Week 1 & 2

Read-alouds

• On the first day of class Mrs. Jackson read to us Through the Cracks by Carolyn Solloman. It was about a girl who had "fallen through the cracks" in her school, which was a metaphor about how she really did not fit in with the teaching style. While she was "in the cracks" she met a friend whom helped her find fun and engaging classes. I think this was a good book to read on the first day of school because we were working direction connection and it made myself more aware to look for kids who had "fallen through the cracks". It would be a good book to use as a segway in to an activity about different types of learning.
• On the second day of class Mrs. Jackson read Mrs. Spitzer's Garden by Edith Pattou to the class. Mrs. Spitzer's Garden is story of a teacher who knows how to make gardens grow and flourish every year. Mrs. Spitzer is also able to help her students grow and flourish by giving them love and care. This would be a great book to read on the first day of school to the students like Mrs. Jackson did.
• On the third day of class Mrs. Jackson read My Losing Season by Pat Conroy. This real-aloud was different than the first one she read, it was an excerpt from Pat Conroy's book as opposed to a picture book. The excerpt was of Mr. Conroy talking about a teacher who inspired him. The teacher caused him to work hard all year long, and finally he realized that all his hard work had paid off. Mr. Conroy thinks that that teacher was one of the best teachers he had because he caused Mr. Conroy to push himself in his academics. I share a similar experience to Mr. Conroy with my English teacher from last year, so I too can appreciate a hard teacher. You could use this book in a class at the beginning of the year to foreshadow what a class's year ahead might be like. Or you could use as a motivational speech to show how hard work will pay off for a class or sports team.
•  On the fourth day of class Melanie read the story Teacher's Pet by D. Jakobs. When she first told us the title I was honestly thinking it was going to be a story about a student who tries to flatter the teacher. But instead it was a story about actually pets and the different activities they were able to do at school. It was be a good book to lead into an activity about pets and what they can do.
• On the fifth day of class Cortni read These Hands by Hope Lynn Price. It was a story showing how our hands are used in daily activities. I really liked this because it made me realize that our hands can do so many things. You could use this as an opening into an anatomy lesson or you could use it as an example for a writing activity about what your hands can do.

Learning Experiences

• These first two weeks of class were great! I was actually glad to come to school and especially Teacher Cadet class. This week we got to learn alot about the qualities that make up good teachers. I think we were able to determine what makes a good teacher by having some great teachers and some not so great. We also learned alot about our classmates, we are starting to become a family. We did a paper bag activity where you put words, pictures, and objects that help describe you as a complete person. Ir was a great opportunity to get a glimpse of some one's and what they want in life.

Current Event

•  http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2012/08/romney_2.html
• In this article it talks about presidental canidate Mitt Romeny's effort to allow students to pick which schools they go to. He compared it to buying milk in the store where you have 1%, 2% skim, whole, and chocolate. He believes that it will help increase the academic performance, which it has is Massachuesetts. I think this is personally a good idea because it allows students to pick a school that has programs that interest them, will may help increase academic performance.

Qoute of the Week

"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." -Nelson Mandela

• I love this quote! It is so simple yet so powerful. It is so true that education and what you do with it can change the world. Education often leads to inspiration to change something big or small. Facebook was invented while Mark Zuckerburg was in college working on this education.

Observations

• In one of my classess this week I saw a kid about to fall through the cracks, but then the teacher went over and helped them one on one. I feel like this has probably happened more than once in some of my classes but this was just not the first time I was realizing it. It made my day when the teacher made sure he didn't fall through. I am glad we have teachers like that at Dutch Fork.

Reflections

• These two past weeks have been great! I loved all the activities we did in class to get to know our classmates. I really got to know people alot better and make new friends. I really liked working direction connection as well because I felt like I was actually helping some one on their first days of school. I think this year is going to be so much fun!