Professional Development
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Learning can happen even at times we do not expect. Learning can come from the best, and even the worst of situations. It will be up to me what I take and learn from life experiences. I believe my life-long learning will come from the workshops, speakers, and classes that I choose to attend along my educational journey. These experiences will give me the opportunity to grow in my teaching techniques, content knowledge and classroom management skills. It will be important for me to take time to go to these events regardless of my schedule because it will be a great learning experience and benefit not only me but my future students.
Jonathan Kozol
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
November 7th, 2010
1.5 Hours
“Don’t let it get you down don’t lose you’re joy”, Jonathan Kozol said. Mr. Kozol told us if there is one thing we remember that it’s that. He said we need to smile, have fun, love being in the classroom and enjoy our jobs. I think this is very true. So often we forget why we are doing what we are doing, and stop taking joy and pride in it. I am guilty of this. I counsel a church camp during the summers, and I am over excited to go there for the months leading up. Once I get there and there is a difficult group of boys, I lose my joy. I let myself get stressed, and forget the entire purpose of me being there. Jonathan Kozol told us we have the right to enjoy what we do, and that’s exactly what every teacher should do. He told us to avoid isolating students and that the best schools are inclusive. I again agree strongly with this. Not only are you calling attention to this student that’s isolated, not only are you embarrassing them and making them feel like they are not part of the class but you are making your job harder. By allowing this student to be part of the class, you are allowing them to learn from their classmates, and letting the classmates help the student. Jonathan Kozol had so many wonderful things to say, and many thought provoking ideas. I really took a lot from his speech and hope to be able to apply it to my jobs, camps, and when I become a teacher. I will really focus on enjoying being there, rather than just stressing about everyone’s demands from me as a teacher. I will spend time getting to know the difficult kids, and learning how I can best reach them in my teachings. I will make my classroom a positive, inclusive environment where everyone feels loved, welcomed, and included.
Chandler-Gilbert Community College
November 7th, 2010
1.5 Hours
“Don’t let it get you down don’t lose you’re joy”, Jonathan Kozol said. Mr. Kozol told us if there is one thing we remember that it’s that. He said we need to smile, have fun, love being in the classroom and enjoy our jobs. I think this is very true. So often we forget why we are doing what we are doing, and stop taking joy and pride in it. I am guilty of this. I counsel a church camp during the summers, and I am over excited to go there for the months leading up. Once I get there and there is a difficult group of boys, I lose my joy. I let myself get stressed, and forget the entire purpose of me being there. Jonathan Kozol told us we have the right to enjoy what we do, and that’s exactly what every teacher should do. He told us to avoid isolating students and that the best schools are inclusive. I again agree strongly with this. Not only are you calling attention to this student that’s isolated, not only are you embarrassing them and making them feel like they are not part of the class but you are making your job harder. By allowing this student to be part of the class, you are allowing them to learn from their classmates, and letting the classmates help the student. Jonathan Kozol had so many wonderful things to say, and many thought provoking ideas. I really took a lot from his speech and hope to be able to apply it to my jobs, camps, and when I become a teacher. I will really focus on enjoying being there, rather than just stressing about everyone’s demands from me as a teacher. I will spend time getting to know the difficult kids, and learning how I can best reach them in my teachings. I will make my classroom a positive, inclusive environment where everyone feels loved, welcomed, and included.
Waiting for Superman
Harkins Theaters
October, 13th, 2010
2.0 Hours
“Waiting for Superman” is a movie full of thought provoking ideas. Are all students offered a quality education? Are all teachers held accountable for the students learning? Will America’s Education system ever see the positive turn around it needs? Does anyone care about the students in “drop out” factories? These are just a few of the questions that the movie sparked in my mind. The movie shows a clip where a student enters a classroom and the teacher asks “What are we doing today?” and the students shouts back, “NOTHING!” To me this is unacceptable. No classroom should be run by the students, and as a future teacher, its embarrassing to see that there are those teachers who are fine being paid to sit back/ read, or just ignore the students for 56 minutes. I feel like these teachers are scared of trying to get control of their classroom, and did not establish the respect needed for a classroom to run smoothly in the first place. I don’t think that tenure should be ended when teachers who are no longer doing their jobs, and the majority of their students are failing. No students should have to attend a school where their teachers don’t care. This movie really inspires me to teach in a low income area and push students to do their best, teach them the difference between right and wrong, and believe in them one class at a time.
Harkins Theaters
October, 13th, 2010
2.0 Hours
“Waiting for Superman” is a movie full of thought provoking ideas. Are all students offered a quality education? Are all teachers held accountable for the students learning? Will America’s Education system ever see the positive turn around it needs? Does anyone care about the students in “drop out” factories? These are just a few of the questions that the movie sparked in my mind. The movie shows a clip where a student enters a classroom and the teacher asks “What are we doing today?” and the students shouts back, “NOTHING!” To me this is unacceptable. No classroom should be run by the students, and as a future teacher, its embarrassing to see that there are those teachers who are fine being paid to sit back/ read, or just ignore the students for 56 minutes. I feel like these teachers are scared of trying to get control of their classroom, and did not establish the respect needed for a classroom to run smoothly in the first place. I don’t think that tenure should be ended when teachers who are no longer doing their jobs, and the majority of their students are failing. No students should have to attend a school where their teachers don’t care. This movie really inspires me to teach in a low income area and push students to do their best, teach them the difference between right and wrong, and believe in them one class at a time.