Test

I am sure you will agree that not everyone learns the same way and that as a teacher we need to find different ways to evaluate our students performances in the classroom. I feel that teachers who think a students grade should be based soley on tests are unfair. Growing up testing has always been a challenge for me and I am sure many others would agree. I had to study alot alot to get average grades. However, I know that their are other ways that I could show my comprehension of the material. I felt it was most effective when teachers allowed students to write papers, do homework, take home assignments, video reviews, and even presentation to show their knowledge. College is challenging because many teachers do not have the time to learn what works best for their students because there is so much to get done and so many students. I have students that have had poor test scores but are some of the strongest students in class based on their personality to succeed. While these students may not look the brightest on paper they are some of the most driven people you will ever meet. These students should be recognized by their teachers for trying to succeed. I know that when I become a teacher the most important thing a student can show me is the willingness to learn and desire to grow . So in the classroom I feel test are not the only way to indicate the success of a student.

NCLB

The topic of No Child Left Behind is a idea President Bush came up with in 2002 that said that all students must be proficent in Reading, Math and Writing. I feel that this act has caused many teachers to look more closely at the education they are providing for their students. While, I think that Bush had good intentions with this act I feel some things need to be looked at a much greater detail. Special education students that I would like to be able to teach are held to the same standards as regular education students. I ask myself " Is this fair?" The answer to me is of course not . Special education students have extreme difficulty performing well on these kinds of test. I know from watching students in a special education classroom take a regular test they complain that they are too long for them to sit and focus on. So a longer standardized test will in no way be an easy task for them. If these students don't perform well on these test their school may lose funding which they need to keep certain programs going. I think that teachers who are working with special education students are doing a great job to prepare their students for these kinds of test but its just coming up short. Students in special education classrooms should be held to different standards but still should strive to do their very best!

Homework?

A very controversial topic in a students opinion and some feel very strongly about it . So should we have homework? or just stick to the assignments in class and lecture. I am torn about the benefits and disadvantages of homework. On one hand I feel homework helps students practice the new concepts and information they learned in class. However, I also feel that students do soo much work during the day that they shouldnt have to spend hours a week of outside assignments and studying for test. I once read that student on average have about five minutes a day to sit down with their families and friends for dinner because of homework and other activities. When I am a teacher, I hope to take into account that students have many responsiblities when it comes to their lives and they may not have time to get their homework completed. A balance needs to be met when it comes to assigning students homework and they must have a decent amount to finish the assignment. Reading 100 pages in one night is not a reality for some students and may allow them to just rush through it and not understand the content. I hope to allow my students the proper amount of time to learn the material rather then just rushing. Some teachers also believe in busy work for the students just to give them extra work and I dont think that is fair. Staying on task is essential to becoming a great teacher but sometimes you must learn to adapt to different situations differently. If students do their homework they should be reward not punished for their efforts. Grades should be based on if he or she did the assignment not always if it is just correct. Students learn from mistakes and they shouldn't be embarrassed or stressed when doing their homework to get something wrong!

early childhood education

Early childhood education to me is one of the most important aspects of teaching and education. This early time in a childs life is when they begin to form the most important skills in their education and human lives. Speaking with my family and friends, I often get the question why would you want to be responsible for teaching kids how to do challenge things such as reading and writing?....I always answer that teaching my students this skills will be very rewarding because they will need these skills for the rest of their lives. Teachers in the early childhood education field are the first impression of education as a whole on a student. It is imparitive that as a early childhood teacher I not only teach the basic numbers,letters,and weather. I must make an enviroment for the students that will want them to learn and make them love school. Many students today dread going to school and their teachers . Without creating a strong environment from day 1 students will always have a little bit of a negative outlook on school. Nothing is more rewarding then watching a student who is struggling work with you to get through their problems and achieve success. I got the chance to work with a Kindergarten class and one student had a huge problem with forming numbers and letters. For example, he would write the number 5 backwards. So day by day I worked with this student until he got it right. He could not have been happier and gave me a huge hug and said thank you. This little boy showed me truly what teaching is all about the true reward of seeing others succeed with your help. It doesnt matter what money you make or the daily struggles of just being a teacher and not having the children always liking you. Early childhood education is something more people should learn to appreciate and look into.

ps: This was my first ever blog so sorry if its not the best ...id love feedback!