Thursday, November 4, 2010
Service Reflection #5
I've enjoyed my service so far, but I'd be lying if I didnt say it hasnt been a bit discouraging at times. The main reason for this is that sometimes I am finding it hard to help the students the way i want to because of my stutter. I try not to think about it and keep things in perspective but its just frustrating sometimes. I dont know what role it will play if i become a teacher. I guess Ill just do my best to remain open to the possibilities and hope things become clear.
SL Blog 4
Today the reflection in the SL booklet asked me if i could change one thing about my site what it would be, and I'd have to say that in the future I would be sure to set the JCU students up with teachers who are actually going to allow them to interact with the students.
There are at least two people in my group who have said that they do practically nothing every week and I think thats a shame. We are not there to observe these teachers, were there to help them out by working with some of the students who might need a little more attention or guidance. Ms Javitch does such a great job managing her class and she has a system set up where I read with about four students a day now, and I really do feel like the students are getting a lot out of it-and so am I. Its a shame that some of the other JCU volunteers arent having the same experience.
There are at least two people in my group who have said that they do practically nothing every week and I think thats a shame. We are not there to observe these teachers, were there to help them out by working with some of the students who might need a little more attention or guidance. Ms Javitch does such a great job managing her class and she has a system set up where I read with about four students a day now, and I really do feel like the students are getting a lot out of it-and so am I. Its a shame that some of the other JCU volunteers arent having the same experience.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Service Reflection #3
Today honestly I didnt get a lot out of my experience at IGS. Ms Javitch's class was out on a field trip and unfortunately I couldnt come along since I would have had to miss one of my classes, so instead I went to watch a few gym classes. I say "watch," because thats really all I was able to do. A group of 6-8th graders were playing what was basically a "World Cup" like soccer tournament.
It was interesting to observe older children as opposed to the young aged kids I'm used to. For the most part they policed themselves with the rules of soccer, but there were a couple times when a few kids took cheap shots at each other. One time I called over to them to make them stop and the few other times the teacher told them to both go over on the sideline and wait until they were ready to go back in. This is so different in a disciplinary sense from what I experienced as a student, and Im amazed at how effective it has proven.
It was interesting to observe older children as opposed to the young aged kids I'm used to. For the most part they policed themselves with the rules of soccer, but there were a couple times when a few kids took cheap shots at each other. One time I called over to them to make them stop and the few other times the teacher told them to both go over on the sideline and wait until they were ready to go back in. This is so different in a disciplinary sense from what I experienced as a student, and Im amazed at how effective it has proven.
Service Reflection #2
Today when I walked in Ms Javitch excitedly told me that there was a boy who had asked to read with me. She was excited because apparently recently he had been having some trouble and she was confident that I could help.
She then introduced me to Hakeem, and he immediately ushered me out into the hall so we could start reading as soon as possible. He pulled out the book Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, and I smiled and told him I used to read that book when I was his age, too. This only seemed to add to his excitement as he began reading. Right away I was floored by how well he could read. After reading for a while he asked me to read some too, and we continued this for a while. Then after this he took out a piece of paper to write a summary of what he read and after asking me if it was okay, he began to write in cursive.
Even though he was having a hard time, Hakeem was so excited to have me help him and even told me that I would make a great teacher someday.
I was really encouraged by Hakeem's willingness to really learn how to write in cursive correctly, even though he was not as good at it as he was at other things such as reading.
She then introduced me to Hakeem, and he immediately ushered me out into the hall so we could start reading as soon as possible. He pulled out the book Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, and I smiled and told him I used to read that book when I was his age, too. This only seemed to add to his excitement as he began reading. Right away I was floored by how well he could read. After reading for a while he asked me to read some too, and we continued this for a while. Then after this he took out a piece of paper to write a summary of what he read and after asking me if it was okay, he began to write in cursive.
Even though he was having a hard time, Hakeem was so excited to have me help him and even told me that I would make a great teacher someday.
I was really encouraged by Hakeem's willingness to really learn how to write in cursive correctly, even though he was not as good at it as he was at other things such as reading.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Blog 6
Im happy to say that all while I read through chapter 9 I continually thought about my high school, Walsh Jesuit in Cuyahoga Falls.
This is why I brought a T Shirt from my freshman year at Walsh. On the back of the shirt is the word TEAM, and underneath it; "Together Everyone Achieves More."
While this shirt was only given to the freshman football players, its message really was true for the whole school. Walsh stressed "high academic quality as well as social justice". Over the past four years 99% of Walsh grads have gone on to college, with literally one solitary exception. The school is also known in the community for its stress on social justice, with its programs reaching out to the homeless in Akron and its many service trips around the world.
At Walsh I also met many teachers and other faculty members who were genuinely concerned with how my and my fellow students' educations were progressing, and I cannot tell you how many times I met with teachers after school to work on projects or just to talk about life. In the books words, I guess you could say they did their best to provide "broad and deep access to learning" to their students.
