- Learn and practice methods of intrinsic motivation for literacy learning
- Learn how to incorporate diverse media in literacy lessons to motivate students in a way that is more accessible and has real-world implications for them
- Become more comfortable with blogging and social media as they are used in school
- Develop a good base knowledge of literacy learning in the 21st century for creating interesting and enriching literacy lessons for my placement and microteaching lesson
- Learn how to comfortably use literacy to discuss social issues with students K-6
Professional goals:
- I could see myself teaching anywhere, but if I could choose a preference, I would want to teach in either a middle-class, mostly white school or a middle-class school with a range of ethnicities represented. The thing that intimidates me, however is going into a diverse school as a first-year teacher with little to no experience with ELL and ESL students. I'm afraid that I won't be able to help all of my students in the different ways they need it. I would feel disappointed in myself watching an ELL student struggle in my classroom because I can't give them what they need.
- Being in a mainly white community like the ones I grew up in would be more comfortable for me because it's what I know. But I love learning about students' cultures and I love being challenged, so being in a diverse school would be a rich experience.
- I want to learn how to get students excited about language arts. On the first day of class when we made graphic organizers to talk about language arts, I only wrote down things that I did when I was in elementary school--book reports, writing stories, reader's theatre, etc. After our discussion about multimedia in literacy learning, I felt really stupid for not thinking about that. Even though I have learned about technology integration, I was ashamed that it wasn't something I thought of right away.
- I want to learn what sorts of lessons would prepare students best.
- I want my students to become more literate as the school year goes on without even realizing that they are working hard. I want it to be fun for them. I want them to keep assimilating and building on their background knowledge smoothly and significantly.
- I want my students to become confident in their communication with others in several different ways.
- The Fleming article on urban classrooms inspired me at first. Obviously I am nothing like urban students. There is no way I can understand what they go through. But I can try. I would feel dedicated to getting to know my students and understanding that other things come into play that can distract them or cause them to lash out, act out, lose focus, etc. I want to be there for them. Be on their side when it comes to their learning. Maybe that's not realistic as a first year teacher...or as a white, middle-class woman.
- I don't really think there is much training that can be done to prepare teachers in urban schools for the challenges they will face. Every student is different; every teacher is different. How a teacher chooses to handle situations and how dedicated a teacher is to getting to know his/her students will be different for everyone.
- On the other hand, I would have a hard time being disrespected on a daily basis by my students whom I am working hard for. It would also be nearly impossible to integrate technology into the classroom. There is also the money issue...teachers spend lots of money equipping their classrooms.
- With students so under grade-level, I feel very discouraged to teach in an urban school.
- I really like the Hettinger article about struggling readers. They give some good ideas for supporting those students. I really like the idea of having volunteers make books on tape for the classroom. Maybe a parent rotation would be fun so that parents can take an active role in the classroom and make students feel proud that their parents are the ones reading. Partner reading is good to an extent...it shouldn't be used too much because it would be unfair to put all the work on the "good readers." Responding to text in ways other than writing would add variety to students' learning and teach them different communication mediums.
- These articles make me want to try even harder to be compassionate and give students a variety of learning modes.
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