Blog Five week of 3/23/09

I think it is very important for schools to connect with the community surrounding it. In order for families and other people in the school's community to feel like they are connected I believe schools should allow as much communication between the two as possible. I grew up in the Muncie area and I think my school did a great job of promoting community and school relations. We frequently held chicken and noodle dinners where everyone from the community was invited to come to the school cafeteria and pay to eat. All the money that was raised went to the PTO and various school groups. This was a great time for parents and families to eat dinner together and also walk around the school and look at the bullentin boards and various other things. Our PTO also always hosted the annual carnival. At this carnival parents worked booths with activities such as face painting and games for all ages. The school also held other dinners such as "Dan's Fish Fry" where everyone got together to raise money. The school also held monthly skating parties at the local skating arena where familes and students were invited to skate together. This skating party also allowed for teachers and different administrative people to interact with the familes and speak on a more casual level. I am sure there are many other ways that schools can interact with their communities, but I believe my school does a pretty good job of creating opportunities for families to come into the school and also speak to important people within the school.

Blog 4 Week of 3/2/09

I really enjoyed participating in the parent/teacher conferences this week.  I had never really thought about the different difficult situations that I would be put in by parents.  It just further proved to me that teachers always have to have their opinions and other observations backed up in writing.  I feel more prepared for dealing with parent interactions in the future.

I am glad that I was able to experience some of the different situations that I might be put in before I was actually put in them in real life.  It was hard for me to continue to take my classmates seriously with some of the things they were asking and saying during the difficult conference.  This also made me realize that when parents say these types of things I have to work to stay calm and focused, even though on the inside I may be laughing at them.

Blog 3 Week of 2/23/09

Children are obviously not safe in the homes of meth users.  The homes that were shown on the video were disgustingly dirty.  It would be extremely hard for a child to focus on school related things with any kind of drugs being present in their home, a place where they are supposed to be safe and loved.  While parents are high they may abuse and neglect their children.  This would effect the classroom as well.  Children may be moved in and out of your classroom, depending upon who gets custody of them.  Children may be afraid to go home or untrusting of adults and their peers.  There are an endless amount of negative things that happen to children who are forced into this kind of home life and situation.  It is very very sad :(

2nd Blog week of 2-9-09

Poverty and homelessness is a major problem for youth in America.  Children that are in poverty generally do not have the same opportunities as children in the upper and middle class.  They are less likely to eat nutritious meals, especially breakfast before coming to school.  They will probably not have the materials they need to complete school work.  Their parents are more than likely not to have an education, therefore education is probably not valued as much in their home.  All of the circumstances and many more place children that are homeless or in poverty at a disadvantage immediately right from the start.  These children, especially the homeless ones, have more important things to think about than school.  They might not even know where they are going to sleep that night, and probably aren't concerned with completing their homework.  

As a teacher I will address these problems in many different ways.  At the beginning of the school year and throughout I am going to try to ask for as few school supplies from students as possible.  I would like to have classroom supplies that I keep every year, such as protractors and compasses.  Basically items that we do not use very frequently in the classroom.  I would also like to keep as many school supplies as possible in the classroom as community supplies, and ask if students would like to donate their used supplies at the end of the year.  I am also going to try and limit the amount of homework I send with students.  Not all students have a home life that gives them a fair chance of doing well and focusing on homework.  I want to try to give all of my students the same chance at learning if possible.  I also plan on being as observant and reflective as possible.  If I see signs in my students that they might be homeless or going without food I will document this, and if need be notify social services.  I have to do what is best for the child.

First Blog week of 1-26-09

One of the main reasons I am pursuing a career in education is because of my grandfather.  He taught government and economics for over thirty years at the same school, and influenced many people's lives.  Almost every time I go out with my papaw, his former students will approach us.  They tell him about the way he was a positive impact on them, and the things they still remember from his class.  One of the things my papaw was notorious for was starting off every single class with a corny joke.  His students began to look forward to what he would tell them at the beginning of class.  He was always very mild mannered and did not raise his voice at his students or show anger.  I think all of his students really respected him for those qualities, and I believe they also learned from him.  He is a small portion of why I want to be a teacher, and has influenced the way I will teach my students.  I want my classroom to be ran with positive respect and kindness.