Future Classroom

MONDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2014

For years I have been imaging what my future classroom would be like. I think it is important to think about what the classroom physically looks like but more so how it FEELS. We will start with how it looks though. I can picture a classroom that is very home-like. I can see bean bags in the corners for reading. If my students feel like going by themselves to get work done then they can go to  those sections of the classroom. The desks will be arranged in groups. I have always been a huge supporter of grouped sections in classrooms. I have always been shy the first few weeks of school, however when you are in a group it almost forces you to make friends with those people or atleast communicate with them. This is how a classroom because a family, when people communicate and laugh with one another. I want to have a lot of posters in my classrooms and flowers. I am used to being in classrooms in high school where the walls are blank and there is no decoration. My classroom is going to have a personality because I truly think that influences a better vibe to the students. I am also a huge supporter of current events. Even though I am going into English, I would love to lead a current event class. To start, in my classes I am going to have a board with newspaper clippings or internet articles about different events around the world. 

Most important is how the classroom feels. I want an environment where people feel welcomed and loved. They can feel comfortable speaking in front of the classroom and feel as if they are not being judged. I want us to laugh and have a good time in class but while being productive. Most of all, I want my students to see me as a mentor and an example.

Goals as a Teacher

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

When I think back to my past teachers I remember only a few that really left an impact on my life. They are not the teachers that taught me the most material, but the ones who provided life lessons that I still reflect upon years later. I am not saying that learning material is not important; in fact it is crucial. However, I also want to be a teacher that my students think back on. I once had a teacher in my sophomore year of high school. She taught biology; something I struggled with. Oftentimes, I came into the classroom feeling nervous or stressed about the material. However, she made the class feel like a family so if we struggled... we all struggled together. What I remember most are her "talks." She would open up class asking if we had any issues in life we wanted to discuss. The classroom was such a carefree environment that many actually spoke up. She told us how we spend so much time in life worrying about things we will never even have to face in our own lives. She said how if we counted all the hours in our whole lives; we would be astonished on how much time and joy we wasted being sad, stressed, or worrisome. She said things that really left you thinking. I have have had many teachers that I felt like I could connect with outside of the curriculum. I felt as if they saw me as the struggling teenager I was and not just as student for once. This really left a mark on me. One day I hope to be the teacher who students will go to for advice. I can only hope that I will be someone who they think back on and smile about.

My High School Experience

I went to Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH. It is a very large school. In fact, it is bigger than Southern New Hampshire University itself. When being a part of five thousand students, it is easy to get lost in the crowd. Yes it us up to the student to make a presence in the school. However, it is also the teacher's responsibility to reach out to all his or her students.

At Pinkerton, we did a lot of research. We had many computer labs where we did online research. We also used  library materials and books as well. Pinkerton never handed out laptops or iPads as some schools do because there are too many people to provide them for. One thing that stuck out was how many of my teachers would do online chats with the whole class. This way we could communicate with each other from home if we had issues with homework, projects, and studying.

I also had some text books that we could access online. There were activities we did online together for homework. This kind of homework was actually more fun and entertaining than traditional book work. The whole class agreed to this opinion.

When I become a teacher (YAY) I will definitely incorporate technology into my classroom. I am going to use the online chats for my students. We can post how we thought the class went and mainly questions and concerns about the topic, homework, and upcoming exams. Many times I found myself (and still do as a commuter) frustrated being away from school and not understanding the work I had to do at home. This way, there is always a connection even when you are away from school. I think overall this will help with performance levels and also student bonding in the classroom.

What Brings Me Here to SNHU?

Last year I attended Keene State College. Like this year, I studied Secondary Education with a concentration in English and ESOL. While Keene had a wonderful program, there was something missing from the school. It was a difficult and somewhat nerve wracking decision to transfer. What if I do not like the next school? What if I make a mistake? During my decision process I came across the quote, "The biggest mistake is to be too afraid to make one." I have no idea who wrote this and where I came across it, but it was what pushed me to make the move. Since then I have had to deal with many transitions. I now commute to school which can be challenging at times. I also run cross country for SNHU which is a huge time commitment. However, I believe this is where God wants me to be. I am going to trust that everything will work out and just enjoy the journey of achieving my dream career. Education 235 is a class I am very interested in. I am excited to learn more about how to use my materials in my future classroom. In today's world where technology is already so depended on, it is crucial to know how to incorporate it in the classroom. The class already seems completely different from what I am used to at Keene State. However, different can be seen as a positive in this case. Here's to a great first year at SNHU!

~missdowling995