Education is like a family. I mean this by everyone in the education needs a support system, someone they can come and talk to and feel confident that they will make it out alive. I know this because i have a few teachers that i still talk to today, ones that i have brought my problems to before and were able to connect with. Everyone that has a family knows that for as long as you live, you will have someone to fall back on and know no matter what is happening their willing to work with you to remedy a problem. When it comes to being educated, its a safety net to fall back on if your out of the job or your just having problems. It leaves you with something that will always be with you just like a family.
 

The three things i learned in this course were children at risk, Montessori school curriculum, and how much work it takes to become a good teacher.

The one that stood out to me the most was how hard it is to become an effective teacher. The reason why this stood out to me was because i am not an education major, however i had no idea that being a teacher was more than a lesson plan and a curriculum. I did not know that there were so many aspects that came into play if you are going for your teaching degree. You have to keep learning everyday as well to be able to give your students the education that they deserve, i am walking away from this class with a much higher respect for teachers than when i started.

Social Justice

http://www.teachersforjustice.org/2013/01/teachers-for-social-justice-statement.html

In this article it speaks of an organization called teachers for social justice. This group lobbies for new ways to help schools after what had happened in Newtown Connecticut, such as hiring for school resource officers as well as more guidance counselors to not only make children feel safe, but give them a way to vent and talk about their problems with a professional counselor. Obama has already put into action a four step plan to help provide more social justice to class rooms to be able to help benefit the students. One part of his plan is to provide more access to mental health services as well. What this does is adds more ways for a child who is having irrational or misunderstood thoughts more outlets to be able to get their problems out.

On this issue i know i stand with more social justice within the classrooms of America. Children need to know that they are at school to help find themselves and flourish into an adult. If they feel they have no where to go with their problems, then more and more children are going to struggle when they just need someone to be able to talk to.

http://www2.epa.gov/education/what-environmental-education

I chose this link on environmental education because it shows just a great breakdown that demonstrates the topics in a simple form. It shows that their is a future in learning this new field, and also a pivotal one. When it comes to the future of our planet and how it is not looking good, i can see why this education should start being instituted into our young children's curriculum. I agree that we need to spread more knowledge at a younger age because it will have a greater effect on the future.

The theorist i chose is Montessori Theory. The reason why i chose this theory is because it really focuses on the teacher knowing what and when to do things. One example Montessori states is that a teacher should never help a student at a task he or she thinks they can succeed. This shows that its pivotal for teachers to know when and when not to congratulate children. The reason why i feel this would not be able to co-exist with Banker theory is because of a quote that stood out to me.

"Projecting an Absolute ignorance on to others the characteristic of an ideology of oppression, negates education and knowledge as a process of inquiry." (Freire)

I feel the montessori theory does not promote ignorance or seclusion due to one's educational status.

Throughout this weeks assignments i was able to see the set backs that public education has sustained due to the fact that every public school has standardized their curriculum throughout America. This is something i would have never noticed if it was not for this class. I am able to see the faults we have educationally throughout the years because were still teaching the same curriculum for who knows how many years. The problem i see with this is that times always change, so shouldn't the lesson plans we are subjecting the children with. If we are prepairing them for an outdated economy, we need to do a better job prepairing them for the economy that is at hand today. I know its hard, and Ted Talks have shown how ever changing the economy is but it is like slamming your head into a wall and not expecting to get hurt. The definition of insanity is "trying the same thing over and over and expecting different result." That is why i feel the public education system is failing us as a nation and also feel that it is insane not to change it.

One of the questions that i had about about the UDL is if the UDL was a nation entity or if it went by state to state. Throughout my research i was able to find that it is in fact a national entity that also has the support on congress, and has their own "task force." This task force helps implement the new rules or regulations into the schooling of every child and was even mentioned at the senate HELP committee meeting.

http://www.udlcenter.org/advocacy

 I had no idea that this organization was so well established and nationally recognized that it had ties with senate and congress and influenced what changes needed to be made within school systems nationally. I love learning about organizations that you have never heard of, especially when they are doing this as high up as congress and also helping school systems to become a better place for everyone. I have a new found respect for the UDL, and the work they do behind the scenes outside of the lime light.

