Welcome to Orientation to Education! Your growth and learning is the most important thing in this course. The purpose of the blog is to communicate your thoughts and ideas with your classmates. You are expected to submit at least one blog each week in response to the question(s) given. you will also reply to at least one of your classmate's blog entries.
On or before Monday, Feb.1, try your first blog entry. Post your name and answer the following question. How did you come to be here? Mention one event or person that played a big part in why you find yourself sitting in an education course.
Don't forget to sign in by using your name. Happy blogging!
Hi, guys! I am here because I can't wait to inspire you to be a great teacher! Mrs. Henrich was an amzaing
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Nickie Hayes. I am finally pursuing my dream of being an educator. For many years I have wanted to do this, but was unable to do so. I was working towards my degree in IT for a few years while working full-time. A year ago, I became one of the many who lost their job due to our financial crisis. For me, however, this was a blessing as it enabled me the opportunity to change careers and pursue my dream of teaching. So, here I am.
ReplyDeleteHi, my name is Darron Bardot. Ive been at Lindenwood for three years now. I was an Athletic Training Major. I knew that I wanted to teach and coach but didnt realize till last semester I was going about it the wrong way. A person that played a big part in my choice to teach and coach was my high school football coach. He has tought me many life lessons and helped me grow as an individual.
ReplyDeleteHello everyone, my name is Jessica Morelli. My soccer coach from high school was a big part on why I am here pursuing an education carrer. He always gave me great advice and was very positive when I told him I was thinking about special education, along with coaching. Another influence is my physical education teacher from high school. She taught me life lessons I will never forget and helped me make my decision on teaching.
ReplyDeleteHey, I'm Dana Porter and I am here because I want to perhaps one day reach my far fetched dream of establishing a foreign language school. I want to see if first off, education is the right field for me which I think it is. I've always hated how you learn a foreign language (usually) by your freshman year of high school when you could have been learning it all of your life, I want to have a school dedicated to the art of foreign language from Kinderngarten to 12th grade. Yes, it's a completely crazy idea, but it's a dream of mine and I plan to pursue it because it's the only thing that makes sense right now. I've had several great teachers in the past, and I hate to say it but my terrible teachers are also a motive to be apart of the education field to equal out the good and evil spectrum :).
ReplyDeleteHello to all, my name is Lisa Noblett. In the past 20 years I have started and stopped many different degrees. Accounting, history, business, just to name a few. My goal is to be a teacher but I also want to get a masters in Library Science because I would also love to be a childrens librarian. I didn't know I wanted to be a teacher until I was a teachers aid a few years ago in my sons kindergarden class. I ejoyed the kids so much, and then I started to volunteer in the Library and that was it. I knew what I wanted to do. I love reading to children. Just to see their reactions to books is amazing and to be able to encourage a child who is not so comfortable with or does not like to read is a challenge I love to take on.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone I'm Melissa Rochoux I started to want to be a teacher in middle school after a practicum in a class of one of my mother's friend...I love this environment to work and I love the idea to become a teacher in the U.S soon. So last summer I got a scholarship to come study education in America and now I can pursue my dream.
ReplyDeleteHi guys, my name is Amanda Clark and I am a freshman at Lindenwood. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was 8 years old and never have I doubted that. To become a teacher means a lot to me and I look at it as one of the most rewarding careers anyone could have. My English teacher from junior year really impacted my decision because she should me that to be successful you have to be able to teach and be effective but also you have to have this attitude that would allow students to come to you and trust you. She just helped me see a deeper side to what a teacher really is.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Trevor Schloessman. I was unsure of what I wanted to do as a career until my senior year in high school. I had a bunch of really amazing teachers and they all seemed to really enjoy what they did. I saw this and felt that I also would really enjoy teaching high school students.
ReplyDeleteHello! My name is Katie Paszkiewicz and I am also a freshman at LU. Looking back at my life in school, I have come to realize that my religion teachers are the ones that impacted me the most. They weren't always super sweet and easy to get along with, and those are the ones whose lessons stand out to me the most. At the time I hated the arguing, but I realize now that I love the challenge. I want to be able to challenge my students and help them develop into their own mind.