Perhaps the most reassuring and encouraging thing that I saw as a student was how many of the teachers got along so well and frequently helped each other out in classes. I ended up getting to know very well many teachers I never had for class because of their involvement in other teachers' classes I was already in. I always felt like the adults there were there to help me learn, and as a result I will forever feel indebted to Walsh Jesuit High School.
This is why I brought a T Shirt from my freshman year at Walsh. On the back of the shirt is the word TEAM, and underneath it; "Together Everyone Achieves More."
While this shirt was only given to the freshman football players, its message really was true for the whole school. Walsh stressed "high academic quality as well as social justice". Over the past four years 99% of Walsh grads have gone on to college, with literally one solitary exception. The school is also known in the community for its stress on social justice, with its programs reaching out to the homeless in Akron and its many service trips around the world.
At Walsh I also met many teachers and other faculty members who were genuinely concerned with how my and my fellow students' educations were progressing, and I cannot tell you how many times I met with teachers after school to work on projects or just to talk about life. In the books words, I guess you could say they did their best to provide "broad and deep access to learning" to their students.
Perhaps the most reassuring and encouraging thing that I saw as a student was how many of the teachers got along so well and frequently helped each other out in classes. I ended up getting to know very well many teachers I never had for class because of their involvement in other teachers' classes I was already in. I always felt like the adults there were there to help me learn, and as a result I will forever feel indebted to Walsh Jesuit High School.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Blog 4
(Timeline Entry)
1845- Large scale testing in Boston changed from being oral to written. This idea would come obviously come to play an enormous role in my education. All my life I, like me peers, have been subjected to testing in this form and it has shaped the way that I study information to this day. Knowing how I am going to be tested on information has taught me the most effective way or studying, where being "effective" means scoring well on a written test. Actually now that I think about it, my experience with testing will more than likely impact the kind of teacher I become, whether I think I can improve a little on the concept or style of written tests or not.
I think it will be important for our writing group to stress what we believe are the best ideas in each other's papers first and foremost so we can know where our strengths are. Then we can get into the weaker areas where more information could be needed, or where a new idea might need to be introduced. The bottom line is i think we should offer suggestions of how to make things better and not only point out what we don't like.
1845- Large scale testing in Boston changed from being oral to written. This idea would come obviously come to play an enormous role in my education. All my life I, like me peers, have been subjected to testing in this form and it has shaped the way that I study information to this day. Knowing how I am going to be tested on information has taught me the most effective way or studying, where being "effective" means scoring well on a written test. Actually now that I think about it, my experience with testing will more than likely impact the kind of teacher I become, whether I think I can improve a little on the concept or style of written tests or not.
I think it will be important for our writing group to stress what we believe are the best ideas in each other's papers first and foremost so we can know where our strengths are. Then we can get into the weaker areas where more information could be needed, or where a new idea might need to be introduced. The bottom line is i think we should offer suggestions of how to make things better and not only point out what we don't like.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Timeline 2
Ill probably include Aristotle. I looked some information up on him and heres the basic gist:
-Considered habit and reason to be equally important
-Thought Repetition was key
-Balance of theoretical and practical aspects of information taught
-Mentioned importance of play
-Goal was to produce good and virtuous people
Also Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile, Or On Education
-Education based upon helping "natural man" survive "corrupt society"
-"Rousseau acknowledges that every society “must choose between making a man or a citizen”[9] and that the best “social institutions are those that best know how to denature man, to take his absolute existence from him in order to give him a relative one and transport the I into the common unity."
-While this sounds a bit extreme, it could be said that this concept is very much in line with the Jesuit ideal of solidarity.
-Considered habit and reason to be equally important
-Thought Repetition was key
-Balance of theoretical and practical aspects of information taught
-Mentioned importance of play
-Goal was to produce good and virtuous people
Also Jean-Jacques Rousseau's Emile, Or On Education
-Education based upon helping "natural man" survive "corrupt society"
-"Rousseau acknowledges that every society “must choose between making a man or a citizen”[9] and that the best “social institutions are those that best know how to denature man, to take his absolute existence from him in order to give him a relative one and transport the I into the common unity."
-While this sounds a bit extreme, it could be said that this concept is very much in line with the Jesuit ideal of solidarity.
Service Reflection #1
At service last week I didnt get a lot of time to spend with the kids but it was cool nonetheless. The teacher was very kind and went to great lengths to explain to me how she ran her classroom. The only one on one interaction was with a Rayanna, a girl of probably 7 or 8. The tacher asked Rayanna to come up to the front of the room where I was and then asked her take me over to the book shelf to get a book or two, suggesting a soccer one since she knew Rayanna liked soccer (which impressed me.) After we grabbed two books we picked out a corner and she started to read. She had trouble with some words but when I covered up the word with my finger and then revealed it bit by bit and had her sound out each section alone before putting them together she was able to read almost every word. Just this little bit was rewarding for me. No word on how it was for Rayanna.
