Standardized Tests

SAT'S, CAT'S, Terranova etc. - As far back as I can remember, I have always disliked standardized tests. Particularly in grammar school, I recall being prepped sometimes months in advance and having great emphasis put on our results to them. We were lectured on how important these tests were and how serious they should be taken. As a result of such pressure being put on students, many of us performed poorly, I believe because we were stressed when the day of the test ultimately came. Because of the experiences I have had with standardized tests, I still do not enjoy them to this day. Another reason I dislike them is that there is not much you can do to prepare for them. Sometimes these tests are just based on general knowledge. So, all you can do is make sure to get a full night of sleep the day before, have a good breakfast the day of, have your materials ready, be on time for the test and try your best. This may seem like a pretty simple routine, but for many children, it is accompanied by nervousness and upset stomachs. Just hearing the word "test" puts children on the edge of their seats. As a result of the experiences I have had with standardized tests, I would like to make the "preparation" for them as stress-free as possible for the students I will teach someday. I believe it is sometimes better to have students very relaxed and calm for tests such as these, so they are able to think clearly and try their best, without feeling as if they MUST do well, because it is expected of them. I feel students should know that these tests are important, because they are, but not be pressured in the process. Students, especially children, are under enough stress with their school work that these tests, I feel, shouldn't be added onto to them. I believe there should be a balance between explaining the importance of standardized tests and what they mean, with reassuring students as long as they try their best, they will have nothing to worry about. I know, as a future teacher, I will do my best to relieve students of the tension that comes with taking these tests because I know how it feels to have been in their place. I understand they are a necessity to schools and will most likely continue to be present in classrooms for years to come. But, I feel the preparations for them should be altered a bit, to reassure students that they are capable of doing well and can accomplish this, with a bit of confidence. They should also be taught that standardized tests are just another part of school and nothing to be afraid of. I believe if students begin to see standardized tests in a positive light, this view will be displayed in their test scores as well.

Reflection on Presentations

I would like to reflect on the presentations that have been given in class so far. Overall, I think everyone did a good job and had interesting lessons. I believe when preparing lessons, especially for the younger grades, it is important to have some sort of visual aid available for them to accompany any lectures or seatwork to keep their attention on the work at hand. They can be easily distracted, so it would be helpful to have something handy for them to view or study while doing their work. With the behaviors given out by Dr. Luongo, it was seen how easily the class could get out of hand if not properly managed. Behavioral problems will be seen in every classroom at somepoint in our teaching careers. So, being introduced to them, whether in a daycare setting, afterschool program, tutoring groups, or during our lesson presentations, will assist in our preparations for becoming teachers. I believe it is important for us to know that we will soon be responsible for a large group of children, ranging from all ages, who will depend on us for a variety of things, not only their educational development. We are going to have to be part-time care-givers, nurses, custodians, advisors, etc. A teacher is not just a teacher. He/she has a very important job, one which we have to be sure is right for us because of the tremendous responsibility involved in such a profession. With this responsibility, though, comes great rewards and personal satisfaction, knowing you are making a difference in the lives of countless children everyday. So, although it is not an easy job, if you are committed to it, and love what you do, I believe you will be fine. Personally, I have enjoyed all of my education classes and feel they have each helped me in some way towards understanding the field of education in more depth. On the contrast, I have met others who have taken education classes and discovered teaching is just not right for them. That is why we need to practice teaching and be exposed to a variety of aspects in this field, such as special education, so we can be educated on these subjects and hopefully, find our niche. We will experience good and bad days when teaching, which is like any other profession. The important thing to remember is why we are there and to not get discouraged along the way. Everything we experience, positive or negative, is just a part of our journey to get where we need to be.

