Catherine+Hanes


 * Tchudi and Mitchell Chapter 1 **


 * Getting started**:

While reading this first chapter it got me really excited and really nervous about the first day of school! The first day should not only be fun and inviting for my new students but it also has to take a serious tone and set the mood for the class (rules, etc) for the remainder of the year. Finding that balance is something that feeds my extreme interest in finding great ways to start out school and this chapter definitely helped. I am a big believer on really getting to know the students really well the first week of class. This is something that I would like to concentrate on and consider very important; top priority. One idea that the chapter mentioned was an intro letter like we did in this class. It was nice, as a student, to be able to sit down and write about myself so the teacher had an idea. Sometimes growing up I was very shy so having the opportunity for kids who are shy or don't usually get to talk about themselves to talk about themselves. An alternative to this that I would also use is the questionnaire It is so much better than any ice breaker game that might stress students out and also has fun questions to really get them thinking. It is so much more than just "what is something that is special about yourself that most people don't know?"

Further on into the week I liked the use of short story groups-like we have talked about in Dr. Pope's class. This allows the students their own freedom and ability to choose their own books and also have the chance to hear about other students choices. This not only gives me the opportunity to see who they are as a reader but also gets them excited about the books they are reading because they get the ability to share this book and also hear their peers book choices.

Student generated trivia-big believer in having a pretty student run classroom (when acceptable) and this idea would be a great idea to use in the first week of classes. It is also really important to learn the students ability levels very, very early on. once you have those down pat then you know what you can expect from each student throughout the year.

 Again, this chapter did a lot to circulate more and more ideas that have to do with not only the first day of school (super important) b ut also the first few days.

[|my timeline]


 * How to "write myself into being"**

After last week's class, I think that it is important to keep your social life on the internet and every other aspect while being a teacher. Yes, our job as teachers is very time consuming but it doesn't have to be a 24 hour a day thing. Having social media is obviously a very important aspect of ourselves because of our technology-centered society. Just because we are teachers doesn't mean we have to delete our social media and be scared to leave our houses everyday and do something fun for ourselves. That being said, we do have to be conscious of what we put out there. Last class taught me how to keep the happy medium. As of right now, I am slowly but surely cleaning up Facebook (pictures, posts, etc), Twitter, Instagram, etc. The idea of keeping my Facebook and maybe creating a professional Facebook just to give to parents, students, etc and maybe be able to communicate with them that ways but keep it strictly professional (someone mentioned this idea in class the other day). Also, the idea of creating a profile on Linked In, etc would be a smart way. Either way, I do realize that both students and teachers will be looking for me (being a teacher or student teacher) so instead of being scared, just be prepared.


 * My teaching philosophy**


 * learn more than just what I teach them over the year (life lessons, working with others, responsibility, etc)
 * to have a safe and secure learning environment in which my students want to learn and explore in
 * inquiry based learning
 * group work
 * active learning
 * portfolios
 * lots of technology
 * be comfortable but respectful
 * want to make an impact
 * have fun and learn lots
 * My ideal classroom**



http://cchanes.edu.glogster.com/catherine-glogster


 * Unit Plan**


 * Thematic unit focus:** change is a good thing
 * Reasoning:** As a unit on the Middle Ages, Reformation, and Renaissance change is definitely a main theme. I want my students to notice that some changes that were made during this lengthy time might not have been good but to study that change is always important to study. I would love to show them all the changes that occurred in this time: political, social, cultural, etc.
 * Materials:** staying away from boring text books, using primary sources, importance of vocabulary, fun projects, active learning, technology and programs provided by SAS, brainpop, etc.
 * Learning activities:** experiencing the black plague first hand (not literally), building middle age castles and thinking about the geographical features that would help protect it, different types of government, gallery walk of all the artists during the renaissance, write a newspaper article about the new technology invented in the scientific revolution

Where have you gone fluffy bed? All those many hours of watching Netflix and reading books I actually want to read. Your temperpedic matress pad that makes laying down so much better The down comforter that just surrounds me and forces me to sleep because of its warmth When I could just wrap up in my nice down comforter when I got tired, not when I physically crash. But now you are just an image that rubs my exhaustion in my face. You sit there and taunt me and wish that all this school work would go away and I could just sleep. Your fluffiness tempts me to drop everything and just enjoy you and Netflix for the next month and not work on school. Maybe one day we can be reunited.
 * My Escape**