...[pic] Reasons for Becoming a Teacher How has education evolved in my lifetime? I think the biggest change in education since I was in school has got to be technology. Back when I was in school we didn’t have things like high tech calculators and computers and Interactive Smart Boards. We did all our work by hand using pencils, pens and paper. When I was in elementary school the basic core skills of reading, writing, and math were taught by hand, we had to do all our reading in books, we didn’t have the Smart Boards like they do today where teachers can load a book on the screen and each student can read together or individually to the other students. Anything that had to do with writing was done by hand on paper unlike today where students can use computers to write their essays. Math was all done by hand on paper long division was a process that was broken down step by step, not using calculators or computers to find the answers. We did our multiplication tables by hand until we had them memorized. Things were simpler back to a point and to a point they are easier now, everything that we had to research for essays in high school was done at the library. We had to learn to use the Dewey Decimal System to find the books we needed. Today most all research is done on the computer, I find that this aspect of research is much easier for students including myself, being a student again. I don’t think that if things were like they...
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...be when I grew up. Some of my friends were fantasizing about becoming princesses or astronauts but I was a lot more realistic. There are many teachers in my family including my Grandfather, who taught for over fifty years. However, that’s not the reason I was headed in that direction. I was focused on a career in education because I had the best second grade teacher and I wanted to be just like her. You see I was a shy little girl; I mean really shy. I was afraid to talk to anyone except my mom and dad. My parents tried everything, but I just wouldn’t speak above a scared whisper. My teachers in kindergarten and first grade tried to change me but nothing worked. Then I walked into my second grade class and met Mrs. Bernstein. She made it very clear, from that very first day, that I was going to fully participate in her class and there was just no way around it. There was just something about her that was different then my other teachers, something inspirational that got my attention and made me feel comfortable. From that moment on, I started to change. I began to speak in school and around family and friends. At first, very quietly then my volume got...
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...Reasons for Becoming a Teacher Karen Armstrong EDU/301 – Foundations of Education January 18, 2015 Keith Flowers The opportunity of becoming a teacher has become a long time endeavor of mine ever since I was a child. To teach and inspire children gives me such a self-gratification that it wouldn’t be just a job. It is a position that inspires me to see social and physical development, to see each child as an individual, and to see each child blossom into an educated young man or woman. The thought of getting paid for a job I would do for free is more than self-gratifying to me. I do these things as a mother and get joy from helping my children get through the educational and social obstacles they encounter daily. Teaching the young minds of our country would be a privilege and I would be honored to paving these children’s minds into our future. During the past several years I have seen so many differences in education from when I was in elementary school. The first example I can think of is parent involvement within the school. Over thirty years ago, students did not see parents involved within the school. One would only see a parent(s) when a student was in trouble due to behavior or the student needed to go home because they were ill. The involvement today is much different. Parents are encouraged to volunteer for school parties, field trips, join the PTO/PTA, help out with fundraisers, and help in the classroom. As parents are teaming up with their student’s...
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...There are two pieces of advice that I received that helped me to become a better teacher. This advice included - have fun with teaching and don’t be afraid to try new things. My senior teacher told me not take things so seriously. Instead, have fun with teaching. As a new teacher, I had a rigid concern for responsibility. I frequently put too much pressure on myself to do the right thing and set the best example. As a result, I was excellent at disseminating information, but I was not a lot of fun. I guess that I somehow believed that “being the teacher” and truly enjoying the job were mutually exclusive. Although I was a person who easily made friends and around whom people felt comfortable, I quickly realized that the students were intimidated by me. This was not the kind of atmosphere that I wanted in my classroom. However, I thought that I would “lose control” if I didn’t keep everyone on task at all times. After many role play activities and what if... scenarios with my senior teacher, I learned strategies to help the students to be comfortable and expressive in their classroom while maintaining order rather than control. This lesson served me well during my years of teaching and is second nature now. The second piece of advice was an extension of the first. Once I learned to relax and enjoy my time with the students, I became free to employ different teaching techniques and use everyone and everything available to me to help create an atmosphere conducive to risk taking...
