Alexis+Teasdell


 * Salem Middle School**
 * Emily Swanson**
 * 6th Grade Social Studies**

__**Digital Footprint**__

I see the importance of having a mark on the digital world. When I think about having a professional twitter page or a website, I think of the people we study. I think of the people who's theories we study and who's techniques we borrow from. Ultimately, I think, "Why can't that be us?" That will be us. It feels nice to be retweeted by others and to have an opinion that is valued. We have done enough work in the classroom, that we have a lot to offer to the world. It is truly at give/take experience. We can give the newest technques and theories because we're just out of college. We can take by demonstrating our knowledge and becoming well known in the Education Community. Why not use technology to it's full use by getting your name out across the world. Great Experience!

__**My First Day of Classes**__

I envision my first day of class as being a chance to show my teaching style and to learn my students. My theme would be “I’m always ready” which will be posted in the classroom. To start the class I would tell the students that most of the procedures and expectations that we have for the classroom, I follow as well. An example is that I won’t use profanity in the classroom, so students I expect my students not to either. However, I will tell the students, as a joke, if I ever come into class using profanity, they can have at it! I will then have students brainstorm what it means to be “ready” for class. Materials, eye contact, prepared, etc. I would then play a clip from the Kevin Hart stand up where the theme is “I wasn’t ready!” This is a current comedian that many students may know. I will tell them that I understand that these days happen. Then I would have students brainstorm tips to help us so that we’re “always ready!” I will then ask students a series of questions and the answer will be them saying, “I’m always ready!” The questions would be, “If I’m handing you a test, what do you say?” “I’m always ready!” “If the homework assignment seems hard, what do you say?” “I’m always ready!” Hopefully this will make the students feel good about themselves and set an enthusiastic and responsible theme for the year.

[|Timeline of Highs and Lows]


 * __My Philosophy of Teaching__**

My philosophy of learning is that although it is important to teach information it is equally important to teach views of self that lead to resilience. Resilient students can function in all environments and still be successful. A teacher may have an outstanding year with their students but if they don’t instill resilience in students then they may not be successful in future classrooms. Teachers can teach resilience by using the same factors that can hurt a student, but in a positive way. For example, a student may learn vicariously through another student that bad behavior makes one cool in school. A student can also learn through another student that working hard can lead to success. In my classroom in the future I plan to focus on building resilience as well as teaching information.

Our ultimate goal as educators is for our students to reach their full potential and to become productive citizens in society. As educators it is perceived that this is just a job of academics but it is so much more. Even for a student to reach his or her full academic potential, they must reach a level of adaptability to circumstances and environments that can hinder learning, resilience. It is equally, if not more important to teach students skills and build positive view of self in students eyes that build resilience. For many students before they are able to attempt success academically, they have many hurdles that may harm their success. One significant factor in a student’s academic success is stereotype threat. If a student is apart of a demographic that is viewed as inferior in certain categories, they may not perform as well or even lose interest. This normally harms women in Math’s and Science’s and African-American’s and Hispanics on standardized tests. Although, those are some of the more highlighted demographics, stereotype threat may affect males in the humanities, or other races in what may be viewed as something they wont do well in. By teachers building resilience in students by building a high self-efficacy, they are giving these students more of a chance to succeed. Outside of the demographics students represent, there is also the high level of influence a student’s environment plays on their ability to learn. According to the theory of Social Constructivism, learning can not be separate from it’s social context. The environment that a student is can set them up for success or failure. According to Vygotsky, each environment has systems and tools that help them communicate and work together. The most valuable tool is language. As our classrooms become more global, students may enter the classroom speaking another language. If a teacher first instills resilience, it will be easier for these students to succeed in the classroom. The environment that a student is in also affects what information the student takes in during sensory memory. Students learn a lot of information through observational learning, rather it be vicariously, or from a model. A teacher may do an amazing job giving a student all of the information they need to learn in a class, but in American classrooms, each year students have new teachers. Many classrooms are ran by the Master/Apprenticeship Model, in which there is a teacher in charge and the students learn from that individual. If your student encounters a teacher who does not encourage them to be their best, or puts students into categories, they won’t be able to succeed in that classroom without resilience. Some teachers teach based off of the theory of multiple intelligences, and although this theory was not meant to be used in the classroom, teachers sometimes place students in categories due to this view. Learning preferences, formally known as learning styles can affect how a student grows in a classroom. If a teacher labels a child as a kinesthetic learner, that student may believe that if an activity isn’t hands on then they wont be able to learn the information. The case may actually be that that student prefers to learn using hands on activities but is still able to learn visually, or even auditory. In order to build resilience teachers must build a strong self-efficacy amongst students. Students must believe that they can be successful in whatever their task is. This would help weaken the effects of stereotype threat on students because they won’t feel as if the task they are approaching is something they won’t be good at. The best way to build resilience in a classroom is to use the same tools we use to teach information, scaffolding, and assisted learning. First give students small tasks and activities to show that they are smart and have the ability to be successful. Soon, after a student has seen that they are capable of success, you are able to let go and watch them succeed. Students may even learn vicariously through a student that struggles in the classroom and soon succeeds on a test or a problem that they normally would struggle in. That may establish a sense of hope in other students. Overall, it is just as important that a student leaves a teachers classroom with resilience, through a strong self-efficacy and self-concept, as it is for a student to leave with information in order for that student to succeed in a world full of obstacles. Resilient students can overcome the obstacles of stereotype threat, unsatisfactory teaching and difficult environments and still reach success, which I feel is the ultimate goal of teaching.

