Week VI: The Finale
Week 6 is finally here, and just like this entire Adult Studies Program, everything has gone by in a flash. So much useful and interesting information has been learned. Before we know it, we'll all be instructing classes of our own! In this class, there are three things that have really stuck with me.
Leadership is all important, middle school students need a more stimulating curriculum and that the home and community life of a student are all important. For my first point, leadership, it starts from the top with administration. If they create an atmosphere that is beneficial to the teachers, rather one of fear and intimidation, it then creates a better atmosphere for the students.
Stimulating and interesting coursework is a must for junior high students. A teacher once told me, "their attention span, in minutes, is about as long as their age". My readings in the AMLE texts definitely backed that up. Lessons with more hands-on activities, participation and relation to their everyday life prove to be very effective, as compared to previous, traditional teaching methods.
Finally, the relationship of students and their out-of-school lives is all important. Student tend to achieve more academically if their parents are involved in their education and the opposite also reigns true. As a teacher, we must try our best to incorporate both of these elements to maximize a student's academic achievements. All of these things that I've learned in this class will be incredibly useful, going forward in my career as an educator.
Leadership is all important, middle school students need a more stimulating curriculum and that the home and community life of a student are all important. For my first point, leadership, it starts from the top with administration. If they create an atmosphere that is beneficial to the teachers, rather one of fear and intimidation, it then creates a better atmosphere for the students.
Stimulating and interesting coursework is a must for junior high students. A teacher once told me, "their attention span, in minutes, is about as long as their age". My readings in the AMLE texts definitely backed that up. Lessons with more hands-on activities, participation and relation to their everyday life prove to be very effective, as compared to previous, traditional teaching methods.
Finally, the relationship of students and their out-of-school lives is all important. Student tend to achieve more academically if their parents are involved in their education and the opposite also reigns true. As a teacher, we must try our best to incorporate both of these elements to maximize a student's academic achievements. All of these things that I've learned in this class will be incredibly useful, going forward in my career as an educator.
Jay,
ReplyDeleteI am on board with everything you found to be important for middle school education. Coursework has got to be stimulating for these students and thus, the leadership must encourage it. Everyone must be on board and together in wanting to encourage student achievement. Great points my friend!
Jay,
ReplyDeleteI absolutely agree with all the important factors you pointed out. Additionally, I would add that this course gave us a better understanding of all those components, as well as ways to design our classroom and lessons in accordance with those values.
-Lisa P.