Dead Classes?

Whatever happened to art class? Music class? PE? I hate that these class have been banished from many schools curriculums. Basically it really kills students creativity. Art and music classes are necessary. Students should focus on math and english and science but what's wrong with learing about fine arts too? I will try to incorporate art into my individual class lesson plans sometimes, just because its so necessary. PE has also been eliminated, but its probably the most necessary cass of all. It not only keep kids in shape but helps their social skills develop and teaches corrdination and team skills, which are necessary in life. But people wonder why kids nowadays are obese.

Standardized Testing

I really don't believe in standardized testing at all. I think that all it does is make the classroom structure too rigid. Teachers just end up having to make students memorize certain things and spit them back on a test. It also hinders students learning because they just memorize answers and not lern how to apply the material. I keep hoping that the CRTs will just die, but with the NO Child Left Behind, they just wont.

Itunes/Podcasting

Throughout this semester, I began to really use iTunes and more specifically explore podcasting. I really didnt know much about either of those two things. But my professor, Dr.Strange required us to listen to certain podcasts about education and to dig deep into the iTunesU section of iTunes. I was instantly amazed about how much educational content was readily available with just the click of a mouse. You could get everything from educational videos to voice only podcasts to even video podcasts and all for free! I will definately incorporate this into my classroom by making my students aware of it as a study resource. I personally use it this way now, specifically to help me study for History and Literature exams. I will also use it as a teacher in order to learn what other teachers are doing in there classrooms and get ideas about how to incorporate the newest teaching trends and technologies.

Youtube In My Classroom?

At one point this semester, we did podcasts about various technoligies that are "hot" right now and how they could relate to education. My topics was Youtube and whether or not it could be used as an educational tool. My stance on the argument was that it could be a gret educational tool, but as of right now it's not being used that way. There are youtube videos that are higly educational and I personally have used Youtube to study for an exam before. As a teacher, I might insert Youtube videos into my Powerpoint lectures in order to supplement my lessons. I might also advise my students to watch some Youtube videos in order to get more grasp on subjects that they might be a little hazy on. he link to my full podcast is http://edm310podcasts.blogspot.com/2009/03/you-tube-can-it-be-useful-in-classroom.html.

My Teaching Philosophy

My teaching philosophy is a simple one, I will work hard and I hope my students will too. I will also be a fun teacher too. I will always work hard to bond with all of my students on more than just a professional level. I also will strive hard to not be a boring teacher. Too many teachers just dont care about all of their students. they have their favorites that they spend most of their attention on, and basically they have some that they just dont seem to put any effort into. I wont become one of those teachers. I'll never give up on a student. I also want to be a postive role model for some of my students that dont have one, especially the young black males, who are facing so much in society these days. Id also like to attempt to establish positive relationships with parents as well. As a high school teacher, it will be my responsibility to help transition the young people into the "real world", which I am happy to do. BUt the most important thing is that a teacher enjo their job and have a passion for teaching and helping kids. I have this passion and I cant wait to become a teacher.

How I Will Use Technology In My Classroom

I plan to definitely use a wide variety of technologies in my classroom. I will, without a doubt, use iTunes to help my students study and I will assign them podcasts to listen to. I'm also thinking about using blogs in my class too, but differently. Instead of requiring each student to have their own blog, I want to make a class communal blog where every student can contribute freely. I will also use Twitter in my class to communicate with my students and other teachers. I will also try to use the newest technologies as they come out. I feel as though that's a responsibility of this "new genertion" of teachers. We will have to stay on top of these things in order to keep up with our students.

Why I want to Become a Teacher

People always ask me why I want to become a teacher because teachers don't make any money and they get treated bad and this and that, but I'm not doing this to make money, I'm doing it for the kids. Too many kids don't have a positive male role model in their lives, especially young African-American men. I am fortunate enough to have a family that is together and happy and a dad that is there, but I know a lot of people that don't, so I would like to be that positive male role model for those kids that don't have one. I believe that I could make a difference in some young men's lives and that alone makes it all worth it.