Our final day was filled with presentations, cleaning and packing. I liked most of the projects our class came up with and the additional input from the PD group. Even though some of us aren't teaching at the moment the projects could be easily applied and implemented within classrooms and with a variety of grades. It seemed like the majority of the people who shared put a decent amount of time and energy into their ideas. Some, like me, had a difficult time coming up with an idea then trying to tie it to our strand and making a presentation out of it.
I felt inspired and well on the way to getting my passion back by the time we left. I also realized that trips like these (even if it's not to the adirondacks) are important for teachers and teachers-to-be. As adults, we need to connect on a deeper level than just in the classroom setting. I still feel overwhelmed by the enormity of the problems the world is facing but I have a glimmer of hope for the future. I want to make a difference and through teaching, I will.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Thursday, July 29, 2010
7/29 Day 5
Stretching myself is not something I like to do or do very often. I know it helps overall and it needs to be done but going outside my comfort zone is not enjoyable. Saying that, my experience on the ropes course was hard. I enjoyed it a lot but I was terrified most of the time I was on the high ropes course. Even the low ropes course was hard because I have trouble trusting people. I'm SO proud of myself for doing both the course and the zip line.
Bringing students out to a ropes course or something like it for the younger students would be fantastic! I cannot wait to do this with my future students!
Bringing students out to a ropes course or something like it for the younger students would be fantastic! I cannot wait to do this with my future students!
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
7/28 Day 4
The Wild Center and the Adirondack Museum were fun and very interesting but I didn't think we had enough time for both in one day. I do think that both would be fun and educational to bring students to... maybe if I didn't live so far away!
The Wild Center was unique and full of life! It was small but neat to try to absorb all the information we were seeing, hearing and feeling. The VTS presentation was neat but I have a hard time believing that we couldn't do most of it outside or in some other place that we could enjoy more of the Adirondacks and not the inside walls of a building.
The point of this course is to show us the things we can do to help get our students outside and doing things to make them more aware of our environment and the problems we are facing.
The Adirondack Museum was really cool to see and experience. There was so much to see that I didn't get to it all which made me sad but what I did see made me want to spend a lot more time there. I love to learn the history of places and the people and I hope to instill this love to my future students as well. Learning where we came from and what happened long ago can help us today on so many levels. Students need exposure to this kind of history to get them involved and interested so our history is not forgotten.
On a brighter note, I think I've decided what to do for my project... I don't know whether Cornell does student scientist data collection for information about Cayuga Lake but I will be finding out if they do. Then I would like to do a lesson/field trip having students find the GPS location of where we will be taking data, etc.... (more to come)
The Wild Center was unique and full of life! It was small but neat to try to absorb all the information we were seeing, hearing and feeling. The VTS presentation was neat but I have a hard time believing that we couldn't do most of it outside or in some other place that we could enjoy more of the Adirondacks and not the inside walls of a building.
The point of this course is to show us the things we can do to help get our students outside and doing things to make them more aware of our environment and the problems we are facing.
The Adirondack Museum was really cool to see and experience. There was so much to see that I didn't get to it all which made me sad but what I did see made me want to spend a lot more time there. I love to learn the history of places and the people and I hope to instill this love to my future students as well. Learning where we came from and what happened long ago can help us today on so many levels. Students need exposure to this kind of history to get them involved and interested so our history is not forgotten.
On a brighter note, I think I've decided what to do for my project... I don't know whether Cornell does student scientist data collection for information about Cayuga Lake but I will be finding out if they do. Then I would like to do a lesson/field trip having students find the GPS location of where we will be taking data, etc.... (more to come)
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
7/27 Day 3
The hike up Bear Mountain was great. I enjoyed all of it, especially the last part. Climbing up the steep rocks was challenging but fun. I didn't like how the main group ended up splitting up into multiple groups but I understand that everybody walks at different speeds. This might be an aspect to bring up with my future classroom. The differences between all students are great and this is one more to add to the list and to accept.
I still have no idea what to do for my project and it's getting annoying...
Figuring out what kids enjoy, what will rekindle my confidence, passion for teaching as well as being educational and innovative is the hard part. Oh and I need to incorporate my technology strand as well... I'll just keep thinking I guess.
I still have no idea what to do for my project and it's getting annoying...
Figuring out what kids enjoy, what will rekindle my confidence, passion for teaching as well as being educational and innovative is the hard part. Oh and I need to incorporate my technology strand as well... I'll just keep thinking I guess.
Monday, July 26, 2010
7/26 Day 2
Today we were faced with choosing, or at least thinking about, our projects for this class. This was ans still is very overwhelming for me.
Even talking about ourselves, why we're taking this class and what we want to get out of it I got a little upset because I was once very passionate about teaching and I want to be again.
I get so "juiced," as Tim calls it, but then lose all of that when I get into the classroom because I can feel all the restrictions and rules weighing me down. I want my future students to see the passion I feel way deep down inside on occasion. I want them to in turn become passionate about something (anything!). I want to do so many things and do so much good that I'm confused and unsure as to where I need to start.
As for this project, I have NO IDEA of what to do... I want to do something (technology related because that's my strand) that will help me to enjoy teaching again and I want to impact my students lives (in a good way) so they will inspire others and be able to create a future they will be proud of.
Even talking about ourselves, why we're taking this class and what we want to get out of it I got a little upset because I was once very passionate about teaching and I want to be again.
I get so "juiced," as Tim calls it, but then lose all of that when I get into the classroom because I can feel all the restrictions and rules weighing me down. I want my future students to see the passion I feel way deep down inside on occasion. I want them to in turn become passionate about something (anything!). I want to do so many things and do so much good that I'm confused and unsure as to where I need to start.