I guess what stuck out the most for me was, again, the fact that the teacher knew Rayanna liked soccer. When I fantasize about teaching, trying to get to know the students is always something I think about. This teacher obviously has succeeded in this. Hopefully I can pick some ideas up from her.
I guess what stuck out the most for me was, again, the fact that the teacher knew Rayanna liked soccer. When I fantasize about teaching, trying to get to know the students is always something I think about. This teacher obviously has succeeded in this. Hopefully I can pick some ideas up from her.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Weblog 3
Do you agree that teachers' and students' lives should be central to the teacher education curriculum?
Do you think service is an important part of learning?
How much do you think your knowledge of diversity has been shaped by your upbringing?
Has your understanding of diversity ever been changed by a service experience?
Do you have trouble venturing out of your comfort zone into the 'unfamiliar.'
Do you think service is an important part of learning?
How much do you think your knowledge of diversity has been shaped by your upbringing?
Has your understanding of diversity ever been changed by a service experience?
Do you have trouble venturing out of your comfort zone into the 'unfamiliar.'
Friday, September 24, 2010
Weblog 2
From what i have read online and from what i was told at my orientation meeting, it sounds like my site is a place for people of varying grade levels to come and be grouped according to their comprehension level. I am looking forward to seeing just what Ill be doing, because I've heard its up to the teacher I will be assisting the amount of contact I will have with the actual students. Also I hope, as always, that I can function adequately despite my stutter.
I suppose if i wanted to know what made this site a site, I would ask myself, am I coming into contact with people who could benefit from my experience as a student/person? Are there opportunities for me to learn from the people I am working with? Is the service I am doing benefiting the community as a whole?
I suppose if i wanted to know what made this site a site, I would ask myself, am I coming into contact with people who could benefit from my experience as a student/person? Are there opportunities for me to learn from the people I am working with? Is the service I am doing benefiting the community as a whole?
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Preliminary Timeline Ideas
For the timeline i definitely want to mention my first grade teacher Mrs Gallentine, my second grade teacher Mrs Miller, my 8th grade history teacher Mr Harold, my football coach Mr Lynch, and my senior government teacher Mr Sistec. Once i understand the assignment a little more I'm sure I'll want to incorporate something to do with the establishment of Christianity and more specifically the Catholic faith, as religion plays a substantial role in my life and in the reason I want to teach.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Weblog 1
1) Joe Fisher, Akron Ohio, Jfish867@roadrunner.com
2) Joe
3) High School History
4) I like to play basketball and watch NFL football. My favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
5) I do best in classes that are discussion based.
6) I try to participate as often as i can, I would say im pretty good at getting my work done on time, If im not interested in material im working on or if I dont particularly like the way it is being presented to me I have a tendency to tune it out, and I ask fellow classmates first if i dont understand something.
7) I have a stutter.
8) My 8th grade history teacher was one of the best teachers I ever had. Partly because he was excellent at presenting the material, but also because he genuinely cared about the students. As a result I tried especially hard to do well in his class because I didn't want to let him down.
9) It seems theres little incentive for schools to hire better education or qualified teachers as opposed to those who are cheaper to hire.
10) We as a class should talk to each other about any fears/anxieties/hopes we have about our prospective teaching careers, b) we should study relevant, down-to-earth ways of better communicating with students, c) we should be an open and non judgmental class thats open to discussion, d) and avoid too much grand, idealistic theory that tends to make people unable to grasp the material.
11) Will this class be more discussion or lecture based? Are we planning on having different people in the field of education come in and share their experiences?
2) Joe
3) High School History
4) I like to play basketball and watch NFL football. My favorite team is the Pittsburgh Steelers.
5) I do best in classes that are discussion based.
6) I try to participate as often as i can, I would say im pretty good at getting my work done on time, If im not interested in material im working on or if I dont particularly like the way it is being presented to me I have a tendency to tune it out, and I ask fellow classmates first if i dont understand something.
7) I have a stutter.
8) My 8th grade history teacher was one of the best teachers I ever had. Partly because he was excellent at presenting the material, but also because he genuinely cared about the students. As a result I tried especially hard to do well in his class because I didn't want to let him down.
9) It seems theres little incentive for schools to hire better education or qualified teachers as opposed to those who are cheaper to hire.
10) We as a class should talk to each other about any fears/anxieties/hopes we have about our prospective teaching careers, b) we should study relevant, down-to-earth ways of better communicating with students, c) we should be an open and non judgmental class thats open to discussion, d) and avoid too much grand, idealistic theory that tends to make people unable to grasp the material.
11) Will this class be more discussion or lecture based? Are we planning on having different people in the field of education come in and share their experiences?
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