Blog 4 Assignment

This week’s lesson focused on being relational as a teacher. What does this mean, you ask? Well, simply put, being relational as a teacher means connecting with your students in a positive manner and thereby establishing a positive relationships. Until the students have this positive relationship with the teacher, they will not focus. As a result, if children do not focus, they will not learn in the classroom.

There are several ways I plan to interact with my students to accomplish this. I plan to communicate positive expectations. By communicating positive expectations, as opposed to negative ones, children will be much more receptive to learning and even me. For example: “This will be an exciting class, and you are going to have the most memorable year you have ever had; as a result, you will do very well,” sounds much better to students than, “No one in this class will earn an A. I will make the work too hard for you to do.” Students who are intimated by the teacher’s demeanor from the get-go will not want to create a positive relationship with that teacher; the students will ultimately dread coming to class and being around the teacher.

Another way I would like to facilitate a positive relationship with my students is by displaying their work around my classroom. It will show them that I care about their work and take pride in it. Ultimately, it shows that I care about them. Showing an interest in their personal lives, listening to them, and empathizing with students are another way to show that I care about them as people. Caring ultimately builds rapport with them as well. Questions about the students’ personal lives could involve the hobbies or recent trips they took.

Lastly, while there are many, many ways to build a positive relationship with my students, having fun with the students in the classroom is one of the most important (in my opinion). If they feel I am too serious all the time, this may become intimidating to them. Intimidation could cause retreat and they may not learn as well as they could.

Overall, positive relationships between students and teachers are incredibly important if classroom and school success is to be achieved.

Blog 3 Assignment

This week I learned the importance of attention and emotions when it comes to student learning. There are several ways this information will impact me as a teacher. Firstly, I’m aware that it won’t be unusual to encounter a child who may have an attention problem. As a result, it will be beneficial for me to know the warning signs of attention problems. The most important thing for me to remember is that a child who has attention problems will usually exhibit them in multiple settings. If the child only shows the symptoms in one particular setting, such as when studying math or reading, the child may not have an attention problem. Rather, the child may simply have trouble with that particular subject matter. If I suspect an attention problem, it is important to notify the parent right away.

Additionally, I realize that it will be important for me to have ways for children to get their emotions in check. Emotions can provoke stress and if children have creative outlets to deal with their emotions, their stress levels may be reduced. Games, humor and acts of caring can help emotions as. In addition, it is always important to make sure children have ways to de-stress prior to learning new information. Stretching after l ong periods of sitting while I teach can greatly help a child. Additionally, journal writing to reflect on the information they just learned may help. These types of activities can help promote a healthy environment within the classroom. 

Blog 2 Assignment

This week our lesson focused on how vision and hearing can greatly affect a child’s ability to learn. I learned that vision and hearing problems need to be detected as early as possible so the child’s development is not impacted. Additionally, I learned the signs and symptoms of visual and hearing problems and ways to stimulate both. All of this information for be of use to me in the classroom in several ways.

Regarding the signs and symptoms of vision and hearing loss, it is important to be aware of them so that I may alert the child’s parents as soon as possible. If the problems are corrected as soon as possible, the child can be well on his way to excelling even more in the school environment. Being unaware of the symptoms of vision and hearing problems would be a great disservice to my students, as he or she would undoubtedly suffer academically or even socially.

As the daughter of a deaf parent, I know how hard it is to communicate effectively with one another. A person who can hear perfectly fine needs to exhibit a great deal of patience in communicating with the individual who has the hearing loss. My father has cochlear implants in both ears, but still cannot hear as well as he would like. In fact, he tells me our voices sound like robots and he has no way to distinguish between male or female especially if they are in the same room. Knowing there are children who wear cochlear implants, this will help me in the classroom because I will know how overwhelming the environment may be. Additional, help may be required for this student.

Knowing how to stimulate the vision and hearing of younger children, especially if I work with infants, is important. Their brains need to “catch up,” if you will, and learn to make sense of sounds for specific animals, vehicles, and the various objects that make up our world. Exposing them to various sounds and sights through games and music will greatly benefit them. 

Blog 1 Assignment

Assignment: After watching the videos on brain architecture, plasticity, and understanding the impact of the environment on a child, how does this information impact you as a teacher?

I learned some very useful information during this week’s readings about how the brain develops for children, what can impact brain development, and how long it takes the brain to fully mature. All in all, this information will impact me as a teacher in two major ways.

The first way it impacts me as a teacher is the fact that I have to be aware of how much a child’s brain does grow and develop in their formative years. Much of how I conduction my learning in the classroom will have to be thought of with this information in mind. A subcategory includes the fact that each child develops differently. Therefore, what works for once child may not work for another child. Variety will be a key factor when creating my school environment and lessons.

The second way I think this information ill impact me as a teacher is whether or not a child has a sufficient foundation for his or her brain architecture. If the child, especially one in his or her teen years, does not have the adequate foundation, their development could be inhibited even further. These rocky foundations are extremely difficult to correct. Thus, issues will undoubtedly arise both inside and outside of the classroom. I will have to this child in a way that assists him or her greatly.

Overall, children’s brain development and education are directly related and we, as teachers, must keep this in mind when teaching these students during their formative years.