Final Blog

This is in response to Mrs. Stevens blog.

     Two years well spent. Two years of frustration, tears, flashes of anger, disappointment and a heavy heart. Two years knowing the most beautiful kids I've ever encountered. Two years of pure amazement when a child teaches me more than I've taught them. I've learned kindness, perseverance, strength, honesty, and have gained a satirical sense of humor along the way. Two different school, two different grades, two different subjects, three different classes, three different experiences. But one thing remained the same through them all; love.
     My sixth grade kids were awesome. I found myself in a new school, with a group of brilliant Pre-Ap kids eager to learn, but not so eager to do their work. It was like pulling teeth trying to get all their papers back. But, of course, the lowest grade of the class would be about a ninety. I remember a girl crying at her desk because she made a 93 on a test, that I had taken and found slightly challenging. She cried in disappointment and begged Mrs. Kempe to let her retest. They were very self disciplined and there were very rare moments when someone spoke out of turn. Whether that was because of class etiquette or fear of Mrs.Kempe, I'm not quite sure. Those kids taught me to have pride in my work, and the importance of teamwork.
     My senior year I found myself torn between two classrooms, a situation I first found slightly annoying. In Mrs. Terry's class I found personalities. BIG personalities. I found students extremely  unlike my kids from the previous year. These students were rowdy, disrespectful, fidgety and completely wild. After a few days of warming up, there were a few moments that I had to take charge and straighten them out. There was one time that out of frustration I told a child, "I'm going to staple you to the wall if you don't sit down". I wouldn't have actually done it... but they didn't know that. I also found that these kids were SO interested in my personal life. "What did you do after school? Do you have a boyfriend? Why not? What's your best friends name? What's your favorite color? What do you mean you don't know? Do you have any pets? Why? Why not? Why? Why? WHY?" I'm surprised they never asked me my social security number and shoe size! But I loved those children. They taught me the meaning of fun and showed me the importance of personal connections with the kids you teach.

     Then... Mrs. Bemrick's kiddos. The other teachers referred to her class as the "hell raisers". Which, I quickly learned, was a very fitting name for my new students. Everyone was so loud! There was thirty two kids in that class, the majority being boys...boys that were all friends... best friends. The class was a mess! There were the few that would be reprimanded daily, and sent the office weekly. But I promise you, those kids had heart. My favorite experiences with the class was towards the end of my internship when we were reading "The Outsiders" by S.E Hinton. They were in love. It's a book that any kid can relate to. So may of my children come from broken homes, have experienced gang violence, or just know the feeling of loneliness. I think reading their raw emotions on a page, gave them new hope. They were so concerned about Ponyboy and Johnny when they were on the run. They were curious as to why Darry was so hard. They laughed at Sodapop's jokes and were entranced in the fight scenes. A sense of foreboding came when Johnny laid in the hospital, and there were many angry outbursts from the class when Johnny died. One student even refused to continue reading, yelling "That's not fair, Miss!" I watched them come alive, and their journal responses to the book were at least two times longer and more depth that their previous ones. They were learning! Though my kids acting like little hoodrats through the year, I found myself tearing up when the surprised me with a going-away party on my last day, and reading each of their notes they wrote me. My favorite one was when my student, Demond, wrote: "Thank you for everything you taught me. You helped me believe in myself and encouraged me everyday in class. Don't forget me!" 
   
     The Education and Training internship reinforced my calling as a teacher. It's not going to be easy from this point on. But I am excited to later have a classroom of my own, and see my kids everyday!

Part Two

GUIDELINES:

1. Dress Code:

All interns will maintain a dignified and respectable image in their field site schools. Mandatory dress code will be enforced throughout the school year. It is your responsibility as interns to keep Education and Trainings good name intact. If you wear inappropriate clothing to your field sites, it runs the risk of disciplinary action and gives our program a bad look. Each intern is responsible for the other. Interns are expected to keep each other in line. If an intern sees another peer out of dress code they are to inform me through text, email, phone call or whatever means necessary. This is not snitching. This is maintaining our reputation in site schools. But remember, it may be you next time. In this class, we go by the motto "All for one and one for all".       

a) What you can wear:

The Education and Training shirts you bought/ received at the beginning of the school year.

