Reflections
It feels weird to be writing this, my final blog entry. It means a semester is coming to an end. My formal education is about to enter a new phase as well as I begin student teaching next semester. So how has this blog impacted my semester and/or my future?
The extended look into inner-city classrooms with a focus on English definitely helped secure my desire to teach in the inner-city. I cannot believe the inequalities these students face on a day to day basis. I almost feel obligated to try and help these students get the chances to succeed that other students take for granted. The Bright Ideas Conference was the best thing I experienced with this class this semester; I found motivation and practical advice. My extensive post on the subject reflects this.
I have mixed feelings on blogging personally. For some reason, I have always struggled finding the motivation to do discussion board posts, or this blog which seems similar to me. I am not sure why, but I have a hard time shaking the ‘it’s just homework’ feel. On the positive side though, I loved reading what my classmates wrote and responding to this. I think it is incredible some of the ideas, arguments, and research that my fellow classmates were able to accomplish and discuss this semester. I want to incorporate this into my future classroom; I want my future students to realize the potential each of the other students in the class has.
This has been a very busy semester for me. But it has been a rewarding semester. I feel motivated to venture out into teaching while also feeling like I have a better grasp of strategies to use in my future classroom. This class has tremendously helped me in this aspect.
waldrup49 said,
April 18, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Jeremy,
I will start out like i have on my other comments. Thank you for your insight comments,discussion, and blog. I have learned so much from my classmates this semester.
I think your blog topic is a very important one. i have recently decided that I want to teach students in Kalamazoo schools where not only do many of the students have the disadvantages of lower socioeconomic backgrounds but they go to school with students of upperclass bachgrounds because of the demographics of the district.
To make a point about blogging I somewhat agree with you on the motivation part of it. I did my 310 blog on the use of blogs and found articles that state what you did above. I think it is important that if we use them at a secondary education level that it is very structured but also fosters a sense of individual expression. That way on the days that don’t feel inspired they still have a little teacher directed “kick in the pants” motivation.
I really enjoyed your blog and was inspired by how you pursued it. Thanks alot for delving into a tough subject.
Wade