Part 3: Reflection is good for the soul

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog.

The beginning of this year I had no idea what I was in for, all I knew was that I wanted to be in something that involved kids. I never imagined how much of an impact this class would have on my future. I have now decided to go to UNT and major in education because of this class. I hope that in 25 years I can still be able to say that teaching was the right choice for me. In my classes we just said some goodbyes my plan is to go back sometime next week to have time where I can tell them how much of privilege teaching them was (all my classes were testing..). Knowing that I will not be able to see those kids every week is a little heart breaking but, the memories I have had with them will last a life time. 

Part 2

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog.

Dress code violations: 

I chose dress code for this blog because it has been a huge problem this year. People were constantly taking advantage of the fact that their every move wasn't being watched by a teacher. To me this gave the program a bad reputation. I also feel like those who never followed dress code,from what I saw, got off too easily and never got the message. I would enforce the dress code by having the bus driver or another student on each bus be responsible for checking everyones outfit. They will be responsible for letting me know, and the office as well, that this student will not be attending their site school. 

Rules:

1. You may wear jeans and khakis.
2. You may dress professionally, as long as it is appropriate.
3. NO skirts above the knee.
4. NO boobs, butt, or belly.
5. NO tanks.
6. NO open toes shoes.
7. NO high heels.
8. Don't look like you crawled out from under a rock.

Discipline:

If you are in violation, it is an automatic trip to the office for ISS while others go to their site school.

As for the consequences...

1. First offense- You will get a warning.
2. Second offense- A detention and you cannot go to your site school for a week.
3. Third offense- No two detentions and no site school for a month.
4. Fourth offense- No sight school for the remaining period of time in the class. Not able to go on field trips.

Part 1

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog

TEKS- 

(1.7) Measurement. The student directly compares the attributes of length, area, weight/mass, capacity, and temperature. The student uses comparative language to solve problems and answer questions. The student selects and uses nonstandard units to describe length. The student is expected to:

(A) estimate and measure length using nonstandard units such as paper clips or sides of color tiles; 

Link to activities: Measuring activities

The students will be required to measure different objects with different tools to show that not everything is the same. It will help improve their skills in estimating and see how accurate they can be.

Senior Year 2012-2013

In response to Mrs. Steven's blog.

Thank a Teacher!

In response to Mrs. Stevens' blog 

http://youtu.be/niwmohoLnhk

Dear Ms. Neighbors, 

     You have probably heard all of this before, but here it comes again. I don't think you will ever realize how much of an impact you have had on so many lives. Your passion for what you do is such an amazing thing for me to witness. I don't think I have ever known someone who has taught me as many life lessons as you have. This year I didn't quote you because the things you said were funny... although most of them were. I quoted you because I don't want to forget the insightful things that you have instilled in me. You have changed me for the better, and for that I am eternally grateful. Thank you for passion, commitment, and enthusiasm throughout the years. Thank you for never doubting us and for encouraging us to go beyond what we thought were possible. Thank you so much for everything.

Sincerely, 

Isabella Lacaze

Parents

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog.

1. People consider doctors, lawyers, and business man professionals. They go to college for years and come out knowing just about everything there is to know their field of interest. Yet most people consider teachers below those professions on the hierarchy of the work force. But when you think about teachers are the ones who taught all of the other students who eventually went on to become the people you see today. If it wasn't for them your student might not have succeeded as much as they did. When parents decide that teachers opinions are invalid or ridiculous it causes their relationship to crumble. The only time a parent should challenge a teachers comment is when they are concerned about their student or the accusation seems completely out of character. Students should always take responsibility for their actions no matter what the situation. It teaches them to take care of business and raises their maturity level.

2. Parents should never make up excuses for their child just because they don't want to be the "bad guy". They should show their child that in the end it was their choice to stay up late or wait till the last minute to do their homework. You are teaching your child that every choice counts and in the end it will better the child when they go off to college and eventually get a job.

3. If a student is not forced to take responsibility for their actions, then eventually they will just assume that taking responsibility is not of importance. This could affect them when applying for jobs, college, and simple things like house work. They will become dependent and never be able to do anything for themselves. This is why you must push each student and never let them think it's okay to not take initiative.

You must trust the teacher because not every teacher is our to get your student or give them grade they don't deserve. We only want the best for students if we didn't why would we waste our money on a four or more year long education to become a teacher. Let's think about this, maybe we're not the ones you need to be second guessing.

Creativity Counts.

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog.

Do you ever find yourself doodling on a piece of paper? Tapping your foot to music or sometimes even silence? And no matter how good or bad it is in that moment you are the master of your art. This is your creativity flowing out of you. Creativity, I believe, is the part of people that they're not afraid to be wrong about. It's something that comes naturally. We use it to express our feelings that we can't express regularly. For example a dancer, the emotions they cannot express with words are expressed through their movement. Creativity is a huge part of education. If students weren't allowed to use creativity they would never learn how to express themselves. Without creativity it would be constant structure and by the time the children became adults they would be no different then robots. Well not really but, it makes you understand the bigger picture of how creativity works in our world. The best way I can describe creativity is to imagine a crinkled piece of paper. Imagine that paper going through life, and getting pressed into perfection. This is how we work out the creativity in children today. The way we can insure that this never happens is to embrace every persons view on things. Never squash their creativity by telling them that it's the wrong way just because it's not the way you did it.

