Dr. R's Fall 2006 Ed Psych Blog

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

I Beleive Statement

Learning is a continual process that grows and matures over time. When motivated, a person has the right guidance and support to achieve anything. Teaching gives students a chance to begin the learning process, and it prepares them for things they will encounter in the future. Teachers have the power to help people and provide the skills necessary to function and succeed in the world. They can help guide and assess each child individually to help him or her develop into the best they can. It is the teachers in the world that provide the encouragement for students to be able to learn their entire lives.

This I believe...

Learning is a growth process that should be fostered in every way possible. I believe that the best educators provide their students with as much meaningful information as possible presented in a clear, encouraging and interesting manner. Learning should be an exciting journey rather than a laborious chore, and I feel that a good teacher posesses the ability to "fire students up" about learning and to help them discover their own passions and motivations. For assessing learning, I theorize that many frequent, smaller assessments, evaluated in a consistent, factual manner, will better assist students in their learning than only one or two large, heavily-weighted exams. As a prospective teacher, I hope to inspire students to want to succeed and to help them find their own unique passions.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

The Four Essentials

“Learning is finding out what we already know. Doing is demonstrating that you know it. Teaching is reminding others that they know just as well as you. You are all learners, doers and teachers,” Richard Bach. Motivation comes from within each of us. It is part of our soul. It continuously drives and motivates us daily. Motivation helps a person who has passion achieve their goals and reach their dreams. It is able to trigger new ideas. Everyone has a different level of motivation for different activities or events. A person must truly care about what they are doing to have a drive of motivation. Students must want to be motivated in order to succeed in their classes and field. Teachers must reach out and find the motivation in each student, and push them to reach their goals.
“To teach is to touch a life.” Teaching reaches out to all areas of life. Whether it is teaching a simple addition problem or tackling calculus, everyone is affected by teaching. Teaching opens the door for all cultures. Teachers have to be patient, and willing to meet the need of each and every student in their class. The feeling of making a difference in someone’s life is what drives many teachers. They don’t work the long hours to receive their paycheck, but rather to see their students succeed in life. It is the only way to ensure a bright future.
From the second a child is conceived he/she begins to learn. They will learn by watching and observing others. As the child begins to grow he/she learns to control its body. They can begin to crawl and eventually walk. Later in the child’s life they will be sent on the bus to school where it is taught by listening and repetition. People learn using various techniques and ways. Each individual has a preference of how to learn material quicker and easier. Learning is a process that never stops. As time goes on, so does learning. Teachers are learning new techniques each year to help their students learn the material in the easiest way possible. Learning is voluntary. It cannot be done without drive and desire. The concept must be practiced and repeated numerous amounts of times to be learned. Learning is not easy. One will make many mistakes before becoming proficient at the skill. Learning is a way of life. Without learning humankind would be unsuccessful.
Assessments are needed to assess the student’s ability to learn the material. They stand as check points for students. Teachers must check to see if the student is comprehending the information presented to them. Students must mastered one concept before moving to the next. This is vital for success. Assessment must not test if they student can repeat the material back, but rather use the knowledge to apply it in different ways. Each assessment moves the student closer to finding their passion and drive.

Belief Statement

The process of teaching is a never ending learning process. Students learn from teachers and teachers from students. One has to want to learn in order to grow as an individual. People learn in many different ways and you must experiment and accommodate different methods for your students to learn. A teacher needs to be motivating and inspiring to the students so that they will want to succeed. It is our job as an educator to make sure our students are prepared for the world. The best teachers are passionate about their job and want to see their pupils grow as people. The choice of assessment will vary upon what the course or class being taught is but should always be done in a fair manner. As a teacher you must be open to new ways of learning, motivating, and assessing. The human mind is like a sponge and we should try to soak up all the knowledge we can before it dries out.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

Hello Pre-Service Teachers

This blog is designed for students in my Ed Psych class at St. Norbert College. I find this tool particularly useful to allow students to post questions about the course content or procedures, as well as general questions about the Teacher Certification program at SNC.

We may also use this site for online discussions during the course of the semester.

Once I have solidified the class roster, I will send each of you an invitation to join the blog.

Welcome. Dr. R