something about me

Hi everyone,

My name is Laura and I am, of course, studying to be a teacher! I currently work in an elementary school as a T.A. I enjoy this job immensely and I have even given thought to becoming an elementary school teacher instead. I am however in my last semester so there is noooooo way I will change my major. I love kids of all ages and my job has helped me to get experience for the future. I've learned that you must be passionate, understanding, energetic, humorous and careful when you are around kids. You just never know what to expect from them and I have soon found out that I am more than an assistant to their academic learning, but also a doctor, therapist, advocate, psychologist, and the list goes on forever! It is fun and also hard work.

As a teacher, I hope my students really enjoy the literature that I teach them and learn how it can apply to their own lives to make it better. In other words, literature is about lessons in life, written by people who want to share things with the reader that could save them from making the same mistakes, or to take the opportunity when it comes, etc. Now of course a book alone cannot do this and it will not do this. We all read stories, get inspired, and then forget about it a day later and go do our own thing. That is my fear of teaching. That it will fly right out the window as my students move on to something else. However just by being aware of the power of literature, their own power to express themselves and by their own experiences, I hope my that students will learn invaluable lessons in life and be more wiser for the ware. And maybe there is that one story out there that will touch their lives , that they will seriously connect with.

Another fear I have as a teacher is dealing with students' issues. I know how their own personal lives can interfere with school and how many don't work to their potential. Many people also tell me I would be too nice for junior high! With the young kids I work with now, people agree that I am nice but firm with them, which is a good balance. Kids going through that transition from elementary to junior high go through all sorts of adjustments and many times need tough love and yeah it will be an adjustment for me too.

My reason for becoming a teacher is simple. I care about people. I want them to succeed. I know I have the ability to make this happen for my students, if they want it. I also want to make sure my students are given the opportunitiy to be prepared for the next level of their lives. I will work with them and try different ways to help them comprehend and learn the material whether it be group work, class discussion, self reflections, etc. Also, what's the point of going to school, if kids don't enjoy at least something about it? My seventh grade teacher used to give my advanced English class awesome projects that relate to the literature and allowed us to use our own imaginations and creativity, which I will be sure to keep in mind. To this day, I can remember almost every book we read in that class and many of the themes and lessons.

Technology- good one. I don't own an ipod, my cell is five years old, I ride my bike to school (Okay, I do drive to work and parties baby!) what else- oh my last video game up-grade is a super nintendo. Yet I do love technology when I get it and I am looking forward to learning blogs and power point so my kids don't think i'm some kind of freak ( that actually might work though)and so I can give pretty neat-o lectures! Neat-o!

My concern for the teaching profession lies in the misunderstanding of a partnership between parents, kids and teachers. Not one of these elements alone will help the student succeed. As an employee of LAUSD and a first hand witness to the classroom, I see that this concept is not stressed enough. Several times child's success is left up to the teacher to handle alone. Sometimes it's the students lack of motivation from the teacher. Whatever it is, if all three elements are working together as a team the student's chances are much brighter, as my observations show me.

Well this has actually been fun to write and reflect and if you actually read this all, congratulations, and thanks for listenting!

- Laura

Hiya

Nice talkin to ya