One thing that i read during my pintrest adventures was that when it comes to promoting a healthy culture in the class room, it is something that is strictly on the teacher. When it comes to teaching in America i know its something that needs to be done because of how diverse of a nation we are. One of the things i really enjoyed about this article was that it really simplified things for me. I am not an education major, however this article made it so i could understand how this is a real problem, and also understand that it is something that i could do. It made me realize the real challenges teachers face behind the scenes. I know when i look at a teacher, all i see is someone who is going to teach me the lesson plan, not someone who is worried about me being comfortable with my history and background in the class. It is a real eye opener to what some of the stresses are for teachers, it boils it down so you can understand there is much more at play than just the teachers lesson plan, but her plan to make every child feel like their important and wanted in class. I know dating back to when we were learning about children at risk, that i did not think that this would have something to do with keeping a diverse positive attitude. It is something that i feel will be able to help keep kids in school if it is properly utilized.

<http://racebridgesforschools.com/wp/?p=2130 >

Captains Log 10:23

One of the pressing concerns that i have not only heard more and more about, but also experienced is violence in the school systems. I know last semester we all were on campus for the lockdown. It was something that was definetly a different moment for most, however it is becoming more and more relevant because the frequency that it is happening is increasing.

My question is, how do we as a society become able to stop these random acts of violence before it is even able to happen?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/robert-kubey/stopping-school-shootings_b_4443973.html

I think that this article shows how to build a more humane and also compassionate school system that will make each child feel more welcomed, and more accepted. This would cause students to not feel like their rejects, but more as part of the culture. I stand firm wiith what this article is stating because after i experienced a minor incident like this at school, it was something that i know i do not want anyone else experiencing it as well.

I am an athletic person who derives most of my strength from being very competitive. It is the way I was raised and it’s the way I will raise my children as well. What makes me well, me is being able to push my limits farther than I had previously thought was possible. It is something that makes a very rewarding experience, to know that you were able to take something that mentally you thought you had no chance at doing, and surpass your previous goals. I am currently in my full time job, and I was able to get this job because I was able to push my limits and succeed at a very demanding internship, with a very demanding boss and come out on top. I was able to do this because I looked at the other interns as competition, and that made me perform better.

                I speak English and Spanish, I am a firm believer that you need to be bilingual, because times are changing for the good of things and there are vast amounts of different ethnicities in America. I am trying to teach myself German, however that is not going to well, but I am doing it because I want to be able to say that I can speak multiple languages. I derive most of my strength from my family. They raised me and made me the man who I am today. They gave me my competitive edge that was able to make me become more interested in school. At a young age I was taught if I was good at a sport and was able to maintain good grades that I would have the world open to me as far as choosing a college goes.

                I have had the same best friend since I moved to my house 16 years ago. His name is ben and him I are as competitive as it comes. Most people think we are brothers because we are always together and competing like siblings. It is something that him and I are able to use to push ourselves to the limits. I know everyone has best friends, but not everyone have been able to keep theirs throughout 16 years and also going to different colleges. It is something that I feel has assured me that we will be best friends for the rest of our lives. I feel that being competitive and being able to push yourself in day to day life is something that pushes me to be me.

I feel that people choose to teach in the United States, because it does have a great school system. Across the world most children in third world countries are not able to even have a school. It takes a great passion for people to want to teach, it definetly is a very high risk high reward type of job. On one end of the spectrum, you have the chance to really motivate and cultivate you childrens minds and on the other hand you also have the chance to make them not too excited about school. I feel teaching in the United States is something that a lot of teachers like to do because it is something that really epitomizes what America is all about. Its all different children whether its different races or different religions, you get to learn something new every day. When it comes to being a teacher in the U.S. you get to play a part in molding a generation's mind and it really does have a direct correllation over their future. I do not think you could find one teacher who would say to you that he or she does not feel like they are positively affecting the future of a generation, because they are all very passionate about their work.

I am learning a lot about being a teacher even though it is not my career path in life. It is something that is becoming more and more interesting because i am noticing the more and more i learn, the more i notice how much my other teachers in my past have been. I am able to notice some of the ways i would of made them a better teacher, because we all know we have had that bad experiences with teachers who maybe werent too excited about what they were teaching, so in effect you were not as well.