Education and Training badge

Pants with no holes or stains (Doesn't matter what kind. Flared, skinny, dark wash, light wash, white, tan, blue, black, whatever..

          

What you cannot wear:

Street shirts. (Tshirts, school shirts, tank tops, tube tops, paper sack, loincloth, ect.)

Holey Pants. (This is not church, we don't care how "holey" you are.)

Obscene or loud jewelry.

        

  Ladies, let's talk makeup.          

A little goes a long way. Especially in a classroom environment. We wouldn't want little Sally to fail a test because she couldn't stop looking at your blue sparkly eyeshadow, would we? Neutrals are good, avoid bright and loud colors.            

Gentlemen, how's that peach fuzz comin' along?          

Let's keep it trimmed, fellas. We don't want you looking like a Duck Dynasty member (even though that would be pretty cool). Shave daily. Shower daily. Wear deodorant daily. Need I go on?

                           

  b) DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS:         

Lame, I know. I will keep a record of every dress code violation. As I have given many warnings about how imperative your look is, I will not be giving warnings once you are actually out in your schools.               

First violation: 

You will be pulled from your site school class the following day. You will be required to notify your mentor teacher of the reason of your absence through e-mail, in which I will read and check off. For the continuation of the class period you will do book work, that I will take as a grade.        

 

Second Violation: 

Same consequences as the first. This time there will be an additional assignment and a phone call to your parents as well. A two page essay over how appearance can change the way others (i.e teacher, bosses, ect.) see you. If you do not finish it in class, it is homework. Yes, children. Homework. What a novel idea.         

Third Violation: 

You're getting brave aren't you, little grasshopper? You are suspended from your site school for one week. You will have three essays, one for each day you miss, on top of each bookwork assignment you receive. These will all be due Friday at the beginning of class.         

Fourth and Up Violations: 

You are now permanently suspended from the Education and Training class for the school year. Don't let the door hit you on the way out, kiddo.

Any questions?

Part One

TEKS:

b)  Knowledge and skills.

(1)  Reading/Fluency. Students read grade-level text with fluency and comprehension. Students are expected to adjust fluency when reading aloud grade-level text based on the reading purpose and the nature of the text.

(2)  Reading/Vocabulary Development. Students understand new vocabulary and use it when reading and writing. Students are expected to:

(A)  determine the meaning of grade-level academic English words derived from Latin, Greek, or other linguistic roots and affixes;

(B)  use context (within a sentence and in larger sections of text) to determine or clarify the meaning of unfamiliar or ambiguous words;

(C)  complete analogies that describe part to whole or whole to part;

(D)  identify the meaning of foreign words commonly used in written English with emphasis on Latin and Greek words (e.g., habeus corpus, e pluribus unum, bona fide, nemesis); and

(E)  use a dictionary, a glossary, or a thesaurus (printed or electronic) to determine the meanings, syllabication, pronunciations, alternate word choices, and parts of speech of words.

This is a game from vocabulary.com. The game is a phrase match with latin terms that we study throughout the year. The goal for the students is to become very familiar with the words and their meanings, and know them at the drop of the hat. 

Tears... So. Many. Tears. (Animoto Post)

Here is my end of the year animo to for the 2012-2013 school year!!

Parents.

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog....

     To become a teacher, you must seek further education after the mandatory twelve years of schooling. Once you've been accepted to a college, you must register for your classes, pay thousands of dollars for your schooling, pass a few dozen classes, tests, and exams. You must do that for four years. Eight semesters. 216 weeks. 1,460 days. It's a job in which others expect only professionalism, but none is given in return. Teachers should be treated like most people treat surgeons. We are experts in our craft. We've trained for years to try to teach the future generations. But that becomes difficult when we are constantly having to answer minuscule, irrelevant questions from tight-rein parents who doubt our judgment.