ReplyDeleteHi! My name is Michelle Spencer. I have just recently changed my major to education I was pursuing Nursing and decided it wasnt for me. I knew I always wanted to work with children but I think with nursing I would be too emotionaly attached and would always be putting the stress of a young childs life kind of in my hands and I dont think I could handle that so I decded eduaction would allow me to work with young children and be helpful to them as they grow to a young adult!
ReplyDeleteHey guys, my name is Chelsey Martin and I am a freshman at Lindenwood. Ever since the fifth grade I knew I wanted to become a teacher. Before I lived in St.Louis, I grew up in a really small town close to the Arkansas border. I spent all of my elementary school years in this small town until the fifth grade. Both of my parents had gotten jobs in St.Louis, so we made the move. I started to attend school in St.Louis, and I had found that I was completely behind on the things that the students were learning in class. The teachers in this small town were not very effective teachers at all. The teachers in this small town were the driving force for me to want to change a child's life, and make a difference. I knew that I could make a difference by teaching elementary students.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Nolan McCoy. I first started out as an AT major. Once I realized that i wasn't going to get my hours in, I switched to exercise science. I had always wanted to do something related to music, so I took a music theory class that semester. I loved it. so I switched to Music Education. No regrets at all. I've always enjoyed helping and teaching people, so I definitely feel I have made the right step.
ReplyDeleteDana Porter,
ReplyDeleteI am fascinated and amazed by your vision! My children are required to learn Spanish at their school and they know more than I do and I took 2 years of Spanish in high school. I think you are on to something.
And to all - Dana mentioned that many of her not-so-effective teachers have motivated her into this field. Thank you for your honesty. We have all had those teachers - they act like they don't even like people let alone children. We can learn a lot from them - what not to do.
Thanks for sharing, everyone - keep up the great work!
Hey! I'm Danny Zammit. I'm a sophmore. I never really knew what I wanted to do until this past semester. My first semester here I was going to major in marketing, then I switched to biology. I realized it wasn't for me and decided to go with what I know will make me happy. So now I am going for Music Education. I've been fortunate enough to have some very good music teachers through high school and college. The two that have influenced me the most are Pam Grooms, the director of choral studies here at LU, and Jim Henry, who is the director of music and choral studies and UMSL. They both have made such an impact on me and inspired me to become a teacher.
ReplyDelete@ Danny Zammit... I'm glad you found out early in your college career that you weren't happy with the other two options and switched to Music Ed. Following your dreams is very important. I completed two years of college working towards an IT degree before I realized it was not for me and, like you, switched to follow my dream of being an educator.
ReplyDeleteI have three teenagers who are BIG musicians, so music educators have a special place in my heart. Good luck!
Hi Chelsea,
ReplyDeleteMy husband and I were discussing this very thing just the other day. He experienced the opposite. He grew up in the Minneapolis/St Paul area and then moved when he was in the 7th grade to a small town in New Mexico. He said they were so far behind academically that he coasted through 7th grade and finished high school at the top of his class. Unfortunately less than half of the seniors actually graduated. Sadly the drop out rate is still very high there. The problem there is not just ineffective teachers. I know there are good teachers there but they also deal with parents who just don't care if their children ever make it to school in the morning.
Big high five to you for wanting to make a difference. Good luck to you!
Hey, my name is Kathleen Wagner. I'm a sophmore here and pursuing both English Literature and Piano Performance degrees. I had the same choir teacher from first - twelth grade, and she was incredibly influential in causing me to be interested in teaching. She had an excellent balance between encouraging her students to strive for excellence while simultaneously making the lessons enjoyable. I realize that there are always going to be students who just plain don't like the area in which I will be teaching, but I would still love to do my best to share with them my passion for the subject. Hopefully then, even if they still don't really care for the subject, they will at the very least come away from the class with a better understanding and appreciation of it.
