Learning Letter

I feel that this class has prepared me a lot for my future teaching career. Before this class I had no idea how to really do a lesson plan, let alone consecutive lesson plans. The mini lesson plan, as well as the three-week lesson plan were real eye openers. They were extremely challenging and rewarding at the same time. It felt really good at the end of this class to look back at all we did and realize that I did that. I got up in front of the class and taught a lesson plan that I created, and that I worked really hard, and not only did I enjoy teaching it, but it was well received by my peers acting as students, it felt like such a major accomplishment. I learned a lot about assessment and more about the common core. I also know how to plan for and be successful in the classroom. This was my first education class and I can say that it was really .  I think that my participation in the class has really affected my idea of what kind of teacher I want to be. I want to be the type of teacher that students aren’t afraid to come to for help, and the one whose class they look forward to. The main thing I learned in this class, is that you can get what you need to get accomplished as a teacher and a student, and have fun and make it enjoyable for the students and yourself, school shouldn’t be something that you have to do or go to, it should be somewhere you go because you want to learn and want to be there. This class has prepared me beyond words and I now have the confidence to go into a classroom and teach and know I belong there.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.11-24

TPA Lesson Plan

Teacher:	James Cornelius
Class:	Grade 10
Course Unit:	English
Lesson Title:	Maus I and II creative analysis
LESSON OVERVIEW	Write and discuss the idea of diaries during war time.
	For this lesson the students will be shown a video, and then use writing prompts and then discuss Diaries during and after war time.
STANDARDS	CCSS.ELA-Literacy.RL.11-24 Craft and Structure
	Analyze the impact of the author's choices regarding how to develop and relate elements of a story or drama (e.g., where a story is set, how the action is ordered, how the characters are introduced and developed).
OBJECTIVE	To invoke discussion, based on course material and writing prompt
	Students will be able to identify solid figures by name and describe thier characteristics.
ASSESSMENT/EVALUATION	Discussion and participation

MATERIALS	Maus I and II novel, computer for video and hand out for writing prompt.
	●      Students will have read novel and then they will watch a short video and then be given a writing prompt which will lead to discussion about writing prompt and novel.
Academic Language	Analysis and critical thinking within a text and history.
Connections	Using the text and video, as well as what we know about war time writing
GUIDED & INDEPENDENT PRACTICE	Three writing prompts in a handout, and discussion

CLOSURE	Discussion
	Discuss what students wrote about in Journal entry, as wrap up to lesson.

 And here is a link to the full video of the teaser I showed in class today.

https://youtu.be/E_cpvkIU6IY

Social injustice

I read an article, getting to the root of educational injustice by Jill Anderson. In it she talks about how teachers face a lot of dilemmas such as budget cuts, staff cuts or promoting students they know aren’t prepared to be promoted. She goes on to state that a lot of injustices, because they are backed into a corner where they have to make a decision, and don’t always have the appropriate support. A lot of times educators are faced with a decision that has no real good options. I think that is the hardest part about being an educator in today’s world. A lot of times the options we are given are not always the best options, but a decision must be made. Also the wrong people are in power and making the decisions who have no idea what the right decision should be or is. I think that as educators on the front line. We know what is best for the students and the students know what is best for them and those are the people who should be making the decisions, or these injustices will continue.

Philosophy of education

In this chapter, he Freire talks about banking teaching, and that it is not the solution. I agree with the examples he gives about how how the teacher as strictly a manager and oppressor is not the answer. I like how he gives examples and lists them. It is very straight forward and easy to follow. He talks about how teaching the banker style is not only hypocritical, but does not allow true communication between teacher and student, and the teacher much like the banker, then dictates the learning environment. I think that the teacher should at some times be the student and vice versa, and that a teaching environment should be about learning by all parties involved.

California's Common Core Standards

I enjoyed this handout, I liked how everything was laid out and explained. I like how it gave steps and suggestions on how to apply this in the classroom. When I was an in home tutor for No Child Left Behind, a lot of what was covered in this handout was applied to how I tutored my students. It is important for the student to understand what they are reading, and form an opinion. Sometimes what they get out of a reading is something that you as the teacher may not have thought of, and that’s ok, that’s why I really liked the section about taking a stance. If the student really interprets the reading in a certain way, then they should validate and stand by it. I really thought the whole article was very helpful in the way that it laid out a lot of good ideas and set a solid framework for how students should be writing and reading in the classroom. My favorite section was when they talked about citation and plagiarism and how to cite accurately to avoid plagiarism. I truly think that is one of the most important part of writing academically, and it should be taught as early as possible, because when you get to college you are expected to already have a working knowledge of it, and most students do not, plus there are so many different ways to cite quotes or work studied, that I really feel all methods should be taught starting in ninth grade, if not even middle school. Editing is another thing I feel really needs more focus in schools to prep students for college, editing and drafting in writing is  essential and should absolutely be part of the common core, overall I thought this was a great read and not nearly as boring as I first thought.