Field Experience # 3 - 6hrs. in Newark & 4hrs. In West Orange Tutoring

For New Horizons Community Charter School in Newark and Mt. Pleasant Elementary School in West Orange, I volunteered to tutor in their after-school programs. When I was at New Horizons Community Charter School, I tutored for two days in a row with different students. These students was in the second and third grade. It was frustrating in the beginning because I am used to tutoring high school students. Two of the kids was not into the math and reading, so I planned by my second day to make it a little fun. One young man is really into baseball, so I related his math problems to baseball; also using his favorite baseball player. The other student, who was not into math and reading, I tried to help but my method of "fun" did not work. It sounded like the student was going through a lot of stress and a situation that was effecting his school work. I stopped teaching him, and smiled. I asked him if he was thirsty. I went out and came back with a fruit punch and gave it to him. I explained to him that I know he does not know me, but if he wanted to talk about anything that is bothering him, I am here to listen. After I continued to help him with his lesson, he stopped me and ask me if I was him and I lost my ring that my mom brought for me, what would I do? So I told him he should tell his mother what happened, and that he feels really mad about it. Also, I told him he should say that he is truly sorry and he couldn't concentrate in his schooling....and then he smiled at me. His smile made me so happy cause I never thought I would see that from him.

When I was at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School, it was so weird that I did not have any problems at all with any of their students. Mt. Pleasant Elementary School has an amazing PTA group that provides the students with different types of programs and events. For instance, when I was tutoring on December. 6th, the PTA group set up a holiday laser light show at 7:00pm that night for every family and friends in the community. It was great! They had refreshments serving and little sandwiches. Mt. Pleasant has a very good program called Child Care After School program. In the Child Care Program, they have the students do their homework and tutoring sections in the "Learn Center". And after, the school have activities for the students to play. I had a lot of fun with all the kids in four hours of teaching and playing with them.

-Kristina

Field Experience# 2 - Faculty Meeting at Arts High School and Varsity Basketball Game with West Orange High School

On December. 7th, I attended a faculty meeting with Ms. Scott. I believe Ms. Scott is one of the best teachers at Arts High School. Because her students listens to her and shows interest compare to what other teachers who have to deal with behavioral problems with in Arts High School. Arts High school faculty meeting is for every teacher in the school who is required to attend. During the meeting, the assistant principal concern was mostly on the development of a new test prep that will help prepare students for the standardized tests. However, the teachers concern was about how to change students attitudes towards them. All the other teachers was scared to change the subject about the students behavior. Ms. Scott intruded the conversation respectfully and made a good point. She explained that making up the test prep will not change anything if students do not pay attention and be respectful to teachers. All the other teachers backed her up and explained different examples of the students actions done inside and outside the classroom. I was shock because one of the teachers said majority of her students cursed at her disrespectfully. She calls parents, they visit her and the students change their bad behavior for only a week or so. The assitant principal looked like he was writing down notes about it and then he stated he "will take care of that later". Teachers was upset.

Last night at 7:00pm, I attended West Orange High School varsity girls basketball team game. They played against Wayne Valley High School and won the game. It was so exciting to go because I played basketball all through High school and my two years of college. It made me realize how far I came in life and How exciting it would be for me to tell my stories to them about my experience of playing college ball. Hopefully, my experience in playing college ball will encourage them to go to college. The same way I applied my past experience into teaching them, is the same way I will apply my past experience of teaching into my future classroom.

-Kristina

Field Experience# 1 - Arts High school Observation

On December. 7th, last Friday, I visited Arts High School to observe a math teacher, her students, and classroom surroundings. The math teacher I observe was Ms. Kimberly Scott. I felt scared walking into the classroom. All the High School students was walking in with me. I was looking around for Ms. Scott, but i only saw students. Suddenly, I did not notice that one of the people who I thought was a student was Ms. Scott herself. Ms. Scott is so young, but "not in age" as she would say. I greeted myself to her and her students, sat down, took out my notebook, and reached for a text book under the desk. I began taken notes on the surroundings of Ms. Scott classroom. I like the way she had the tables and chairs in groups of three. Posters on the walls stating positive things and definition of math subjects. Ms. Scott was very organized; she had the objective on a big poster facing the students and she had a bin that said "homework" were the students drop it off when they arrive to class.

