Chapter 7: Thinking about Teaching and Learning

The book "The Joy of Teaching" gives me a lot of insight on my teaching philosophy. One thing I got from the book was Ralph W. Tyler's approach to teaching. I think that his steps make a lot of sense. I liked how his approach sounded lees scientific than everyone else's approach. Another idea I am going to take from the book is that a teacher should keep in mind how people learn and develop mentally. One idea I did not like in chapter seven was using the philosophy of existentialism in teaching. I feel this philosophy is very inappropriate for a teacher to use. 

Chapter 13: Improving Teachers and Schools, and School Reform

There are a few things I would like to do make my resume stronger and my specified to the teaching profession. I would like to substitute teach so I could be more experienced in dealing with students. I also want to create good contacts with my teachers of my education classes and Practicum so they will be able to give me good recommendations. 

In the first five years of me teaching I would make sure I included technology in the classroom. I would also improve my resume by becoming National Board Certified. I know that this is looked as a very high achievement. I would also attend teaching workshops because they would train me even further on becoming a better teaching.

Things I Need To Know

I read about three important things that UMF Secondary Education majors should know:

• Praxis: I need to know the scores needed on both the Praxis I and II in the state if Maine. But one question I had was if a student gets three or less points below Maine's Praxis I standards, can he or she still take Practicum? I had been told earlier that a person could.

• Practicum: I learned about the different requirements needed for me to take Practicum next fall. I now know that I will have to get a C- or better  in both EDU 101 and SED 125, I needed to get a C or better in English 100, I needed to pass Praxis I, and I need to have a GPA of 2.0 or higher. So far I have finished all of these requirement except for my final grades in EDU and SED but I will find out those grades at the end of this semester. 

• Transfer Major: If I were not already in the Secondary Education major I would have to know the many things needed to transfer into the Secondary Education major. I would need a 2.5 GPA, gotten a C or higher in English 100, I would have already taken and passed Praxis I, and I would need to write an essay on myself.

How do I start thinking like a teacher (instead of as a student)?

I think I am starting to think more like a teacher, especially after reading the "The Joy Of Teaching". The book affected the way I think because it talked about how certain things in education are harder to attain than I had originally thought. I had originally thought English was incorporated in all schools. However, after reading the book I now understand that, especially in the southwestern part of the country, the English language is less prevalent.

However, I still do think like a student for the most part. This is because I have not thought a lot about how I would teach and actually experienced being a teacher. 

Which theories and historical influences should most impact the schools we'd like to have?

I think that it is important to include ESL teachers in all schools and cater to the needs of every student so that all students can  get the best education as possible. I also feel that communication is very important between students and teachers; if communication is not possible then neither is and adequate education. I also agree that each core subject decided by the Committee of Ten are equally important and should be taught as so. 

How can I use knowledge of the learner to be a better teacher?

I can use knowledge of the learner to be a better teacher by using that knowledge in assignments. I feel that it is very important to ask students about what is the best way for them to retain information. Each student learns differently and because of this I will have to adjust assignments. I will also be aware of students who are not as proficient in the English language because it will make class harder for them. 

How Can I Be Successful At UMF?

I can be successful at UMF by communicating with my teachers. I know that it is important to keep up with my assignments. I also know that I will need to get help when it is needed. I try to check the syllabus of each of my classes because some teachers do not talk about the assignments due for the next class. However, as I have said before, communicating with my teachers is the most important thing is to communicate with my teachers. 

How Do I Become A Teacher?

To become a teacher in the state of Maine I will have to become certified. Being certified means that I will need to take a serious of tests and pass different courses important in secondary education English. I have already taken Praxis I and passed in all three subjects on the tests. I have been told by previous UMF students that Practicum is very important because some students learn during Practicum that they do not want to teach the age group they did Practicum with. 

Educational Shifts

• Native American Schools-- Jordan 
• Emma Hart Willard-- Corinne
• The Progressive Movement-- Kim
• Home schooling Movement-- Ted
• Mendez Vs. Westminister-- Amber
• Horace Mann-- Andrew

Chapter 3: Families and Communities

English proficiency is an attainable goal for all students. However, this is only possible if there are enough ESL teachers in all of the schools across the country. The ESL teachers would obviously be proficient in many different languages. I think that the ESL teachers in the southwestern part of the USA should be especially proficient in Spanish because of the increased amount of students who speak Spanish as their primary language. The use of ESL teachers is important because, as the reading told us, a student who speaks another language as his or primary language deserves the same education as a student who speaks English as his or her primary language. I also feel that it is important to make sure the family is supportive of the child learning English so he or she can get a better education. I believe this because the chapter says that the family plays a large role in the students education.

Chapter 5: The History of Schools in the United States

There have been many debates regarding schooling in the past. The debates include whether education should be offered to everyone or just children with families who can  afford to pay for it. Along with this debate came another on whether higher and lower class students  should take the same classes. Another debate was whether children should go to school at all or should they stay home and instead be taught religious values. As decades went by the need for junior high schools increased and became another problem.This various problems and debates made the schools are today and because problems, debates and laws are constantly changing so are schools.

Each problem has shaped how the educational system is today. When reading chapter five in "The Joy Of Teaching"  we learn that the teaching system has not always included public children. Because of this expansion into the public the way schools are held changed immensely. Allowing children from the public attend school caused the debates about what children should be taught. Because of this change schools are required to have their students to have certain amounts of history, math and english credits. The debates raised in the subject of education are continuing on today and will continue into the future.