Meredith+Lindsay

The first day of school has to be one of the most exciting days of the year not only for the students, but also for the teacher. It sets the standard for the rest of the school year and it is a crucial day that teachers must gain insight to who their students are. It is also important that the teacher sets up a safe, fun, and energetic classroom environment on the first day for students, as well as giving students an idea about who they are as a teacher. I think I would start by greeting my students at the door as they enter the classroom, which hopefully puts my students at ease. At the start of class, I would have a PowerPoint that starts off introducing myself with pictures that show my hobbies and family. This allows students to feel more comfortable with me as they are able to see my own interests. I will follow with class procedures and expectations on the following slides so students have a clear view about how the school year will proceed within our classroom. Finally, students will do a letter activity. The readings mention having students complete a letter to the teacher. The students will answer questions such as, what was the most interesting activity you did over summer? What are you most nervous about this school year? Do you have a particular genre of book you like to read? Where do you find yourself reading? What do you hope to get out of language arts this year? What are some interesting things I may not know about you? Students will construct a letter to me as their teacher that describes who they are and their expectations for the year. This activity on the first day will allow students to find comfort while in my classroom, as well as giving me insight to who they are and what kind of student they will be throughout the year. This will lead up to our second day of class, where we will complete an activity within groups that will allow students to feel more comfortable with each other. Tchudi and Mitchell suggest many ways to get to know students on the first day and it is imperative to create a comfortable and inviting atmosphere for all students. One of the best ways to accomplish this is by getting to know your students, which I will do through the letter.

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 * Timeline Link:**


 * Philosophy of Teaching:**

As far as my teaching philosophy, I want to build a community of learners within my classroom. I feel as though students need to have a place they can come to where they feel loved and cared for as an individual. My philosophy is that teaching should be thought of as a process and as a teacher I have to help guide my students through this process. I definitely have to hold my students accountable for their learning, but I think there are many ways to do this with students. Ultimately, not all students are going to learn at the same rate or even at the same level and it will be my job to accommodate all of my students. My classroom will consist of project based learning, active learning, and inquiry based learning. My main goal is for students to have a curious nature to learn more. Projects will be an innovative way to help students engage in content in a way that is exciting. I want my classroom to be full of active learners that take charge of their education and become heavily involved within the classroom material. Inquiry based learning can help students to become interested about a specific topic, which makes the student want to learn more. Technological tools will also be instrumental to help aid student learning. Technology in today’s world is at the center of many students world. Why not use these resources that students are so involved with? Students will be able to use web 2.0 tools to further their learning of content. We are in the 21st century and we must teach our students in a way that is responsive to a tech based generation. As a teacher I want to provide lesson plans that are stimulating for all of my students and create a classroom environment that is accommodating for all students.


 * Classroom Design:**

My name is Meredith Lindsay and my dad named me after watching a Meredith College. My whole life I have had the great struggle of everyone thinking my last name is really my first. So, I often tell people I have two first names. Meredith is of Old Welsh origin and the meaning of the name is “great noted ruler.” There are many variations of Meredith and oftentimes people misspell my name. My middle name, Grace, has been carried on for many generations. Grace comes from my grandmother, which has much meaning to me. The name claims to mean that people with this name have a deep desire for a stable family and community. People with the name Grace have a need to feel appreciated and have a need to work with others. Finally, Lindsay as my last name comes from Scotland and was seen as early as 1116. As a common Scottish name, the meaning of the name is “linden tree by the sea.” The Lindsay motto is to “endure boldly.” Frequently people misspell my last name as Lindsey. I guess you could say that my name is long and often misconstrued.
 * My Name Identity**

M  arvelous E nergetic R eliable E ndure boldly D  etermined I  ntelligent T <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> ree by the sea <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 18pt;">H <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;"> onorable

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<span style="background-color: #ffffff; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">7th Grade Social Studies. For my unit plan, I will be teaching WWII and I have tossed around the idea of using division as my theme. I am not completely satisfied with this idea, so I am thinking of other options. I want students to compare firsthand accounts written during the holocaust as an inquiry based learning project. Another idea I have is making "foldables", which will have the causes of WWII on the top and when you open this up there will be a definition of the cause and then a picture that correlates with that idea. I would also like to involve some sort of writing activity whether it is writing a letter to a dictator, or to a pivotal person during this time period. I still have a lot of ideas circulating in my head, just trying to flush out exactly what I want to do, since my teacher just changed what I was teaching!
 * Unit Plan Ideas:**

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Where have you gone Nickelodeon? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">A safe place where children may roam. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Endless memories of an unforgettable childhood, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Where slime is the only act of hatred. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Today, these same images are not the same. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Clarissa Explains it All, Rugrats, Legend of the Hidden temple, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">All deceased and converted to our memories. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">How can Spongebob Squarepants every really compare? <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The good old days are turned to dust. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Please, bring my shows back to life! <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">We have no hope, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">No good TV shows, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">And nothing to hold onto anymore.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 14pt;">Where Have You Gone Nickelodeon? **