This quotes truly describes my admiration for teaching, and i will keep this quote in the back of my mind as things start to get harder in class, because I can do this, and i was meant to do this.
JOURNAL ONE
As the first few weeks of my first semester at Mount Saint Mary College begins to calm down, I cannot even begin to express how excited I am to be in Basics of Curricular Planning. I am so eager to learn and to be exposed to all the various forms of technology and opportunities that wait for me throughout this semester.
I learned in the first week that Social Studies would be the main focus for the unit plans this semester. I am looking forward to learning about the standards and how to formulate a solid unit plan. I think the unit plan is going to be a lot of hard work, but I crave these kinds of things because I want to be a teacher so bad.
What I hope to get out of this course is to be able to gather resources that could help me to be a great teacher, and to be able to creatively put together a GREAT unit plan. I am willing to learn and I want to be successful. When I picture my life, I see myself as a great teacher, much like the teacher in the film “Freedom Writers”
I am looking forward to learning about the various different technologies that are available for use in my future classroom. PDF cute writer was a good experience because I learned how to convert my files into PDF format. I never knew that even existed, and I am happy that I was given the chance to experience it because I will use it in the future. It is a great tool, and in my opinion it makes your writing look professional.
If I could pick one thing that I would want in my future classroom (technology wise), I would want a SMART Board. I think that the SMART Board is a great tool to use because there is so much you can do with it. You can watch videos, you can use the markers as you would on a white board but it is all electronic. You can use the programs on the SMART Board to make diagrams and practice Math and Writing Skills, and so much more. What is even better about this tool is that it is kid friendly, meaning that it is educationally rewarding and appropriate for students of any age to use.I also enjoyed the visit the class took to the curriculum library. I learned that the library has so many resources for teachers in any subject. Also, the computer programs “Inspiration” and “Kidspiration” were great to learn to use because they could be implemented into my unit plan. I actually loved the programs so much and when I talked to my Dad about them he decided to surprise me and he bought them so that I can use them at home, and for when I am a teacher in the future.
The same day we toured the curriculum library was the same day we were assigned the "Name Project", which I used Microsoft Powerpoint to describe myself. I liked this project because it gave me a chance to be creative, and to tell my classmates more about myself. It wasn't as nerve wrecking as I thought It would be to get up In front of my classmate's and openly speak about my life.
When we discussed as a class how people learn, I pondered on the subject for a long time because people learn in so many different ways. I was so excited to sign up for my micro-teaching presentation because I would be aiding to how people learn, and observing what works and what doesn’t. I think that micro-teaching is a great tool to begin a lesson with because it grabs the attention of the students and helps them to focus. I am going to use the micro-teaching aspect of learning in every way I can when I become a teacher and I will aspire to make each presentation better than the last.
I think one thing I will always remember is Bruner’s Structure of Knowledge that we discussed in class during the third week. I will always remember this because these are the keys to teaching children. I know that if I follow these ideas and creatively present them in a way that interest’s my students, I will be doing a good job.
Overall, I am happy that I stayed in the course because I feel that I have learned so much more in three weeks than I had in any other course, any other semester. I am so excited for the learning to come, and I look forward to starting my unit plan and micro-teaching.
