Chapter 13: Improving Teachers and Schools, and School Reform

Before I graduate I look forward to gain valuable experience from practicum and student teaching. Both of these experiences will give me the opportunity to work within a classroom and gain experience with building and carrying out lesson plans. All that experience will be valuable for myself when applying for a teaching job and for if when I receive a job in teaching.

Within my first five years of teaching I'll be looking to increase my qualifications as a teacher. I'll look into seeking outside sources of training and learning from more experienced teachers. Each year of teaching adds valuable experience and its so important to continue to grow as a teacher day after day, looking to learn more and more about how to teach in the classroom.

Chapter 7: Thinking about Teaching and Learning

Information I would like to include in my philosophy paper:

1) How to organize the classroom? I need to put some thought into whether I prefer to have a classroom with rows, groups, or different for the occasion. Each style of organization has it's positives and I need to look into what would best work for the classroom atmosphere I'm striving to create.

2) How to teach the students? Knowing that not all students learn best from the same teaching style, I need to give a lot of thought into how students learn, what they should learn, and how they should learn it. I'll need to set classroom goals that my students should be guided to achieve. No class is going to be taught the same way, but having a foundation to build off of will be a start.

3) What Values and Ethics to establish in the classroom? Its vitally important to demonstrate moral values and ethics in the classroom, and not only demonstrate them, teach them. This takes being a good role model, saying and doing the right thing, and present yourself in a respectful manner. This is probably one of the most important aspects of teaching and one I need to address in my philosophy paper. How I want my image to look and practice being respectful of everyone around.

Chapter 6: Social Context of Schools

I made a power point concerning the subjects in chapter 6. My digital artifact will be uploaded on the wiki soon.

Chapter 4: Schools as the Workplace for Students and Teachers

The school my group built known as "Healthy Living" probably has some similarities with a few school in the United states. Its teaching focus is to teach how to teach many aspects of a healthy life. While still be able to teach core academic subjects. The first question to address how the school is organized. This is something our group didn't look at, but it was presumed that our school would have an ordinary chain for teachers and principals. This means there would be a principal, assistant superintendent, an teachers. Another organizational aspect of our school that we didn't address was the relationship of schools to the state. I believe the relationship could be good, because the state will look at the focus of the school and how it can have an impact on students lives. The third thing we should have looked into was the role the Federal Government will have on the school. The school will be a charter school. Which means it will receive public money, but won't be restricted in what it can teach. The fourth and final thing to look at when starting up a school is how it will be paid for. This is never easy for any school, especially in today's modern economy. The "Healthy Living" school would be expensive to run so it would need to collect money from various revenues. When building our school we overlooked many of the struggles you want to try an avoid when building. It costs a lot of money and the money needs to come from somewhere.

Which Theories and Historical Influences Should Most Impact the Schools we'd Like to Have?

How Can Diversity in The Classroom Help me be a Better Teacher?

Diversity in the classroom can help me be a better teacher.

How Can I be Successful at UMF?

I can be successful at UMF if I concentrate on my studies. Focus to stay on top in all my classes and being up to date with all meetings and events I need to go to.

How Do I Become a Teacher?

In order for me to become a teacher I will need to do well in UMF's education program. This means doing well in all my classes and meet all grade requirements. I will also need to pass the Praxis exams. I just took the Praxis I exam this morning and will need to meet the required scores Maine sets for each subject. If I don't meet a requirement in any of the 3 subjects I need to keep taking it until I pass. I need to have passed Praxis 1 before I begin my practicum during my Sophomore year. Also in class we did an assignment that took a look at all that needs to be done to become a certified teacher. I learned of the many costs there are in becoming a certified teacher. Farmington does a great job making the process of becoming a teacher go as smooth as possible. It's my job to stay on top of everything and do well in all my classes.

Chapter 5: The History of Schools in the United States

Today, we believe in a free and universal education is the right of all children. However, in our country's history that hasn't always been the case. In the 300 years of our country's existence, we have gone through times when only the elite received an education to modern day public education. It was in the eighteenth century that the idea of educating all began to cross the minds of many people. Schooling of young students is where it all started, and with debate people began to want higher education for students. This is when teaching began to go beyond just teaching to read, write and be a good citizen, high schools were beginning to grow around the nation in the late nineteenth century. The need for middle-level education came on quick as well. In the twentieth century junior high schools sprouted across the nation. As time passed education of all people became more and more important in society.

When it comes to education in our history, just about everything has been debated. From who should be taught, what should be taught, who should be able to teach, and if education is important. In education's earliest stages people debated that schooling was only to learn to read, write, and the basics of being discipline. The debate about high school education centered around funding. Should higher education use public funds? In the end the need for higher education overcame the debate of if it could be affordable. An ongoing debate in American education was should all people be educated, including people of all races and cultures. This debate was never resolved for many years, discrimination was part of our history it took to he late twentieth century for changes to be made.

Chapter 3: Families and Communities

Resolved: Partnerships between teachers and families can improve the learning of students.


Partnerships between teachers and families play an important role in educating students. Two way communication between the students family and the teacher is important for the parent to help the student at home. A kid is only with a teacher for an hour a day, it's not easy for a kid to learn all they need to know in just that time. teachers should have follow ups or conversations with parents to help in supporting the parent to support the students school work. It should be easy to stay in touch with parents through email and phone. Keeping the parents involved will go a long way and can improve the learning of students. 

Things I Need to Know

I read about four important things that UMF Secondary Education majors should know.

• From the first wiki page I learned that the Praxis I exam is to assess basic academic skills. This is an exam that is required for a Secondary/Middle Education major. I can go to the Center for Human Development for assistance preparing for the test.
• In the second wiki page I learned about how to transfer into a Secondary/Middle Education major. It has strict requirement, but doesn't impact me because I'm in the major already.
• The third wiki page discusses Practicum. Not anyone can be eligible for Practicum. The requirements in order to be eligible are that you must:

• be a Secondary/Middle Education major
• have a GPA of 2.0 (you must have the 2.0 GPA at the time you pre-register and you must still have it before your Practicum semester starts or you will be dropped from Practicum)
• have passing scores on all 3 Praxis I tests
• have completed ENG 100 with a C or better (If there is an extenuating circumstance and you have not taken ENG 100 before applying for Practicum, you can possibly still get into Practicum, however you must complete ENG 100 with a C or better in order to obtain Professional Standing)
• have completed EDU 101 / SED 101 (or 125) with a C or better in each (you can be taking these courses at the time you register but you must have passed both of them with the C or better before your Practicum semester starts or you will be dropped from Practicum)

This wiki was also important for how i setup my four year plan. In addition to practicum which is a 12 credit course, I may be enrolled in a 4 credit course at the same time. Also its important to know that during Practicum you need to be organized with your schedule because you will be busy through the morning until 2:30.

• The fourth wiki page explains the laptop requirements during Practicum. I learned and have learned in the past that schools are pushing technology. Its necessary to meet the technology demand and important to learn as much about so that you can teach with it.