“Pursue Excellence but Remain Fluid” is great advice for any teacher, regardless of where they are in their career. The "pursuit of excellence", a topic discussed in the Cool Cat Teacher Blog, emphasizes some important points with regard to distinction in teaching. The author indicates the importance of remembering what makes an outstanding teacher so we do not lose sight of what is truly important in our pursuit for flawlessness. The author also emphasizes the use of the Socratic method to achieve excellence in the classroom by employing a teaching style that leads with questions.

I agree with the statements that describe excellence in teaching, and I feel the Socratic method will help achieve such excellence. I strongly feel using questions to guide student learning is a great way to encourage active participation from my students. It is also beneficial because students remember what they learn themselves, and they are expected to pay attention during class. As a student myself, I find it easy to drift off mid lecture if I know I’m not going to be called on.

However, part of me as a beginning teacher is reluctant to employ such a technique. What if my students do not respond to my questions? What if I run out of questions? What if my questions are too easy, or what if they embarrass my students who do not know the answers? I hope with experience I can become more accustomed to this method.

I still think teaching with questions is a great method, but it can also be employed on ourselves. By questioning our own abilities, assessing what went wrong and what worked, we can improve our own performance in the classroom and facilitate our students. We can ask ourselves a variety of questions. Which strategies did I employ that were most effective? What could I do to improve on the lesson? Have my students mastered the concepts?

This blog presents some interesting ideas, and I might print out these bulleted points about excellence in teaching so I do not lose sight of what I am really striving for as an educator one day.

*This picture is of PUFF BALL, my sister's cat. It's in honor of the Cool Cat Teacher Blog.

Classroom Control

Have you ever walked into that classroom in which you immediately knew if you misbehaved, you would be in BIG trouble? Maybe my biggest fear is not having this kind of control one day. Now, I don't want to be the "mean" teacher by far, but I think it might be difficult to become a disciplinarian. I have no problem putting students name on the board, taking away recess, etc., but will these things really work? I guess what I really need to assess is what age group I'm dealing with, the effectiveness of discipline in the past, and do the strategies coincide with my beliefs. I am really excited to go to my practicum and see how my teacher orchestrates his classroom. I'll keep you updated on any new tips and tidbits I unveil!

Orientation at DJ Montague

Today I got to meet my mentor teacher and see my practicum site for the first time. The school was amazing; artwork was all over the walls, and kids and teachers were springing with life. The atmosphere was vibrant, contagious, and definitely conducive to learning. I met the librarian and she agreed to let me and the other William and Mary students have access to any of the school's materials, and they reinforced the collaborative nature of this experience. I met my mentor teacher, Mr. Spence, who has a fifth grade classroom. I look forward to working with him and all his students. I am especially excited because the teachers at DJ Montague teach all the subjects, so it will be nice to get exposure to more than one subject before I teach. I begin my first "real" day next Friday, so stay tuned for updates!

Image from: http://www.wjcc.k12.va.us/djm/

Today I have my orientation at my practicum site. I was assigned to DJ Montague Elementary School. I have a fifth grade class with a male teacher named Mr. Spence. I'm so excited to meet the students and see the school system. I always remember my first day of a school as a student, and now I am beginning to see an entirely different perspective. I always thought teachers were so knowledgable and confident, and then I evaluate myself and realize that probably wasn't so. Regardless of my anxieties, I am so excited to begin getting some hands on experience...Wish me luck!

Tech Autobiography Post

I embrace and enthusiastically welcome technology. This doesn't mean I want human interactions to be replaced with robots or anything; I really just love how connected technology has made the world and I am amazed at the wealth of resources at my fingertips.

I have been a computer technician for the past four summers at my home high school (geeky, yes, I know). My boss actually calls me and my two co-workers the "geek squad." I think she got that title from a commercial or something, but I suppose it sometimes fits. But seriously, I don't see myself as a computer geek. I can do basic physical maintenance and repairs on computers (mostly Dell) and I'm pretty confident using Microsoft Office. I am currently working on a pilot program in King William County called Computers Available on Loan for Literacy in which the school provides out of service computers to children from lower socioeconomic status to facilitate learning.

I think I got my first computer in about fifth grade. It was a Tandy Sensation, and I basically used it to play a pretty primitive version of Oregon Trail. There was nothing like the thrill of hunting buffalo, forwarding the river, and stopping to trade from the comfort of my own home! My parents are not exactly computer saavy, so what I learned about computers has been at school, personal exploration, and at work.

I am your average college student, so of course I use my computer (faithfully). I guess I take day to day technologies for granted (like my alarm clock that forces me out of bed every morning). And, of course, I have a nano Ipod! I'm not real into the digital video games and all, but for the most part, I always welcome new technology!

I had different extremes in school with teachers who embraced technology and those that strayed from it. I had one teacher at Governor's School who did all his lessons on powerpoint, which was very engaging. Some of my teachers have used Smartboards, and I took an awesome Synergistics class in middle school where I did my own radio show, lauched a rocket, cooked solar power hot dogs, flew a simulated airplane, built a race car, and so many other cool things! However, I have also had the teachers who struggled with overhead projectors and writing e-mails. Although they too were great teachers, they did not work out of their comfort zone. I think that teachers from when I came through school could choose to either use technology or not, but I think when I beginning teaching, it will be essential to keep my students engaged.

*Image from Free Clipart Pictures: http://www.free-clipart-pictures.net