ED460 CLASS BLOG

The teacher panel was very insightful.  They offered many tips that I will hold on to as I enter the teaching field.  These experiences, hearing teachers, counselors, media specialists, and learning from them have been most beneficial to me in this class.  It is interesting to hear what teachers have to say about the problems we only read about.  Also, I like to see that there is no one right way to handle something.  True, some are better than others.  All of the teachers we saw had different philosophies and approaches with there students, yet all seemed to be effective. 


The drug, alcohol, and tobacco topic is always interesting to me.  I think that it is so serious not only because of the dangers that students face, but because of the mindset of our audience.  We are dealing with an age group that is mature, but not always mature in their decision making and reasoning skills.  We are also dealing with age groups of children who value fitting in perhaps more then they value their own health or well being.  I know this is not the case for every students, but for some it is.  It is sad, but unfortunately I think some kids feel this way, and it seems important to remember these things when trying to teach them about good choices.  Because ultimately, that's what life is all about: choices.  For me, personally, the thing I would like to share with my students, is not necessarily just to make good choices, but to understand that EVERY choice has its consequence.  We don't tell students not to smoke and drink just because.  It's because many of them are not mature enough to  make a decision of that nature for yourself.  I have had my chance to make plenty of good and plenty of not so good choices in my life.  Unfortunately, this is a hard lesson to learn, because often consequences of decisions do not appear until later.  However, I will share with my students that they do appear, and that making good decisions today, is not just for today, it will help down the road as well. 

Technology, technology! Where to start.  I feel like many of you have had some great thoughts on this so far.  Like I have commented to some people, and others have pointed out, balance seems to be key.  Like Margaret, I never really considered technology a bad thing in a classroom, but I do see where it could become so if it was overused. 

My feelings on technology are that it can be an amazing instrument in a classroom, like Erin pointed out, it can be a powerful motivator and engage students (which we are constantly told we must do)!  However, I do not wish to be dependent on it for my lessons.  If the technology breaks down (which it will at some time) I want to be able to continue a lesson, even if  I need to modify it, and go on.  I want my students to know where the classroom map and globe are, not just google maps.  I do not want to be so dependent on technology in the classroom, that I am lost without it.  I think it can be such an asset to learning, but I must remain the teacher, and know that I can convey knowledge to my students and teach them without the bells and whistles if I need to.