Report Cards

I believe if there is anything that is essential in a classroom, it is the use of report cards. Students are present in a classroom for 180 days a year to learn and develop their minds based on fundamental teaching. Parents pay for their tuition and leave them with a responsible adult for 6-7 hours, 5 days a week. Report cards show students, parents, teachers and administrators how well a child is doing in school, not only academically but many times behaviorally as well. This written document displays to parents the outcome of all of their child's work throughout the academic year. It is imperative to keep track of students' records and have them available for future use. Although there are many benefits to having report cards, for students, they may sometimes be embarrassing and discouraging if they are not doing well in their studies to see the outcome of these results. A student who is trying to achieve an A in his/her science class, who is averaging out a C could get discouraged seeing this on a report card when they possibly know they are capable of doing better. In contrast, a student who believes he/she is doing well could be surprised to know they need to work harder if their grade is below what they expected. In either case, report cards open up students' eyes to the reality of their time in school and how they are using it when dealing with their studies. Although, as I just said, they can discourage students if they are not doing well, they can also encourage students to do better so their grades improve. I believe in order to solve the problem of seeing less than satisfactory grades, there should be positive reinforcement and feedback given from the teacher. I believe the teacher should be able to write comments on how to improve in the subject areas that need it, as well as behaviorally, for example: if the student talks too much, how to prevent this from being a habit. Also, if students are doing well, the teacher should praise them and encourage them to keep up the good work. Teachers should also highlight the strengths of a student who is having difficulty academically, to give him/her courage to know they have good qualities in the classroom, but just need some help in other areas. With this information, students will be given guidelines and assistance in areas they may really need it in. Overall, I believe report cards have more strengths than weaknesses in schools and should always be given as a form of assessment.

Portfolios

Portfolios, as defined in the Assessment and Grading in Classrooms text is: "a limited collection of a student's work used either to present the student's best work(s) or to demonstrate the student's educational growth over a given time, on one or a set of learning targets." In my opinion, portfolios are this definition and more. As discussed in class this past week, portfolios can be a collection of anything a student produces. The first time I ever made a portfolio was in high school for a photography class. I look back on that experience and although it was a lot of work to put together, I definitely feel it was a necessity because it showed all the progress I made in that class throughout the year and how much fun I had in doing so. As a future teacher, I believe portfolios should be made in every grade level for any subject, as young as pre-school. It is a great way to collect the students' work and have it showcased in a book or set form. It can be organized by work in a certain subject, a particular theme such as Fall or Thanksgiving, time of the year (beginning - September) or semester, etc. There are endless ways porfolios can be made. I feel that along with representing students' work, they also show who the student is as an individual and how he/she thinks. Artwork, in particular, such as paintings and drawings brings out creativity and personality in students. This, along with anything else a student produces such as essays, is a physical representation of him/her and their intelligence. I think they are also a wonderful keepsake for students to have and be able to look back upon with pride in what they accomplished educationally. The sooner students' are introduced to portfolios and how to use them, the easier it will be for them to be made and have for years to come.

My Access

My Access is a program Dr. Luongo introduced us to in the computer lab last week and I must say, I enjoyed using it. I believe it is a wonderful tool that can be used in the classroom to help students with their writing skills. Teachers can use it to keep track of their classes and students' work, while seeing their overall progress in writing, as well as where they need assistance. I feel this program can do wonders for children who do not particularly enjoy writing. They can use a computer to organize their thoughts and not worry about how neat or presentable their handwriting is. If they are not good spellers, or are having trouble getting started on a prompt, My Access provides them with spell check and suggestions to help them get their ideas rolling. This program also saves paper if the work is not printed out and instead just monitored by the teacher. Overall, I feel it is very useful for schools to have and available for students to use. The question I have is what grade level to start children on this program and how often to have them use it so that they do not become dependant on it whenever they have to write something. I commented on Michelle's blog regarding technology to which I said the following:

"I have to agree with you that technology should be used in the classroom. To what extent is the question I find myself asking. I believe it is something important to have students introduced to and know how to use because of its wide presence in our world today. But, I do not feel it should be the primary source of instruction in the classroom because students should know how to think for themselves and do things on their own, without relying solely on a computer. With that being said, I do hope that we, as teachers, will be able to use technology through some form in our classrooms because it can be a wonderful tool to work with. Since there is so much to offer educationally, I feel students should be introduced to both the new and old ways of instruction to better help them learn, technology being one of them."

So, I feel My Access should be used in the classroom, but strictly as just another source of writing for children. I feel they should primarily know how to write with a pen and paper and organize their thoughts by themselves from a very early age. Once they have the basics of writing mastered, this program can be a tool to help them learn where they need improvement and point out their mistakes, while giving them a chance to correct them.