After Ms. Scott class was over, she sat down with me one on one. She wanted to know about me, my background, and why I have chosen teaching as one of my options? I felt like I was on a very important interview, but I love when people ask me questions similar to hers. Because I love my past and what I am trying to achieve in life. From Ms. Scott and I conversation, I learned that she graduated from Montclair State University; also for mathematical science degree with teaching. Once I found that out I kept asking her so much questions.


-Kristina

Most Rememberable Orientation- The Arts High School

For my colleagues, the orientation, at Arts High School, might not have been so excited as it was for me. while walking into the school, I heard a choir of students singing so beautiful. Looking at them and hearing them sing was not matching. Because when I look at these students, I just see normal high school kids. Then I here something so beautiful that I could not believe was coming from their mouths. I learned and realized that each and every student are really gifted individually; no matter what school they attend. I want to be apart of as many student as I can. To help express their gift as individuals.

-Kristina

The Public Purposes of Education in a Democracy Inquiry Project

For my inquiry project I will be identifying the question: How does being a teacher have a impact on students past, present, and future? and what are the pros and cons of being a teacher?
To identify these questions I am going to discuss about how teachers teach students democracy. I will be also discussing how teachers learn to handle with different types of students- students who are gifted, have special needs and behavioral problems. Teachers are advisers, big brothers and sisters, and help students in need. Some struggles that they can face is dealing with students mood swings (attitudes), weapons being brought to school, threats, and different kinds of violence. Furthermore, I will be discussing about many more struggles and responsibilities that teachers face in the school systems and the way they handle it that have a impact on students.

Activities that allow me to observe will help me with my inquire project. Because it gives me a much more better understanding on answering my inquiry question other than getting answers from text books and literature resources.

-Kristina

Question to my Colleagues & others:

If Parents and Teachers work together, will this benefit Students?

My opinion on this question is... of course it will! Majority of students spend their time in school and at home. Teachers and Parents working together will help students by having support at both locations; school and home. It is the teachers responsibility to teach and help their students at their school's location; however, students are not the teachers responsibility at the student's home location. It is the parents or guardian responsibility to guide their children to learn at home. Having the parents and teachers working together with getting involve, will keep the students interested in what they are doing.

No matter what subject that is going on in the classroom, parents should be involve with their children studies. Some parents worry about "oh no, calculus! I can't help you with that". Because the subject is something that the parents don't know, does not mean they can't help. I do understand it is sometimes hard for some parents. For instance, some parents do not speak English. And sometimes parents have to work all the time to pay bills. Parents can seek out different sources; is if it is another literature of the subject or an experience person in that field of study.

-Kristina

Essay on Parker's article "Teaching Against Idiocy"

A question that my colleagues and I thought about from Tyak reading was "who is 'uneducated'?What does it mean to be uneducated?What does it mean to be educated?" To be uneducated means to be not taught, tutored, or cultivated. Around the world every society has different morals and rules on what they think is important. These societies and government teach their people qualities and give information that they think would educate them to survive in their culture and life. Some people can be uneducated by not wanting to be taught. These people become ethnocentric and isolated from their culture. In Parker's article, "Teaching Against Idiocy", he states, "Idiocy shares which idiom and idiosyncratic the root idios, which means private, separate, self-centered- selfish (Pg. 1)".

Parker also states that "we have a powerful opposition: the private individual versus the public citizen (Pg. 1)". Parker explains in this quote that people in different societies have to choose to be ethnocentric or to be an educated citizen. Being ethnocentric individual means to learn and do things their own way of being taught. To be an educated citizen is to learn what the government wants to teach you in order to survive in their world of living. A person who chooses to be "the private individual (Parker, Pg. 1)" becomes to be an uneducated person to their society. And "the public citizen (Parker, Pg. 1)" becomes to be the educated person.

