Final Learning Log

What?

My theory of how children learn based on the quiz that I took says that they learn cognitively and physically by feeling good about themselves and how they are acknowledged. Another term for this is humanism. While looking back through my blogs I realized that knowledge is really important for children, but not as important as believing in themselves and having a sense of self. My top score was in humanism which refers back to how learning occurs and what should be involved in school as a part of the learning experience. Which is a cognitive, social, emotional, physical, and spiritual development for children. Mix in both this theory with my second top score of cognitivism and you'll get my theory of how children learn best. I believe learning can only occur if students are having a active creation in their knowledge.

So What?

This theory will impact my classroom in that a new way of learning will be used. Songs, brain boosters, and storytelling will all be used to learn effectively. The students' will need to be organized in their work and show a general knowledge of a topic before they move on. I'll be someone that helps them learn other than lecture information. Material will connect to real life situations and their lives. Respect and caring play a big role in our classroom that learns to like everyone. Students will decide what things they need to improve on a set personal goals. They will also help come up with ideas to use in lessons and get a free day to make up a lesson. My classroom where the teacher and student learn together instead of a part and I'll do every assignment I give my students.

Now What?

The next step would be for me to apply how the theories will impact my classroom to my student teaching and strengthen my beliefs. Or realize that some things won't fit with my theories and need to be changed. I need to learn now to help in scaffolding children and how to make them stronger in struggling areas. I'll need to know what each students' background is like and their level in sense of self. I need to be a support system to those that don't have that anywhere else. I can improve on applying concepts of educational psychology to real situations, and viewing how they mold. I can keep looking for uses of educational psychology in the classroom and I think I'll learn a lot this way.

Ch. 4 Learning Log

What?

While reading chapter four and listening to the lecture I learned quite a few things about group differences. One thing that stuck out to me was how a teachers preconceived motions about students' determine how the studnet is treated. This is where you as a teacher need to evaluate yourself and note where you need to change and be careful, and realize that not one child doesn't fit into a group. This affects children drastically because often how well they perform is based on how safe they feel and seeing if the teacher thinks they can acheive hard things. We need to know the types of studnets in our class and from what backgrounds they orginate, so that in instruction and clss rules accommodations can be made. Not everyone has the same cultural beliefs and what is expected of students' need to be made explicit from the beginning. By knowing which students have to switch cultures from home to school would help you assess behavior and be more understanding. Bring new cultural insights into the classromm so that studnets of a certain ethnicity fell comfortable and strong in a area. Be a support system for students who parents aren't involved and try to be a motivator. By you caring it could help change one studnets' outlook on their troubling situation and start believing in themselves.

So what?
This chapter and the information in it is important for me to know as a future teacher in many ways. Since I want to work in a school with much diversity I'll need to understand the cultural views my studnets' have and help them look outside the box but be supportive as well. I;ll need to treat each studnet equal and make them all feel accepted and cared for. This way the will learn much more. This chapter is a part of the syllabus, because as individuals its important to be accepting of cultures different then ours and its people. With the world changing in ethnicity that means our classes will change also. We can help students' with differnet ethinicitys fell like other studnets' and not as a group name. Educate a new generation that will be more accepting of everyone around and the roles they play. This will help me to be a great teacher becaue I'll be loving to all types of children abd help each one as much as I can. By looking for those that fell isolated because of gender, ethnicity, intelligence and help them and the whole class by using morning mettings.

Now What?
I'll use this information in my future teaching by having morning meetings to make the class fell they are as one. By getting to know one another better will make each student not want to hurt eachother.More problems will be handled through being kind because they will all be closer to eachother. I'll teach my students' about differences and why it makes us special and important. I still need to learn which is the best wayto bring up family and other cultural beliefs that may contradictory without questioning students' as much. Also i need to learn about what ethnic groups value and think disdisrespectful, so I'll never be offensive or put a child down.

Learning Log Chapter 5

What? 

This week through reading and in class discussion I learned a few new things about disabilities I didn't know. One of them is that all types of disabilities are different, even in a group of one category. We as teachers need to judge intelligence on more then just a IQ test, because it doesn't include a student having to adjust one's behavior to accomplish new tasks. Distributed intelligence seems to me to be what gives you a learned behavior, because people are there being a support system. Never categorize students' to a certain label, they'll think they are seen as a disability and not a person. Each disability has different characteristics and instruction that can be adapted for the student. Be prepared for each student in your class each day even if that means accommodations having to be made. Having inclusion in the classroom can be of reward and a burden also. These children will see what behavior is required and be accepted by all students'. When you have gifted students' in class don't give them extra work, have them find something they are passionate about and adapt that to a chosen assignment.

So What?

This chapter is important for me to know about as a teacher on so many levels. If I have students' with disabilities, I need to know how they'll be and how I can best teach them and realize what they can accomplish. Also if I have a class without student with disabilities I would teach them about these differences and how they should be treated. Treated of course as they want to be treated. This is a part of our syllabus because today there are many problems out their that students' can have, and we are likely to have students' that have certain needs. By knowing about these disabilities in depth it will help me to be a great teacher, in that I'll try to see where each child is coming from. And then help them achieve goals on their levels and let them know they are valued and children like their fellow classmates.

Now What?

I can use this material in my future teaching to be more knowledgeable about children's struggles and to educate others about these real life issues. It will help me to be more understanding and able to adapt instruction to different needs. I know it will take practice as I teach students' of all levels. I still need to learn how exactly you adapt instruction for differing disabilities and how to make it fit their needs. I know that many of them will have IEP's and maybe that is what I go off of as a teacher. I think I can learn more as I observe a variety of classrooms and see how teachers handle different levels of students'. I also think I will learn more as I teach and try it on my own. By doing this I'll know how I need to be around students' with my demeanor and what things push them to get work done and what things are hurtful to them.