My thoughts on becoming a teacher

I want to be a teacher because I want to make a difference in the lives of others. I want to enable their life to be better. I love seeing the joy and the light in someone's eyes when they finally understand. I love the challenge of figuring out how to help them figure something out and to make sense of it. I love that I will have have the opportunity to associate with many great young minds.

I think I can be a good teacher. I still understand the trials and feelings of the younger years- they are still fresh in my mind. I know that I have many things to polish before I can become a good teacher and be able to go out in confidence to help students learn.

What a great blessing it is to be able to be a teacher! The chance to be someone in the lives of so many students, and oh what a great responsibility. I hope I always keep this in mind and never forget this. How can I let one student down? How can I neglect in keeping watch over my class? I can't and I will strive with all my might to not let them leave lacking what I could have given them! I know I have much to learn, and will always have much to learn- that is part of the fun of it :). But, I will strive to do my best to give my students as much strength as I can. I love them, though I don't really know them, and I won't give up being my best and making, each day, that best even better for them :).

And I hope and I pray that this,

my promise, will not be forgotten.

Teaching them skills that they can take with them

When I am a teacher, I want my students to leave my class, having become greater learners and liking, if not yet loving, to learn new things. Of course, love for learning is important to have as the teacher and is perhaps the beginning step for them to attain it. My level of enthusiasm is the climate control for the students. Learning isn't always just a piece of cake or exactly fun, however it is most always provides wonderful benefits and fulfillment. In light of this fact, my enthusiasm must be coupled with serious dedication. I must be clear that the best learning comes from hard work, and that they will find that the the things that cause them to work the hardest in life to achieve, are the most rewarding and fulfilling. I will give them simple assignments (such as worksheets that ask for simple recording of what was done ie lab sheets), coupled with challenging assignments and projects that ask them to spend extra time and effort to analyze and come to their own conclusions; asking them to use their resourcefulness and best efforts. They will work in groups sometimes and sometimes alone, and perhaps in both orders for one two to three part assignment. This will give them experience in collaborating and brainstorming with others, and also to analyze on their own the things discussed in the group; and then to go back with new ideas and collaborate again in one or two groups. These are only two ways, and they are definitely going to be elaborated on with up and coming experience.

Reflections in the pool of teaching

What does it take to be an effective teacher?

-consistency

*in discipline

*in expectations

-well done lesson plans

*meet (diversity overall) different learning needs, (interpersonal, kinesthetic, etc.)

*meets criteria for school and STLs

*is clear with a stated objective

*expands on previous learning

*challenges the student to think

-love of teaching

*dedication for continual improvement in reaching the students and aiding them in their learning now and in the future

*preparation (putting in the amount of time, however long, to create an effective teaching strategy

*allowing time in class and out of class, before and after, to have students come ask questions and seek help with assignments

*being aware of students (paying attention to dozers, day-dreamers, studious doers, attention seekers: and meeting there needs as best as one can in a positive way)

*caring about students (what hobbies, interests, dreams they have)

*Good learning environment (pictures of things they love hung around, goals of the class hung up, examples of previous projects, examples of possible projects (drawings), inspiring pictures, people and quotes. +welcoming, caring, encouraging and knowledgeable self, as teacher.

My own Nutty Tendencies: ...sure to be added upon:)

I really struggle with getting nervous before I teach. Everytime- no fail. The first time I taught in class, I was okay at the beginning, but then I slowly got more anxious and nervous. I was glad that right before I was to go, Bro. Wright called for a break. I got out in the hall, drank some water, and ran a few laps in the hallway trying to get my mind off of being so nervous. When I got up to teach, however, I was out of breath and I found myself speed talking and unable to notice what was happening in the classroom and unable to sense whether I was teaching comprehensibly or not.

The next time I taught, was when I taught Stl #18. Unfortunately, that time I did not do my running before hand. One of the responses I got back was "watching you walk in circles made me dizzy." :).

