Katelyn+Lorick

Placement: Wakefield Middle School 7th Grade LA: Cindy Killian

ECI 430

8/26/13 After reading this excerpt from Tchudi and Mitchell, I have really began to realize just how important it is for me to make a genuine connection with my students. If I am the person I believe I am, this will not pose as a problem. I tend to understand younger students well. The strategies throughout this excerpt really allowed me to see what are good ideas for the first day, and WHY! Ensuring that everyone is comfortable on the first day is of the utmost importance to me. If a student feels comfortable, they will be more likely to connect with others. The example of the inventories seem like a great idea to me. It emphasizes things about the students that I may not have known, and it allows the student to answer questions without feeling stressed about it. I feel as though letter writing is a way for students to tell the teacher things that they feel the need to tell them, without having to tell them in an awkward situation in which they may feel singled out. On page 89, Tchudi and Mitchell state, "Thus, letters can help establish the tone and atmosphere of the class, since the students feel from the start that what they think //does// matter". What the students think DOES matter to me. I want the students to feel as if the classroom is a comfort zone. Also, purely working in groups of with partners allows students to talk to each other because they "must" rather than having to feel uncomfortable about imposing on their fellow classmates. Learning personalities is going to be a challenge because everyone has their own way of doing things and reacting to certain situations. I want my students to feel as if they can talk to me about everything, even it if is not school related. However, I also want my students to respect me from day one so there will NOT ever be a power struggle. This excerpt really got me thinking about all of the planning I must think about for the first day/week of school. It is exciting to think about, although it is going to be scary as well! It will be important to set ground rules to ensure that students will understand what the expectations are in the classroom.
 * Getting Started:**

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 * My Schooling Timeline:**


 * My Ideal Classroom: (assuming we have 1 to 1 laptops/ipads)**


 * Teaching Philosophy:**


 * Name Narrative: **


 * Name Poem:**

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 * Name Glog:**


 * Thematic Unit Focus:** The Quest for Perfection
 * 1) How do humans cope with an imperfect world?
 * 2) Why do we seek perfection in body, soul, and in our world?


 * Reasons/Student Gain:** My reason for teaching this thematic unit is so that students will understand that there is no perfect. I really think that this thematic unit will hit home for the seventh grade students in my classroom. Some middle school students are pushed to be their very best, while some are not held to an extremely high standard. This will teach students that no matter how hard they try, being perfect is not the goal. They should try to be the best they can be.


 * List of Materials/Supplementary Texts:**
 * 1) Short stories: "The Birthmark", "Eye of the Beholder",
 * 2) TED Talks, NBC Learn, Discovery Ed
 * 3) Weebly?
 * 4) Learner Notebooks
 * 5) Readings for Article of the Week
 * 6) Excerpts from __The Giver__, __A Wrinkle in Time__
 * 7) Guided Questions for excerpts


 * Possible Learning Activities: **
 * 1) Discussion of the meaning of perfection
 * 2) Construct an argumentative piece of writing
 * 3) Dystopia vs. Utopia
 * 4) Debate

Where have you gone dad? Loving the whole family with your whole heart, You are stressed out and busy, You need time to relax and be free. If you take a vacation and have time to yourself, You can stop worrying about me, Or just retire and live your life the way you want it to be.
 * Take a Break**

You've done so much for me, You're the best I could ask for. You've supplied me with everything I've needed But especially with love and laughter.

ECI 445

9/6/13 My online identity is crucially important. Back in high school, and even last year, I was not as concerned about what I posted or said on social media networks because it was for my own pleasure and to communicate with friends. However, now that I will soon be viewed as a professional, I have to ensure that I "clean up my act" in the sense of setting a good example. I never post things that are inappropriate, so I feel as if there would be nothing for me to hide. I really enjoy using social media website because it allows me to communicate with people that I don't talk to regularly. I would love to be able to use a tool like Facebook, or a blog to inform my students and parents of important events and daily updates when I begin teaching! I wish to express myself on my social media networks, usually by posting a picture of my precious puppy. Even though I surely will not be "friends" or "follow" students on social media, I still want to appear to be a respected teacher with valid ideas. It is important that I also appear as a professional to future employers. I wished to be viewed as an intelligent person that keeps up with important educational topics. Bad language or vulgarity has NEVER been a part of my online identity.
 * Write Yourself into Being:**