Blog Number 6- What strategies does the teacher use to actively engage the students? How effective are these?

The particular teacher that I had was wonderful at keeping children engaged. Which I knew would be main part of teaching I just didn't realize that with 20 + students keeping everyone engaged wouldn't be so easy. There are just so many different attention spans, work ethics and personalities to deal with.

First of all this teacher kept a CALM VOICE. Even when the kids were acting up a bit or trying to get a rise out of other students. She was the MASTER at the calm voice, and not letting the kids get her sidetracked. The age group I had varied but they were older (5 and 6th graders), and if it was a subject they really weren't into they tried all kinds of excuses to either get out of class or to get the teacher off of the subject. But through it all the teacher kept calm and would redirect back to the project or subject.

Along with staying calm and redirecting she was great at adding specific encouragement. She would walk around the class when they were all suppose to be working on a project. Watching and walking around the classroom was another trick of the trade. Not just giving them an assignment and sitting at her desk. But along with walking around she would say specifics like, " Johnny (Name change), your brush strokes are great try adding some more color" or "Annie, I can see a hint of personality in his eyes, you think if you added some more wrinkles around the eye we will be able to tell what he is really thinking?" By doing all of the above with the personal comment on there work she was able to keep the students engaged in what she needed to them to focus on.

Blog #5- What do you think is the most important role a teacher plays?

We all know there are many different roles that teachers take on to be effective. But the more I think about it , I am positive that the most important role a teacher can play to someone who holds high expectations for themselves and the students.  Is there a one word for that role? High Expectation holder? (no) Motivator (Maybe). But it is more then just motivation, it  is keep themselves and the students accountable for there own learning. The idea of what you put in is what you get out. 

If the teacher keeps there standards high, then the best quality of teaching will be the outcome. Which would be the most nurturing, encouraging and enlightening environment that teacher can provide for there classroom. In turn, by keeping the exceptions high for the students they in turn will rise up to the bar.  There may be the argument that expectations that are high might be too hard, for certain students and/or crush self -esteem. I would rebuttal that a teacher that knows there students will know how much they can handle. With expecting more, I have seen students step up for the challenge. Or not see it as a challenge just something you DO in that classroom.

I had a teach in Junior High who would require us to take notes in a outline formations. For each chapter of our American History books. We outline each chapter subject,  each paragraph was summarized in our notes, We hated it, it was tedious, we complained but we DID IT. What was the result? EVERYONE in the class got B- or higher on the tests. Most of us got A's not because the test were easy but we because we had outlined all of the information and had lectures on the subject, the outlines were great for studying and we just had the knowledge to back up the questions. Even now in college if I am having a hard time memorizing or learning something in a subject I will start doing my outlines as taught in jr high. The high expectation stuck with me and I and many other rose to the occasion.   That is why Motivator just doesn't cut it but having High Expectations is the most important role to me. 

Blog #4 What clerical and preparation responsibilities have you participated in?

As part of my time volunteering at the school. There was an art project that the students were going to work on, I had the wonderful job of cutting long pieces of paper in half in order to meet the specifications for the art project.  It was easy, not complicated but it just took up time. Another time I was the person who hung out all of the art projects on the wall. It was not LIFE CHANGING work, but it was something that took up time, and was nice for the kids to see there art project up on the wall.

     These types of activities take up valuable time but  need to be done.  With all the different roles teachers take one, grunt work is part of those roles. Preparing for a lesson can take more time then actually teaching the lesson. But it is vital to being an organized, well prepared teacher. You will just be more productive at teaching if you take the time to do all the clerical and sometimes mundane tasks.

No wonder teachers appreciates parent volunteers and aids in there classroom.  By being able to hand the jobs off like Cutting paper, Reorganizing an art closet, making copies, running messages ect. the teacher can then spend more time with the students in instruction and encouragement.