Sadly, March Break has come to an end. I can surely say, I was able to enjoy the majority of the time off. I’m feeling nervous and anxious yet again…when does this feeling end? I’m looking forward to my upcoming block, as I know it will be rewarding and very different from my last placement.
As I’m teaching a Grade 1, French Immersion class, I find it an adjustment to speak French all the time. Not only is it a challenge learning how to teach French but also with expressing myself in French. The majority of my observation notes are French expressions that my associate uses with the students. I plan to embed those expressions and particular classroom management vocabulary in my head. I can already sense that I will be ending this placement with a wealth of knowledge. If only, we weren’t evaluated on our teaching then these placements would be much more enjoyable….only in a perfect world!!!
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Barbara Coloroso
I attended a workshop presented by CCCSC, their keynote speaker was Barbara Coloroso. Barbara Coloroso is the author of the international bestseller Kids Are Worth It! She is an internationally recognized speaker on parenting, teaching, positive school climate, nonviolent conflict resolution and grieving. She was phenomenal!!! If ever you have the chance to listen to her speak…do it!! She’s humourous, witty and knowledgeable. I couldn’t agree more with her philosophy about needing to teach kids on how to think and not what to think. We need to give our students/kids choices in life for them to learn how to make decisions.
At the conference, I purchased her book on bullying, something I fear dealing with in the schools. I need to grasp how to better manage the bully, the bullied and the bystander in the schools. I believe this book will help me reach my goal. The book is called 'The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander'.
At the conference, I purchased her book on bullying, something I fear dealing with in the schools. I need to grasp how to better manage the bully, the bullied and the bystander in the schools. I believe this book will help me reach my goal. The book is called 'The Bully, the Bullied and the Bystander'.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Building Futures -Ministry Day
Math, Math and more Math!!! By far, I learned a ton of information in such a short period of time from Kathy …most importantly, I understood the meaning of a process problem that was required in Joanne’s math assignment. Kathy dissected a process problem to show the various levels the problem could be solved at. We got great resources and website links to use in our future Math classes.
I greatly appreciate the many resources the ministry provided us with at the end of the day in the cute bag. I’m sure the resources will come in handy soon enough.
I found it helpful having the other workshops supply the Powerpoint slides because I was able to get information, even though, I had not attended some of the other particular seminars. I used the Special Education Powerpoint slides to study for the Special Ed Test. Very Useful!! Thank you Ministry of Education!!!
Overall, the Ministry Day was time well spent, especially since a free lunch was included!!! (My stomach loves to talk, too.)
I greatly appreciate the many resources the ministry provided us with at the end of the day in the cute bag. I’m sure the resources will come in handy soon enough.
I found it helpful having the other workshops supply the Powerpoint slides because I was able to get information, even though, I had not attended some of the other particular seminars. I used the Special Education Powerpoint slides to study for the Special Ed Test. Very Useful!! Thank you Ministry of Education!!!
Overall, the Ministry Day was time well spent, especially since a free lunch was included!!! (My stomach loves to talk, too.)
Professional Issues Day
February 13th- What a wonderful day! I had the pleasure of being introduced to Carey, a third year teacher who gave a first year’s perspective of teaching. Carey had a tremendous amount of information to share with us. For those of you that were not present during the workshop, I’ll share some important facts that may be of use to you.
The Creative Zone is a recycling paradise that exists through a partnership of Family Day Care Services, Peel District School Board, PLASP Child Care Services and Child Development Resource Connection Peel. The Creative Zone obtains donations of surplus materials from companies and manufactures. Visit the Creative Zone when setting up your classroom. You’ll find furniture items at the Creative Zone, such as desks, or book racks that may be of use to you in your classroom.
Location and Hours
933 Central Parkway, door #8 (enter from back parking lot of Hawstone Road) - Monday to Friday 8am -4 pm
Carey recommends attending the Peel Summer Institute for New Teachers- if hired in Peel there is no cost, if not then you pay a fee. There are lots of venders selling books for discounts. The workshop provides great ideas for your chosen grade specific workshop.
Parents love newsletters with pictures of their students. She recommends to prepare a September newsletter for parents and then continue the newsletter each month, as P/J’ s learned in our Tech class with Don. You can even get some of your students to contribute to the write-up. Starting up a Scholastic Book Club is a great way to get free stuff with your classroom bonus points and free picks. You can send the scholastic home with the newsletter to be sure the scholastic is not gone unnoticed. She encourages requesting all the leaflets, as other siblings in the family may place an order.
I hope these few suggestions are of use. I plan to visit the Creative Zone as soon as possible.
The Creative Zone is a recycling paradise that exists through a partnership of Family Day Care Services, Peel District School Board, PLASP Child Care Services and Child Development Resource Connection Peel. The Creative Zone obtains donations of surplus materials from companies and manufactures. Visit the Creative Zone when setting up your classroom. You’ll find furniture items at the Creative Zone, such as desks, or book racks that may be of use to you in your classroom.