ReplyDeleteHey! My name is Anna Harkins. I'm a freshman. I knew I wanted to become a teacher after I started doing volunteer camp consoling. I love being able to work with kids and helping them to achieve things they hadn't thought possible. I've had a few wonderful teachers that have helped me to make this decision over the years and a few who weren’t the best who helped to solidify the idea. I’m really looking forward to the work in this class.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Melanie Rottger. I have wanted to be a teacher since I was a little girl playing pretend school with my little sister in our basement. So, she has played a big role in my wanting to become a teaher. Also, I work at Best Teacher Supply in O'Fallon, and i have spoke with hundreds of teachers that come in my work and, they tell me these amazing stories about teaching. Each of these teachers have also played a great role in my wanting to become a teacher. Being here at Lindenwood is also something I have wanted to do since I was little. I wanted to go to a school close to home and be one that i knew was well known for their education program. I have three cousins that went here and now they are all three teaching and loving it!
ReplyDeleteThis is in reply to Dana Porter's comment. I can't agree more about your ideas about the whole foreign language subject. I had never even looked at a foreign language before my freshman year in high school. I can't stress more that I really think kids from kindergarten on up should be learning a foreign language. It would be so much more helpful to them, and it won't be as stressful and hard to learn later in life!
ReplyDeleteHey,
ReplyDeleteThanks for all of the support! If I had learned a second language when I was in Kindergarten, I would be ahead, and would not have such a difficult time in my spanish literature and history/civilization courses. To know a second language is one of many necessities for prime education and opportunities. I just hope that I can one day make it into an amazing reality. To Melanie, I absolutely love the fact that you brought up pretend school. That was no doubt my favorite pass time in the glorious days of 7 year old me. I think educators have to have a specific toughness, a divine motive to reach others hearts, minds, and decisions. I definitely agree that to be an educator is perhaps one of the most rewarding professions in the world and it looks like everybody that has posted so far has that very gift. I'm so excited for this course!
Hey all, my name's Katy Davis and I'm pursuing a BA in Mathematics with Secondary Certification. A lot of my friends look at me like I'm crazy for wanting to teach high school math, but that's what I want to do. I did not always want to be a teacher. For almost 10 years I really wanted to be a vetrinarian. That changed when I took my first high school biology class and discovered that I absolutely detested the subject. I had no idea what I wanted to do for about a year, but then I got a phone call from one of my good friends. She was having problems with understanding what her math teacher was trying to teach, and I had told her that becasue I was good at math she could call me and I would do what I could to help her. After that first call, she and I spent an hour or two on the phone every other day for several months. It was then that I realized how much I loved explaining the math problem and seeing that my friend was understanding what had been confusing her. (My friend got an A in her class.) It wasn't long after that that I decided that I wanted to teach.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, long story, but I am really looking forward to this course!
In responce to Katy Davis.
ReplyDeleteI'm really impressed by the fact that you want to be a math teacher. I think that has to be one of the hardest things to teach because there are so many people who hate the subject. (Myself included...) I truly hope that because you had such success helping your friend you become a wonderful math teacher because their very hard to come across.
Lisa, thank you very much for responding to my post, and for the encouragement. I greatly appreciate it. I just wanted to say that my family and I still visit often because we have family that live in the small town. My family and I were down there for Christmas, and I had the option of taking a tour of my old elementary school and of course I took it. I was amazed to see that pretty much nothing had changed. The technology was so far behind. The teachers have nothing to work with. Computers were out-dated, no projectors, and even no over-heads. Then I realized on how much we rely on technology these days.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Crysta Cleary. I want to be an early childhood education tacher! i have been working with kids since i was about 14 years old! i worked at the little gym as a gymnastics instrcter, i coach at cheer legendz right now and i babysit a lot! Kids are eveything in my life! My senior year of high school i was a cadet teacher for the preschool teacher there, she made me change my mind to major in education than pyschology! I know being a teacher is the best choice for me :)
ReplyDeleteIn response to Melanie Rottger.
ReplyDeleteAw that is great that you play with your little sister :) i bet she looks up to you a lot! i am the youngest in my family and i loved it so much when my brothers wanted to play something girly with me! They did not always want to because it was not "cool" but i really looked up to them for wanting to play with me :) i also wanted to be close to home and knew that LU had a great education program as well :)
This is reply to Anna Harkins:
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that you got the chance to counsol kids. I think that when a child can come to you and trust you with their problems that there is no better feeling. It gives you proof that you are making an impact on a child's life because they have trusted you enough to come to you and talk.
