When I began teaching I acted like I knew everything, and asked for help when I was completely lost. Now I see that I have lost out on many valuable resources. Although I am only in my fourth year of teaching, I still like to act like I know everything just so I can show my students that I have it together. As for science, I would have been completely lost if it were not for my mentor teacher. She had this big binder full of science ideas and lessons. I was able to copy it and add it to my resources. This has allowed me to help others in my building with science ideas.
I have been moved grade levels two times. I began teaching first, then second grade for two years, and now I am back to teaching first. Because of this I really have only been able to talk and assist those two grade levels with science materials. I have gave others incite into lessons, and we talked about what would be ways to expand upon concepts into future lessons. I did have a colleague copy the book from me and she moved schools. This meant she was able to share my knowledge with her next school.
I had though about saying that I would do a science presentation at a staff development, but I am not sure what I would do. If any one has ideas I would love to hear them. My school receives a kit 3 times a year with science materials. This makes having teachers want to expand outside the kits to be really hard. Once teachers see things done one way "the easy way" they usually just go with it at my school because we are loaded down with so many other tasks. I overcome this by doing some lessons not in the kit with another teacher. When they see how much the students enjoy it they usually try to do the next lesson outside the box. Even if it is just 2 lessons done without the kit it is something.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Thomas E. Friedman reaction
All I can say to the article that Friedman wrote is wow. He has it right on many aspects. I agree that we are defined by the steps we take and the actions we make. Our leadership has taken us in many different directions, and now all it seems to be doing is making us more in debt. Many people do not believe we should still be over in the Middle East fighting on a war that has almost lost its point. It has come to the point where it seems education is on the "back burner" and sending troops to fight for "our freedom" is what life is all about. This is clear with all the cuts being made to education, and more troops being sent overseas and into battle.
Friedman mentions how Al Qaeda is threatening to "bankrupt us" (2010). This is happening as we speak; oil costs are going up, our economy is in shambles, and unemployment is on the rise. True, it does seem like we are recovering a little but it is not as much as some had hoped for. Growing up we all thought that by the year 2000 we would be driving around in hover cars and everyone would own a jet pack. Obviously science has been placed behind war. The more guns we have, and the stronger our army is the better.
If we look at education, China is far above us. They also have more advances in technology and engineering. Just look at all the structures in Japan that are still standing after the earthquake. Then compare it to damage that was seen in California after the past earthquake. Friedman put it best when he said that Americans need to look and figure out what should we really be focusing on (2010)? Obviously there are problems here in America we need to be looking into more than the problems that are overseas. They have people who can do that, there should be no reason we are trying to do it all! We need to focus on us and not them. That is the only way we will succeed.
References
Friedman, T.L. (2010, January 17). What's our sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)]. p. WK. 8.
Friedman mentions how Al Qaeda is threatening to "bankrupt us" (2010). This is happening as we speak; oil costs are going up, our economy is in shambles, and unemployment is on the rise. True, it does seem like we are recovering a little but it is not as much as some had hoped for. Growing up we all thought that by the year 2000 we would be driving around in hover cars and everyone would own a jet pack. Obviously science has been placed behind war. The more guns we have, and the stronger our army is the better.
If we look at education, China is far above us. They also have more advances in technology and engineering. Just look at all the structures in Japan that are still standing after the earthquake. Then compare it to damage that was seen in California after the past earthquake. Friedman put it best when he said that Americans need to look and figure out what should we really be focusing on (2010)? Obviously there are problems here in America we need to be looking into more than the problems that are overseas. They have people who can do that, there should be no reason we are trying to do it all! We need to focus on us and not them. That is the only way we will succeed.
On a side note as for Reid, he opens his mouth too often to say horrible things. I tried to get him out, but it was either him or Angle. He was the less of two evils. He makes stupid comments like trying to make prostitution illegal in NV when he has friends who run brothels. If he were to look at the facts, he would see the benefits of keeping it around. Sorry, this was just a side note and he was mentioned in the article as commenting on Obama's skin color. Reid is the least of anybodies concern. There are better things to focus on than him.
References
Friedman, T.L. (2010, January 17). What's our sputnik? [Op-Ed]. The New York Times [Late Edition (East Coast)]. p. WK. 8.
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