Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Language Arts

Today was our first class period with Dr. Peterson. She was our (Brittany and I) field experience supervisor. I'm so excited for the things we are going to learn in her class. I am especially excited to learn strategies for teaching writing that let students create with out being encumbered by mechanics. Not that I've decided the mechanics of writing are unimportant. Just that sometimes the strategies for teaching them inhibit young writers. So I'm looking forward to "Words Their Way."
I've already read "A Writers Note Book" and found myself itching to start a list, ponder a funny thing my kids said when they were small, or record a memory. The thing I'm going to love about being a teacher is participating in the same activities we encourage students to engage in.
We wrote a poem. First we examined items that Dr. Peterson had brought for us. Then we used a formula to get us started. We could write about any or all of the items.

Looks like
Sounds like
Feels like
Smells like
Seems like
Is (or doing)
? (ask a question of the item)

It one of the first things to add to my writers notebook, a rough poem. That's like a rough draft-it's not "finished."

Plain and unadorned
soft, comfortable, familiar
...of home and work.
You seem less than we know you are.
Have you wondered this yourself?

Friday, January 9, 2009

Books

I bought my books today. I've started reading and am so excited for everything we're going to learn this term. When I went back to school I thought I would do okay with my own classroom then. I still think that is true, but also it is not. I'm learning so much and the ideas in my head are getting bigger and bigger. I'm anticipating the stretching and changing that we're on the verge of experiencing as we explore new ideas, strategies, philosophies, content, and viewpoints.

One of the things that makes me be excited to be a teacher is the opportunity it gives, and will continue to provide, to be constantly learning and exploring.

Thursday, January 8, 2009

self selected activities

For our science methods class we are required to spend ten out of class hours on science education related activities. I thought I would log my hours here.

Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Viewed Planted Earth DVD
2hr

Thursday, January 08, 2009
Explored Discovery Channel/Planet Earth website
½ hr
Puzzles, games, amazing graphics, biomes, all things about the environment, and global warming
http://dsc.discovery.com/convergence/planet-earth/planet-earth.html