Invisible Children

Here is something I think everyone needs to see and hear please if you have the time check out this site and this video. God bless!

II: Pictures paint a thousand words, which will fill in this white space to define what I am as a pre-service teacher

Take advantage of every moment in life and don't take your students or today for granted!

Blog Post Numero Uno

This was very difficult blog for me to think about because my CT really embodies all the ideals that I hold dear. He is very big on community learning and allowing the students to take ownership of not only the classroom, but their learning as well. I was able to think of one area where we slightly differ and that is in rules. My teacher does not believe in rules and actually has the students discuss and decide upon what should be their code of cooperation. I believe that the teacher needs to have several rules of their own in order to establish a firmer structure that the students can adhere to. In other words, the teacher needs to have a sort of foundation that the students can build upon for their own code of cooperation. It is easier for the students (in my opinion) to break or dismiss their own rules that they developed, but if the teacher already has set in place several firmly cemented rules then it creates more accountability (as well as structure) for the students. That way the students are still taking ownership of the classroom and their learning while being supported by the teacher's ideals. I noticed in my CT's classroom that once a student breaks their code of cooperation there is no real accountability as the student is simply said to make a smarter choice. While they may reflect on the action they committed there is nothing to stop them from doing it again because they know they can get away with it. I believe there needs to be cause and effect and if the teacher already has in place rules that keep the students accountable then ultimately they will respect them. The rules do not have to be anything strict or stringent just something that gives the students a template from which to build upon. I believe if they do this then it will not only produce respect for the code set in place, but also for those who created it. Thank you for reading this post and I look forward to your comments have a good day!