In response to Crysta Cleary, I just wanted to say way to go. Early education has always been a field that has scared me a little. I love kids, but I'm not sure I could work with them all day.
ReplyDeleteHave you thought about minoring in psychology? Pscy and Education have so much in common; I'm actually doing that, so I thought I'd ask.
In response to Dana Porter, I think that your idea of a foreign language school is really good.As an international student I see the difficulty of the current way to learn a foreign language. when I was in France I just had (since middle school) 2hours of English per week and now it's really hard sometimes for me because of my english level. So, good idea to want to improve this part of education
ReplyDeleteIn response to Darron Bardot, I feel the same way about my coach from high school. I just rcently decided that I wanted to teach and coach and what made me realize this was how much my coach seemed to like his job teaching and coaching. He seemed to have a pretty fulfilling life and that's how I decided that this might be what I want to do.
ReplyDeleteHi everyone, my name is Sarah Tegarden and I'm a freshman. I have known since i was in elementary school that I wanted to grow up and become a teacher. Something about it just told me that was what I wanted to do. I plan on teaching at the elementary level, but I have already been debating whether that is really the right level for me. The great teachers who have inspired me and the not so great teachers have helped me realize that teaching is for me. I love kids and I think this observing in the classroom will just make me realize even more, this career is for me.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Melanie Rottger:
ReplyDeleteI was the same way as a little girl playing pretend school, but mine was with my little brother. He always put up with all the homework I would give him. Also, like you, I have a cousin who graduated from LU and became a teacher and is loving it. My sister is here with me also persuing a degree as a teacher. All the signs in my life point me towards becoming a teacher as well.
Hi I am Sierra Dunn and I am here because I have no idea what I would like to do. I have always been fascianted at the thought of becoming a teacher so I thought I would try and education class to see if this area is really for me. My major last semester was business and I came to find out that I liked nothing about business. I feel like teacher would be a fulfilling career. This is the perfect class in helping me decide and I am very excited about the observation time later in the semester.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sarah Tegarden:
ReplyDeleteI think it's awesome that even the teachers you've known who haven't been so great have been helpful in causing you to decide to go into teaching; it sounds like an excellent indication that this really is the perfect field for you!
I too am debating exactly what level to teach at, so I sympathize with not knowing whether or not elementary education is for you. Are you still planning to do your observation at an elementary school?
Education has always been a field that I have seen myself in. Throughout high school Dan Reeve played a major role in my life and has been one of the main reasons why im in college. When I first came to Lindenwood I thought I wanted to be an Athletic Trainer. Soon I came to realize that Dan Reeve enjoyed what he did and being a coach in the summer I found that I have a passion working with kids. Now I know that I want to go back to my school and work towards being the gym teacher and baseball coach.
ReplyDeleteKathleen Wagner said that even the teachers that were not so go in school play a big role in are decison on teaching and that statement is very true because another reason I think that I want to teach is because I want to be a better teacher then those teachers I had at Maplewood that never taught anyone just pushed them through their highschool life.
ReplyDeleteHi my name is Danielle Files. Here is my little story. I wanted to be a teacher when I was a little kid. I always had great teachers in elementary school, especially my fifth grade teacher. I had some trouble at home and she used to let me stay after and help her out and talk if I needed to. She helped me out alot. I had my mind made up that I wanted to be just like her probably until about the time I was in high school when I decided to take the money route and get a degree in business. I moved here to Lindenwood from Nashville, TN, to start my degree. I was walking from my business class one day and there were people behind me talking about teaching and it finally hit me that that's where I want to be. I didn't care about the money anymore. Thank goodness since the economy is down. I know it will be a challenge but I also believe it will be fun.
ReplyDeleteThis in response to Katy Davis.
