Please Help Me!

I am trying to make my picture appear when I follow other blogs from class. I posted an image on my blog, but this same image does NOT appear when follow. I have tried every little setting thing on this dang blog with no luck!

Reflection 03/29/09

I wonder if what I want would be a mixture between Literature Focus and Thematic Unit? I want to have an overall theme, but I also want to read books that the whole class can discuss. How about I choose several different novels that fall under a broad topic so students can choose between the options I give them? This allows for student choice in reading groups, yet all of the books are focusing on a specific theme or author.

For example, I could choose Christopher Paul Curtis as the author. I could also choose several books connected to an overall theme such as historical fiction around a specific time period, maybe even what they may be studying in Social Studies.

Sharon Draper books, maybe? The book Holes, and others from the same author? There are so many possibilities on this topic. I really don’t know which to choose from. Because I have only started reading YA novels, (since EDU-255), I do not have a lot of knowledge of which books are appropriate to teach or if these book have been very successful in the classroom before. I know that even though I would love to do Literature Focus, I don’t believe that this option allows the students much room to decide what the class reads.

As for activities, I guess I need to decide on a topic/book first. Since I have been observing in my cooperating teacher’s class, I have been taking notes on the different novels the students read. I hope that through this class, among my other classes, I will become more schooled in the novels middle school students would benefit from reading in my own classroom.

Reflection 03/15/09

Yay for Free Blog!!!! Just kidding. I actually like having guiding questions. I always have trouble just free writing. Okay, so . . . hmmmm. I did enjoy spring break. Even though the snow kept all three kids home on Monday, I enjoyed my break. Don't get me wrong; I absolutely love my kids. I was really looking forward to some quiet time. Anyway. I did observe at West Millbrook Middle several days. I loved being in the school environment. I cannot wait to be teaching in my own classroom! I hope everyone has a great week. I will see you ladies on Monday!

Reflection 02/16/09

Even though I am majoring in English, I have always had trouble writing. I continue to learn better writing strategies with each paper I complete. Having a blog is a little strange to me. I have never been one to journal every day, and I still struggle with this issue now. As with writing, I am learning the benefits from writing for five minutes every night. I am not a big fan of the blogging idea yet, but I can see how helpful it is for many people. I believe that through practice and self-discipline, I will gain insight on the rewards of journaling and, possibly, blogging.

The book project is kind of fun. I could not decide what to write about, but through the help of several table members, who shall remain nameless, I have a topic. I think writing a book about coming to college as an older student will hopefully give others a look at the obstacles most non-traditional students face beyond the classroom.

Reflection 02/14/09

Oh, where do I begin? I never knew I had a learning disability until I went to marriage counseling with my husband. I was diagnosed with ADHD at the beginning of 2005. Once I was told that I suffer from the combined type of this disability, my psychologist, my husband, and I started to put the pieces together. After this, I was able to look back on my school years to see how it affected my academic and social skills.

I struggled through school with reading comprehension and writing abilities. I was a very friendly person, but I wanted to please everybody. I was eager to have people like me, so I would become annoying. My grades were okay, but I found it very hard to really focus on one thing at a time. I had a lot of energy which caused me to have problems sitting still during class. I also found it very hard to control my impulses. For instance, I would always speak out of turn, or interrupt someone, or show my frustration by snapping at someone. In 7^th and 8^th grades, I was assigned 500 word essays for talking so much in class. Once I had exhausted this punishment, I started receiving demerits. If a student got a total of 8 demerits, she was sent to ISS (In School Suspension). Luckily, I teetered between 6 and 7 demerits. When I started high school, I was able to control some of these urges, but I could not squelch them. Throughout my school years, I was constantly told that I was lazy and was never encouraged to apply for college or anything beyond high school. I worked many jobs after graduation. At every job, I learned to compensate for the lack of control I lived with. I found ways to organize things, even though no one could ever figure out the “method to my madness.” My longest job lasted four years, and these wonderful people learned to live with me. Finally, I felt accepted.

After my initial diagnosis in 2005, I went to a psychiatrist to receive medication. Let me tell you something. This gracious doctor has given me a life. He understands how my mind works, and he helps me find the right medicine and dosage that I need. If I did not have my husband and this doctor in my life, I would not be where I am today.

Because of the issues I continue to face every day in college, I am determined to provide my future students a classroom environment and teaching style for all different learners. I learn new things I can do all the time, and I want to share these skills and advice with my students. No student will leave my class feeling as if he/she did not succeed. I will not give up on my students. I know what giving up feels like, and I do not want my students to feel as if they have failed.