Week 2: Throwback Thursday/ Memorial

This is the 2nd week of classes for both my placement, as well as my college courses. Things are rather rough for me at this week, having learned of the passing of one of my favorite and most inspirational teachers from high school, Ms. Renee LaFever from Kapaun Mt. Carmel. She had a huge impact on my decision to enter the educational field, and helped me truly believe in myself while I was a senior in high school. She was always positive, would give someone her full, undivided attention in a conversation, and was always willing to look over notes before a test or presentation and provide feedback about what I, or any of her students, might have forgotten or might want to consider implementing before turning in the final copy. Ms. LaFever offered me a special opportunity during the spring semester of my senior year, and sent me home on weekends with thick stacks of tests to grade (all in essay format, since multiple choice puts the answer right in front of a student) as a way for me to improve my class grade, since she knew I struggled with test anxiety, especially with in class essays. She truly loved each one of her students, and wanted nothing more than "for college to be easy", and pushed all of her students to their full potential, expecting and receiving nothing less than their ultimate best from each one of her students.

As I continue attending my pre- student teaching placement this semester, and during every semester that I am working in a school , I will carry her memory with me, striving to be half the teacher and mentor to my students that she was to me. I honestly believe that if not for Ms. LaFever, I would not have entered the college of education at Wichita State. She had great faith that I would do well in college, and that I would make a wonderful English teacher. I continue this semester, and all my semesters of college, remembering her great faith in me, and striving to be half the teacher to my students that Ms. LaFever was to each of hers.

Rest In Peace, Ms. LaFever. You will never be forgotten, and will always be loved.

Semester Goals

Over the last year, I have had the opportunity to observe English classes at two different Wichita public schools. During these observations, I have experienced a wide range of skill levels among students, as well as been given the opportunity to put my own teaching skills to the test during lessons. Based on my previous experiences, I have developed the following goals for myself to ensure I succeed over the next semester and year.

For the Fall 2014 Semester, I have set the following goals for myself:

1)      Maintain a positive rapport with my CT

Effectively communicating with those we work with is essential in this profession. When we can bring our minds together to develop and share lesson plans, ideas, and strategies together we can’t help but make a better environment for our students.

2)      Connect with my students.

I have found students will work harder for you when you are able to effectively connect with them. I have seen students who do not like the subject matter still thrive their hardest in class due to not wanting to let their instructor down. This is not to say I want to be friends with my students, but I do want to be friendly with my students and have them enjoy learning in my class.

3)      Acquire more effective lesson planning strategies.

There are so many different ways to approach content and teach it in a plethora of ways. This year I would like to step out of my normal go to ideas and learn more strategies and ways to plan lessons around a text. I don’t want to fall into the same routine with everything I teach. I want to keep my ideas fresh and changing.

4)      Improve classroom management skills.

If students are not behaving and listening in class it is impossible to teach them anything. I want to develop my classroom management skills to always have control in the classroom. I want my classroom to be a fun, safe place to encourage and foster higher learning.

If I can achieve these goals I believe I will take the step in the right direction to becoming a great teacher. Becoming a teacher has been my goal for as long as I can remember and now that I am on the cusp of finally achieving my goal, it seems I have reached the point of fine tuning and narrowing my goals to help try and perfect that overall goal. I can’t wait to start working with my CT to make my overall goal finally come true!

Introduction

Welcome to Ms. Deaver's Daublings! Throughout the following semester (Fall 2014), I will post information about pre-student teaching, to include but not limited to, anxiety's, triumphs, and possibly failures.

I wish my fellow pre-student teacher's good luck this semester! We are almost there!!