ReplyDeleteGOOD LUCK GIRL!!! It will be really tough teaching high school math. I, myself had trouble with it in high school. One of the main problems was my teachers never understood why I wasn't understanding. They were kind of one track minded. They never wanted to explain it in any other way than they taught it. So it might be a good idea to try to teach lessons in more than one way. I wish you the best of luck...
Hello everyone! My name is Kevin Raske and I am in my third year of college, but this is my first year at lindenwood. I am here to help kids out and spread my love of music to generations to come. I want kids to discover their passion for the arts and to find their own path to their relationship with music. I have one teacher in mind that inspired me to teach. It was Mr. Bettcher from my high school. He was my jazz band director and he still remains my mentor today. He gave me more than lessons in music. He also gave me direction in life. He helped me in the roughest times of my high school life and really also helped me to gain a passion for teaching. I wish the best of luck to all of you in your quests to become educators.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kathleen...
ReplyDeleteKathleen I agree with you 100%. Not many people agree with our chosen area, but the thing that matters is that you have the passion to instill great things in the children you teach and to pass your passion along to the students you teach and maybe touch someone's life.
I guess I’ve always wanted to be a teacher. When I was little, my brother and my sister and I would always play school (I had to be the teacher, or I refused to play). Around the time middle school hit, I got into the mindset that money meant more and that I should be a business major. One of my teachers, Mrs. Williams that year pulled me aside and said, “Nicole, you are going to be a teacher I just know it! It is what you are meant to do.” I told her she was crazy. A few years later I went back to her classroom to tell her that indeed she was right. I decided that for me a job that I enjoy going to everyday is more important than a big paycheck, and if I further my education enough, who knows, I may have that big paycheck.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Kevin Raske
ReplyDeleteI am in the same boat as you, I am in my third year and this is my first year at lindenwood. Unfortunately my orientation class didn’t transfer, but it’s nice to have the opportunity to see how differently schools teach courses. I think that is great that you still have your high school teacher as a mentor. He could be a great contact upon graduation! It’s nice to know how much of an impact a teacher can have on a student.
I really couldn't put it on one teacher, rather multiple. I had so many teachers while I was growing up just helping me out in more ways than just in the classroom. I had several teachers that made learning fun and I never realized how long I was in the class, they always made it go by quick. All the while, still being there for me when I wasn't having the best day.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Sierra Dunn...
ReplyDeleteI completely agree! Ha, I do not know what I want to do anymore either so I am just kind of seeing what is out there. I can't wait to start observation and I think this class will be some fun.
Hi, I'm Brielle.
ReplyDeleteI came to be here because I want to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher.
I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I developed a love for grading papers and giving others advice. I knew I wanted to be an elementary school teacher when I started working VBS at my church my eighth grade year.
A person who added to my desire to teach is Janice Davis. She teaches gifted 2nd graders at Conway Elementary School. Her love and compassion for children is addicting, and she is truly an inspiration to me.
In response to Jordan Roche...
ReplyDeleteI completely understand what you mean by having an excellent teacher. Time really flies by when you're in their classroom and learning is actually enjoyable.
However, I also know what it's like to have a teacher who is not very good at their job, and it seems like time moves backwards in their class.
What grade level are you pursuing?
@Nickie Hayes
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty good timing because I didn't waste time with classes I didn't need. Pretty much just took the gen eds and now onto the music/education classes. I'm still debating either minoring or trying to major in marketing as well.
@Danny Zammit
ReplyDeleteYou should really be glad you decided early in your college career. Im two years behind on graudating because i waited so long to decided to change.
In response to Brielle...
ReplyDeleteI also want to be a confidant for my students. I want to teach them and be able to help them with their life choices. They need to become the best they can be. I also helped with vacation bible school at my parish. Those teachers have iinstilled in me the love and passion for education.
In reply to Nicole Manno...
ReplyDeleteI used to play school and always refuse to be the student also! I was always the one that had to be the teacher and I would throw a fit if I wasn't! It is awesome that one of your former teachers predicted you to be a teacher as well. Good luck with everything and hopefully I find that this is the career for me as well.
