For my curriculum placement I was at Granger Elementary School in Agawam MA. I got the opportunity to work in a special ed classroom with the wonderful Mrs. Alvord. My field experience this semester I would say has to be my favorite placement yet. Some of the reasons why this is my best placement yet is because first I absolutely love my teacher, the kids have been awesome, and working with them has been so much fun and rewarding. My beliefs about teaching learning were confirmed as a result of this experience with my teacher and the classroom environment. My beliefs that I have had in mind for my future classroom that was confirmed in my placement right now is 1) Creating a classroom environment where everyone is included and treated the exact same way, 2) Getting the time to know your students interests in and outside of the school/classroom, and 3) Installing a love for learning in the classroom. My teacher has created a comfortable classroom environment where I noticed she treats every student the same way and is a believer in all types of inclusion. I have seen her take the time to personally connect with the student and their interests that are involved inside and outside the classroom. Since it is a small group of children she works she said it isn’t very hard getting to know the students on a personal level. My teacher has installed a love for learning by incorporating lessons based off of students interests, she gives all her students positive feedback and promotes
I walked down the hallways, I was quiet and I kept to myself. I desperately needed something my school seemed to lack- personal space. How bizarre of me to dislike being touched by the skin of another student, who were all practically strangers that would come by in waves, or to get hit by a backpack that was poorly resting on some distraught shoulder. Students were quickly filling the hallways, a mob beginning to tear down the walls, making it difficult to see beyond my own two feet. You see, I've come to the conclusion that no matter how quickly I race out of class at the sound of the bell, I always will get caught in the crowd. It's inevitable. Everyone is always packing themselves into the halls, with no consideration for others, leaving little to no space to get by.
Over the past four weeks, our class had an experience gaining, eye opening opportunity that us as a class were able to capitalize on to further our knowledge and experience as teachers. The opportunity for us to work at Birchland Park Middle School over the past four weeks was an irreplaceable experience being able to work with middle school students and working along side such knowledgeable and experienced teachers at such a great school. I can personally say, the feedback that I received from my students as they were learning the content and performing the lesson, the feedback and friendly life comments I received from my cooperating, Ms. Crews, and the feedback I received from Mr. Losee and Dr. Lorenzo, all together was one greatest learning experiences I am able to take away a plethora of knowledge.
Throughout my educational experience, I have endured countless hardships that made progress difficult at times. Although it was a struggle through my strong dedication to education, I have also earned a list of achievements for my hard work. These experiences from, failing two of my English classes, to excelling tremendously in mathematics, have molded me into the type of student I am today. I am a student with a growth mindset and, an optimistic outlook on education and, the bright future ahead. I now understand the impact that a positive mindset can have on your future. I am definitely proud of the student I have become. I feel like my journey is unique, but is also very relatable.
The first class I attended in high school was English, and it influenced my life forever.
“I have grown into a being that is sitting on top of a throne.” Entering school on September of 2016, I started off slow and bad thinking it was just the aftermath from the long fun summer I had. After a few months, my grades began to drop, I was missing school, and I was making bad decisions. Academically and personally, I was digging my own grave without my knowing, but soon I gathered my faults my mistakes and my ongoing issues and tried to start clean. I started to realize more and more as I went through my high school years up to now how important some things may be and how somethings will not matter in the future. My Junior Year I learned to distinguish between what I know will help me in my future vs what will not help me and to remove what will not be important to me. I lost friends, chances, a little bit of dignity, but through the year I learned that it is okay to lose friends, I learned that I will begin to take opportunities that will present for me, and I gained back dignity that was lost. I created a new atmosphere for myself and began to appreciate what really needed to be appreciated. Junior year may have been the hardest year of my whole education.
Surrounded by all of the “Americans” I waved to my mother eager for her to finally leave and let me experience my first day of school. I had waited for the day I would finally be able to speak English, the language that I heard all of the other kids speak at the local park my mother took me to. English seemed like the most mysterious concept for my sister and I. So much so that her and I would start making up words in public, screaming gibberish at each other, hoping that people would think we were speaking the same language as them. Even though I was born in the United States, I was raised as a Pakistani, not an American. There were constant reminders by my parents that I am not an American. So when I was finally able to let go of my mother’s hand and walk off with the American kids into school I had the biggest smile on my face. I was so excited to be able to escape the circle I was in. Being 5 years old did not mean that I didn’t understand I was different. I knew my clothes were different then what the people on T.V. wore;
It was a cool fall day, the pleasant cool breeze against my face, as I make my way down the road to the rendezvous point. I arrive at the high school, and realize I’m slightly early. I put the skateboard on the ground and proceed to attempt to ride it, thankful that no one was there to see. Though I enjoy skating, the point of meeting at the high school was so that no one had to see our novice attempts at it. After five minutes of failing to get the board to leave the ground with me remaining on it, Raith and Mea cross the road just in time to witness my pitiful endeavor.