     Most parents are very quick to administer discipline to their children when they've done something wrong in their household. If a child pushes his sister in the dining room, he sits in time-out for twenty minutes. If the same child hits a student on the playground, and the teacher calls home, that teacher is accused of naming the child as "violent". We love your kids. We look out for your children. We try to coach and tach your kids not only curriculum, but the basic skills and morals needed later in life. We do not ask for your whole-hearted approval, but we ask for your acceptance and your trust.

     Kids are learning excuses. They're full of them. Excuses for not turning in homework, excuses for bad behavior, excuses for attitudes, excuses for attendance, ect. Parent's need to squash this in the bud. If we instill in our children responsibility and truth in their childhood, those morals and standards will stick with them through adulthood. The repercussions of those negative traits can affect the children in the future. They have the potential to leave everything unfinished, and never fully showcase their potential.


     For example, responsibility in school is something I have always struggled with. This year in my algebra two class, at the end of the six weeks i had twelve missing assignments, 2 missing k-checks, and two missing tests. I don't know what that happened either. It taught me that I cannot slide by the system and I will receive what I put forth.

     Students need to also learn this lesson. The sooner we instill moral codes in them, and have parents back us up as professionals, the more positive results we will see.


 

Kreativity Kountz!

     

There is a man by the name of Sir Ken Robinson. He is a world renown public speaker, advocate of education and a believer in creativity and the resounding impact it can leave on our world. He attended the "TED" Convention, which is a conference where the greatest minds come together and discuss things such as politics, environmental affairs, and education. But most importantly they discuss our future. He presented his speech entitled, "Do Schools Kill Creativity?" Which imposed the question of 'Is education really teaching our kids the necessary information needed to succeed, or merely stifling their already instinctive creativity to do wonderful things?'
    Creatvity is the natural output of the innate sense of self each person contains. Just like the lion is born a predator, each child is born with creativity. Though it may be stifled for some time, a child just like a lion, will exhibit their natural sense of self, when given the opportunity....When the lion is around prey; or when the child is put with a pencil in his hand, on a stage, set to music, or an instrument in his lap. The natural beauty of presenting  yourself exactly how you are. Without limits or restrictions.

     The hierarchy of education and the importance of certain subjects over others, is not adapted to each individual child. Instead, we choose to impose a blanket system of education over the mass of them, and teach them all as if they were exactly the same. Each child has creativity. Each child has potential. We, as an education system, need to instill a sense of individuality in our children that can only be progressed through education... Instead of training our children all the same; and constantly reliving the disappointment of unexpected outcomes. 

     But, the change begins with us. And whether you are an educator or not, you are a teacher. If you are a mother; you are a teacher. If you are a father, banker, construction worker, mechanic, dancer, artist, or actor; you are a teacher. We interact with children everyday. Learning is not something that is learned strictly in the classroom, but it is also learned through observation and everyday learning.
                             

                             To better our future we must first better ourselves.

   

Appearance Counts!

     This is in response to Mrs. Stevens blog on appearance....



APPEARANCE COUNTS

     Yes, it does. It matters in your social life and in your business life. It is the defining line between your success, and your ridicule. For example, Ugly Betty.Yes, though she is a fictional character in a fictional business, following a fictional story line; the message still rings true. When you present yourself in the manner in which you'd like to be treated, then you receive that kind of treatment. Ugly Betty presented herself in an adolescent way, so she was treated as a child and as if she was incompetent in her job.
     

These are a few good examples of professional dress:

And with the good comes the bad....

Storyboard

Here is a copy of my Storyboard and lesson plan.

Here is a link to my lesson plan.  Click here.

Glog Blog

This is a glog I made through edu.glogster.com. This glog explains the steps to creating a controlling idea in a thesis paper, and provides videos, visuals and step by step instructions. This glog is targeted to my 7th grade Comp. class.

