User:Jnich026

ABOUT ME? I am a 21 year old from Halifax County, VA. I am currently working toward my Bachelor's of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a Concentration in PreK-6 degree. I am in a wheelchair and have been most of my life because I was born with Spina Bifida. If anyone wants to know about that, I would be more than happy to talk about the parts I know about with you. I also collect keychains and hope to one day have one from every state as well as as many of the countries as possible. I have already gotten one from Japan and Australia. I want to teach somewhere in the neighborhood of K-2, however I am getting a degree through 6. I think my preference is second grade. They seem to know a lot already and can take care of the basic things they need, but they still don't know quite enough to hinder your efforts to teach effectively.

I am looking forward to teaching in the public school system in my county. I think every child deserves a great education and a teacher that can give them that. I had great teachers all through school and continue to have them in school. Students with special needs to be handled as they are just like everyone else. They do not to feel like they are an outcast in a group of their peers. I don't think that just because they need special accomendations they should be looked upon as adding extra work for the teacher. Some teachers look at it this way, but I feel this is wrong. They can't help the way they are, and they should not be treated as if they brought it on themselves. In addition to not treating special needs kids differently, I also do not see the point in separating kids based on gender or ability. In doing this, I think that it is sending a negative message to the groups saying, "You are better/worse than the others.". There is already too much competition in schools today with all the programs that have been created for gifted kids. Why add to the competitions by taking the grouping another step further to boys in one group and girls in another.

As for the ways I will go about teaching, I don't think I can really tell right now. I will try to do both lecture and group activities. I know at young ages a teacher has to keep on his/her toes just so the students don't get bored or off topic. However, because of SOL requirements the students will have to stay on the same requirements. It sounds a little dull, but because everyone must pass the test, it essential for everyone to be on the same page.

Since doing my observation, I have come to have a whole new idea of what classrooms should look like. When I was in school, all that was basically on the wall was the alphabet and maybe a few pictures that they teacher had found that were cartoons. I see now that the teachers have come a long way with the creativity of decorating a classroom. For my personal classroom, I want to be fun and exciting. I want it to be a place that the children look forward to coming to everyday. I am going to post up a word wall that has all the words we have studied from each subject. I am going to post up a number line that has how many days it has been since school started. It will have the odd numbers one color and the even ones another. I will have place where I can post when everyone's birthday is and try to have something on each of their birthdays. I want the parents to have as much involvement as possible. I will invite them into the classroom when every they want to come. I will also invite them to participate in what their child is learning, and maybe even assist a day or so. I will also have a chart that monitors the children's behavior. I want each student to take an active part in each day. I am going to have jobs for the students to do that not only teaches them responsibility but teachs them how to be a part of a group. I also want to have reward system set up that will encourage the children to do their very best and to maintain good behavior. This is where that chart I described comes into play.

I want the students to use technology in a way that is most effective for their level, as well as for what we are studying. I will have a time where the students go to the computer lab and learn how to use the computers, while at the same time the computers are teaching right along with what they are learning in the classroom.

I plan to test the children weekly to see what they know. I will also try to set up science activities to see how they can apply what they have learned.

I will try to give as little homework as possible. I know everything can't possibly be covered in a day, but I feel like the time the students have at home is just as valuable as the time they have at school. It is very stressful on the students with the SOL, and they need a break.