Blog 15

THE LAST ONE.

3a. Teachers align their instruction with the North Carolina Standard Course of Study.

I'm not going to lie, when we walked into class on Tuesday I thought we were finished.. and then Dr. Clark asked us to start categorizing our BPH... What? But once we began reviewing our BPH and seeing how they can actually be used in the classroom, I realized that this was a very important step that tied the whole semester's work together. I would definitely say that we all should be able to identify with KUD Standard 3a. We have all become familiar with the NCSCS and we now know ways that we can implement all of the Common Core Anchor Standards. Now, when we get into our future classrooms, we just have to see how the two will work best together and go from there!

I'm so glad that we got to work together this semester and I know I have learned SO MUCH about literacy.

It's been great to see our class teaching and learning from one another, and I think we met our objectives and kept to our values.

Good luck in your careers,

I hope our paths cross in the professional world,

Austin Beasley

Blog 14

3c. Teachers recognize the interconnectedness of content areas/disciplines.

I have had to try really hard to see this happening in my own education. Last week, however, when we had our guest speaker and we talked about assessment, I realized how all of my classes coincide to help me become a better educator.

I came into this semester not understanding why in the world I needed it integrate literacy into my class... I've actually felt that way this whole semester until now.

We, as educators, are all upholding the same responsibility: to advance our students in education to better their lives. To do that, we must realize that all of our disciplinary areas intersect and are dependent upon one another. We are going to be teaching to enrich and enhance the lives of our students. I don't just want to teach notes to my future choir students. Yeah, it's fun to sing songs and it's really cool to hear 3 different voice parts at the same time, but that's not why I am going into education. I am going into education because I love seeing people understand music, maybe even for the first time. I am so passionate for people and also so passionate about music. So when these two things seem to understand one another, my life is made.

Anyways, that is my soap-box for the day.

Again, I say, we are almost there guys!

Hallelujah!

Austin

Blog 13

4h. Teachers use a variety of methods to assess what each student has learned. 

Today we talked about many ways to retrieve data from our students and about their learning. I really enjoyed what our speaker said, that she would rather call it "student driven" assessment, rather than "data driven" assessment. 

I think that it would be so easy for schools and teachers to treat their students as just numbers, rather than human beings. I don't quite know how much this fits into the music classroom, but I still thought it was very interesting to learn about. I know that we will have to assess our students on the regular in music classrooms. I already have began to notice how much I do it naturally when I teach my peers in Secondary Music Methods class. But we don't have quite as many huge grades that go into our books by which to inform us on student's progress. We don't have mandated testing or anything like that, so if we were to do such a thing (which I think I would like to look into when I teach), it would still look a bit different than it does in a normal classroom.

I definitely identify with the differentiation of content in music classrooms. I know that everyone who walks in my door will have different background knowledge of music and musical concepts. It will be my job to move them forward and help those who are behind catch up to speed. Luckily, I feel that most students who are in a music class are there because they want to be, rather than because it is mandatory.

Austin

Blog 12

1b. Teachers demonstrate leadership in the school.

This week has been stressful, to say it nicely. I have been hacking away at the huge mountain of homework that I have. Between trying to plan good lesson plans to teach in the middle school and also trying to get our BPH done, I am trying to run towards the light at the end of this tunnel called "Spring Semester 2016." 

I chose the KUD standard 1b today because it really entangles a lot of things that I have been trying to do in the last few weeks. I am trying to take charge and get our BPH stuff done, but sometimes it's hard to communicate effectively with peers who are just as busy as you are. Sticky notes, texts, emails, etc. are up my alley. I love to be organized and send out reminders and things like that-but it's also trying when you're in charge and feedback is sparse. But I am doing the best I can and I will get my end of the bargain done. 

Things will work out in the end, either way. That is what we must all remember. Everything will be fine. 

Austin

Blog 11

2c. Teachers treat students as individuals.

Today I am thinking about how all of our lesson presentations went! I think we all did well, and I was super pumped to see everyone doing their thang! It's great to see such capable and competent future educators! It makes me excited for our generation to get into the classrooms and change the field for the better! 

One thing that I think we all (mostly) excel at is treating each student as an individual and giving time and attention to the thoughts one another has. I know that during everyone's lesson I definitely felt like the teacher cared and was concerned that I was learning what they were teaching! You guys took time to make sure we understood the concepts or to answer the questions we may have had! 

I would like to think that I am good at incorporating this standard into my lessons. I am beginning to get to know some of my peers in a better, less-shallow way, and I love to teach them new concepts (especially about music)! It's great to be in a class with so many great people!

Austin

Blog 10

5c. Teachers function effectively in a complex, dynamic environment.

I think that this is an essential aspect of teaching. We will have students from a million different home lives, socioeconomic backgrounds, disabilities, gifts, etc. But through all of that, we must ensure that they are learning and growing in knowledge! I think that our combined teaching class was a great experience for those who got to teach! I really enjoyed seeing everyone doing what they love to do: teach! I think that everyone did a great job and admire their courage for getting up there and going at it! I am excited to do so next week after Easter Break! Katie and I like to make a ruckus during classes, and I know that teachers deal with that on the daily in K-12. I hope that karma doesn't come back to bite me and that I have a class full of students who don't listen and act out! This brings me to my reflection for the week: I will have to be able to deal with these types of behaviors without taking it personally that my students aren't paying attention and are acting in a way that is not warranted. I get pretty passionate/heated rather quickly (there was an incident that happened today that made me realize this) and take it super personal when people don't like me...

But I am going to have to work on this! I can't be a teacher who overly cares if my students like me or not. I am going to have to manage behaviors and keep my class rolling-keep it functioning effectively!

Happy holy week!

Austin

Blog 9

4e. Teachers help students develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.

Although we haven't covered this in our Ed316 class, I have encountered this specific standard a lot in my Music Education classes.

In my Secondary Music Ed class we must teach each week and then watch the videos and reflect upon our lessons. Our professor also asked us to create a Professional Development worksheet in which we set two specific goals for ourselves that we want to implement in our teaching.

One of my goals was to ask more questions that lead my students to think critically. I noticed today (I mean over Spring Break) while working on revising my 6PLP for 316 that I don't do that as well as I should/would like to. Yes, it is important for teachers to teach and show their students how to do things-but how much more important it is for us to help our students learn to think for themselves! We aren't just teaching our students facts and concepts, we are helping to mold them into capable people who are well educated and responsible.

I had to finish up my Student Teaching Application yesterday and I am so thrilled that I will be Student Teaching next Spring! It's crazy how fast it's approaching! But also terrifying! I have all of these ideal goals for myself-I want to be engage students and help them think deeply for themselves, but I'm not there yet! It's frightening to think that I have one more semester and then I will be in front of a real group of students (hundreds of them throughout the day) trying to tell them about a thing I love so much...

I guess I should focus on getting through this semester first!
Austin