We're getting it!

Wow! What an awesome week in EDUC 410. I always try and write my blogs at the beginning of the week after our Tuesday meeting, but something was telling me to wait until after our seminar on Thursday because I would have lots of good things to write about and that was very true! First off, I learned how the seminars would work in an education class. I had participated before in English seminars, but I was anxious to see how this one would take place. I also feel that I learned so much about our education program as a whole. After hearing everyone speak about the importance of standards to them, it really gave me a hope in the future of education. I feel that we’re all on the same page and have the same goal in mind: to teach and care for our students.

            For my outside research this week, I simply googled the question, “Why are standards in education important?” I wanted to see what others felt the importance was. Just as I had suspected, this article talked about most of the same things we mentioned. That’s how I know we are starting to get it y’all! When we as educators are on the same page and realize that standards are important in teaching our students and that the well-being of our students come before anything else then we are getting it! This article talks about standards being used to keep us on the right track. That’s exactly what they were created for.

https://k12teacherstaffdevelopment.com/tlb/importance-of-a-standards-based-instruction/

            The relation to the NCTCS is simple this week because we were talking specifically about our standards, not only our teaching standards, but also what is required of us to become a teacher. Someone made a great point in our discussion that the NCTCS are just as important and should be carried on throughout our entire career in the classroom. I feel like that is why those are the first standards we are made to learn and follow. If we know those and get used to following those, then we will carry those standards throughout our career.

            Like I said before, one of the biggest connections I made was realizing that many of us in the education program at Gardner-Webb are on the same page. We all want the best for our students and we will strive to do whatever is necessary for the well-being of them.

            I had felt good about the standards before this seminar, but I feel that I learned that it is possible to teach all the standards that are required of us. When I was first introduced to them, I thought it would be impossible. But, I learned that it is possible to teach everything that they need to be taught. I can integrate so many standards together and there are many that are very important and some that aren’t as important. It made it all feel possible.

            In my future classroom, I will integrate as many standards and content areas that I can. I will also not stress when my students don’t understand everything that they should have that day. The standards were made to keep me on track with what I’m supposed to be teaching so it’s okay if I need to spend a few extra days on something. It’s all about the well-being of our students.

My Mission Statement and Goals

          This week in 350 we came together as a class and came up with a class mission statement. Ours was as follows: In Education 350, we will become better educators through immersing ourselves inn diverse populations to better meet the needs of our students by creating a sense of community inside and outside the classroom. Seems like a lot right? We thought so too once we thought through it and wrote it all out. But, this is can be a part of our mission throughout our entire career of educators. This mission should and will not end when I leave EDUC 350.
We also made a set of class goals for this semester:
                           1. Get a good grade/pass
                           2. Build/create class culture
                           3. Leave more confident and learn how to embrace all culture
                           4. Learn how to deal with hard situations
                           5. Learn how to know our students individually
                           6. Differentiate lessons
                           7. Be aware of biases and keep them from affecting instruction.
Once again, these goals should be long-term goals. These are things that I want to carry into my future classroom and throughout my entire career.
          For my outside research this week, I wanted to look up an actual definition for what "class culture" is. We mentioned that one of our goals was to build and create class culture. But, then the question arises, what are we actually trying to build and create? According to teaching channel.org, "class culture is the foundation of a successful classroom, setting the tone while communicating and maintaining clear expectations. It also sets students up to hold each other accountable in reaching the classroom expectation and their shared goals." https://www.teachingchannel.org/class-culture
I love how this website defines class culture as the foundation of a successful classroom. Everyone knows that the foundation of anything is what holds it up strong. How cool is that?!
           I believe that our process of writing a class mission statement and making a list of goals relates directly to NCTCS standard 5 which is reflection. A part of this standard is modeling the development of meaningful professional goals. We need to have goals as educators and we need to strive everyday in our teaching careers to reach those goals. Having goals is an important thing because it gives us something to work towards and gives us expectations to set for ourselves.
          Many connections and information were made aware during this process of making a mission statement and list of goals. I realized that these would all be long term goals in my life as an educator. These goals that I want to strive for can't be complete in a few weeks. Education is about learning constantly and I can't do that if I stop moving toward a goal once I think I have reached it.
         I have mentioned a few times throughout this post that I want to take this mission statement and list of goals and carry them with me throughout my entire career. I want to have these goals along with many others in my mind to ensure that my students have a successful education. Everything I'm doing and working toward is for the better of my students!

