User:Kpaul003

big THE BASICS: Hello, my name is Katelyn and I am a junior at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia. I have been an ODU Monarch since my freshman year and I love spending my college career on this campus. I am currently pursuing a degree in Interdisiplinary Studies (Elementary Education, grades Pre-K-3) and I plan on earning a Masters degree in this field. I love going to the beach and reading works by other teachers. For example, I enjoy the books written by Torey Hayden; I am currently reading "Just Another Kid". I also enjoyed "Teacher Man" by Frank McCourt. I like these kinds of books because I feel like I am getting an insight as to what it is really like inside of a classroom and what it is like inside the minds of real teachers. I am the oldest of three children. I have two younger brothers, both of whom I am pretty close to. My family is very important to me. I love to see live music, especially when the band Incubus comes around and I enjoy the sport of lacrosse. I hope to teach first grade because I enjoy the innonence and excitability of children this age. I think it is so rewarding to see first hand a child discover something new and watch their satisfaction with it, knowing that your input allowed the discovery to happen.

EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES: As for my educational philosophies, I think that a classroom should be open to ideas from students. I hate the idea of standardized testing, like the Standards of Learning Tests, because I feel they limit what can be learned by students. Because of this, I would like to operate a classroom that allows students to take some control over what is dicussed. I think that when too many objectives and deadlines are set, it limits the questions that students have time to ask. I feel that questions by other students are valuable. I would like to think that my classroom will be taught through a lot of open discussion. I don't disagree with group work because it forces students to work together and helps develop social interaction skills however, I think it should be limited. I feel this way because group work often leads to one person doing the majority of the work while the others just copy the correct answer. Technology is a major part of today's world. For this reason, I think that several different forms of technology should be used in the classroom. Students should be taught how to properly type. In many jobs and careers, the ability to type is a skill you must have. I also feel that through the use of technology, several different types of learners can be reached. Technology allows you to present the same information in several different ways. I have always enjoyed peer-reviews because they provided one more set of eyes before the professors. I think it is a great way to have students interact as well as learn from one another. In a classroom, it is important to learn not only from your teacher, but from your peers as well.

I feel that a school is established to provide both knowledge and traditions. For example, I think it is very important for schools to say the Pledge of Alliegance because it teaches students (especially the younger ones) a sense of nationalism. Schools are a great source of nationalism. They also provide a place for children to learn about others and diversities among others. I think that children with disabilities should be exposed to children without disabilities and visa versa. This helps children realize that there are differences in the world and that people different from you are just as good as those who are not. I also think that the arts are very important to schools. Music, Art and Physical Education are all ways for student to express their talents and opinions. Without these courses, children would lose an outlet to shine in their own individual way, whether it is scoring a goal during a soccer game or becoming first chair in the orchastra. I think that schools are important not only because they fill our future with knowledge but also because they continue our nation's tradtions.