Standard 3
Title: Mississippi Trip
Date: 1/16/2011–1/23/2011
Artifact Description:
My artifact for this experience is a journal from my time spent in Mississippi for my Ethnic and Gender class at UW-Platteville. My writing states what I did in Mississippi as a group and what I accomplished on my own. My journal tells about my day to day activities and discusses my thoughts about what I was thinking and what I had learned. My journal discusses the cultural change I encountered in Jonestown, Mississippi, the town where I stayed at with Sister Kay. My writing also brings up my time spent in the school working with children of a different race.
Alignment
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment
I believe this experience best aligns with standard three of the Wisconsin Teacher Development and Licensure Standards which states: “The teacher understands how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities.” This experience aligns with standard three because during my time in Jonestown, Mississippi I spent approximately 32 hours in the Jonestown elementary school. I tutored and worked with African American students in grades fourth and fifth. I had a hand’s on learning experience working with those students for four days in a row in a mathematics class setting. I learned that students no matter what race they are learn differently. I learned that the setting and environment in which the students lived in had a direct affect on how they learned and their attitude towards school and teachers. During my work at the school I engaged with students in the gym and hall ways where I noticed differences between the students in Mississippi and back home in Wisconsin. The students in Mississippi for the most part were very polite and mannerly when talking with me. They said “yes sir or no thank you”. I learned that some students learn differently and some need more time to understand the material. I also learned that a noisy corrupt classroom setting can impede a child’s learning and attention span away from the material. I talked with the teacher that I tutored under during my time spent in the school. He gave my ideas in the future on how to work with kids and he told me about his experience teaching in Mississippi for the last two years through the “Teacher for America” program. His insight and guidance gave me an understanding of what teaching down south consists of and how different it is from other areas of the country.
UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, and Disposition Statement Alignment
I believe this Experience best aligns with KSD1.a. of the UWP School of Education Knowledge, Skill, and Disposition statements which states: “The candidate displays extensive content knowledge of his/her subject areas and demonstrates a continuing search for new content knowledge, resources, and best instructional practices, while understanding student diversity and student misconceptions and misunderstandings as key to the teaching process.” During my time in the Jonestown elementary school I helped teach mathematics. I had the opportunity to use the skills I obtained in elementary, middle, and high school mathematics along with the math for educators classes I have taken at UWP. I understood all the material being taught and used creative strategies when teaching it to the students. I asked the teacher for guidance if I had any questions about the material that he was teaching. I used resources that were available to help me best get the information across to the students that I worked with. All the students I worked with were African American, which allowed me to get an understanding of diversity in Mississippi compared to what I am used to back home. I treated all the students the same and did not favor anyone more than the others.
Secondary Alignment:
KSD2.a: Creates an environment of respect and rapport
KSD2.b: Establishes a culture for learning
Reflection
What I learned about teaching/learning:
I learned it is important to be very alert and open-minded as a teacher. As a teacher I need to take in account the differences in the students I am working with and the environment of the school setting along with the home environment of the students. I learned to be kind and honest with the students to earn their respect. I also learned that if you show the students respect they’re more willing to learn from you as a teacher. I learned to be aware of how students see the material and to cater to their type of learning when explaining the content of the subject to them. As a teacher I will be an exciting outgoing individual who promotes learning in and out of the classroom by setting an example for my students to follow.
What I learned about myself as a prospective educator:
I learned that I thoroughly enjoy teaching students and watching them use their minds to figure out the problem. Working with the students in Jonestown, Mississippi reassured me that I will make a good teacher and that my students will enjoy learning from me. I watched the faces of the students I worked with and for the most part they seemed to be comfortable working with me. I had a fun teaching the students and I think that is extremely important because not everybody enjoys their job, but I know I will. I learned that I am fairly patient working with students and that I need to allow them time to think about the problem. I feel that as long as I focus on my future I can and will make an excellent teacher for future students.