The major thing I am worried about in being nervous is as I stated above- I don't want to be too occupied with myself that I can't be aware of how my students are doing. I don't want to be too rushed in my anxiety that I don't spend enough time on an aspect of the learning or even on the question a student asks.

I hope I will get better with time

Reflections: To Unlock a Student's Desire

It never ceases to amaze me how important desire is. In my own life I have realized this, and I have been able to continually see its effects in the lives of those around me.

This observation is important to teaching. Somehow we, as the teachers, have to pass the key to open the doors of the joys of learning to our students; however, with this in mind, what if they don't care to turn the lock? How do we unlock desire in our students? In order to do so, we have to address their individual needs. As a teacher, as a mentor, as a significant adult in the student's life, we can make a difference in his life. The challenge is that each student is different. Each one has a different background, different needs, and different abilities. Although keeping this in mind as well, I have seen students with less aptitude for a subject rise and shine above those who had the innate ability. What made the difference? Whatever its origin, it was Desire.

The challenge I give to myself is to search to find the way to unlock a student's desire, even when nothing else in the situation would help out.

Bio Tech.

Teaching Ideas 4 STL

Transportation Technologies

APPROACH of Audience's ROLE :

option 1- teaching them what to teach and idea generating activities

option 2- teaching them as the student

Transportations: Synthesis

- They need to know what the STL is

- They need to understand what it implies

Lesson Layout

Assessment? HOW?

PREASSESSMENT

True/False Questions on board

-purpose= to assess previous understanding of transportation technologies

LECTURE

1. Combination of people and vehicles working together (this joint effort: society as a working machine: video of city activities, delivery system?- sped up?)
2. Transportation vehicles made up of subsystems functioning together (i.e. diagram of car- by me, simple and easy, like Tyler's helicopter)
3. Governmental regulations influence design and operation of transportation systems (i.e. Europe/U.S., cost, gas mileage, durability, engine performance, emissions)
4. Multiple processes are necessary for entire transportation system to operate together(see # 1, the transportation process of it)
5. Effects of transportation on other technologies such as manufacturing, construction, communication, health and safety, and agriculture (look up trucker strikes, increased gas prices, import/export tax, etc.)
6. Intermodalism. interconnected systems moving people and goods around easily from one mode to another (story about dream house on island and needing a boat to get to shore and then car)
7. Mobilization leads to mobile people constantly on the move (history: impact of car, when first came about)
8. Intelligent/nonintelligent transportation systems. NonIntelligent: attract with innovative design and incorporation of environment (capitalizing on natural settings) and provide convenience to individuals and groups (i.e. walkways, and bike paths) Intelligent: multi-subsystems that work together to foresee and prevent problems (i.e. smart highways with electronic message boards).

ASSESSMENT

-Give problem/Give requirements/Give goal

-Have map (each group has a different country as their starting point; different product- huge or small; different budget; different terrain)

- divide into groups for projects

(i.e. design the perimeters of a transportation vehicle (choosing also whether it would be using air, water, or land to move on) to solve a specific problem keeping in mind governmental restrictions and societal restrictions.

*Bring groups together; they present choices; we combine

and have a working system that functions as a whole.

STL #18: Students will develop an understanding of and be able to select and use transportation technologies THE DESIGNED WORLD

Notes:

• students need experience in developing, using, and analyzing transportation technologies
  
• modeling real world situations and concepts
• open-ended problems
• students keep journals/handouts
  
• report results to rest of the class

In order to select, use, and understand transportation technologies, students should learn
Bullet Points:
6-8

• transporting people and goods involves a combination of individuals and vehicles
• transportation vehicles are made up of subsystems, such as structural, propulsion, suspension, guidance, control, and support, that must function together for a system to work effectively
• governmental regulations often influence the design and operation of transportation systems
• processes, such as receiving, holding, storing, loading, moving, unloading, delivering, evaluating, marketing, managing, communicating, and using conventions are necessary for the entire transportation system to operate efficiently

9-12

• transportation plays a vital role in the operation of other technologies, such as manufacturing, construction, communication, health and safety, and agriculture
• intermodalism is the use of different modes of transportation, such as highways, railways, and waterways, as part of an interconnected system that can move people and goods easily from on mode to another
• transportation services and methods have led to a population that is regularly on the move
• the design of intelligent and nonintelligent transportation systems depends on many processes and innovative techniques
  

Be Twixt and Be not Mean, but fair and light-hearted all in all!