Special Education

Special education is a form of schooling I strongly feel you must be born to teach. I do not believe just anyone can do this. It is a difficult job that involves much patience, caring and understanding for your students. In my family, among a few teachers present, there is a special education one. He has been teaching in this field for about ten years now and absolutely loves his job. Like his students, he looks forward to seeing them everyday and they rely on his presence to help them learn and grow intellectually. Although he enjoys what he does, he admits it is draining for him and says you must be truly committed to this form of work. I have thought about teaching special ed, but I believe it would be too much for me to handle. I am afraid of the emotional attachment I would develop with the students and as a result, I feel this may prevent me in performing to the best of my abilities. Even after being exposed to some information on it, I do not feel it is the right field of education for me. I have spoken to my parents about it and afterwards, I knew I could not see the children like that on a daily basis because it would just make me too upset. For those that are teaching special ed, I have the utmost respect for them. I believe they are very special people who God gives the strength to make a difference in the lives of many children. They realize these children are like any other student who just need a little more asssistance in learning. To see these children, in particular, progress toward success in their studies must be one of the most rewarding experiences in life. To accomplish this, these children need extremely dedicated individuals to teach them, who I know are out in this world and will do a wonderful job doing so. Children are one of God's most special gifts and we must always be there for them, especially in education.

"Exceptional human beings must be given exceptional educational treatment, treatment which takes into account their special difficulties. Further, we can show that despite abnormality, human beings can fulfill their social role within the community, especially if they find understanding, love and guidance.” - Hans Asperger

Quotes About Teachers

This blog is student's choice. Therefore, I decided to post some quotes about teaching I found on this link: http://www.quotegarden.com/teachers.html. I believe quotes can be inspirational, meaningful and thought-provoking. Reading the quotes listed below, it can be seen how important being a teacher really is. Enjoy! =)

"I like a teacher who gives you something to take home to think about besides homework." -Lily Tomlin as "Edith Ann"

"The dream begins with a teacher who believes in you, who tugs and pushes and leads you to the next plateau, sometimes poking you with a sharp stick called "truth." - Dan Rather

"In teaching you cannot see the fruit of a day's work. It is invisible and remains so, maybe for twenty years." - Jacques Barzun

"Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions." - Author Unknown

"If a doctor, lawyer, or dentist had 40 people in his office at one time, all of whom had different needs, and some of whom didn't want to be there and were causing trouble, and the doctor, lawyer, or dentist, without assistance, had to treat them all with professional excellence for nine months, then he might have some conception of the classroom teacher's job." - Donald D. Quinn

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." - Henry Brooks Adams

"A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others." - Author Unknown

"We expect teachers to handle teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and the failings of the family. Then we expect them to educate our children." - John Sculley

"The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires." - William Arthur Ward

"What the teacher is, is more important than what he teaches." - Karl Menninger

"Teaching is leaving a vestige of one self in the development of another. And surely the student is a bank where you can deposit your most precious treasures." - Eugene P. Bertin

"Teachers who inspire realize there will always be rocks in the road ahead of us. They will be stumbling blocks or stepping stones; it all depends on how we use them." - Author Unknown

"One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child." - Carl Jung

"The teacher who is indeed wise does not bid you to enter the house of his wisdom but rather leads you to the threshold of your mind." - Kahlil Gibran

"The task of the excellent teacher is to stimulate "apparently ordinary" people to unusual effort. The tough problem is not in identifying winners: it is in making winners out of ordinary people." - K. Patricia Cross

"When you teach your son, you teach your son's son." - The Talmud

"To teach is to learn twice." - Joseph Joubert, Pensées, 1842

"Teaching is the only major occupation of man for which we have not yet developed tools that make an average person capable of competence and performance. In teaching we rely on the "naturals," the ones who somehow know how to teach." - Peter Drucker

"Teachers are expected to reach unattainable goals with inadequate tools. The miracle is that at times they accomplish this impossible task." - Haim G. Ginott

