Woodland Whimsy

On December 4th, my mentor and I met for the fourth time this year. This month we discussed interviewing for jobs. My mentor has had experience with two interviews, one where there were a group of people went around and asked questions and the second were it was one on one. She advised me to do lots of research on the school before hand that way it shows that you are interested in the job. She also said that learning about the school culture is important. For example, when she was applying at central she mentioned the diversity that central is known for in some of her responses. She also suggested reviewing common questions asked in interviews, that way it's easier to respond to the types of questions they ask, even though they might not be the exact same. There are obvious things like dressing professional, being on time, and staying positive that we also discussed. Learning how to present myself in an interview has helped me to be better prepared for the real ones i will...

This year I observed a first, third, and seventh grade class at Gibbs Elementary School and Pulaski Heights Middle School. The teachers all applied various different methods, theories and philosophies of teaching in their classrooms, some of which we have learned in my Excel class. The teachers’ classes I observed focused on classroom culture, learner’s engagement and the different types of learners in their classes.  On October 8, 2019 I observed Mrs. Lacy’s 3rd grade class at Gibbs Elementary School. Though I’m sure I do not want to work with elementary aged kids in my future career, it was a great opportunity to learn different strategies and skills that enhance student learning in the classroom. When I walked into her classroom for the first time, I immediately took note of the seating arrangement. I knew that the seating charts were an important part of the teacher’s classroom. Mrs. Lacy’s desks were grouped into tables of four and moved the kids around a lot, this way t...

On November 5th, my mentor and I met for the third time this year. This month’s topic was building a resume and the role it plays in a teacher’s career. To improve a resume my mentor suggested adding different volunteer work and work experience you have that will make you seem like a more well rounded person. By adding places you have volunteered/ worked in different environments, it makes you seem more qualified for a teaching position and puts you one step ahead of others applying for that same job. She also suggested adding your GPA to your resume if it's above a “B” average because it shows that excelling in classes was a priority of yours and proves you more likely to use that same work ethic in your job. When applying for most teaching positions, schools don't interview you if your resume is weak or not well put together.  Learning about the importance of a strong resume will prepare me for the expectations that I need to meet when I go to apply for a job in any field, ...

On Monday, October the 14th my mentor, Mrs. Milligan and I meet for the second time this year. This month’s topic is about learning about what a teaching license is and the process you would need to go through to obtain it. My mentor is licensed to teach social studies and english as a foreign language (but still needs to take to Praxis exam). She had to take three different tests and had to go through an education program which covered how to teach an AP class and offered 24 credit hours along with other classes such as behavioral science. To renew a teaching license in Arkansas you have to go through the state every five years. We also talked about professional development. Most school districts offer opportunities for professional development and there are also programs such as APSI offered over summer, all of which my mentor attends. Learning about professional development and teaching licenses have helped build my knowledge about the teaching field. I learned that these are b...

The national debate about whether teachers should be allowed to carry guns in classrooms is being discussed among officials and educators across the U.S. because of the school shooting crisis happening in our country. Some believe allowing teachers to be armed on school campuses could be used as a defense mechanism in case there is a school shooting, and others believe allowing guns in classrooms poses a threat to the children's safety and education. Of course there will always be two sides of the argument but we can all agree we all want a better and brighter forthcoming for our future generations.  Not surprisingly, government officials such as President Trump along with other advocates of gun-rights are the people passing laws that allows teachers to be armed during school hours. Contrarily most teachers, principles, school employees, and organizations created to help maintain a safe environment for schools do not agree arming teachers is the right move. Currently, educator...

      Online branding is a project we have been working on in our teacher cadet class . We learned how to create blogs, professional emails, and logos. We used different social media accounts like Pinterest and Instagram to put our work out for the world to see. This project showed me how to create a professional online presence that people looking to hire me can reference. I never considered that social media could be used in a professional setting. This project might help me expand my career in the near future and can help improve the quality of my work.

On Monday September the ninth I met with my mentor, Mrs. Milligan, my APUSH teacher at Central High School. She’s been teaching for three years. I chose Mrs. Milligan because she conducts her class very well, the class is almost always organized, and she seems to really care about her students’ education and well being. During our meeting we discussed the challenges and the environment that the classroom can present. She teaches both grade level and advanced placement classes, each with their own perks and challenges. Interacting with the students and being able to connect with them and to see them grow from class are a few of the things she enjoys about teaching all of her classes. In her AP classes she finds that keeping them all on the same page a challenge because there are so many people who are on different academic levels. In grade level classes she finds maintaining a balance between making sure the kids feel comfortable in her class but also not letting thing...