If I built a school, what would it be like?
I believe that education is very important. It is the root to all things we know. It is to my knowledge that there has been talk about not needing school anymore. Well, I feel if we take education away from children and leave it up to them to teach themselves that would be hurting them. I believe that children need teachers and need to interact with other students in order to get all that life has to offer, rather than sitting at a computer desk or laying in bed on an ipad. Yes, technology is a must have and is very necessary in the 21st century but there are ways to incorporate it into our everyday life rather than having a complete "robotic" world.
What do I want my students to know?
I am interested in teaching 2nd grade. I just feel that 2nd grade is the perfect age for me. The students are not yet so far along that it will be hard for them to grasp new concepts but yet still have a sponge like brain and can soak up new information. I would love for my students to know that technology can be their friend and they don't have to be intimidated by it. (As I was when I was younger). Learning can be fun and I will make sure of that.
What do I want my students to be able to do?
I want my students to be able to utilize technology thoroughly, while still having great social skills. I will make it my duty to teach that to children. If I could build a school or at least my own classroom, I would make sure my students have accurate space and TIME (something they do not have now) to explore the classroom and use their imagination. Having comfortable seating and a lounge area and not those God awful hard desks with limited arm room. Big tables with soft cushion chairs would be nice.
What will be my primary way of teaching my students what I want them to know?
I may be getting a little ahead of myself being that I need to put more thought into this but there isn't anything wrong with thinking ahead. Which brings me to my next point. My primary method of teaching will be to stress the importance of using your imagination. I mean, whoever invented the computer or technology for that matter had to be doing some serious imagining, right?! I will let children know that I support their goals and that no idea is "stupid."
What tools will I use in my classroom?
Some of the most important tools I will use in my classroom will be computers of course because they are constantly teaching us new things and easier ways to live every day life. But more specifically I would love to have centers in my classroom that fulfill the interest of each student. No child should be limited to only math, science, and reading. These centers will be full of art, dance, music, and theatre. This will be fun for not only the children but for me as their teacher as well. This tool will keep the children interested in learning and it will give them a break and something to look forward to.
What role will students play in my classroom?
It is very important that students in my classroom participate. I feel that it gives them a sense of importance as well. They will feel needed. As some teachers I've had in my lifetime, I will not leave the participation all up to the student. I will provide ways for them to participate. A good way I believe would be to assign roles to each student in the class for things that are ACTUALLY needed. I will incorporate this in the learning process by assigning "subject readers." This will be where each student gets to pick their favorite subject and are asked to read aloud for that subject for that day they are called, and so on. I find that it will keep each student interested and able to excel in at least one if not all subjects.