Thank you! Enjoy! 


http://s6jko72.edu.glogster.com/taren-holder-7th-grade-english-and-comp-controlling-idea

My Plans for the Future

As the last first semester of my high school career closes, and the beginning of my second semester unravels, I cannot help but think of the road that lies before me. But more importantly, where that road is going to take me. The place where I'm going to end up. I also have to consider how my actions now, dictate whether that road is a road of success or a road of unnoticed potential. Then I think of the things I want to change in myself...

1. I want to change my attitude. Compared to how I once was, I developed the traits of a Negative Nancy. I've created quite a sadistic outlook on life, and tend to often see the glass half empty... or just empty. Because that's how it's gonna end up anyway. I hope that by changing this outlook, I can become happier, and by expecting things to be better, things will become better.

2. I need to start getting on top of this whole college thing. Like seriously, it's about six months away. Six months. And I'm just now applying for FASFA? Yikes. I've kind of set myself up for failure. And I hope by changing this pattern I can set myself up for success instead.

3. I want to make better grades this semester. I need to start turning in my paperwork on time, and staying on task so I'm not hurrying to turn in papers last minute.Hopefully, by making better grades, I can have a more enjoyable second semester.

20 minutes

When I become a teacher, I can make sure that my kids develop a love of reading by reading in class often. I would also choose books that I know they can connect with, and will catch their interest. I'll praise them when they finish books, or when I see that they're becoming passionate about what they're reading.


As an intern teacher, I can MAJORLY see the difference in the student who read versus the students who don't. The students who read have a larger vocabulary, don't stumble during popcorn reading, their writing is more fluid, and they understand classroom material more than the kids who don't.


If I was a parent, to ensure that my child reads, I'd instill a love of learning as soon as possible. Children act by example, so I'd make sure to read in front of them often, and always praise them when they do read. I'd start a library for them, and add higher level reading books as they grow older. We'd read together, and I would make sure that they understand what they're reading, and how it affects our world.


I love reading. It provides an escape from reality, and hooks you into a world different from your own. 


I believe that if we read more in classes, I'd have a higher understanding of those subjects.


When I read, I mostly read mystery books. Just fun, easy, and interesting books. But lately, I've been wanting to challenge myself even in my recreation reading. I recently bought "Emma" by Jane Austen from Barnes and Nobles, and plan to start that book very soon.


I probably have twenty minutes that I could read more, rather than twitter or facebook.


If I could do it all over again, I wouldn't blow off my junior year. I'd buckle down, and do all my work when it was assigned. I would read more as well.

Solutions

     In light of the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary last Friday, the same question echoes through every American's mind: "Why?" Why did this happen? Why did this happen to those kids and educators, who were doing an everyday, normal task... Simply going to school.      

And why is it, that a school is no longer a safe environment for our kids? As an educator, and as a person who adores children, this not only angers me to an extreme extent, but causes me immense heartbreak.      

These children's parents should be planning Christmas mornings, not funerals. Those kids had every right to graduate, get a job, enjoy birthdays, play in the water every summer, find love, and have kids of their own.      

They had every right to see the new year. But they are forever frozen in 2012.      

And for that, there is no justice. There is no peace of mind. There is only the anger, sadness, tears and rage that drives the fire, ensuring this kind of tragedy never happens to another educator, or another child ever again.    

And to do that, we must not forget. 

We cannot forget the slaughter of those twenty innocent  children, and those brave six teachers and educators. We cannot forget the feeling of sheer terror we all felt, when the live coverage of the event flooded every TV station. We cannot forget the images we saw of the neighbors, coworkers, friends, sisters, brothers, mothers and fathers. We cannot forget the sensation when the breathe was knocked out of us, as we heard all twenty-six names of the dead in President Obama's speech. We cannot forget the names of those children. We cannot forget the faces of those children.