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...I can’t even remember all the times I’ve been asked the question: “Why would you want to be a teacher?” I hear all about how little teachers are paid, and how people “just don’t know how you do it.” I have had people treat me like they don’t really think preschool teachers are teachers, rather, over-paid babysitters. I wrote a blog post on it once, so did my friend, Kristi Sauer. I’ve written about why preschool is important. What I haven’t written about, was why I choose to be a preschool teacher, or more like, why I stay a preschool teacher. It doesn’t pay great, especially if you are working in a child care setting. Working for a school district pays significantly better, but still doesn’t offer some of the benefits that “regular” teachers get (such as health care, pay stretched out over the summer, etc.). Those things don’t matter so much to me. Yes, this has led to some huge financial struggles over the years, but to me, doing what I love is more important. There have been a couple of amazing opportunities over the years that I have passed up on. The pay on said positions was much higher, but they weren’t teaching jobs. A Director position wasn’t hands on enough for me… My passion is to teach young children. The highlights of my days at work are when I see a child’s eyes light up when they learn/try something new. When they suddenly are able to make the letters in their name, or do something they weren’t previously able to do, I get as excited as they do. When a...
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...of Education Reflective Essay #1 The most important reason why I want to become an Elementary school teacher is because of the students. I have always loved being around young children. Especially once they start attending school. I love seeing how differently kids learn. I adore watching kids learn and get excited about learning new things. When I babysit this one boy, he is 7 years old, one of the first things he shows me when I walk in the door is his backpack filled with books, papers, tests, and the homework he wanted me to help him with. I thrive on watching this boy learn and grow. Knowing that school is fun and important to him makes me want to be a teacher someday, and it drives me to be the best teacher I can possibly be. The least important reason to me would be job autonomy and control. I really would not like to do the same thing, all day, every day. After a while, I would no longer enjoy doing that, and I would regret it. I plan on making my classroom fun and exciting for all of my students. I realize that a room full of young kids will be hard to control, but they are more fun than anyone else that I would rather deal with all day long. Some of the pros and cons of becoming a teacher are pretty drastic. Some of them I would not have been able to think of on my own if we had not gone over them in class. For example, one con of becoming a teacher is that with the economy the way it is, teaching jobs are very difficult to find and maintain. Schools...
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... The most important point that author Russell Baker, made in his title essay, “On Becoming a Writer”, was he wanted to become a writer at the age of sixteen. He said, “that coming out of high school most sixteen year’s old didn’t think about becoming a writer”. But being a writer was the only thing he had interest in. In some obvious ways of thinking he perceived writing was done by the rich but, he considered writing not to be a job that you can make a good earning from. The notion of him becoming a writer was self-explanatory because, he already thought of himself as a writer where it gives him a sense of identity. Being that he was a skillful, and talented great writer. In his thoughts of becoming a writer he was unsure that could be a passion of his. It wasn’t until his third year that the possibility of becoming a writer took hold. By then he was bored with English, and everything associated with it. Why is that? He thought the English grammar was dull, and buffing because of the assignments he did. He felt his assignments turned out to be compositions. Meaning they was leaden with lackluster paragraphs that was not appealing to the teachers once they read them. Except for one teacher Mr. Fleagle, it was an essay that he read, “The Art of Eating Spaghetti.”, that he took interest in his essays. Mr. Fleagle was describe by Mr. Baker, as a teacher who was dull and didn’t have the ability to insight his classroom. He was this sixty or seventy- year...