To answer the questions, who is 'uneducated'? What does it mean to be uneducated? what does it mean to be educated?, we must look at first what the society and government wants from their citizens. It is the society and government that chooses to decide who is uneducated or educated. I believe that no one is uneducated because everyone learn new things each and everyday. For example, infants and people with disabilities are educated because they learn everyday. Everyone is educated on different levels, but we all are uniquely educated in our own way.

-Kristina

HAIKU Assignment

I am very intimidated.
I am the only black person in class.
Does this mean something?

Ever since I transferred from NYU, I have notice the difference between that institution and MSU. Here in MSU, I am the only black person in all my classes. I have been attending MSU for three years now, and I am still the only one. Not sure, but is it a sign or is it just out of curiosity. I'm I not suppose to feel uncomfortable? However, I do remind myself that I am not here to answer that question or think about my race. I am here just like everyone in my class; and that is to be excellent future teachers. So I tell myself, we all have teaching in our blood and that's what is more important.

-Kristina

Martian Assignment

What are schools are like and how they got that way?

Schools are like a training program for students. does not matter what age you are or how much money you have; it is a place to learn. Students who receives education from school are most like taught on how to fit in society as a citizen. Schools have different levels of teaching; public schools and private schools. Today, schools are for "no child left behind" and are equal to everyone. In the past, school was segregated/separated into groups. Groups as in only one race, religion belief, or even family wealth can attend to that specific school Schools was created for our democracies (U.S.) can be run with educated people through every generation. American schools not only help the average person, but also gifted and special needs student benefits from school. Not only do school teaches academics, but also they teach athletic events, different types of arts, and other individual programs to gain students interest on attending school.

Who are our students?

Students in America are all different individuals. They all have different backgrounds, religions, cultures and family wealth (society class). Every student have different ways of seeing things and thinking methods. There behavioral skills plays a major role while they attend school. Students are first taught at home and then they come together and bring their behavior to school; this is where they are taught to learn the same things. However, they might be taught in different ways.

Who are our teachers?

Teachers in America are the leaders for students in the school environment. They teach the students democracy and knowledge them in every learning fields. there are teachers who only do specific subjects and they specialized in them. Teachers are not only in schools to teach students, but also there to be big brothers and sisters, give advice, and help students in need.

-Kristina

Reading: A Public Education Primer

I agree with the author when it states about people being unaware of important facts regarding United States education. Some people are unaware on how the history, present and future of education affects them. Where they may be tax payers, have children in the U.S. education system, or have themselves in the education system as an employee or student. The author provided seven categories of questions about students, and public school teaching. Some facts that interested me was "an estimated 1.1 million school-age children were being schooled at home in 2003." The reading also stated that the 1.1 million children grew markedly since 1999. My thoughts was the 1.1 million students have grown up in what type of environment? I believe majority of families using home school for their children are from urban environment.

One interesting fact that I try to analysis was that whites and Asians having better test scores. I believe the majority of them do because most of them are in suburban schools. In suburban schools, students get more updated books and other latest resources to learn than the urban/ inner city students do. Another interested fact is that "more than one-third of public school students are from low-income families." No matter how badly the environment is, we can see how public schools help and benefits students. It tells the student that they have the opportunity to learn an grow even if there family income is below poverty level.

-Kristina

Why are Most Teacher's are Caucasian Teachers?

I remember the first day of class where we briefly spoke about the first to teach are white Caucasian women. When I thought about it, I think teachers are mostly white women because it is a tradition that past on from generations to generations. In the 1860's, the aftermath of the Civil War and during the 1960's Civil Rights movement, northern white women teachers went south to teach in black communities. Northern white women was the first public school teachers to teach black students "the American education". Another reason why are most teacher's are Caucasian teachers is because proper procedures to give to non-white women are not being set up better to protect against false allegations about teaching.

-Kristina