"The art of teaching is the art of assisting discovery." - Mark Van Doren

Homework

Homework is a word many children do not like to hear. Students go to school five days a week, for seven to eight hours per day, and then have to bring books home to do assignments with. It is the pattern that occurs in every school system for many years now. Although many children and young adults do not enjoy doing homework, I believe it is definitely a necessity. Homework gives students a chance to review the information they have learned that day and continue to build on that knowledge as the year goes on. It keeps them busy and trains them to be disciplined in work/study ethic. I, personally, have sometimes enjoyed homework, and sometimes not. I really believe students' feelings regarding homework can depend on what it is (an essay, a project), the subject (math, science), how it is given, (worksheets, textbook exercises), who gives it (a teacher they like as opposed to one they do not) and how much time is given for the work (over night, a few days, one week). All of these effect students' thinking and ultimately, how they see things. I, personally, enjoy writing education and sociology papers and am not particularly fond of history ones. So, it takes me a longer amount of time to write a history essay whereas an education paper with information dealing with children would naturally flow from my mind. It is always seen that students do not like homework, but has anyone thought about the teachers? They distribute the homework, grade it, assess it and sometimes re-teach it. They have to do as much work or possibly even more than the students. This is not realized much of the time by the students. What should be taught is that "homework" does not have to be the negative word it has become. Homework can be fun and enjoyable with the right mind set. Students should be taught the benefits of doing homework such as: it will keep them busy and focused on their school work and it can teach them new ideas about the world. They should be told that if they look at it in a positive way, it will be less of a strain on them to complete. Parents should find out which subject their child enjoys most and highlight the work in that area. Children should also take breaks and snack times in between homework to relax and clear their minds. Giving them too much work at once is not beneficial or healthy to a child. Homework is and has always been a part of school and will ultimately help students in the future. Since it is something that will probably not change, students should be helped in seeing it as a positive thing. *Always think of the glass as being half full.*

Rubrics

What is a rubric? When I hear this word I think of: "a set guideline of what is expected on an assignment." I was never given a rubric to work with or accompany any of my assignments in elementary school. I believe my teachers always made their objectives and expectations for each assignment clear and we, as a result, understood what to do. If we were not satisfied with our grade, we would speak with our teacher and he/she would explain how they graded that assignment and how to make it better for next time. I was first introduced to a rubric my sophomore year of high school and was a bit unsure of how to use it. It was not as developed as the ones on Rubistar and my teacher did not fully explain what it was. In my Teaching Science class with Dr. Redden last Fall, we were given an assignment in which to make a rubric for. I was unsure of what exactly I should include in mine, not being taught over the years how to do so. It is not until I entered Tests and Measurements this year that I have come to realize how important rubrics really are in the classroom. I have always envisioned teaching without rubrics because I did not know the importance they would be for students. Now that I realize this, I will make sure to always have one for each of their assignments. They will give students a clear outline of what is expected of them and how they will be graded. Rubrics are not just essential for students, but parents, teachers and administrators as well. We, as teachers, must be able to explain how each individual student received his/her grade and present those criteria in writing. This will be useful at parent/teacher conferences and meetings with the principal displaying our responsibility to lay out what we expect from students and if they have met those certain standards. If a child does poorly on an assignment, they can refer to the rubric for the information they failed to add and why they received that particular grade. Overall, I think rubrics are great. They are just a more detailed form of grading with numbers or letters. With sites such as Rubistar, this process of creating them will be not only simple, but convenient for teachers to use and expand over the years.

Fairness in Assessment

Fairness in Assessment is a complex topic for me to speak about. The reason for this is I believe teachers have many different ways of assessing their students. I feel there are more formal assessments than others, but there is no single correct way of assessing students. For example, teachers may work better giving students tests and essays while another teacher may prefer oral presentations and class discussions. I believe every teacher is different and unique in his/her own way and they assess their students according to their students' individual needs. Since no class will be the exact same, the types of assessment will vary. As a child in elementary school, I was primarily assessed through tests and projects, as well as class work and participation. As I went to high school, class discussions oral presentations were added on to that. Now in college, I am being assessed in a variety of ways by each individual professor. Although I feel every teacher has their own way of assessing, I do believe they should adhere to certain guidelines such as: making sure to have rubrics for assignments to explain to students, parents and administrators. I feel if they have standards and follow them diligently, then they are assessing their students fairly. I also believe students' progress is a sign of "good" or fair assessment. Their "pro" or "de" gression will allow the teacher to modify his/her assessment techniques and help to serve the students better. The main idea teachers must keep in mind is "students" - it's all about them. If they conduct their class accordingly, they will do a great job in fulfilling what is means to be a teacher.