__** My Future Classroom **__



Alexis- Defender, Helper





They call me Alex Alexandria Sometimes Alexia It’s not the same That’s not my name! That’s not my name! That’s not my name! That’s Not My Name!

They call me Truesdell They call me tisdale My name’s not Ashley Forget her fame That’s not my name! That’s not my name! That’s not my name! That’s Not My Name! They write Jacoby Is that a guy name? It’s not a “Y” Name Is what I say! That’s not my name! That’s Not my name! That’s Not my name! That’s Not My Name! I live with Elexus Also Alexys the same apartment not the same name That's not my name! That's not my name! That's not my name! That's not my name! Don't Ever Call Me Alex

THAT'S NOT MY NAME

1) Thematic Unit Focus- Overcoming Circumstance 2) I know that not all students are living in the best circumstances or are at the best school. Part of my philosophy of teaching is that I believe that teachers should teach their students how to be successful beyond their classroom. This was based on the concept that although this may be a good Language Arts/ Social Studies year, next year may not be. Regardless of the circumstance I want to help students overcome them. (Underlying theme: The Value of Education)

3) a list of materials and supplementary texts Autobiographies: Gifted Hands, The Pact, The Outsiders

4) a list of possible learning activities: What are some obstacles students face today: Short Lunches, Boring Classes, Too much homework etc. And a video on ways to overcome it.  Inspirational posters (Unit on persuasion and visual literacy)  Research a famous person or family member and write a biography (Primary Sources) (Inquiry)


 * Where Have You Gone? (Last Option) **

Where have you gone?

Time

Where have you gone?

I’m at a height in my life

And I’ve waited so long

Waited to be successful

Waited to own it.

If only, If only,

I had cherished the moment.

Cherished the discovery

Cherished the excitement

Cherished being at state

With the hopes of enlightenment

Cherish the confusion

And figuring it out as a unit

So much passion

Who knew I would lose it.

Time, Time,

Where have you gone?

I wish I could run as fast as I can west,

To regain the time

Place manacles on the wrists of the hands that dictate the chime

Put a stop to the toc

To stay where I am

Plead with the hours

Do whatever I can.

I would go to the land of lost time

And grab all the seconds

Place them in my pocket

Next to all my lessons

Next to all my dreams

And hold on to them forever

A woman can lose anything

Money, her way, or even her mind

But no one, not no one,

Can regain time.