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...EDU 390 Entire Course (UOP) For more course tutorials visit www.edu390.com EDU 390 Week 1 Individual Assignment Reflection Paper on Becoming a Teacher EDU 390 Week 1 DQ 1 EDU 390 Week 1 DQ 2 EDU 390 Week 1 DQ 3 EDU 390 Week 2 Individual Assignment Teacher Work Sample Reflection Paper EDU 390 Week 2 Learning Team Assignment Parent and Community Involvement Product and Presentation EDU 390 Week 2 DQ 1 EDU 390 Week 2 DQ 2 EDU 390 Week 2 DQ 3 EDU 390 Week 3 Individual Assignment Teaching Portfolio Chart EDU 390 Week 3 DQ 1 EDU 390 Week 3 DQ 2 EDU 390 Week 3 DQ 3 EDU 390 Week 3 Individual Assignment Professional Growth Plan I EDU 390 Week 3 Learning Team Assignment Professional Organizations Chart *************************************************** EDU 390 Week 1 DQ 1 For more course tutorials visit www.edu390.com How could you use reflection to improve yourself professionally? *************************************************** EDU 390 Week 1 DQ 2 For more course tutorials visit www.edu390.com Which of the three standards in Domain Four of the University of Phoenix Teacher Education Program Standards do you consider the most important characteristic of a professional educator? Explain your answer. *************************************************** EDU 390 Week 1 DQ 3 For more course tutorials visit www.edu390.com Week 1 DQ3 What do you think will be the most challenging domain or standard to address in the Professional...
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...Running Header: Why Would I Be A Teacher Why Would I Be A Teacher Licia Wheeler Grand Canyon University: EDU 130 Exploring Education as a Profession September 11, 2012 Introduction Teachers have a noble and rewarding profession. It allows them to change lives of eager children. Becoming a teacher provides opportunity to spend time with young children and watch their minds blossom into great minds. Teachers give students the tools of basic learning skills. They are the most important key in children lives. Extrinsic and Intrinsic Rewards As a teacher you get a financial security with a good benefit package, pension plan, vacations, scholarships and great teaching programs. Teacher does not have the best paying job but with all the great benefits you get makes up for the less pay. The greatest benefit in becoming a teacher is preparing young minds for the future. Being a teacher will allow me to continue to impact lives. I will have the opportunity not only educate myself but the reward of educating young minds. Knowing that I will continue to make a different is the reason why I want to be a teacher. Community Impact Teachers impact the community by educating the young minds of students every day. While there are teaching the students there are also teaching the parents of the students in the community. Teachers are positive role models, inspirational leaders, caregivers and educator for the youth in the community. Educators...
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...ED 250 REFLECTIONS 1 The Need for Teacher Education . The week two lectures had highlighted an important issue which has come under a lot of criticisms for the past years. This was the need for teacher education. Although many critics still feel that teacher education is a waste of time or that field experience is more important. Most do not realize that the need of teacher’s professional development is essential for the improvement of education all over the world and thus the expectancy for quality teacher education is becoming higher every day. First off, there are countless criticisms to the need for teacher education. However the two that I will focus on are firstly, the critic that teachers are “born and not made.” I feel that in order to be become a good teacher , you must learn the skills, knowledge as well get the experience to achieve the goal of being or becoming a good teacher. I do not agree with the statement that teachers are born ; for they are made. Teacher education is thus based on the theory that teachers are made and not born in contrary to the assumption that they are born. Since teaching is considered an art and a science, the teacher has to acquire not only the knowledge but also the skills or the ‘tricks of the trade’. In addition to this, another criticism is that knowing my subject content is sufficient. This I disagree with, because it definitely will not prepare you for the classroom and the school environment. I believe that educating children...
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...EDU 390 Entire Course (UOP) For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com EDU 390 Program Progression Requirement Personal Assessment Interview EDU 390 Professional Growth Plan EDU 390 Professional Organizations Chart EDU 390 Reflection Paper on Becoming a Teacher EDU 390 Section Summary EDU 390 Work Sample Reflection Paper EDU 390 Parent and Community Involvement Product and Presentation EDU 390 Teaching Portfolio Chart ------------------------------------------------------- EDU 390 Parent and Community Involvement Product and Presentation (UOP) For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com Learning Team: Parent and Community Involvement Product and Presentation Read the 4A Parent and Community Involvement proficiencies from Domain Four, The Professional Educator, of the University of Phoenix Teacher Education Program Standards located on your student website. Brainstorm two to three activities to address each of the five proficiencies listed. Select one activity and develop a product, such as a flyer, brochure, poster, handout, or newsletter, as an example of how you might facilitate parent and community involvement. Present your product in a 5- to 10-minute presentation. -------------------------------------------------------- EDU 390 Professional Growth Plan (UOP) For more course tutorials visit www.tutorialrank.com Individual: Professional Growth Plan I Complete the University of Phoenix Material: Professional Growth Plan...