Response to "Education of Today and Tomorrow" Video

I watched the video posted by Dr. Luongo and I do have a few comments. The video showed the education world of years ago and that of it today. It also asked which is better for society. In my opinion, I would have to say both types of education are beneficial to students. I say this because years ago, there were no computers, smart boards, internet access etc. People still went to school and were educated with the materials they were provided with. There are many educated people of the past, who succeeded without being provided the modern technology we have today. So, it is possible to learn with just books and simple instruction. I believe having limited resources also makes students work harder and learn how to think for themselves. For example, I feel it is important students know how to multiply, divide, subtract and add without using a calculator. To depend on technology and modern tools is not benefiting the student in the long run. He/she must know how to perform tasks that can be done without technological assistance so that student can truly think for his/herself. If you are dependent on machines and technology and suddenly it is all taken away, then what?? Since many things can be taught without technology, students should know this way of learning. I do, however, believe that technology is important in the world we live in today. I feel with all the advances being made in computers, students must know how to use these new tools to their benefit in school and keep up with the times. There is so much that can be done with technology. Therefore, I believe students should have a mixture of both "old school" teaching and modern technology to make them well rounded in their studies.

What is assessment?

In my opinion, I have always believed assessment simply meant "evaluating students' work." I now know, through my years of education, that there are many different types of assessment that can be used in the classroom. Students can be graded in a number of different ways that do not necessarily have to be strenuous or even known to the student. For example, instead of taking a test that can cause anxiety and stress to students, a project can be given out wherein the class is able to work on an assignment in the comfort of their own home and then submit the finished product when it is due. Teachers can even assess students' work "secretly" through classroom discussions, essays, or journal writing, in which students will not be pressured into being timed to hand something in. Instead they are given assignments, such as those, where they can gather their thoughts and express themselves in detail at their own leisure. Although these forms of assessment relieve pressure off of students, I believe tests should remain present in classrooms because they are a part of life. At some form in everyone's life, they will have to take a test or examination whether it be in school, the workplace, etc. Tests also instill qualities of discipline, in students especially, where they must complete a set of questions, learning how to recall information in a timely and ordered fashion. Since students excel in different aspects of classroom instruction and assessment, these varied forms provide them with a number of options to display their works. I believe no matter which you use in your classroom, you must always do your best to deliver the proper information to students so they benefit from the results. Teaching is a very important job. Therefore, students should be given the proper guidance and assessment they deserve so they can become well-rounded adults when they enter the working world.

Why I feel teaching is so important

I just want to write a bit on why I believe teaching is so important in the world we live in.
Education is the foundation of a student's life. It is what makes a young child become a competent adult in society. I recognized this very early on in my life. I was so fortunate to have gone to a wonderful elementary school that I look back on with fond memories, not only because of my personal accomplishments, but how I was able to achieve them - with the assistance of my caring, dedicated teachers. I still accredit my personality and certain behaviors to their teaching. I have never forgotten them or what they have done to shape me into the woman I am today. A teacher makes a difference in the life of a child, whether it be in a positive or negative way. He/she is not only an instructor, but a role model, adviser and possible friend. I feel it is a profession, as Dr. Luongo said, that you must love doing. I have always held this view because teaching is not an easy job. You will not make millions of dollars, which is an important aspect of many peoples' lives - money. But, I believe the success of a student in the field of learning and the self-gratification you get from making a difference in the life of a child is priceless. Money does not buy happiness. You must be content with the life you live and love what you do to be truly happy with yourself. I believe no matter where life has taken you and where you have been, you never stop learning. Life is a developmental process, and maybe even more importantly a journey, in which we are constantly changing and hopefully, improving ourselves. Education begins in a child's home and then carries into the classroom. "The life you are given is God's gift to you; what you make of it is your gift to God." - anonymous. Years from now I want to be able to say, "God gave me a beautiful life and I became a teacher."

P.S. Thank you for reading my current blogs and commenting. I appreciate it. =)

My Introduction

Hi everyone!

My name is Kristina. I am a senior at Saint Peter's college double majoring in Elementary Education and American Studies. I have always wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl. I love children and enjoy working with them. Teaching is the profession I know I was born to excel in. I know it is not an easy job, but I am up for the challenge! =) I also plan on pursuing my Masters in education when I graduate. I have enjoyed all of my education classes at Saint Peter's and am looking forward to this semester.
Some other things about me (on a personal note):
*I am of Italian and German heritage.
*My astrological sign is Taurus.
*I love to go shopping =)
*I love life and being around nature.
*One of my dreams is to get married and be a mommy. =)
*Having a yorkshire terrier for almost five years now, I have grown to love animals.
*I am a shy and quiet person around people I do not know. But, when I know you, I am very outgoing and fun.
*My faith in God and family are extremely important to me.
*My mother is my best friend.

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