Module 12

Enough though I am a teacher, I feel that I can still learn and grow from my profession. I learned a lot of the state funding and what our schools need to make our children feel and be successful. I also see a demand for my educators, especially males to enter the education field because of the different types of children we have. There needs to be more of a consistent structure in our classrooms for make things run a bit my smoother to handle beahvioral issues.

I enjoyed my field experience this semester at my school in Fayetteville. My school is very small with the staff and students. I enjoy working in a smaller environment where I can help all of my students learn. I observed two different grade level and they were kindergarten and a second grade classroom.

When I observed the kindergarten classroom, there was not a lot of control and there are two teachers in there working together. There is an experienced teacher and a new teacher working in a room with 28 students. I feel that at that age, children need structure and a daily routine established. The teachers worked very well together but some things were inconsistent while I was observing.

Now, when I went to the second grade class, I was impressed that one teacher working with 20 students had things under control. The teacher was strict but made learning enjoyable and allowed the students practice and learn from their mistakes. The children seems to enjoyed what lessons they were learning and I would assist the teacher when helped was needed.

Of course, working with young children at that age, they have a lot of fun and learn from their peers. Every teacher will have their own method of teaching along with classroom management. I would not mind going back and seeing what other strategies that the second teacher is using to maintain control in her classroom.

Module 10

I chose to discuss Situation 3 from the Teachers' Rights and Responsibilities on page 385.
After I read the situation about the teacher being an effective and creative teacher and well liked by her co-workers I could appreciate that in a teacher. What I did not like is how she was treated because of the way she lived her life outside of school was not accepted by her co-workers. I feel that what you do outside of the workplace is your busy and not anyone elses. If she is doing her job correctly and in a responsible fashion, then those key factors should manner and nothing else should. People have the right to do what they want to do because she was not hurting anyone. She is not out there worried about other people and how they live their life.

Situation 14 dealing with school prayer was a topic that I could relate to and that is why I chose it. These days you as a professional educator have to be very careful about what you allow in your classroom. Not everyone in school believes in prayer or God for that matter. I may not agree with certain things all the time but I will respect a parent or child's wishes to have that child be removed from that type of setting if prayer is involved.

Leandro Reflection

Reading this article was an eye-opener for when I read it. Judge Manning made some very good and powerful statements about what education should be about and the importance of it. It is very important for all children to start off their childhood education on the right track by having a good, quality, and safe environment to learn and grow.

I understand that some counties are richer with resources than other counties. I know that other schools try there best to compete other schools because of there End of Grade Test scores. Children with "special needs", require certain services in the classroom with modify instructions. I do know from experience that any child with special needs MUST have all their needs met and that is state law.

It is important that our children get the very best education that the school has to offer. Available resources must be a wide range to choose from. Teachers need to communicate with each other on what is best the child in order for them to be successful.

Video and Philosophy of Education

I truly enjoyed the video and agreed with Dr. William Ayers was stating. As a teacher, each day is trial and error. Children need to know what my expectations are of the classroom and of themselves. The teachers classroom rules and expectations need to forced the moment they want into the class. A classroom also should be structured and consistent at all times. Students should also be given ample time to learn and grow new things on a daily basis.
My philosophy of being a teacher is to provide a safe, nurturing, and caring environment for all students. I want all of my students to be successful with their academic work. As I continue to teach, I change certain things because I get a new group of children each year. What may have worked one year with one group may not work with the next group of children that I will get the following year. I am always taking workshops and reading current news articles to see what is going on in our classrooms and get new ideas for my own classroom.
Your heart has to be in the right place in one decides to go into the teaching profession. You will have to take the good with the bad, like any job and hang in there. Teaching is very rewarding career for me. I look forward to teaching my students each day and having fun with my lessons.

Module 7

The two topics that I chose to talk about were: The Federal Government and Black Americans: The Struggle for a Chance to Learn. As a teacher, I feel that it is important for all children to learn a grow when getting their education. I know that all schools do not look the same nor have the same types of available resources. Teachers spending a lot of time and their own money out of pocket, like myself giving the children what to need to be successful in school.

Racial Segregation Among Private and Pubic Schools
This article talked about how public and private schools were different for black people and the struggles they faced. Private schools separated whites and blacks compared to public schools.
http://www.jstor.org/pss/2112293

http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/FTrials/conlaw/sepbutequal.htm
The article was about the schools being Separate bit Equal pertaining to the Plessy v. Ferguson case.


The Federal Government
This website was full of good information pertaining the our schools and how to get money the the classroom. I liked that there were grants and other types of funding for teachers to apply for and get.
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/landing.jhtml

http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2009-01-12-school-stimulus_N.htm This
website talked about schools having their funding cut due to the economy. A lot of harsh decision were having to be made in our country because of everything going up in prices.

Module 6

Dear Mr. Easley,
As of February 23, 2009, there has been an overwhelming concern with children not reaching all their educational needs. As an elementary teacher, I have always heard there are a lot of children that have a wide range of gaps in their achievement levels. I feel that all subjects are not being taught fully (such as science and social studies).
When doing research on the Internet and reading different articles pertaining to our schools closing the gap issues. As of July 2007, there were elementary classes taught by highly qualified teachers with the following statistics shown that 99.2% were from low poverty schools and 98.3% were from high poverty schools.
I feel that students need a variety of opportunities to learn a new goal or concept. I know that teachers are supposed to teach the EOG (End of Grade Test) because school administrations want the student to learn what they need for their education and not because of it being tested.
Mr. Easley, please make other opportunities available for our teachers and students to be successful in our school systems. Teachers work very hard and are overworked when teaching in the classroom. Students should have more practice and remediation schedules that are more accommodating to each individuals needs. I would appreciate any feedback that you may have for the concerns that I am addressing to you. Thank you for your time.

Audretta D. von Nahme