Friday, December 27, 2013
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Priorities
It occurred to me last week at some point that it had been awhile since I last posted. Being that I am busy, I decided to put it in the back of my brain and move on. Well I had a little free time tonight and thought I may share some thoughts.
I have been overwhelmed lately with a particular class in school. Geometry, Statistics, and Data Analysis. You are probably thinking, "jeeze I did that in middle school" and you would be right for the most part. unfortunately the thought of, "if you don't use it, you lose it" is true. I had forgotten almost completely everything I had learned up to that point. Added with the fact that the scope of this class rivals any three at a normal university, it made this class very difficult. Studying for the final these last few weeks has quickly become my biggest priority. I have put off many things in my regiment that keep me healthy. You see I am a year away from graduating and if everything doesn't work out how it is planned out I wont be student teaching next fall. I know if it doesn't happen it won't be the end of the earth as I know it. I am just so ready to be done with school and be in my own classroom.
The more I am spending in different classrooms I am starting to realize what I think I want to teach. I have always been an underdog/rise to the challenge type of guy. I figure there are two different types of people in the world, the people who get math, and everyone else. I fall into the second category, but me being the guy I am, I want to teach middle school math. Here's my thought process behind it, if I can understand something to the point of being able to explain it in terms that I understand it, there is a good chance that the non-math brained people are going to understand it too. The math brain people are going to get it no matter what because it is a mathematical concept.
I have spent some time in a teachers classroom where one of my students' is. He is the type of teacher that the kids love, respect, and want to be around. He is also the type of teacher that loves his job and is able to relate to the kids on a different level than just teaching math. The funny thing is, is we went to high school together and probably said 10 words to each other the entire time. Granted I was a dick in high school to most people that weren't part of my crew, but if you have been reading my blogs, you know that people can change. I look up to this guy for a few reasons; he loves his job, he relates to the kids to the point that they enjoy the class, he is deeply passionate about having the kids learn, and I believe although he would never admit it, he inspires them daily. Not to mention the more I get to know this guy, the more I am finding how down to earth and funny he is. This is the kind of teacher and thought process that drives me to get my schooling done and try to be a better educator each day.
I get frustrated sometimes because I know where I work and what I do is what is teaching me to be a better educator, not learning the cognitive brain development theory of Vygotsky or when the text book was invented. I understand though it is part of the process, my dad always used to say, "you have to play by someone else's rules to get where you want to be." Truth that keeps me working towards the finish line in my schooling, the finish line is in place, just gotta put my chin down and finish strong.
As always thank you for being a part of my journey, peace and blessings to all!
Z
I have been overwhelmed lately with a particular class in school. Geometry, Statistics, and Data Analysis. You are probably thinking, "jeeze I did that in middle school" and you would be right for the most part. unfortunately the thought of, "if you don't use it, you lose it" is true. I had forgotten almost completely everything I had learned up to that point. Added with the fact that the scope of this class rivals any three at a normal university, it made this class very difficult. Studying for the final these last few weeks has quickly become my biggest priority. I have put off many things in my regiment that keep me healthy. You see I am a year away from graduating and if everything doesn't work out how it is planned out I wont be student teaching next fall. I know if it doesn't happen it won't be the end of the earth as I know it. I am just so ready to be done with school and be in my own classroom.
The more I am spending in different classrooms I am starting to realize what I think I want to teach. I have always been an underdog/rise to the challenge type of guy. I figure there are two different types of people in the world, the people who get math, and everyone else. I fall into the second category, but me being the guy I am, I want to teach middle school math. Here's my thought process behind it, if I can understand something to the point of being able to explain it in terms that I understand it, there is a good chance that the non-math brained people are going to understand it too. The math brain people are going to get it no matter what because it is a mathematical concept.
I have spent some time in a teachers classroom where one of my students' is. He is the type of teacher that the kids love, respect, and want to be around. He is also the type of teacher that loves his job and is able to relate to the kids on a different level than just teaching math. The funny thing is, is we went to high school together and probably said 10 words to each other the entire time. Granted I was a dick in high school to most people that weren't part of my crew, but if you have been reading my blogs, you know that people can change. I look up to this guy for a few reasons; he loves his job, he relates to the kids to the point that they enjoy the class, he is deeply passionate about having the kids learn, and I believe although he would never admit it, he inspires them daily. Not to mention the more I get to know this guy, the more I am finding how down to earth and funny he is. This is the kind of teacher and thought process that drives me to get my schooling done and try to be a better educator each day.
I get frustrated sometimes because I know where I work and what I do is what is teaching me to be a better educator, not learning the cognitive brain development theory of Vygotsky or when the text book was invented. I understand though it is part of the process, my dad always used to say, "you have to play by someone else's rules to get where you want to be." Truth that keeps me working towards the finish line in my schooling, the finish line is in place, just gotta put my chin down and finish strong.
As always thank you for being a part of my journey, peace and blessings to all!
Z
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