To say I enjoyed our field trip to Epic Elementary would be an understatement. I learned so much in those two hours, and I have found myself thinking about Epic a lot over the last week. Anytime I attend professional development, I try to take one idea away to try in my classroom. After leaving Epic on Wednesday, I couldn’t just pick one idea. There were so many valuable take-aways from this experience.
In high school I had a best friend name Evenson. I first met him in my English class, when I was in the 11th grade. Evenson was a very good basketball player for our high school basketball team. A 6”2 shooting guard who also seems to be the captain for the team. As the school year slowly passed we eventually ended the school year. The following school year was approaching, I couldn’t wait because it was finally my graduation year. I was academically on track for graduation. On the other hand my best friend evenson was not on track for graduation. He needed help. So he stay after school to get some help from some teachers. It was hard for him because he had to miss some games but he was determine about his grade. A few weeks later he was back on track for graduation. Finally at the day of graduation Evenson said that day was a turning point in his high school life.
It was just another ordinary run-of-the-mill Friday in the bustling City of Hutchinson, Minnesota… or at least that's what I thought as I awoke to the sound of my Mom calling for me to wake up from the downstairs kitchen. The birds were chirping, the sounds of traffic on main street were growing increasingly louder, and the sun was starting to slowly creep above the trees and shine into my small upstairs bedroom. Little did I know that this was the day I would get into a sizeable amount of trouble at school for the very first time. This trouble would not only be extremely shameful, but would also teach me a valuable lesson that would stick with me for the rest of my life.
My family, culture, educational, professional experiences have all been positive. The different teachers that I have had; guided me into considering the teaching career for many reasons. First, my family has guided me, my mom and dad have always found the right schools for me. They have pushed me to do hard things that make me scared. They have had faith in the school’s that I chose were the right choices, and they will grow on me. My cultural experience is also a factor of why I want to be a teacher. My schools have been centered on helping students who have learning differences, so I have always been open about having a learning difference to other people. My educational experience has been amazing. It has been positive for me because the schools I have gone to were safe places that I could be myself. The teachers at my schools made a significant impact on me starting at a young age. The professional experience has been limited but beneficial. I worked at Stratford Friends School; I learned it is so much fun to work with children who were just like me. I love the children and school. I get excited about going back to school shopping. I love to dance in the isles, and I love to look at all the beautiful school supplies.
Hello! Welcome aboard our team! I ‘am pleased to have you working with us. I’m looking forward to seeing you grow and develop at Southwood School. I hope that you find your work to be rewarding, challenging and meaningful. Following is a scheduled agenda for the day. Please follow precisely due to a busy day. Scheduled breaks and lunch are offered. Thank you, Sincerely, Principal Sandell
Ever placement is different, especially when you get the opportunity to work with a special education classroom. For this placement I had the opportunity to observe a classroom with 10th-12th+ grade. The 12th+ means that some of the students, in this case two of them, have already graduated high school and are able to be in the classroom till they are 21 years old. The classroom is a behavioral unit with severe to profound students aged 15-19. During my time in the classroom I got a better insight for the things that I could do in my classroom and the things I will not be doing and do not agree with. Throughout the placement there were times that I had to sit back and bite my tongue from some things I observed. I was able to build a connection with the teacher, Mrs. H, and one of the students in the class, by the end of my last day I was sad to leave.
I think school experience is individual and for many reasons. Mine had good points, rough points and moments where I couldn’t function to even attend. They don’t have the same services that they do now as when I was in school. Many people believe that school prepares you for life and your future. I always felt like school was a place to put kids but didn’t really prepare them for the realities of life.
Introduction There are pictures of me in dresses at five, six, and seven years old and wearing dog prints, denim, and velvet. Did I choose these? I do not remember ever being attracted to skirts and tights. When I was eight, I wore a pair of shorts that my mother had given me. They were bright red and a size large. I remember this because it was such a big deal to me. Girls on television did not wear a size large.