Entrance Slip #2 - Sept 22

            One of the most intriguing ideas in the article involves consumerism. The author talks about being more conscious of what we are buying; where the goods originate from and how they got transported. With context, we can decide how we navigate our consumeristic lifestyle. Individuals can make better choices on supporting or not supporting certain businesses in order to contribute to a healthier planet. Purchases are the driving force behind supporting companies or not. In recent times, I have had discussions with my circle of friends and family about this specific topic. I heard that H&M has a green initiative that recycles old clothing and transforms it into new clothes for people to buy. As a fast-fashion company, H&M is trying to right (some of) its wrongs by implementing this program. The overarching theme should be to consume less!

            In order to contribute to a better future, we must buy less. We can show our support for the environment with our wallet. A message that was preached since the early elementary school years was “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle”. Everyone, including myself, needs to remember this saying and incorporate it into our everyday lives. We need to be responsible and keep ourselves accountable for our actions. We will have to sacrifice the things that make life easier in order to make our planet thrive. I need to think about what kind of future that I want for my children and the later generations that will one day shape the world around us.

            The geometric structure of rope had never occurred to me until the video. It shows me the significance of mathematics and how it is intertwined in every single aspect of our lives. The helical structure and pattern of the rope allows it to be quite strong and stable. It is crazy how fast and useful they are to learn! In reference to the video, it only takes a handful of minutes to create an S-shaped rope made out of merely dried grass. The world has so many resources at our disposal to create important objects and tools that we often take for granted.

Exit Slip #2 - Sept 16 (Activity Reflection)

Shapes are found all around us, in every aspect of our lives. We can find lines, circles, and angles everywhere. Our task was to draw 3 natural things and to also draw 2 human-made things. I heavily enjoyed the drawing activity as being a Mathematics major, I have not gotten many opportunities to explore art. It was awesome exploring different skills and using my creative abilities to recreate the angles and lines of the objects I drew. We also did an outdoor activity where we had to measure the angle of the sun using body parts. I thought it was an amazing education experience as it made me realize that teachers can utilize all aspects of their environment in order to educate students. Our discussion involved thinking about the angles in every object or living organism in our environment. These activities showed me just how many elements of the world are connected in the subject of mathematics. Teachers can think of many creative activities that stimulate children in engaging ways.

Entrance Slip #1 - Sept 15 (On Becoming a Reflective Teacher)

 

Much of what the article discusses is applicable to the current teaching program. The theories and ideologies apply to all teacher candidates and future educators. What is the best approach to teaching students within a classroom setting? Everyone is constantly asking ourselves the same question daily. It is a frequent dilemma that plagues all educators; both past, present, and future. This is the reason teacher candidates undergo such an intensive, rigorous course in order to become a teacher. Moreover, the content of the article is relevant to modern education as well. Teachers are incredibly influential on every student’s lives. The theme of the impact that teachers have on their students resonated with me. As a swim instructor, I love teaching teenagers and children. I can see the impact that my lessons have on them, which is extremely rewarding and fulfilling. I hope that I can bring the same to my classroom in the future. However, one of the key elements that I thought was missing are the Indigenous and multicultural issues, which are critical to the BC curriculum nowadays. Additionally, sexual orientation and gender identity is also a massive topic in educational institutions.

 

“Reflective action” was the term in the article that stood out to me the most. I do not believe that there is one approach that solves teaching and learning. There does not exist a singular approach that is the best in regards to teaching in the classroom. Education is ever-changing and dynamic. Society and its people are constantly changing. Thus, the curriculum and the way that teachers teach should evolve as well. However, one crucial component to reflective action that Dewey fails to consider is communication and discussion. This involves reflecting with others. Possessing the willingness to discuss certain areas of strengths and weaknesses with fellow peers and teachers is crucial to one’s development. With the implementations that Dewey discusses, along with my own components of teaching inquiry, I have the tools to become an adequate educator in the future.

Exit Slip #1 - Sept 9th (Frank McCourt)

         One of the main takeaways from watching the video on Teacher Man was the relationship that Frank McCourt had with his students. He emphasized the connection that he had with every child that he had in his classrooms. It showed me the importance of having a reciprocal relationship between the teacher and the students. He expressed how the teacher must be flexible with his students, and not the other way around. The dynamic amongst the classroom should be a two-way street. It seems that McCourt also conformed to the needs of the students in his classes, within reason. The teacher inquiry that he has done is magnificent and very reflective on his past and present selves. He heavily indulged himself with the American teenager experience, saying things like “raging hormones” and “[their] anguish”. As an “exotic” Irish man, he adapted to the culture of the teens in North America. It makes me think about what kind of teacher that I want to be and the approaches that I want to take. To what degree, do I need to connect with the students? When do I know that I am going too far? How much time do I need to spend on engaging with the students versus teaching the curriculum? These are some of the many questions that I have. However, I know that many of the answers will come with teaching experience in the classroom.

        Frank McCourt breaks the norm of having to excel in the field or topic that you are teaching in order to be considered a good teacher. He did not attend secondary school, but he turned out to be an amazing secondary school teacher. This challenges the social norm of schooling to be a proper teacher. It seems that his adaptability was a major factor in his success as an educator. He was beloved by his colleagues and students.

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