Location and Hours
933 Central Parkway, door #8 (enter from back parking lot of Hawstone Road) - Monday to Friday 8am -4 pm
Carey recommends attending the Peel Summer Institute for New Teachers- if hired in Peel there is no cost, if not then you pay a fee. There are lots of venders selling books for discounts. The workshop provides great ideas for your chosen grade specific workshop.
Parents love newsletters with pictures of their students. She recommends to prepare a September newsletter for parents and then continue the newsletter each month, as P/J’ s learned in our Tech class with Don. You can even get some of your students to contribute to the write-up. Starting up a Scholastic Book Club is a great way to get free stuff with your classroom bonus points and free picks. You can send the scholastic home with the newsletter to be sure the scholastic is not gone unnoticed. She encourages requesting all the leaflets, as other siblings in the family may place an order.
I hope these few suggestions are of use. I plan to visit the Creative Zone as soon as possible.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
IS IT EVER OKAY TO LIE TO STUDENTS?
The question of whether it is okay to lie to students, in my opinion, is very difficult to answer for numerous reasons. My gut instinct tells me that the answer to this question is, with 100% certainty, ‘no’. On the other hand, I know that realistically it would be difficult to tell children the truth all the time. I do not by any stretch advocate to be dishonest with children; however, there are certain things which children need protection from at certain ages. There is an appropriate age in which children should be educated on matters. For example, if a Grade 2 student asks, “How are babies born?”, the teacher would not respond with an explanation on sexual intercourse because it is not appropriate. At times, as a teacher, one is not required to lie but it may be advisable for the students that the teacher does not go into detail or simply coats (with sugar) some pieces of information.
The answer to this question hinges on many factors. If it is your own child that asks the question, you, of course, have the option to take whichever approach you feel is acceptable; however, as a teacher, we must consider the bearing of our words and the potential reaction and consequences that a certain answer may create on children and their parents.
It is my opinion that, by exposing children to the truth, one could potentially provide them with information which is detrimental to their psyche. For instance, telling a child of 3 years old that “Santa Claus is not real” takes away a child’s natural process of development and awareness. Such information may have negative implications. I can remember being in Grade 5 when certain kids shouted out how Santa was not real. I was shattered to hear such blaspheme. I recall running to my brother for shelter and crying to him about this non-sense. Thankfully, he reassured me that Santa existed. From this, you can see that on that day, my loss of innocence had been threatened a bit sooner than it needed to be. Gratefully, my brother and the teacher had told me otherwise: Santa existed. From this personal experience, I believe that children ought to discover, all in due time, certain truths at the appropriate age. With this in mind, it is still important to expose children to realities and to prepare them for the potential dangers that exist in the world. To completely shelter a child from the truth, a parent or teacher negates an important duty as an educator: to inform and direct children on a path of objectivity.
Although I would like to sit on the fence, I fear it may start to hurt my posterior region. So, I quantify that it is not okay to lie to students when it is a way of avoiding a moment to teach children and explain that there are always two sides (or more) to a story. It is important that children learn to be objective from a young age. In my opinion, the explanation of a truth to a child is likely to be more of a developmental enhancing experience, as opposed to lying to the child. Since each case varies, we are all professionals and must choose to exercise our professional judgment in each and different circumstance.
The answer to this question hinges on many factors. If it is your own child that asks the question, you, of course, have the option to take whichever approach you feel is acceptable; however, as a teacher, we must consider the bearing of our words and the potential reaction and consequences that a certain answer may create on children and their parents.
It is my opinion that, by exposing children to the truth, one could potentially provide them with information which is detrimental to their psyche. For instance, telling a child of 3 years old that “Santa Claus is not real” takes away a child’s natural process of development and awareness. Such information may have negative implications. I can remember being in Grade 5 when certain kids shouted out how Santa was not real. I was shattered to hear such blaspheme. I recall running to my brother for shelter and crying to him about this non-sense. Thankfully, he reassured me that Santa existed. From this, you can see that on that day, my loss of innocence had been threatened a bit sooner than it needed to be. Gratefully, my brother and the teacher had told me otherwise: Santa existed. From this personal experience, I believe that children ought to discover, all in due time, certain truths at the appropriate age. With this in mind, it is still important to expose children to realities and to prepare them for the potential dangers that exist in the world. To completely shelter a child from the truth, a parent or teacher negates an important duty as an educator: to inform and direct children on a path of objectivity.
Although I would like to sit on the fence, I fear it may start to hurt my posterior region. So, I quantify that it is not okay to lie to students when it is a way of avoiding a moment to teach children and explain that there are always two sides (or more) to a story. It is important that children learn to be objective from a young age. In my opinion, the explanation of a truth to a child is likely to be more of a developmental enhancing experience, as opposed to lying to the child. Since each case varies, we are all professionals and must choose to exercise our professional judgment in each and different circumstance.
