Essay

Name: _____
Section: ECH 331. ____
Fall 2015

# 1 Learning Center Activities (LCAs)
(20 points)

HINT: DAP/ Program Goals/ LCAs/Types of LCAs/Assessment /Whole Child/Curriculum/Blooms

Think about it: Why should the administration of your school support the use of learning center activities in your classroom of young children? 

Scenario # 1: You were hired in June to teach first grade.  It is now August and the principal that hired you has now been moved to another campus.  It is 5 days before school begins and the new principal is standing at your classroom door.  He/she wants you to explain your lesson plan that includes learning centers.  What will you say to explain and justify LCA?  How to LCAs fit into the overall curriculum of your classroom.  (Be sure to include at least one theorist to help support your views.)

#2 Math for Young Children
(20 points)

HINT: Math ALL day and ALL Kinds of Math / Whole Group / Math Activities for Younger –Older/ Math Center/TEKS

Think about it: What will you say that will allow the interview team to know what you believe about how young children learn math?  They will want to hear both big ideas and specific ideas.

Scenario # 2: You are interviewing for a classroom position for PreK, K, 1^st, or 2^nd grade. The interview committee asks how you would teach math in your classroom.  What would you say? (Be sure to include at least one theorist to help support your views.)

# 3 A Learner Centered Classroom
(20 points)

HINT: The Entire Learning Environment /Teacher Roles / Classroom Management /Teacher Language /Transitions/Planning & Scheduling

Think about it: What are some things you think might help you if you were having problems in your classroom?

Scenario # 3: You are advising a co-worker who is struggling with the children in her classroom.  As you listen, you are noticing some things she/he may be missing in his/her classroom.  Talk about your feelings and understandings of your role, as a teacher, that could help your co-worker to create a learner-centered environment.  (Be sure to include at least one theorist to help support your views.)

# 4 Teacher / Parents
(20 points)

HINT: Teacher Roles/Parent Involvement/Curriculum & Planning/Attitude & Work Ethic

Think about it: How will you communicate with parents, how will you deal will ALL parents? What kind of teacher will you be?  What is your work ethic? How do you engage/enhance student learning?

Scenario # 4: You are at the end of your interview. The last question, from your interview team, asks you to paint a picture of the kind of teacher you see yourself being --- with your parents, students, administrators, and co-workers. Why should we hire you? (Be sure to include at least one theorist to help support your views.)

# 5 Important things to remember!(This question is in 2 parts.)
(20 points)

Part 1 (YOU THE TEACHER)

Think about it:List at least 5 characteristics, strategies, methods, ideas, etc., that at this point in your understanding, will be a part of your classroom of young children. BRIEFLY explain and justify them.  If you will not be teaching…what kind of teacher do you want your own children to have one day? OR How will you integrate the methods into the field for which you are pursuing.

Scenario # 5:  It is 2 years in the future and you have been hired. What will be 5 things you will never ever forget as you begin your teaching career? (Please Number Them)

1. I would want the teacher to be an advocate for my child.

2. Accommodate not only my child but all students’ individual needs.

3. I would want that teacher to be passionate about the job, because teachers do shape the children’s mind.

4. Ensure the safety of my child with a teacher because that teacher is their second mom.

5. Recognize that my child is smart and not only see her failures but also see the potential the lies in her. I want that teacher to reach in and pull it out and help her grow.

Part 2 (YOU THE LEARNER)

·        How have you grown this semester, as a teacher candidate (a person), at SFASU in ECH 331?   What do you do well?  What things do you need to improve on?  

·        I do not want to hear about content related ideas here…You told me that in part 1.  Think about your personal growth, professionalism, communication and working with others, organizational skills, ability to follow directions, ability to be responsible and keep up with assignments, grammar/writing skills, time management, etc.

Self-Reflection: (YOU THE LEARNER):

I’ve learned a lot, as I’ve stated before I applaud teachers because it is really hard work and dedication. Before this class when I thought about how a classroom should look I saw students in desk facing the blackboard listening to the teachers teach. As you know this isn’t my major and I feel like I could use learning centers in my field. I could use different centers to target the different types of disorders I would have in a case load. In my field there is variety and I plan on working with children in my field and as you know teachers and speech therapist work hand in hand. So knowing what teachers do on a daily will help me when I meet with a teacher about a student. This is the only “teaching class” I’ve had but I feel like there is nothing a teacher can get over on me know. My daughter is in head start, I know it’s not quite like kindergarten and up but I have expectations now. I have yet to see a justification letter, the teacher doesn’t do centers, and this is just small things to me. Now when I think of how a classroom should look I see no desk, I see children learning but incorporating play while they are learning. I see an inviting classroom, students helping other students and so much more.