User:WhiteakerJ

 I AM... Just Me

My name is Jennifer Whiteaker and I reside in Southwest Virginia. I am recently married to a wonderful man with whom I hope to have children someday (although hopefully not until we are settled down in our careers). I love to hike in the beautiful Appalachian Mountains with my husband and our dogs, Echo and Chicken. Chicken was a stray that wandered our way and we adopted Echo last October from the shelter. I also enjoy spending time with my sisters, one of whom is still in high school (8th grade). I am currently working toward my M.S.Ed in Elementary Education (K-6). My favorite subjects are History (American, World) and Earth Science (especially Astronomy)! I hold a B.A. in Global Studies-East Asian from the College of William and Mary and an A.A. in General Studies from Mountain Empire Community College. I previously worked with the University of Hawaii Coral Reef Initiative to write and edit K-3 marine biology curricula. I've also worked as a substitute teacher in the local school systems and spent a year with AmeriCorps as a literacy tutor. I enjoy traveling and have been fortunate to travel abroad in both Europe and China (including Tibet). For the most part, these experiences were eye-opening but helped me to see that my favorite place on Earth is right here in my own backyard and there is no where else I'd rather be!

I BELIEVE... In Chances

Diversity in the classroom is important. When doing group work, just as with adults in the office, collaboration produces more results if there are many different views represented--each child with strengths that compliment and weaknesses that can be overcome.

There should be at least two other language choices to learn in the school besides the dominant one. Children learn a language best if exposed to it early on. If presented as an elective in elementary school, it could give that child an advantage in this internationally paced world.

Group work is a dynamic that requires every child to take on a role. Every child has something constructive to offer!

Examination preparation should be fun and directed to reducing any stress anxiety that may have built up because of high expectations and demands placed on students in today's schools.

Self-Reflection aids individual growth. Each student should have a journal to divide into several categories including, but not limited to: Major Thoughts/Events of the Day, Food, Exercise and Playtime, Homework and Test Review (did they do their homework--did they try their best on a test), social skills (did they play well with others) and an overall rating for the day (1-Best, 10-Worst Day Ever!). By requiring each child to take a closer look at him/herself, responsibility for actions and self-awareness is learned. As an added bonus, writing skills are also worked on.

Peer Review is sometimes needed to provide feedback. In group work, if a child is not participating, it will affect the quality and effectiveness of the group-work. By having their group mates evaluate their participation at the end of the group session, a child is more likely to perform based on hopeful expectations. Of course, this sort of peer review should only be used as a guiding tool, because otherwise it would lose its effectiveness.

Incentives work! Children like structure and routine, but they also respond well to receiving rewards for meeting goals.

Team-teaching is beneficial to all students involved. It allows individual needs to be met without sacrificing curricula goals that must be met by the state.

Reading with adults is a firm foundation for success in life! I hope to require reading with adults for a minimum amount of time (or number of books)as part of the grade. For those whose parents are not involved, the situation could be remedied by having volunteers (whether from the community or from an upper grade (mentors))come into the classroom to read with the students on certain days of the week.

Most of all, I believe that education is a life-long process that should be approached enthusiastically by all!