Ch. 7 : Teaching will be difficult

In this chapter it gave a whole lot of good points on what it means to be a "good teacher". Many of them struck a chord with how I view myself and what I hope to be with my students one day.
It focuses on being their friend, having high expectations for myself and the students, genuinely caring about each individual; their strengthens and weaknesses, and consistently doing all I can to make the classroom a place of warm learning.

One phrase stands out the most: Learning is hard work, as is teaching.
By being a flexible teacher, it will entice students to feel clam and reassured that they are capable of completing the work they need to, in order to succeed. If we believe in them, they will believe in themselves. Also with hard work comes the opportunity to apply what they learn to themselves, connecting themselves to their work creates an ongoing and lifelong learning curve which will make them life long learners, instead of just passer-by's.

I'm grateful that the chapter took a moment to say that "yes, teaching is hard" It is hard to connect to the troubling, out right nasty, disrespectful, and rude children. It's hard to get up when you know there is a child that doesn't look up to you and wants everything in the world, besides being in your class. I'm glad that I'm not the only one a bit afraid or daunted by the task ahead of me. With so many different personalities, how it is possible to facilitate to everyone, to make everyone happy? The bottom line and the hardest thing to deal with; you can't. Every teacher just has to make the best of the situation that is presented to them, and do their best to love each child as their own, and create and environment where each student feels apart of a family like unit.
We haven't had the teaching in the past to base how the classroom should run. We have had horrible examples of teachers who simply don't care.
How is there a way to break the mold, change the way students see school?

I have to remember this:
There is no lesson plan, no classroom management strategy, and there is no other person that can build the relationship for me, that I need to create with my children. It will be hard, but worth it. 

Reading through the eyes of others...kind of

We recently had an assignment to peruse through members of our cohort blogs. We were to read and find things we had in common with each other and read the insights they have had in their own readings and reflection on the differentiation class this semester.
I found a common theme within each of them; passion.
Each of one of these individuals are so passionate about the students that they will one day teach. They are incredibly talented women and have such drive to succeed so that they can be the best teacher for the future leaders of America and the world. They look deeply inside to who they are and as such give me strength and a continuing realization that I am in the right field, and I am surrounded by the most fantastic people on the planet.
They each have their own voice, way, motives, and dreams but all have that commonality in wanting what is best for your children and in a few short months, my own children. I am so honored to be apart of them for the next 5 months. It's crazy how time flies and how much can be crammed into our noggins about good teaching, differentiated teaching, and all the other information we have learned. It comes so quickly, but then not quickly enough.
I have learned so much about these individuals based solely on reading their blogs and delving into their thoughts about each other and their future profession.
One thing stands out, passion and differentiation is one way that teachers will always succeed.

Teaching and Tiering

Today we learned about a concept called "Tiering". The best way to describe it is by using a wedding cake or a 3-tiered cake as the centerpiece of the description.
On a 3-tiered wedding cake, all the ingredients are the same; flour, sugar, water, etc. just as our teaching should be the same, but at the same time different, for varying levels of students.

 

 To be able to differentiate effectively we have to "change the flavor" or the way we are teaching groups of students. By doing this, we add a different flavor to each of the tier's, each individually great tasting, but different.
Each student will be able to enjoy their piece because it will be as exciting as the others, but just a different combination of added flavors. They may be learning within the same realm but in the end all the activities/layers will be equally engaging but not equal in activity.
By giving students the opportunity to enjoy their piece of cake or their piece of learning, we are opting out of the risk of students becoming bored or overwhelmed. We will be teaching them in a way that they can aspire to try different layers, but be fully content (and challenged) in the tier they are currently on.
Another thing about the Tiering model is remembering that differentiation is giving the whole cake at once, but giving different portions to different groups of students. And also remembering that fair isn't everyone getting the same thing, it is every student getting what he/she needs. 

Now, cake making needs to happen.
I'm thinking 3-tiers. 

Life Long Learning

Today we had the opportunity of hearing from two established teachers about their use of Morning Meeting in their classroom.
It was wonderful hear that Morning Meeting was at the forefront, successful, in especially aiding students growth with social skills and communication.
They discussed the differences about the use of Morning Meeting in the younger and older grades and some of the things they said I'd like to remember.
They told us that with the younger grades you have to be more direct, precise and understanding of the short attention span these younger children have. When sharing stories they are kept to short sentences or even one word answers to aid the teacher in keeping Morning Meeting to the time it should be and also helping kids be precise with their answers.

I had a thought come to my mind which focused on how life changing Morning Meeting really can be. I think back to the days in my elementary school where I was afraid to be myself and give answers when called on. I feel that Morning Meeting will help bridge those gaps of self confidence for students who are a bit timid and overwhelmed by the idea of answering questions, even simple ones about themselves.

Referring back to the two teachers. They said something that stood out to me which went along the lines of this: "I wasn't as confident as I wanted to be in teaching math or language arts, but I was so set up and prepared for Morning Meeting that it didn't matter. If I was fully prepared and engaged within at least this 20 minutes period of the day, everything else would be ok"
I'd like to echo that comment made by saying this, I am terrified at the prospect of student teaching in these next few weeks. I'm afraid that I won't be fully prepared or be able to remember to do all that has been taught to me. I know that there are others in my cohort who understand concepts much deeper than I do at this point and may be better prepared for this experience. But I also have to remember how far I have come as a teacher and a student of the teaching profession. I know things now, that I had no idea existed, much less would apply to a classroom one day. And I have so many things that will guide me in my experience and continually learning and preparing to teach.

In a way, my own learning is being differentiated by what I know and am continuing to learn. I, myself, as a student am being scaffolded towards being a great teacher. I have to remember, that amidst the teachers of the greats that they had to learn, make mistakes, treat those mistakes as opportunities, and love with all their heart and everything worked out. Lessons may crumble, students may misinterpret, and organization may not be my strong point...yet. As long as I continue to learn, and believe what is being taught, and remember that I am a work in progress, all will be well.

Student teaching will be a learning curve.
Integrating Morning Meeting will be a learning curve.
Being myself in front of students will be a learning curve.

If I am going to expect my students to be life long learners, then I should learn how to by one myself.