Chapter 3 and 4

These chapters were very interesting and thought provoking as well, which was great. I there were many quotes that I loved and would like to share.

The first quote comes from the very first page in the first paragraph from chapter 3, is says, "a good teacher communicates a deep regard for students lives, a regard infused with unblinking attention, respect, even awe. An engaged teacher begins with the belief that each student is unique, each the one and only that will ever trod the earth, each worthy of a certain reverence."
There are a couple words that really stick with me from this quote. Those words are awe, and reverence. The entire quote is really great but those words stick out the most. Using the word awe, to me, make it so your student almost is on a pedestal of importance. Using the word reverence is a word that you don't often hear in the context of talking about students in a classroom but i think it fits in this case.

The second quote that I love is this,
" No child feels honored if he or she is seen as an interchangeable part-a widget like thousands of other widgets-a nameless entity with no identity outside the classroom and a sketchy one at best inside."
This quote talk about what I feel is the most important aspect of becoming a teacher that students can trust. Students need to feel important not just as a student or as a class but as individuals as well. A child does need to feel honored and not just a widget with not importance.

The third quote says this,
"In many classrooms 'fair' means making sure that everyone is treated exactly the same way....its more productive to think about crafting a classroom in which people work toward making sure each person gets what he or she needs to grow and develop as fully as possible."
I totally agree with this quote and what it means. That is the whole reason why we use differentiation in the classroom, to make sure each of our students needs are being met. If we are treating every student the same and not thinking about each student individually then those students will stay stagnant and not grow or learn in the way that they need.

Sylvia Allan.....God of the Morning Meeting

I would just like to start off by saying I want to BE Sylvia Allan. I have never been so inspired by a guest speaker like I was with Sylvia Allan ever! I was so impressed with her and all of the wonderful tips and ideas she had to give us. She is to firm in her beliefs of creating community in the classroom and what it can bring to everyday classroom content and instruction. Her way of thinking and being so honest and up front with her students is the thing that stuck out to me the most. Her intuition as a teacher on how her students are feeling and what needs need to be met is amazing. There are so many subjects that are taboo with teachers but not with Sylvia Allan. She is so willing to talk and be open with her students. This creates a comfort level with all of the students that could not otherwise be created. Morning meetings are something that I was always open to but I didn't really know much about them or how to run them no less. Being able to see and hear first hand by a wonderful women like Sylvia really helped me understand how important they can be and how many other avenues they can open with the students. I got the feeling that morning meetings pretty much can solve almost every problem that can come up in the classroom. I think classroom management, critical thinking, problem solving, listening skills, being respectful, and even bullying are all things that morning meetings can help with. The classroom community will be there and the students will feel like they have friends and people they trust with in each other and also with their teacher. I am glad that on the last blog I touched on classroom community and the importance of i,t because now I can see that morning meetings can help with community in a non forceful way and the students enjoy it. It is great because it is discrete, you are not forcing students to be friends with each other and play with each other on the playground, it just happens on it's own! I am a huge believer in classroom community and the morning meetings because of Sylvia Allan, and am so happy I had the opportunity to hear from her and all of her wonderful insight!

Chapter 2: Emotions Trump Learning

Emotions trump learning...

This statement really had me perplexed at first. I tend to read too much into everything and really make things more complicated then they really need to be. Just as a student would do if their emotions were effecting their learning! A simple statement such as, "emotions trump learning," can make me feel anxiety and really make a difference in the way that I perform, or in this case what I write on my blog! My particular case has nothing to do with feeling intimidated or scared of a teacher or the comments by the teacher, but it is still is an example of my emotions trumping my learning, or the way I perform. The case of a students emotions trumping their learning in the classroom, is something that happens all too often. When I look back on my favorite teachers I remember the ones that I felt the most comfortable with, in turn, allowing me to learn more effectively. If you think of it even in a college setting, in our own cohort, I think we all feel more comfortable learning and working in a group setting now because we have had two semesters together and we all feel very close and comfortable with one another. One of the most important things to be aware of as a teacher is your students emotions and how they learn best.

Chapter 1

1a.
Tomlinson states that “teachers who are willing to establish ties with students discover new depths of truth each day...”

This quote speaks to me because this is something that I feel passionate about in the classroom. I feel like there is no other aspect of teaching as important as this. Establishing ties with your students helps the learning environment in the classroom on so many levels. If students know you are willing to take the time and establish ties with them and learn about them they are so much more willing to cooperate. Students want to know that their teacher cares about them. in some cases the classroom is the only place that a student will ever feel loved and safe. Making our classrooms a loving and safe place can only happen if the teachers are willing to make those ties with their students. Students are willing to talk if someone is willing to listen. It only takes one or two questions to get good strong ties formed with your students and feel like you are connected with them on at least some sort of level. That connection can grow as strongly as you would like it to, and the ties you make with students will only grow stronger as we as teachers show interest in them not only as students but also as children. Students will put in the extra work and effort for a teacher they know cares about them, they want to be successful and make their teachers proud. It is important to let your students know that you want them to be successful and do well in school and in life.