. I really look forward to learning how to make myself better as an authoritative figure in children’s lives. 

Cooking loving Miah!