Ouellette 1

The Times, They are a-Changin'

Do you know how the theory of gravity came to be? It is actually an interesting story. Do you feel that? There is a desire to hear more. This is the feeling I want to instill in my students, a sense of curiosity, and a drive to learn more. As an educator, I know how important it is to make material as relevant to students as possible, and at the same time interesting and engaging. Students do not learn from sitting and listening, but rather speaking and doing. Bob Dylan said is best, the times are changing. Students learn differently and have very different needs than students of the past. As educators, we need to embrace the change and provide our students with the education they want and need. Students need a well-balanced dose of engagement, hands on learning and cooperative learning in order to be most successful. In a science classroom, engagement is crucial in teaching a lesson. Because science can often be an abstract concept for students, it is important for teachers to use hands-on manipulatives or laboratory investigations. Lastly, having students work together to solve problems through cooperative learning is a great way to expand students knowledge further. Most students do not view science as an awesome class where they learn concepts that happen in everyday life; instead, they see it as school, where the have to attend and do work in order to be successful and not get in trouble. This is why engagement is so important. As teachers, we put engagement at the beginning of a lesson. This is terrific, but most teachers then go directly to notes. We as educators view engagement as a step in the learning process when we should view it as an additive to a good lesson. Students need engagement throughout the lesson. When engaged, they retain more and their participation levels rise. There should be continuous engagement throughout the lesson. I remember being a student in middle school and having to take notes from a Power Point every-other day. I learned very little from the notes, but when the teacher brought out something that we could touch or manipulate, my learning as well as my peers learning went to the next level. Hands on learning activities are great for every student, but especially ESL or ELL students. These students often do not understand notes because they do not have the same English vocabulary that other students have. This is why it is so important for teachers to use hands on activities; ESL students may not understand the notes, but when they are able to apply it to manipulatives, they learn the concept too.

Ouellette 2 Numerous studies have been done to tell us what we already know, students learn best when they can collaborate. Collaboration can be done at any part of a lesson, but works best during an elaborate or evaluate stage. Students can work together and through collaborative activities, can correct one anothers misconceptions. Students will also be more motivated because of peer pressure and a desire for their group to be successful. At the beginning of the year, when students enter my classroom, I ask them to express their feelings about science. I want to know what they like and dislike, what they know or want to learn, and what they expect to get out of my class. Most say they dislike science because it is too hard to understand and is a lot of work. This misconception about science is what I try to change by the end of the year. Every child can succeed in my classroom. Most come to class with the attitude of My parents werent good at science, so neither am I. The most important step a teacher can take to reverse ideas like this is to motivate students, encourage them, and teacher them to be proud of their achievements. It is important to teach the way students learn. In a classroom of thirty students, there are 30 different learning styles. It is important to differentiate instruction and assessments so that all students have a fair chance of learning the information. There are several tools I implement in my teachings for my students to be successful. We use graphic organizers, foldables, manipulatives, catchy songs, games, and other resources so that students see the information in a variety of ways. Learning how my kids learn best enables me to be a better teacher for them. To be a great teacher, I strive to develop rapport with all students. This lets the students know that we are there for them, not the paycheck. Some students may have very little support at home, while others have no one to believe in them. As teachers, this is an opportunity to make a difference, to make a student feel important, to change a life. We may not always know what goes on at home, but we can be there for our kids when they get to school. My students know that I am not here just to teach them to love science; I am there because I believe in them. They are welcome to talk to me about anything, and they do. I give kids confidence that they otherwise would have never had. In our district, there is a big push for us to use and allow the students to use technology. Most teachers are having a difficult time adjusting; and although the transition is not easy, it is a fantastic way to teach the kids. When they go home, what do they do? They watch TV or play video games until the late hours of the night. This is how students live, in a stimulating environment, and this is how they should learn too. A classroom that uses books, paper, and pencils is often under-stimulating for students. Technology can be a great interactive tool to get them researching and learning. The times are changing, and the way we educate should be too.

Ouellette 3 One of the most important things a teacher can do to benefit their students is to attend workshops that promote professional development. The way we live and learn is changing on a daily basis; therefore, it is vital that teachers continue to develop as educators. When I was in middle school, the teachers used overhead projectors and transparencies; today, we use laptops and SMART boards. In less than a decade, education has improved dramatically, and will continue to do so. As an educator, I find it imperative that teachers continue to learn and educate themselves so that they are better educators for our children. The times are changing; new ideas and theories are presented frequently, and if we do not seek out opportunities to lean ourselves, we become teachers with out-dated philosophies. My philosophy is evident in my teaching style has had several different philosophical influences. I view myself as part realist, and part pragmatic. Students learn best when they are involved with the lesson and are discovering information themselves. W. Kilpatrick believed that students should do just that, and teachers should be the guide on the side. I built my classroom on the knowledge that students will desire to learn more. I often allow them to further research on their own what they would like to know in addition to the required material. J. Bruners influence in my classroom is evident based on the students learning through inquiry and discovery learning. When writing lesson plans, I often think about how students will acquire and retain the information. I frequently refer to Blooms taxonomy to determine if an activity is worthwhile for my students. I challenge my students through every domain at the highest level possible. I am so grateful for my kids. I am the teacher, but I learn new things daily from my students. I want to be the positive influence in their life that tells them you can do it, and encourages them to be proud of themselves and their accomplishments, no matter how small of insignificant they think they are. I do not want to be the grade giver, but rather the one who encourages the students to do greater things in life. Over the last century, so much has changed, from our education, technology, and resources to student knowledge and experience. The times are changing, and it is important as educators that we change too.