Appearance counts!

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog. 

Dressing unprofessional can make the biggest difference on whether you get the job or are passed up. It can make people think you could care less what people think about you. In that case why would they want someone who could care less about their appearance working for a company that does. It can make people believe that you are not qualified for the job because of the way you dress. Most clients would pass on your advice and could make co-workers think less of you. It would just be the better option to dress like you care about what others think.
What to wear.                                 What not to wear.
 

Storyboard Lesson Plan

Create a Copy

My glog blog

5th grade history
http://s7jtu8o.edu.glogster.com/isabellas-5th-grade-history/

My First Semester as a Teacher

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog

My first semester as a teacher was a great experience for my teaching career. I intern at Holiday Height Elementary School under Mr. Briggs, who teaches 5th grade and Mrs. Fitch, who teaches 1st grade. 

During my time at my sight school I spend the first 40 minutes in my 5th grade class while they are learning about American History. Once my time is up in my 5th grade class I go to my 1st grade classroom where they are practicing their math skills. 

My first day at Holiday Heights Elementary I was extremely excited, when I walked into each classroom the kids were very welcoming and excited for me to be there. This semester I am looking forward to learning more from my mentors and from the kids. 

My plans for the future

In response to Mrs. Stevens blog

 

1. I want to be more efficient in class during the second semester. In order to be more efficient in class I will need to spend less time on my phone and be focused on the task at hand. By focusing my time on what needs to be done, my grades will hopefully improve, not that there horrible it would just be nice for them to all be A's. If I learn to be more efficient in class it will help me while I'm in college and I will have a less stressful second semester.
2. I want to learn as much as I can in my internship during the second semester. In order to learn as much as I can I must ask questions about things that confuse me and to try to absorb everything I can. By absorbing all I can it will give me more insight on how to be a better teacher and prepare me for my own classroom.
3. I want to be excellent in everything I do during second semester. In order to be excellent I will have to be determined to do whatever it takes to achieve my goal. By having determination it will help me accomplish anything I put my mind to. If I am excellent in everything I do it will it will become a habit that I will use throughout the rest of my life.

Thought About Reading

This year I have found the joy of reading a good book. The unfortunate part is that it only took me 18 years to figure that out. When I was a kid there was never any real reason for me to spend 20 minutes a day reading, but I wish that there would have been. It could have improved so many things that would've made a huge difference now. As an intern, I can tell which students read and which don't, you can tell the most when you're talking to them. The ones who do use more sophisticated words and putting a sentence together is much easier for them. After reading this article I realize how important reading could be and will now make it a priority to read.

Solutions

In this world there is violence, unacceptable violence that seems to pour into our everyday life without our consent. The violence ranges from verbal, to thoughts, and more often then it should physical. Unfortunately the only guarantee we have in preventing violence is to know that we have control over ourselves to not to make decisions that could potentially hurt others. We can not determine what others will think of or do, and we can not control what they feel. Therefore there is always going some one who takes out their anger and frustration on others. I believe the only thing we can do to protect our schools is to make them like a jail. Barbed wire gates, guards at the front door, no one comes in, no one leaves until schools over, and i.d. pictures worn at all times. I also believe that school should be a fun place, an escape from the outside world. Not a cage where you're constantly reminded that someone at any point in the day could come in and do damage. So the real question is "do we want to caged in or thankful that nothing happened today?"

Are You Pinterested in Resources?

  NAME- Ms. Cassidy's
WEBSITE- http://mscassidysclass.edublogs.org
DESCRIPTION- This blog is all about creativity in the classroom! It has great ideas for holidays and has good ideas for the smart board. This is a perfect blog for teachers who like to be active constantly.

NAME-Cool Cat Teacher
WEBSITE- http://coolcatteacher.blogspot.com
DESCRIPTION- Cool Cat Teacher has brilliant ideas for technology in the classroom. This blog has multiple blurbs on how this technology can be used.

NAME-Teaching Literacy in the Early Years
WEBSITE- http://teachingliteracy.global2.vic.edu.au
DESCRIPTION- This blog is mostly about how to use literacy. It also has different ideas on how to use ipads for activities. She also goes deep into detail about why you should you use something and why not, it is well thought out.

NAME- Stephanie Kelso

WEBSITE- http://pinterest.com/pin/122863896055139759/
DESCRIPTION- This pin is an example of how you can make vocabulary effective in the classroom. Having them define the word, draw a picture to represent it, and having it spelled out really helps the learning process.

NAME- Christy Pohlkotte Thompson

WEBSITE- http://pinterest.com/pin/186055028327412466/
DESCRIPTION- This pin is perfect for kids learning how to add and subtract. It uses the dots on legos to give visual aid to students. This would be good for first grade and maybe a refresher for second grade.

NAME- Megan Kegerries-Buzard 

 

WEBSITE- http://pinterest.com/pin/123778689729088458/
DESCRIPTION- This pin is all about learning how to sound out words and the spell them. It helps kids put two and two together. This would be perfect for first grade.