2020 Journal EDU 210

Here are journal entry instructions:

In all reflective writing, it is useful to revisit our experiences and to express our thoughts and conclusions
about these experiences in order to use that knowledge in future events. Use your daily log materials to
write each reflection log. Once you’ve written a draft, ask yourself the following questions:
o Am I writing about me? Is it personal?
o Have I used “I” and “me” throughout? (Do not use YOU.)
o Do I explore my feelings?
o Do I provide my insights into the events and experiences?
o DOES MY WRITING GO BEYOND MERE DESCRIPTIONS?
o Do I say what worked, what didn’t work and why?
o Do I say how it could/would be different next time?
o Have I identified my learning?

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Copy and paste the latest Journal entry here:

Journal #7: Although reform is supposed to improve education, what negative impacts
could educational reform have on teachers? Explain your thoughts.
Educational reform might have the most effect on teachers in my opinion. For some
educators, it may take some time to adjust to a new way of teaching. Some may not be
able to grasp the change at all, which is vital in continuing to teach. There may even be
issues with the students and whether or not they are able to adjust. If a school district
was to have an educational reform it would be in favor of the students and how they
could be adjusted. If the student isn’t able to adjust, the educator may have to think of
another way to get them to learn efficiently. Everything really depends on how the
students would feel about change. Their quality of education is what a reform would be
for.

Journal #6: In your mind, how far has education come and where do you see it going?
Name specific events, technology, teaching strategies, etc.
Education is one of the things in history that’s developed the most. It’s come really far,
from Aristotle to Bill Gates, they all got to partake in the development of education
throughout the years. Events like when Universities were established majorly affect how
we do things today and how everything works. Without Universities or colleges, where
would we be? What would we do after high school if we wanted to continue our
education? What I just researched about Aristotle and how he created the first Lyoseum
is also a major event in History. In his day and age, the people didn’t have to think about
understanding what their minds were comprehending about what they were learning and
reading. I don’t exactly know how education will develop in the future but I know that it’s
definitely changing right now because of the pandemic. Educators are finding ways to
teach around this pandemic where they are staying safe at the same time. I have no
doubt that there will be different and new ways in the future that help the kids develop.

Journal #5:
What would be the benefit of adding a special education endorsement to your teaching
degree and how can you do it? (Answer should be more than 3 sentences). Use the
internet to research.
Adding a special education endorsement can have lots of amazing benefits. It definitely
offers a lot more career opportunities not just in the education world but in the outside
world. There are a lot of careers that build on working with kids that have disabilities.
Special education teachers are also always needed. Especially right now there is a very
high demand for them, along with that they have good job security. Teachers also get to
work on emotional and behavioral problems that arise. They really get that connection
with the students while also dealing with classroom management, which can also build a
lot of patience within special ed teachers. To be able to gain a special education teacher
endorsement a person needs to be able to complete a teacher training degree program.
This also requires more fieldwork in classrooms. Typically it depends on what classroom
a person will get placed in.

Journal #4:

Discuss your reflections on the curriculum your teacher works with and the resources available
to your cooperating teacher. Discuss specifically the lessons you are observing and how you
think those are going.

I think my teacher uses the Student Centered curriculum. When she is teaching she
obviously teaches the subject and the things that go with it but she also focuses on what
the student needs and how they learn. Especially this year since some students have
Individual Education Plans and have to be at school everyday, she is trying to figure out
how to teach them one lesson one day and then another lesson another day, she tries to
figure out how she can keep teaching them lessons without repeating some to them.
There are definitely a lot more technology resources available to all teachers this year. A
lot of teachers this year use zoom and canvas a lot more, so they’ve definitely spread out
a little bit more resource based. Recently they’ve started a new unit so she has been
using a lot of visual aid in hopes of getting them to remember terms from their new unit.
They definitely learn new things well but they then have trouble practicing with it.

Journal 3:
(Refer to pp. 34-37 Arranging Experiences) Which of the 4 experiences do you think is most
beneficial and why?

Speaking from personal experience, I think that field trips are the most beneficial. In
elementary school my favorite days were usually the field trip days. Everyone was always
so excited to be able to get out of school for a day and get on the buses to learn. I know
that as a student sometimes you feel a little trapped because you're at school everyday
and you are usually in the same classroom everyday. So getting out and being able to
learn a different way is almost like a relief. Field trips are a good educational experience
because they make learning fun and they make it fun for the kids.

Journal 2B:

A close read is reading with intention, giving enough time for students to read slower, stopping
and looking up words you don’t know. It's the opposite of skimming. You did a close reading on
your assignment Wednesday. Also due Wednesday was your 4 quadrant note taking
assignment. After completing both assignments as a student, reflect on the 2 different teaching
strategies as a teacher, not forgetting what it was like to complete the assignments as a student.
What worked, what didn’t work and why? How could you change either of them? Would you?
Did learning happen over Chapter 1/teaching styles article?

The one idea I find that I'm always coming back to is that everyone has their own
strategy. One of the things you learn is that you need to adapt to your personal
classroom environment in order to have a strategy or style that the students recognize
and learn from. I personally really liked that tip about doing a self-evaluation, because as
a teacher you're not going to use one style all the time. You'll be able to use multiple at a
time and usually it's a mix. Being able to recognize what works for you and the students
is a rewarding moment during the year, especially in your first year of teaching. There
was definitely a lot of learning that came from the teachers style article. There was a lot
of info to think about not only in the classroom but also out of the classroom.

Journal #2 (pg. 23-26)

Describe ways a teacher can participate in professional development and the importance this
has on quality instruction and teaching.
As a teacher, just communicating with others can help a lot. Participating and talking
with others can further develop how to handle situations in the classroom. You are trying
to improve your abilities as a teacher to help the students in your classroom fully
understand. Even though you have your teaching degree and you are no longer in
college doesn't mean that you don't have anything left to learn. Professional
development is kind of sitting you down and teaching you more ways to improve and
learn.

Journal #1 9/10/20
(9/14) Discuss your feelings now that you’re contemplating being “on the other side of the desk.”
What realizations have you already come to regarding teaching as a profession? How do you
believe this course might help you get a real-world look at this possible career?
I think I'm feeling really nervous about how I'm going to handle being in a classroom but
not as an actual student. Teaching isn't something I really thought about until last year,
but I think I was so caught up I didn't realize that there is a lot that comes with being a
teacher. I realize that I'm going to have to be able to get up in front of these kids on my
own one day and not think of it as something I'm really nervous about. This course is a
huge help with helping me realize if I want to be a teacher or not. I'm not just going to be
sitting in and listening to her teach. I need to be able to help the kids understand and
comprehend.