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...ISBN: 0-536-29980-3 Introduction to Teaching: Becoming a Professional, Second Edition, by Donald Kauchak and Paul Eggen Published by Prentice-Hall/Merrill. Copyright © 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc. Instruction in American Classrooms T ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ he reason you’re taking this and other courses in your teacher preparation program is to help you understand American schools, how they attempt to promote student learning, and what teachers can do to contribute to that process. Over the past 25 years a continually expanding body of research has provided educators with a great deal of information about the relationships between teaching and learning. In this chapter we describe this research as we try to answer the following questions: How do effective teachers plan for instruction? What kinds of personal characteristics do effective teachers possess? What kinds of instructional strategies do effective teachers use? How do effective teachers manage their classrooms to create productive learning environments? How do effective teachers assess their students? On what theories of learning do effective teachers base their instruction? Let’s begin by looking at a teacher’s thinking as she plans for her next week’s math instruction. “What are you doing?” Jim Barton asked his wife, Shirley, as he saw her hard at work on a Saturday afternoon cutting and drawing on cardboard pieces. “Working on a unit on equivalent fractions and adding fractions with unlike denominators. . . . What...
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...educators must respond with school reform efforts that meet the needs of all students. They must develop culturally sensitive curricula that integrate multicultural viewpoints and histories, apply instructional strategies that encourage all students to achieve, and review school and district policies related to educational equity. Teacher education programs in particular are responsible for preparing future teachers to promote meaningful, engaged learning for all students, regardless of their race, gender, ethnic heritage, or cultural background. Multiculturalism and diversity in classrooms has also been increasing at the same rate as immigration. As interdependence among nations is limiting cultural barriers, the movement between countries is also becoming more fluid. Competition for talented global workers is increasing the demand of immigrants to migrate with their families. This mass migration is becoming the reason of large classrooms with children from all different backgrounds. It is interesting to see the change in the way large companies work today as well. Many companies are noticing the importance of cross cultural training, as it is becoming an integral part of employee training to better equip them with skills that will help in building successful business relationships. Now the bigger question is why wait till a child reaches that level to make them globally aware? If they grow up...
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...I aspired to be a teacher. In high school, I received the opportunity to be in two classes that would help me live my future before it came; teaching may take a while, however the lessons learned along the way, and the outcome, is so worth the wait. Becoming a teacher comes with obstacles, lessons, tests, etc., therefore, going into teaching one needs to know what teaching is, how to get there, and what comes...
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...Chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher • Read through chapter 1: Becoming a Teacher A Teaching Career—Is it Right for You? As you read through this section, think about the reasons for going into the teaching profession. What are the advantages and disadvantages for being a teacher? What are the reasons that teachers give for going into the profession? Professionalism at the Crossroads Look at the criteria for a profession. Does education meet the criteria for a profession? From Normal Schools to Board-Certified Teachers There was little preparation or education for teachers from the beginning of the country until the 20th century. The first “normal school” was created in 1823. This was the first school for teachers. This type of school was the primary form of teacher education until the beginning of the 20th century. Education was a very conservative profession as seen in the teaching contract on page 13. The 1980s is the decade where major changes to teacher education occurred. Take note of the changes as reported in this section. How Teachers are Prepared Today Read about the differences between a four year program and an alternative education program. If you were in charge of teacher education, what should teacher education programs teach? Urban Legends about Teaching What do you think about these statements: Teachers are born, not made All you really need to know is the subject you are teaching ...
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