Lesson Procedure Idea:

- at the beginning of semester or year have students fill out questionnaire that includes the question of what their favorite candy is.

-have the students prepare a group lesson plan to learn something (i.e. worksheets, presentation, game, etc.) and give rubric

-have them sign up for subject (some aspect of what class has already learned, or is learning- to solidify knowledge) and date

and post it up for reminder with highlighting and then crossing off on calendar for each student that has already presented

-inform that candy on their desk will appear the day before as a last-minute reminder to have lesson prepared for the next class time

Furball

Sharing among teachers and discussing among teachers are vital to the success of the students. Teachers, by my definition, are student facilitators. The congregating of observations and ideas are necessary, and all school administrations need to include in their goals multiple opportunities within a school year for teachers from varying grades and subjects to come together and share experience and ideas. It has been said that genius is not in one given person, but only can be when different people from many walks of life meet together and build on one another's experiences and ideas.

This Subject Ain't So Hairy

When you are a teacher, you are always learning. When you begin to think that you have learned enough, you are entirely in error. A teacher's job in any subject, is to be a master in the skills and knowledge. Continually doing research on the subjects you teach is necessary. You must keep studying and growing. And, not just the material needs expanding, but the teacher himself. Teachers are Professional Learners. "Inside every great teacher, there is an even better one waiting to come out" (Wong, The First Days of School). Teachers inspire life-long learning in their students, by first having the enthusiasm for it themselves. No one finishes a bag of Planters Peanuts one day realizing they have learned everything there is to learn. It takes Eternity to know everything and be good at everything. The fun of being alive is continually experiencing new situations, new relationships, new knowledge, and then learning to use it all for something worth all the time and effort you have put into it. Life is a learning experience, whether we succeed or not depends solely on how much dedication and perseverance we give.

More Not-So-Fuzzy Ideas from the Fuzzy One

Many kids won't remember the specific lessons or the subjects that you taught. Most of them, however, will retain the influence you had on them as one of the major adults in their lives growing up. They will remember your overall positive or negative nature, your enthusiasm for your subject or your boredom with. They will remember if you cared about them individually and as a whole. They won't remember what you wore, just if you showed the respect or irreverence for yourself.
They look at you with eyes seeking to learn who they want to become.
"Choose your love and love your choice" (quoted by Pres. Thomas S. Monson). This means realizing what a teacher really does- provides nurture and care to all people, whether they be students, colleagues, or neighbors, but especially students. You are with them for the majority of their day, and thus, have one of the greatest impacts on their emotional, spiritual, psychological, and physical well-being. Treat them as a Child of God. Treat them as you wish you would be treated. Treat them as a respected friend and fellow learner. All are Great in the sight of God. As teachers, we need that same sight; so when, everything else around them tumbles away, they have something to lean on- You. And, the love you showed for them, when perhaps no one else had bothered to. You are a teacher and a role model. A light in the darkness, and a friend in the midst of despair. You are a teacher, who loves all mankind, wanting the best for them all, and strives to fulfill the noble calling of being a teacher to God's children.
Never forget how important you are in the life of a student.

Reflections of an Auburn-haired Pre-Teacher

In all seriousness, I have learned a lot about becoming a teacher so far. Something that I am coming to realize more and more is that kids are not afraid to be challenged. They love having the opportunity to try new things and see what they are capable of doing! The responsibility of a teacher is to provide the ground and nourishment the students need to grow strong and stable. As a teacher we are the gardeners of the intelligence of these young souls. The mind of a student can either be enlarged or dulled by the influence of a teacher. Teachers are in a position to direct the zeal of a student toward learning. A good teacher not only helps his students in learning the material for his class, but for learning in general- for wanting to learn.