We cannot forget
Noah
Emelie
Jack
Jessie
Victoria
Grace
Catherine
Dawn
Mary                                          
Lauren
Olivia
Rachel
Jessica
Ana
Charlotte
Daniel
Josephine
Chase
James
Dylan
Anne
Avielle
Benjamin

Field Trips

     My favorite field trip I went on was when in the third went to the planetarium. We were studying stars, their different patterns, the shapes, and how they line up in the sky. When we went to planetarium we had a presentation that showed us the stars above our head, and the people who worked at the planetarium told us about the different stars that were less known.

     I remember being totally entranced in the show, and loving every second of it. The screen above us made it feel like we were sitting under the stars. And when they'd focus on one star, or constellation, the screen would zoom into it, and it felt like you were in a spaceship flying through space.

     What made this trip so memorable to me was that it a lesson I had never done before. When we had talked about the stars in class, we'd look at pictures in books, or on the internet. But it always felt like we were in the classroom. This gave us a kind of out-of-body experience and made us forget that we were learning, and all we had to enjoy the field trip.

Ethical Dilemma

                    Decision Making

An ethical dilemma is when you are faced with a problem or decision, in which you question your ethics and beliefs. You are stuck between doing what is popular, or doing what you believe is right. An ethical dilemma can be prevented by being very strong in your morals and ethics, and learning that in some situations, there is no grey area. By learning that most things are black and white.

In the ethical dilemma that Mark faced, many different conflicts arose, that would sway what he would do. He wanted to be popular, but not a snitch. He wanted to maintain his social standing, but felt as if Christa was being subject to cruel bullying. He was put in a very awkward and unfair position, and was then faced with a decision he shouldn't have had to made. 

The Facebook page on was private, and in a ideal world the postings shouldnt have had to be monitored. Yes, they have to freedom to post whatever they want. But that does not mean they have the right to degrade a poor girl's reputation for laughs. That's where the morals of the members of the page would have to come into play.

     Often times we all feel the small feeling in our gut to alert us that something isn't quite right. Call it our conscience, call it intuition, call it God; call it whatever you want. But it's that warning, that feeling that something is about to go terribly wrong, and you're caught in the eye of the storm. I have been in this situation many times. Personally, I deal with it in many ways. I ask for guidance, by God or by trusted adults, then I try to slow down the whirlwind of events and problems by slowing down myself; taking a breath, and letting it be.

     If the rest of the community had gained access to the Facebook page with Christa's distorted picture, I think the school should discipline the students who posted and encouraged the photo. Though the students who did nothing, are as wrong as the others, they were not encouraging it. I believe it's a school issue because parents entrust their child's safety with the school. Mental safety, as well as physical safety. The kids who put that in jeopardy should be punished to discontinue copy cat situations in the future.

     When using the internet, we all have responsibility. Think of the amount of young, impressionable children who spend a lot of time on the internet. We need to exercise the correct morals and ethics that we wish the future generations to maintain.

     Mark has many options. He could either...

                      1. Tell the administration of his school.

                      2. Confront the students who posted the picture, and tell them to take it off.

                      3. Make a post himself, about the picture and ask for it to be taken off.

                      4. Ask his parents for guidance.

                      5. Do nothing.

If I was in Mark's shoes, I would confront the students who posted it, and ask them to take it off. I would tell them that it was highly inappropriate and completely unneeded. I would then, give them an ultimatum. If thy did not take it off the Facebook page, I'd go to administration and turn them in.

Lesson Planing 101 Blog

Useful websites for Lesson Planning!

http://havefunteaching.com/tools/lesson-plans/
The link above is a great link to use for many different types of lesson planning, discipline charts, word walls and organization! 

http://www.personal.psu.edu/scs15/idweb/lessonplanning.htm
The link above is a great link for first year teachers because it lays out lesson planning step-by-step, and clears up any confusion the reader may have.

http://www.lessonplans4teachers.com/templates.php
The link above is a awesome link for teachers looking for templates! 


