Chapter 4c

          I never knew that so many actions from a teacher could lead to a negative environment. I also didn't realize how much control a teacher has over the classroom and one action can make a huge difference. I do not believe that by one action you will lose all respect from the students and that teachers have to repeat bad behaviors in order for students to distrust and dislike the teacher. I would say that after one bad experience depending on how bad the teacher handled it, will just have to earn back the students good behaviors. This makes me nervous for my first year of teaching, but I just have to remember to reflect on myself and how the classroom is run. I think classroom behavior can also improve if a teacher has faith in all of the students. I want to be a teacher who not only creates the most positive classroom, but also a fun class. It is very hard to balance every students behavior, but if a teacher sticks to the rules that were put in place in the beginning of the year, the students will know the consequences. The teacher should make these rules in the beginning of the year with the students, so the students create their own consequences and are aware of the classroom policies.

Chapter 4b

      In this section of chapter 4 there is a strong emphasis on creating classroom rules and behaviors right from the start of the school year. Early on teachers need to have the students understand what is acceptable and what is not. Students should be aware of how to handle different types of situations such as personal matters and if there are visitors in the class. There should not be punishments for bad behavior rather there should be consequences in order to reach students at a different level. There should also be motivation for students who behave well. Students will learn behaviors from watching others and seeing how the teacher reacts. It is very important for a teacher to think about how they will react and the affect it will have on the class as a whole. There are more serious behavior issues than others and so a teacher must know which behavior the teacher should use for each different issue. Many negative behaviors can arise in a classroom if it is not dealt with correctly and the problems will continue to grow if the teacher does not handle it in the right way.

Chapter 4a

       Making a first impression with students is very important. The students attitude can differ from how the teacher handles the classroom. Different teachers manage each classroom differently which can alter students behaviors and learning. Teachers should create positive, pleasant and challenging atmospheres which allows students to behavior to be better and also learn more. Making personal connections and taking the time to get to know students is as important as knowing the content being taught. By making relationships with students, teachers can understand how the student learns better and also to help out when needed. Having conferences with students and families helps teachers connect to students. I am not sure how professional house visits are, since I would not feel completely  comfortable with them. I want to my students to feel comfortable and confide in me if there are problems going on, especially with the students learning. This can only happen if I create a rich environment for the students to strive in and feel accepted.

Chapter 3

Questioning is so important in the field of education. It is important for teachers to know how to ask questions, but it is also important for students to understand how to ask questions. Answers are also very important when questioning. If a teacher asks a student a question, the teacher can then see how the student responds in order to understand how the student is comprehending the lesson. In the reverse situation, if a student asks a teacher a question, the teacher needs to know how to respond. After reading this chapter I now know how important questioning is. I never knew there were different types of questions and different levels that a question falls into. There are so many different factors that go into a question. A question can change completely by switching words around which can change the way the students perceive the question. A teachers attitude also plays a role in how students answer questions. I know that with practice and more experience, I will become a better teacher because of how I question my students, which will lead to my students to higher levels of thinking and succeeding.

Chapter 2b

There are many resources a teacher can use to enhance the education of the students in the classroom.   Each teacher has their own teaching style, but every teacher should be held to the standard of keeping a positive environment and being a good role model. Teachers must not discriminate students and treat each student equally, helping them individually reach full potential. There are many teachers who do not model the best behaviors which affect the students' behavior and attitude. With all of these influences in mind, a teacher must use resources to their fullest potential. There are some resources a teacher can use that will be very simple and easy, and others have a lot of details to work through and need to really be planned out. Teachers use take advantage of the community and the resources the surrounding community offers, from field trips and speakers to supplies and informational materials. Field trips can be very beneficial if planned correctly. Every thing a teacher plans has a lot of thought and planning that goes into it. Teachers have to think of everything that goes a lesson plan and how the students will respond to it. A teacher has to constantly keep learning. Learning new methods to teach students, keep updated on new technologies and also education as a whole.

Chapter 2a

I never really realized all the little things that go into making a classroom safe. From how the teacher reflects on his/her teaching to setting up the room. A teacher needs to be a firm decision maker when instructing students. Some decisions are instinctive where some are made when planning. This decisions can lead to making the classroom safer as well. A teacher must know all of the schools policies on safety and be properly trained on safety protocol. There are a lot of legal, liability and insurance issues that can arise in a school, so a teacher must be educated on the subject. There are many precautions to take, but they are not surprising because one must go above and beyond to ensure students are safe.

Chapter 1

     In chapter one I realized there was a lot of things that have to deal with middle school and adolescents. First there are different types of school and each have different styles of teaching, so as a teacher I need to be aware of the mission statements and what each school is expecting from me as a teacher. Each school is different, so new teachers should ask questions to colleagues or other staff members. Even if a teacher has been there for over 10 years it is always best to ask others questions if there is uncertainty. Different schools have different schedules for example block scheduling or hidden curriculum. It is very important to understand what each is in order to adjust teaching classes.

     Something that really stuck out to me in this chapter was how important it is to get the students involved. Not only within the classroom and the school, but also out in the community. Giving students leadership roles and having them take on responsibilities can have an affect on students learning. I think teachers need to really create good environments for middle school students because middle school is not an easy time in ones life. Students are not only going through physical changes, but mentally are growing as well. Questions arise and other thoughts or ideas come into a students mind. As teachers we need to understand everything that the student is going through in order to help them succeed. This can be by giving them responsibilities, like group leadership roles and treating them as if they were older, but also giving them time to be kids because they are still growing and a teacher cannot put on too much pressure. There is enough pressure going on outside of the classroom.
Teachers, like myself one day have to take a step back sometimes and remember what it was like to be in middle school again and to think of all the changes these students are going through.