As for this project, I have NO IDEA of what to do... I want to do something (technology related because that's my strand) that will help me to enjoy teaching again and I want to impact my students lives (in a good way) so they will inspire others and be able to create a future they will be proud of.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
7/25 Day 1
Today was my very first day in the Adirondacks. I had heard of the beauty of the Adirondacks for my whole life but have never actually been here!
There is a rich history here that I would love to know more about. The great camps are fascinating not only because they are extensive but because of how and why they were built. Many wealthy families lived in these great camps and shared a lavish lifestyle with friends and family. The architecture is amazing and I would love to take a day to explore every bit. The "rustic" nature of everything is amazing and makes me wonder how long everything took to create.
The hike and tour we had was very informative and peaked my curiosity. The restoration we saw as well as the original buildings were neat and the history behind them was cool as well. The house boat was a unique and inventive idea which I was surprised actually worked!
There is a rich history here that I would love to know more about. The great camps are fascinating not only because they are extensive but because of how and why they were built. Many wealthy families lived in these great camps and shared a lavish lifestyle with friends and family. The architecture is amazing and I would love to take a day to explore every bit. The "rustic" nature of everything is amazing and makes me wonder how long everything took to create.
The hike and tour we had was very informative and peaked my curiosity. The restoration we saw as well as the original buildings were neat and the history behind them was cool as well. The house boat was a unique and inventive idea which I was surprised actually worked!
Friday, July 23, 2010
Hello!
Being a grad student, I had heard of classes being taught up in the Adirondacks and thought that would be a cool experience. I never thought that I would actually be able to take one of those classes myself so when Beth Klein told me that The Adirondack Classroom would fulfill one of my requirements, I thought that was great!
Initially, I thought I would be a good teacher because I care a lot about others and I love watching people learn (whether they are children or adults). My passion for teaching has been less than stellar since my sophomore year in college. The program was so intense that I became filled with feelings that I would never make a good teacher for many different reasons. I completed the program but was set that I would NEVER teach. The three years I took before going to grad school helped me to realize that my passion for teaching never died, it was just pushed out of the way by worry and doubt. Through some of the courses I've taken (grad) as well as subbing, I think I will actually look for a teaching position once I've graduated with my masters. My passion is slowly returning. The children of today are our future leaders, what and how we teach them now will affect how our tomorrow will look and I want to be a positive influence in that.
My professional goals in teaching are to never stop learning, educate other teachers and staff and keep an open mind. There are always things that need improving and I want to be the most effective educator I can be. Sometimes I get too focused and get tunnel visioned but I will try my best to stay open and alert to other possibilities and thoughts even if they are "outside the box" in my opinion.
It's hard for me to say right now if I will make a career in teaching. I love to educate those around me but it's hard for me to say I will WANT to go to the same classroom every day, every school year for decades and decades. If I do make a career in teaching, I will have to be one of those teachers who is always on the move, whether it's field trips, just going outside, etc. I definitely think I want to stay in the education field but time will tell if I make a career in teaching.
I can't say I have too make goals for this class and my week in the adirondacks. All the "doom and gloom" reading we did has put a damper on the hope that this week will be tons of fun so I'm keeping my expectations low... =( I have no idea what to expect but I guess I would like to be outside exploring something or another everyday and I would not like to be stuck inside unless it's pouring out. I would like the learn more of how I can incorporate the outdoors into my future classroom and how to properly inform children about what is happening in the Adirondacks as well as the world without making them horribly sad or distraught. Those emotions don't create change.
Ok, enough of my babbling. See you all in a couple days!
Initially, I thought I would be a good teacher because I care a lot about others and I love watching people learn (whether they are children or adults). My passion for teaching has been less than stellar since my sophomore year in college. The program was so intense that I became filled with feelings that I would never make a good teacher for many different reasons. I completed the program but was set that I would NEVER teach. The three years I took before going to grad school helped me to realize that my passion for teaching never died, it was just pushed out of the way by worry and doubt. Through some of the courses I've taken (grad) as well as subbing, I think I will actually look for a teaching position once I've graduated with my masters. My passion is slowly returning. The children of today are our future leaders, what and how we teach them now will affect how our tomorrow will look and I want to be a positive influence in that.
My professional goals in teaching are to never stop learning, educate other teachers and staff and keep an open mind. There are always things that need improving and I want to be the most effective educator I can be. Sometimes I get too focused and get tunnel visioned but I will try my best to stay open and alert to other possibilities and thoughts even if they are "outside the box" in my opinion.
It's hard for me to say right now if I will make a career in teaching. I love to educate those around me but it's hard for me to say I will WANT to go to the same classroom every day, every school year for decades and decades. If I do make a career in teaching, I will have to be one of those teachers who is always on the move, whether it's field trips, just going outside, etc. I definitely think I want to stay in the education field but time will tell if I make a career in teaching.
I can't say I have too make goals for this class and my week in the adirondacks. All the "doom and gloom" reading we did has put a damper on the hope that this week will be tons of fun so I'm keeping my expectations low... =( I have no idea what to expect but I guess I would like to be outside exploring something or another everyday and I would not like to be stuck inside unless it's pouring out. I would like the learn more of how I can incorporate the outdoors into my future classroom and how to properly inform children about what is happening in the Adirondacks as well as the world without making them horribly sad or distraught. Those emotions don't create change.
Ok, enough of my babbling. See you all in a couple days!
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