Curriculum planning/development

I look back on my experience as a pre-service teacher and I had a great time teaching and creating lesson plans with different learning models. I created working relationships with students that re-assures me on my career choice. however, in reading the chapters in the text and conversing with my colleagues I realize now that I lack knowledge in the curriculum planning and development stage. I do understand that there will be growth on the job but so many have talked of their working experience with mentor teachers and administrators I can't help but feel overwhelming behind the curve. This will prove not to be just any other class as I can see it will help point me in the right direction.

My Educational Philosophy!

I have a lot of beliefs about learning and how I think education should be run. Far be it for me to suggest I know exactly how things should be, but AI feel that as an educator my voice should be heard as often as it needs to be. I believe every educator should stand up for his/her belief system.
As far as learning, I believe there should be a lot expected of our students. I feel that we don't place enough accountability on the students for THEIR education. Too often an educator is blamed for the failures of students when the students do not allow themselves to be reached at all. Our curriculum should be such that each student should feel stretched in their education in high school. A high school diploma should mean something and making demands on students should not suffer because we are more worried about statistics in testing.
I am sure that my opinions and philosophies will change over the course of this class and the course of my teaching career, as it should. I'm looking forward to the experiences before me!

Wait Time!!!!

This is something my PSMT is very good at. She will wait for what seems like forever until her students figure it out or are simply willing to say what is on their minds. This is a strategy I need to work on. The awkwardness can be tough to deal with but when your students realize you will not answer for them they will step up and be responsible for the questions posed to them. I tend to give up and move on with material and I don't think it is effective. On the second form of wait time I never really thought about it's importance until I purposefully observed whether or not teachers do it. Overall I noticed that most teachers give a good pause before moving on with their own thoughts. This makes the student feel like their comments contributed to the discussion instead of feeling like the teacher couldn't wait to move on.

Does anyone have an experience when they were willing to wait on their students for answers and had a great experience because of it? If so, please share.

Forms of Assessment

I have the privilege of observing/teaching AP and Honors government classes. This can be quite the challenge for assessment. In talking with my teacher she uses multiple choice testing and quizzes to keep them used to the testing they will take part in for college credit and such. There is not much variety taking place and it can be quite dull. If this taught me anything it is this: there can be too much of one thing. As teachers, we really do need to mix it up and make things more interesting for our students and ourselves. Yes, correcting multiple choice testing and scantrons is easy, but it may not be the best way to evaluate what our students really know.

Planning

I haven't posted in a while but fortunately I wrote down some important information my PSMT shared with me about planning. She talked a lot about flexibility and yet being stern and strict when needed. There will be times she said "when your students will do the teaching for each other and it's best to let them go!" She says we are too quick to move on at times and it can ruin learning experiences. I was glad she talked to me about that because I'm the get it done let's move on type of person sometimes and I need to be willing to back off and let things die out naturally. Any thoughts you guys have or want to share would be great.

Overwhelmed!

I like this blogging thing because I feel I can come in here and vent. Anyone else feel a little overwhelmed with it all? If not, please share your secrets with me! I was trying to put together lesson plans for my practicum and soon realized that it is not easy to come up with effective lesson plans in an AP Government class so I switched gears and now I'm teaching an honors class instead. It has amazed me the difference from one class to another. I realize now that you cannot take the same approach from one class to another or that day will be a failure! As an educator you have to learn quickly how to adjust and modify the lesson plans so that each class is getting your very best.

Diversity in a Government Classroom

I am observing classrooms full of honors and AP students in government. Needless to say, it has been quite interesting and we are only in the first month of the school year. I must say that the diversity in the classroom has enhanced the discussions becasue it brings so many different views on the same topic. When I was in government class as a senior we were all the same. There really were no different ideas when it came to controversial topics so the classess just went by and learning the value of differences was never an option. It really is amazing what you hear when these kids are eager to speak up!