In my experience when I shadowed another intern student, Skype is an awesome tool to use in the classroom. In the theatre class that Apryl DeLarosa was interning in, they were discussing the many type of technical roles you can participate in for a production. She used Skype with a family friend of mine, Brian Stuart, who has his own lighting company, and has worked on many productions. It also came in handy when she Skyped with the theatre director at Richland High, asking him about technical sound, lighting and other things. It's an awesome tool to use, because you don't have to deal with the stress of booking a guest to come in your room, you don't have to schedule a field trip, and your students love the use of technology in the classroom!

Reflection

     In this past year, I've learned many things. Some of the things that I have learned, will escape my mind as quickly as it was taught to me. Some other things, however, will continue on with me throughout life. Some, to help me figure out my budget savings, tell time, or even be able to recite the Preamble to my future children. In my adult life, I will probably never use the Pythagorean Theorem, never have to explain to someone the highlights of JFK's presidency, and never have to explain why molecules react with others. But the things I have learned in Ready Set Teach, will continue on with me forever.
     This year, I've changed. I've changed habits, people I've hung out with, and things about myself. And a lot of that has coined from not only me growing up, but also from Ready Set Teach. I've learned that kids look up to me, and I have to be a role model in and out of the classroom. In the beginning of the year, I was so afraid of making mistakes in front of my kids, looking dumb, and them thinking of me as a joke. Now, I'm not scared to take risks, do things that might be considered a little crazy, and having fun having fun. I am a lot more enthusiastic to become a teacher, mail because of the kids. My kids and I this year have bonded so much. I can't wait to create more life changing relationships with my future students. I brought closure to my students by talking to them about how much they've changed me for the better, and hugging each student and telling them something that was special about them.
     Mrs. Stevens is the best teacher ever. Her beauty, charm and wit surpasses all. I want to be just like her when I grow up. Many people come up and ask me, "Taren, why is Mrs.Stevens so awesome?!", to which I reply, "She just is". Then they ask me, "Taren, how did Mrs.Stevens become so awesome?!", to which I reply, "How did the sun get in the sky? Because it wanted to. Mrs. Stevens wanted to be awesome.... So she was."

My Animoto Video! :)

Better late, then never? :)
My Animoto Video

The High Cost of Education.

     I plan to pay for college by my grandparents, along with as many scholarships and loans as I could possibly recieve. I feel though I have not fully done my best with preparing for college, I have done well. I have not applied for FASFA.

    

Financial Literacy Can Pay-Off!

           


     In my years of being a student in public school, something I have felt that has been greatly missing is a teaching of foreign language at a young age. Studies have shown that children learn language the best at a younger age. But yet, most public schools only offer foreign language opprotunities, as late as 7th grade.
     When asked if I feel capable enough to manage money and finances on my own, my answer would be no. Though I understand the importance of saving money, and being responsible for it, I feel it hasn't been imbedded in my brain.
     I would definitely feel more secure in my future finances if I had taken a class over. It would teach me the right way to spend and save money. While also, keeping the subject in the front of my mind.

Here is an article about one school's ability to make real world connections relevant for students.

What Teachers Really Want Parents to Know.

    
     Teachers need parents to understand that we're not the bad guy. They need to realize that we really do have the child's best interest at heart. We're not the Wicked Witch of the West, and we're not the Big Bad Wolf. We simply look out for students and hope that the short year that we have with them, will teach them not only, what they need to know for the next year, but life lessons for their future.
     They also need to realize that a little correction for students is helpful and creates character. Because, we are simply pushing them in the correct direction. Kids are going to make mistakes. But there comes a time when one must learn from them. And a little help from a teacher, wouldn't hurt.
     A teachers job is to TEACH. Teach them anything we feel necessary for their upmost sucess. Teach them integrity, morals, and above everything else, self-confidence in their work.
     The phrase "Parents as partners rather than prosecutors" means that we, teachers, crave the parents approval and acceptance from them. We are not looking for a fight, but we are looking for the best opprotunity we could ever give our kids. The parents and teachers ARE ON THE SAME SIDE. Both want to see the child suceed in life. Teachers and parents fight the same fight. The fight for the future.

     This article, written by Ron Clark, further explains the diminishing relationship between teachers and their students' parents.