Reflection #3

Well, to be honest, I could not access the "How to Fix No Child Left Behind" article because I am not a subscriber to the magazine. I tried to find other ways to find it, but to no avail. However, I do understand what the acts goal was. All students need to be included in the classroom and all need to be held to the same standards as others. I believe in inclusion in the classroom. Teachers do not get to pick and choose what types of students they have in their classes every year and they need to be aware of that. As an Ag teacher, many times, counselors place "problem" or "special needs" children in our classrooms because they do not know where else to put them or feel that it is an "easy" class that anyone can take. I feel that every operson who is attempting to receive teacher certification should have to complete a course in Special Education as well as Basic Spanish speaking skills so that we can ALL appropriately and accurately communicate and address students in the classroom. To me, this would be the smartest thing that the Education world could do to prepare teachers for a wide range of students that can be in their rooms. Teachers need to always have a positive attitude towards ALL of their students, no matter who the student is or whether or not they have a disability. The teacher needs to keep an open mind, and have a positive attitude toward the subject matter as well. “For a teacher to prepare environments that facilitates interaction between children with and without disabilities, to teach methods of communication with each other, to model them and to get others to be noticed about handicapped child’s qualifications, first of all her/his attitudes and thoughts should be positive” (Aydin & Kuzu, 2013). This part of the article really struck me on a deep level. As a student teacher, I am going to try to do my best to keep my temper in check with difficult students, but still maintain a disciplinary control over the room. I need to do better at thoroughly explaining the subject matter in more than one way so that each and every student in the room has an equal opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding on the topic I am teaching. Aydin, A., & Kuzu, S. (2013). Teacher Candidates' Attitudes towards Inclusion Education and Comparison of Self-Compassion Levels. Online Submission. Steptoe, S., & Wallis, C. (2007). How to fix no child left behind. Time Magazine. Retrieved from http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1625192-1,00.html

Success journal

2/24 @ParkerShaylyn: Today my ag teacher told another teacher how much help I have been in getting students involved :) @mrtechyteach  #edsuccess

2/25 @ParkerShaylyn: I explained to another ag teacher how to accurately read ear notches on a pig! Yay me :) @mrtechyteach #edsuccess

2/26 @ParkerShaylyn: I helped refine a younger students showing techniques in the ring #edsuccess @mrtechyteach

2/27 @ParkerShaylyn: I encouraged a student to continue showing pigs next year after he had some difficulties showing @mrtechyteach #edsuccess

2/28 @ParkerShaylyn: success of the day: had a one on one talk with a "problem" student about his plans after high school. @mrtechyteach #edsuccess

I will be the first to admit that there are some times that I get discouraged in the classroom when my students are being unresponsive or disruptive, but I can also say that one little break through or success in a day can turn the whole thing around. I hope to be able to find such moments during my student teaching and in my future classroom as well. It is these little things that remind me why I wanted to become a teacher in the first place. 

When I become an official high school ag teacher I hope to have enough confidence in my own abilities to be an effective teacher as well as know how to correctly manage my classroom. That seems to be something that I have been struggling with. The students do not respect me as much as they should because we are so close in age and on top of that, it is hard for me to discipline them when they are in trouble. I plan to become more firm and confident in my decisions.