I am inspired most by being in a classroom of 7-8yr olds their enthusiasm to learn is like a sponge and I draw energy from it I like the look on their faces when they have that litebulb moment I am inspired when someone needs help and I am capable of giving it iam inspired when i start writing and things just staft to flow

earliest memory of writing

I remember my sons' earliest attempts at writing were more pictures tyhan actually words he scribbled he used to write cards in school for me and he was very pleased when i "read" them

Pain

pain sucks pain medication sucks if the meds work the pain is better but I feel tired and feel like i need to sleep alot sometimes the pain wakes me up pain makes me feel angry it makes me mean and mad. I don't want to have surgery because of the pain and the time but I don't want to have pain pain controls me it makes me not me pain is a different person if i could take that different person out and shoot it i would its always thers some days less somedays more I don't care if i get total relief just a lot less than i have when im asleep i don't feel it so i want to stay asleep pain go away pain go away pain go away

Periods of focused studt

Periods of focused study means times when teacher do lots of direct teaching about a subject. subjects sre part of writing can be notebooks. Pitfalls of this might be, students not paying attention as teacher was teaching entire class. I would involve everyone, possibly by doing what we did in class today so I coud focus on a particular subject and hte student's could have more hands-on brains-on participation

I would use periods of focued study in basically all of the subjects in the classroom. Not necessarily every day, but when it becomes important for students to take some time to learn directly. Sometimes it is necessary for students to learn directly so as to get better instruction and perhaps feel free to ask more questions. --Megan.


This is a very important aspect of teaching and I feel that it is necessary in every classroom at least to some degree. However, if this technique is used too much it may become monotonous for the children. There are ways of incorporating this technique with hands on fun activities and that would be the appropriate way of handling focused study in my opinion. I understand that it may not be possible to always make every lesson fun but whenever possible even focused study should catch childrens attention. --Kayla

free write/grammar and writing

grammar scary scary scary its the stuff that makes writing no fun i remember some of the rules i had to memorize otherwise i let others proofread for me i dont like rules whats most important is content i know the rules are necessary I know using ar is respectful of your aucdience I dont like to think about anything but content when i'm writing writing is fun grammar is boring i before e except after c u always follows q i never use enough apostrophe's I don't remmber much else grammar have to take it next semester only thing worse than this that hopefully i can learn knew way to teach than i was taught

Philosophy of Learning (cont.)

I can't imagine teaching any other way. The secret to my success in college has been choice and relevancy. The breakthrough in my writing was a direct result of the Professor who took our interest as students into consideration, once I was able to write about subjects that stirred my passion, I began to understand writing as a powerful tool.
As elementary teachers we have an incredible opportunity to stir passionate learning early and often. It is not the easiest path to take for students or teachers in the beginning. It is a path, however that can create an interest and enthusiasm in learning that can replace the status quo and provide students with the learning experience they deserve

Philosophy of Learning

My philosophy of learning is pretty much based on needing the opposite of what I got. Just to get a little background out of the way; I am fifty-two, working on my certification for EC-6 generalist and graduated from a parochial elementary school 42yrs. ago. You might be asking, what is the relevance of this background info? I mention these facts to give a little perspective of why I so strongly believe in the Constructivist theories of what students need, to learn, effectively. I must say I don't have any current knowledge of teaching practices in parochial schools. When I attended I do remember the instruction consisted completely of Behavioral teaching practices. Due to certain mental health issues I responded well to the rigid structure in the classroom and the ability to memorize, was a skill I believe, I was born with. For me, not being allowed my own choices and being told not only what to learn but how to learn it allowed me to get A's pretty much through out elementary school. This being said the comment from my teachers to my parents that I remember best went something like, If Johnny would just apply himself and and try harder he could do so much better!

Well then came the rest of my pre-college schooling, suffice it to say, I went from As in elementary to graduating 101 out of 102 my senior year. The only class I remember doing particularly well in was Drama. We had an off the wall teacher and the subject matter was just intriguing enough to keep my interest. Looking back I realize that no attempt by other teachers was made to involve, actively, that is, the student.

picture description non-free write

The writing assignment today was to look at a picture of yourself with an important descriptor written on your hand and, in third person describe how you fit the word or how it fits you and then do the same foe some one's picture you don't know. This was a great way to get a different perspective on describing yourself because in third person I tended to think on a broader scale. I wrote somethings to describe myself in a way that made me want others to read it. Writing about someone else just from their picture really made me think of things from someone else's perspective. I had to ask speculative questions of myself which opened another part of my brain and thinking.
My favorite excuse for not wanting to write was always, "I'm a talker, I love to talk, I'm afraid if I talk on paper it won't sound as good." HOGWASH! I can now say after multiple writing classes with some wonderful and some not so Professors. I have come to believe that writing and talking don't have that much in common, especially for me because alas, I must admit I'm famous for opening my mouth first and my brain later. Now when I write it's as if I'm examining things in my brain with a magnifying glass and sometimes even a microscope. If I write about something I've observed I take the time to think more deeply about it. I see it over and over and take it apart and put it back together. I want to describe it so others can experience all aspects of my vision.
My ideas about teaching children to put there thoughts on paper ( my interest is 6-8yr olds)are more about imparting an excitement and enthusiasm of how writing can open up a world of communication to ALL children. It doesn't matter if your shy, quiet, unsure of yourself, unpopular, so on and so on you can communicate with your,friends, parents, even the word through writing. The mechanics are not important at first it has to be about learning how to observe everything in their world, big and small and to get those ideas on paper.

photo descriotion

The key is the ability to observe and pay attention to details. I think non-writers miss alot of things in general our society lends itself to a fast paced non attention to details kind of lifestyle. Writers are able to delve more deeply and concentrate on details