Hi everyone! My name is Kayla Eddy. I'm a freshman here at LU. I want to become a teacher!!! My family has inspired me to finalized my career decision. My dad is an elementary teacher and has taught highschool. My two sisters and my brother are also teachers. I guess you can say it's a family tradition. :)
ReplyDelete@ Nicole Manno
ReplyDeleteI loved playing school. I was never the teacher though because I had older siblings! It was a good memory though. Also, my dad told me my whole life I was going to be a teacher but I always wanted to be different than my family. Then I realized the first day I went to my dads classroom and watched him teach these kids with so much passion. I knew from that second I wanted that same feeling he had. So the moral of the story I want to be just like him. But enough about me. I can't wait to start observing. I hope the best for you!
I am at Lindenwood because I received a cheerleading scholarship. The reason I have chosen Art Education as my major is because of my amazing art teachers in high school. I have always loved to help people and especially kids.
ReplyDeleteHey guys, I'm Brianna & like most others I can't wait to become a teacher! It has always been my dream.. And I'm so excited to be in school finally & come closer to it. This class is not my first education class at Lindenwood. I've taken Measurment & Evaluation and Psychology of Teaching & Learning so those classes really made me more excited to learn about teaching! I'm excited to start observing & I can not wait!!
ReplyDeleteThis is in response to Danielle Files.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your story & I feel as though it is very revealing of the true meaning of teaching! It really does stink that teachers are paid so little, but at the same time what stinks even more is that people are turned away from the idea of teaching BECAUSE of the little pay. I personally believe that God has a path for each of us, and no matter what we should do whatever is necessary to achieve that!!
In Response to Crysta.Cleary.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you really enjoy working with children. From you profile and what you have said I think that you have picked the right field.:D
Hey, I'm Deanne Glenn! I have always known that I wanted to be involved in music as a career. I began piano lessons at the age of 5, and have never stopped loving it! (well, yes, there have been times where it's not the GREATEST thing ever, but it's definitely the one thing I have a passion for!) I was also blessed by discovering early on that I wanted to become a choir teacher, for I also LOVE to sing!!! :) Thus, here I am. There weren't any perticular teachers who influenced my decision to go into education... I simply knew all along that this is where I belong.
ReplyDeleteIn response to Nicole Manno:
ReplyDeleteThat totally sounds like me as a kid! Playing teacher was one of my favorite games as a kid. I even took it a step further and played "music school" where I would teach my little brother how to play different little songs on the piano.
Hi! I'm Jennifer and I just transfered to Lindenwood this semester. My plans for my career have definitely changed since I started school in 2007. I was in school for ultrasound until this past fall I realized teaching was what I was meant to do. Ive been working for the YMCA of St Charles since 2007 with children from ages 5-12 years old. I work before and after school in the latchkey program run by the Y. I also work summer camp with many of the same kids in our programs. The YMCA has an amazing program for before and after care even extending services to those children with special needs. I realized I couldn't leave the kids or leave the program and thats when it finally dawned on me that there was a reason behind that. Im meant to be a teacher and Im and here for elementary and special education and Im so excited to start!
ReplyDeleteIn response to Deanne Glenn
ReplyDeleteI think its awesome you want to become a choir teacher. The majority of the teachers that inspired me when I was in school were the ones who were able to let us be ourselves and express ourselves which is one reason I loved my choir class. Although I have no musical ability and wish I did, I think its great for kids to have choir in school and in my job I see them taking a lot of interest in their musical classes, and they love it!
Hello everyone. I am in this EDU class because I am an exercise science major and it is required for the degree. I want to be a physical therapist but maybe by taking this class I might want to teach after I become a physical therapist. I do have a favorite 5th grade teacher but I was never inspired to teach.
ReplyDeleteHi, i'm taking the class because i am an exercise science major and am going into physical therapy and the class is a requirement for my major. The teacher that influenced me the most was my lit teacher in 10th grade who was also one of my coaches.
ReplyDeleteThat is very cool that most everyone on here wants to be a teacher. even though I don't it is fun to read your inspirations for becoming teachers.
ReplyDeleteI feel like I am in the wrong class because everyone is so inspired to be a teacher which is awesome. I am glad to see that Chris is also an exercise science major and also going into physical therapy like I am.
ReplyDelete