Completion of Block I
I do not know how I got through my first block but I did. Thank goodness! It was most certainly challenging and extremely exhausting. I am glad that I had the time to reflect and refresh my mind until the next block. I think that, if I had not had a short time to reflect upon my experiences, my second block could have been sabotaged with pessimisms. Above all the challenges, the main reason one teaches is for the students. This thought, alone, kept me going the majority of the time. Amazingly, the feeling of reward and the impact that I had on the children, to shape their lives, paid off ten fold.
On my last day, one of my students wrote me a card with a bow on it. The card wished me, “Good Luck Ms. D.”. I will never forget this student, a little angel sent from Heaven. How intuitive she was! Her message was clear that I should keep going and persevere. She must have known how much I needed this. Potentially, if not for this card, the awareness of my efforts could have slipped through the cracks and I would not have known that my actions and sleepless nights made a difference. I keep her card by my work table, as an inspiration. I look at it every time that I am struggling with an assignment or planning session.
I love children and teaching. Although classroom management was a challenge and I felt numerous times like a failure and not respected, at the end of the day, one realizes that children are so innocent and unique. I cannot help but want to protect and nurture them always.
On my last day, one of my students wrote me a card with a bow on it. The card wished me, “Good Luck Ms. D.”. I will never forget this student, a little angel sent from Heaven. How intuitive she was! Her message was clear that I should keep going and persevere. She must have known how much I needed this. Potentially, if not for this card, the awareness of my efforts could have slipped through the cracks and I would not have known that my actions and sleepless nights made a difference. I keep her card by my work table, as an inspiration. I look at it every time that I am struggling with an assignment or planning session.
I love children and teaching. Although classroom management was a challenge and I felt numerous times like a failure and not respected, at the end of the day, one realizes that children are so innocent and unique. I cannot help but want to protect and nurture them always.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Social Issues Day
Social Issues Day was an enlightening and exciting day!! I enjoyed very much the workshops, which I attended. As there were many interesting issues addressed that day, I would have liked to have been able to attend all workshops presented.
Out of the three workshops, which I attended, Girl Bullying, facilitated by Zopito Marini was the most impressive. I selected this workshop because I recognize this as a very serious issue that needs to be addressed in the schools. Early signs of bullying need to be corrected from the start. If not corrected, this behaviour will carry forward into the individual’s adult life. A victim may be terrorized to the extent where the individual feels that the only route of escape is through suicide, as seen in the case of Dawn-Marie Wesley, 14 in B.C.
Although I still feel not completely prepared on how to tackle the topic of bullying in the schools, I am now more aware of the signs and problems that surround this issue. I plan to strongly instill in my students the understanding that no aspect of an individual’s identity is acceptable as a target of teasing or exclusion. Students need to be taught in a way that will grow them into becoming model citizens. In fact, playing the role of a ‘bystander’ is equally as bad as being a ‘bully’. It is essential that students become aware of their responsibility of intervening and telling the bully to stop, otherwise, the role of a ‘bystander’ adds to the power of the bully.
As part of preparing myself to become a teacher, I plan to further educate myself in this area of ‘bullies’ and the circumstances which create this problem. In discussing this topic with a colleague, I was recommended to read the book Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman. I have placed reading this book on my priority list.
Social Issues Day was so enjoyable that if given the opportunity to attend a second Social Issues Day in the second semester, I would.
Out of the three workshops, which I attended, Girl Bullying, facilitated by Zopito Marini was the most impressive. I selected this workshop because I recognize this as a very serious issue that needs to be addressed in the schools. Early signs of bullying need to be corrected from the start. If not corrected, this behaviour will carry forward into the individual’s adult life. A victim may be terrorized to the extent where the individual feels that the only route of escape is through suicide, as seen in the case of Dawn-Marie Wesley, 14 in B.C.
Although I still feel not completely prepared on how to tackle the topic of bullying in the schools, I am now more aware of the signs and problems that surround this issue. I plan to strongly instill in my students the understanding that no aspect of an individual’s identity is acceptable as a target of teasing or exclusion. Students need to be taught in a way that will grow them into becoming model citizens. In fact, playing the role of a ‘bystander’ is equally as bad as being a ‘bully’. It is essential that students become aware of their responsibility of intervening and telling the bully to stop, otherwise, the role of a ‘bystander’ adds to the power of the bully.
As part of preparing myself to become a teacher, I plan to further educate myself in this area of ‘bullies’ and the circumstances which create this problem. In discussing this topic with a colleague, I was recommended to read the book Queen Bees & Wannabes: Helping Your Daughter Survive Cliques, Gossip, Boyfriends & Other Realities of Adolescence by Rosalind Wiseman. I have placed reading this book on my priority list.
Social Issues Day was so enjoyable that if given the opportunity to attend a second Social Issues Day in the second semester, I would.
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