Blog Entry #9

Now that you have completed this course and the Service Learning component, what have you decided about becoming a professional teacher?  Do you think this is the career path for you?   Has the Service Learning helped influence your decision? What are your next steps? Write a thoughtful, 3-5 paragraph response to express your position.

Now that I have completed this course and the Service Learning assignment, I have chosen to continue my path in becoming a professional teacher. I think this is the career path for me for many reasons. They include my enjoyment from being around young children in the learning in environment. I enjoy facing challenges and creating unique lessons plans each day seems like it could be a challenge. It may be a challenge year to year, day to day depending on any disabilities the children may have, or home environments and even of the students are gifted and talented.

The Service Learning has helped me to see what this career path entails. To be an elementary school teacher, one needs to have a passion for learning, and spending their time to make a great environment. The students in my class learned my name, and were excited when I came. It may just because it was a new face that was a distraction from the everyday mundane activities. However, I enjoyed being needed and learning each of their personalities and likes and dislikes. 

My next steps are to finish my pre-requisites to get into the education program. I am limited in the time I can take these classes due to working full time, but I will apply for the program as soon as I am able. In Spring 2017 semester I am registered for Math 2010. I am nervous because I haven't taken a math class since high school! I was very smart to take my 11th grade pre-calculus class as concurrent enrollment, and when I worked on my first degree, it covered my math. I am going to take a math refresher course and then dive right in!

I am also considering applying for teaching positions in 2017 or 2018 and taking the Alternative Licensure Route. I understand usually teachers are not hired on that route, that is why I have decided to get a second bachelor's degree in Elementary Education. It is exciting for the adventure that lies ahead!!

Blog Entry #8

• ·       Are you making connections between course topics and Service Learning?  
  ·       Have you been able to articulate your own learning and understanding?  
  ·       Is the process of blogging helping you to think and notice things in your Service Learning?  
  ·       In what areas do you see growth or learning from the first blog post to the last?  
  
  
  I have been able to make connections between course topics and Service Learning. It has been very helpful to spread my shadowing hours out over the semester, so I can focus on different aspects of teaching and education. If I was to attempt my assignments all at once, I wouldn't be able to pay attention to details and take notes to assist my future career.  I have also been able to articulate my learning and understanding. This can be seen in Blog Entry #3 when I wrote about my learning of the importance of choices. On a field trip, the teacher gave students the option to choose who their walking buddy is. Every student needed a walking buddy, but they had the freedom to choose who it was. 
  
  
  The process of blogging has definitely helped me notice details in my Service Learning! In my Blog Entry #5 I discuss diversity in the classroom. I noticed the different ethnicity and how it is an example of Brown v Board.  I saw difference and growth from my beginning to most recent blog. I added more detail, and in the most recent blogs, I referred back to the lesson module more often.

Blog Entry #7

I first time I observed the standards being implemented in my Service Learning Placement was my second time at the school. The first grade teacher, Mrs. Holden, pulled out each child individually, into the hallway to test their reading level. Mrs. Holden had a list of each child and their reading level when they left kindergarten. She informed me that by the time 1st grade was over, all the students were expected to be reading at level J. Many of the students were on A, B, or C and reading mostly fluently. However, some students unfortunately were only on pre-k and struggled with simple words.

This particular subject matter was emphasized in the multiple times I observed and worked with the students. I feel this is important to have this basic skill.

It is also a great idea to have the Utah Core Standards online, like the ones that we accessed. This allows the parents to know what is expected to be taught, and the child to master. They parents can help support their children at home in staying caught up and being prepared to learn new educational skills.