Reflection #3

For safety is not a gadget but a state of mind.
~Eleanor Everet

"Safety First!"

That phrase was always spoken during my elementary school days. Growing up it meant staying away from danger, violence, drugs, and checking both ways before crossing the road. As I'm pursuing to become a teacher the word safety has more meaning. Of course they include all of those factors I've mentioned but they include a child's security within the classroom. Whether its physically or mentally. For example, bullying can either be direct or indirect. Teachers have the most important role in a child's life. They spend nearly most of the day with them for about a good percentage of their lives. Teachers need to model safe behaviors in order for children to learn. They can do this by treating every student in the school building with respect. Diversity in the school is very common and respecting each student's diversity will promote to the students learning.
Children need to feel safe physically and mentally. I remember I used to be bullied around when I was younger. Did that affect my learning process? You bet it did! After every class, I was afraid of coming across my childhood bully. I couldn't focus on the teachers lessons because I was trying to think of ways to avoid this bully. Recess is suppose to be the most fun part of the day that every child looks forward to. At that time, I was not looking forward to recess.
So from experience I can honestly say children need to be and feel safe in a classroom. Because it will affect their learning, just how it affected mine. Teachers need to realize what is going on in their classroom. As a future teacher, I want to make sure my students respect each other and feel safe coming to school at all times.

Until next time Blog

signing off.........

Reflection # 2

...TO BE a Mean Teacher? or Friendly Teacher? or Both......?

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Blog Back in session......

Being able to have your students in check can be easy to say but when it all comes down to it, things might be totally the opposite. There has been many debates of a strategy between whether to give a first impression of a Mean Teacher on the first day of school. Teachers would give the impression of a mean teacher. That way students will fear and know that this teacher doesn't mess around. The turning point of this would be when spring semester comes around the teacher would slowly become a friendly teacher and would try to become their friends. Some say it works some say it won't. I personally would like to experiment with this. Just to see if it'll work with me. But to be honest I don't like being a mean guy in general. I like to treat others how I would want to be treated. I guess as a future teacher you kind of have to alter you personality just a little bit just so you can be able to control you students.
However, there are other ways you can do to not be a mean teacher and just use the rewards and punishment system. but the thing is children will test their limits and how far they can get away with things. As a teacher one good thing to know and always do is...............

"BE CONSISTENT with punishments and rewards.
SAY what you MEAN and MEAN what you're gonna DO!
You can be nice but remember to Follow THROUGH!"

That's pretty catchy. I Just made that up just now ;]

Anyways, this will be interesting and I look forward to experiencing this with my class. >]


Checkpoint! Until next time. We will meet again blog!