EDUC 410 Orientation and Finding Myself

          Only having one class so far in EDUC 410, we haven't learned much content. However, I feel that I've learned so much about myself in this one class period and by watching the orientation videos. I have learned that I have a new outlook on this semester I am already managing my time differently and I feel more positive about everything. Reflecting on the orientation videos made me realize how excited I am for learning all these skills to utilize in my future classroom.
          I feel like my "outside" learning is a little different this week than it will be in the future blogs. I have learned about not only time management in my classes, but also being a wife. Getting married this summer has been the best thing that's ever happened to me. But, in reality, with marriage I have a house to take care of and meals to cook when my husband comes home from working long hours in the heat. I love my job as a wife, but I also love my life as a student, an after-school care teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a nursery worker, and a children's church teacher. While I do have a lot going on, I'm so excited about learning many skills that I can use in my classroom to ensure my students have the best learning experience possible.
          I wondered how I was going to relate our orientation to the NCTCS. After reading over them again, I realized that it was right there in front of me. Standard 3 is content and curriculum expertise. Seeing all the things we're going to learn are preparing us to become experts not only in math, reading, science, and social studies, but also in being teachers. Being a teacher is not just about teaching the content, it's about being an expert in knowing our students and seeing how they learn. Also, reflecting on our orientation connects directly to Standard 5 which is reflection. Reflection is a huge key to success in our classroom. If we don't reflect on what we taught and how our students learned the topic, then we didn't see the real point in teaching.
           Many connections were made and information was taught just by watching these simple videos. I made connections on how I can introduce different topics to my students, just like Dr. Clark did to us. I also learned so much about what our class was going to be like.
           My learning from just this one class will be used in my future classroom because I feel I've learned so much about myself. Ultimately, I have to love myself before I can even try to love all my students. Watching all these videos didn't intimidate me like they would have in the past. I'm excited for this semester and for MY future classroom!

Culture in the Classroom

          Our first learning experience in EDUC 350 was about culture in the classroom. I think this is a very interesting topic to begin class with because it's a topic that it not often brought up. However, culture differences are beginning to be a difficult topic in our country. I'm glad to be learning about how to handle these in my classroom so that all my students feel loved and respected.
          After our brief conversation about diversity in our first class, I came home and researched culture in the classroom. I found an article, https://www.tolerance.org/culture-classroom online that talked about students and how they feel about their teachers in their classroom. Many students were feeling that their teachers wanted to care what was going on in their life, but they couldn't because teachers didn't take the time to dig deep into what the student has gone through and his/her past experiences. The article talks about how much culture really matters in the classroom.
          These learning experiences relate to the second NCTCS which is respectful educational environments. This standard ensures that the diverse population of students have a respectful and safe learning environment. This relates to culture in the classroom because as teachers we will see many different cultural differences and we have to adapt to these and provide the best experience for all of our students.
          Connections that were made during this learning experience were that I see different cultures even in after-school care. I have students that talk a certain way, act a certain way, etc. We realize these things and see the students that love to help others and know we can rely on them if we need something done. We also have the students who need help in everything they do, mostly because that's probably how their situation is at home; everything is done for them. All of these are cultural differences and how they are growing up.
          I have learned that culture in my classroom is very much like diversity. I am going to see a wide range of things in my classroom. I will have students from all sorts of backgrounds and students who have grown up in various home situations. It's my job as their teacher to ensure that I care about their culture and I will do everything in my power to make their learning environment comfortable.
          In my future classroom, I will learn as much as possible about my students. I want to know where they came from, where they are now, and where they are going. I want them to know that their life and culture is important. I will show my students how important their culture is by doing different history lessons about where a student is from. This will peak the student's interest and also allows other students to appreciate their fellow classmates' culture.