Is teaching for me.

Ever since I was eight I always wanted to be a teacher. Any chance I could I would play school with my siblings or cousins. I loved making lessons, getting school supplies, grading papers, setting up my "classroom" and everything I could think of that a teacher does. Now that I had the opportunity to do my service learning I now know I for sure want to be a teacher. I have a one year old son so trying to find someone to watch him to get it done was hard. My husband took a day off work to be able to allow me to get most of the hours done in one day. When it was my last day I tried to think of ways I could still go and do more hours. I absolutely loved going when I was able to. 

Being a teacher is the path I want to continue to go on. I loved every second of being in the classroom and helping the teacher with anything she needed me to do. She let me help in so many ways that I truly got a feel for what it would be like. 

Service Learning helped solidify my decision to become a teacher. It made me 100% know that being a teacher is what I want to do in a career. It made me hope that I can get my degree done soon so I can start. In the mean time I can apply what I learn in teaching my son. 

My next steps are to finish as fast as I can. I still have quite a few classes to get into the teaching program and that might take me a couple extra semesters with having a one year old and moving every summer for my husbands job so I can't take summer classes. By the time I can apply for the program we wont be moving, and my son will be able to have someone to watch him full time to do all my classes and when I graduate he will most likely be in kindergarten or first grade. Those are my plans at least. 

Classroom assessments

 I am making connections between the course topics and service learning because it helped me understand why she was teaching the way she was and how it benefits the students. I like learning something then going to the school to see when and how she would apply it in her class and to see if it would be something I would incorporate into my classroom. I have been able to articulate my own learning and understanding. I probably wouldn't have been able to explain what a lot of the terms were before doing the class and blogging. 

By blogging I have been able to think and notice things in my service learning that I most likely wouldn't have noticed. I was able to learn a lot in the classroom I was in and got some great ideas that I have kept on a page I haven't published yet for future reference.  I think the most I have learned since my first blog post was that what ever I learn and continue to learn I can keep it all on this blog for a tool to always have and update with my thought's and ideas. 

Standards and Accountability #7

 What evidence of the standards being addressed do you observe in your placement?   

I was in the classroom when she was observed by the principal. The teachers are giving a list of 10 standards. Learning differences and learning environments is what I think stood out to me the most. She had all the children engaged in a "Fancy Nancy" book. After they read the book they all discussed all synonyms found in the book. Then they were all split into groups to work together on an assignment to brainstorm synonyms for a word each team was given. As they were doing that the teacher walked around the classroom to be a help to any group that needed it. 

Are there particular subject matter standards that seem to be given more emphasis than others? 

From what I observed I feel like there was a good amount of everything and not necessarily only focused on one thing. Every day went the same. I was only able to do half days but reading and writing was probably what was most time was spent on. 

What are the subjects that you are not seeing addressed?  

From the times I was able to be there I wasn't able to see science or social studies lessons. Not that she doesn't do them I just wasn't there on days or times that she might have done some of those types of lessons. 

Why do you think that is?

Science and social studies didn't seem like it was as important as math, reading and writing that it wasn't done on a daily basis. 

 How does your cooperating teacher feel about the standards and about standardized testing?

All she really said about it was teaching now is not like teaching was 10+ years ago. There is so much responsibility on the teachers which would be fine if most of the parents were helpful at home.