/uploads/7/2/8/5/7285013/mississippi_trip_s3.pdf
Date: 1/16/2011–1/23/2011
Artifact Description:
My artifact for this experience is a journal from my time spent in Mississippi for my Ethnic and Gender class at UW-Platteville. My writing states what I did in Mississippi as a group and what I accomplished on my own. My journal tells about my day to day activities and discusses my thoughts about what I was thinking and what I had learned. My journal discusses the cultural change I encountered in Jonestown, Mississippi, the town where I stayed at with Sister Kay. My writing also brings up my time spent in the school working with children of a different race.
Alignment
Wisconsin Teacher Standard Alignment
I believe this experience best aligns with standard three of the Wisconsin Teacher Development and Licensure Standards which states: “The teacher understands how pupils differ in their approaches to learning and the barriers that impede learning and can adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of pupils, including those with disabilities and exceptionalities.” This experience aligns with standard three because during my time in Jonestown, Mississippi I spent approximately 32 hours in the Jonestown elementary school. I tutored and worked with African American students in grades fourth and fifth. I had a hand’s on learning experience working with those students for four days in a row in a mathematics class setting. I learned that students no matter what race they are learn differently. I learned that the setting and environment in which the students lived in had a direct affect on how they learned and their attitude towards school and teachers. During my work at the school I engaged with students in the gym and hall ways where I noticed differences between the students in Mississippi and back home in Wisconsin. The students in Mississippi for the most part were very polite and mannerly when talking with me. They said “yes sir or no thank you”. I learned that some students learn differently and some need more time to understand the material. I also learned that a noisy corrupt classroom setting can impede a child’s learning and attention span away from the material. I talked with the teacher that I tutored under during my time spent in the school. He gave my ideas in the future on how to work with kids and he told me about his experience teaching in Mississippi for the last two years through the “Teacher for America” program. His insight and guidance gave me an understanding of what teaching down south consists of and how different it is from other areas of the country.
UW-Platteville School of Education Knowledge, Skill, and Disposition Statement Alignment
I believe this Experience best aligns with KSD1.a. of the UWP School of Education Knowledge, Skill, and Disposition statements which states: “The candidate displays extensive content knowledge of his/her subject areas and demonstrates a continuing search for new content knowledge, resources, and best instructional practices, while understanding student diversity and student misconceptions and misunderstandings as key to the teaching process.” During my time in the Jonestown elementary school I helped teach mathematics. I had the opportunity to use the skills I obtained in elementary, middle, and high school mathematics along with the math for educators classes I have taken at UWP. I understood all the material being taught and used creative strategies when teaching it to the students. I asked the teacher for guidance if I had any questions about the material that he was teaching. I used resources that were available to help me best get the information across to the students that I worked with. All the students I worked with were African American, which allowed me to get an understanding of diversity in Mississippi compared to what I am used to back home. I treated all the students the same and did not favor anyone more than the others.
Secondary Alignment:
KSD2.a: Creates an environment of respect and rapport
KSD2.b: Establishes a culture for learning
Reflection
What I learned about teaching/learning:
I learned it is important to be very alert and open-minded as a teacher. As a teacher I need to take in account the differences in the students I am working with and the environment of the school setting along with the home environment of the students. I learned to be kind and honest with the students to earn their respect. I also learned that if you show the students respect they’re more willing to learn from you as a teacher. I learned to be aware of how students see the material and to cater to their type of learning when explaining the content of the subject to them. As a teacher I will be an exciting outgoing individual who promotes learning in and out of the classroom by setting an example for my students to follow.
What I learned about myself as a prospective educator:
I learned that I thoroughly enjoy teaching students and watching them use their minds to figure out the problem. Working with the students in Jonestown, Mississippi reassured me that I will make a good teacher and that my students will enjoy learning from me. I watched the faces of the students I worked with and for the most part they seemed to be comfortable working with me. I had a fun teaching the students and I think that is extremely important because not everybody enjoys their job, but I know I will. I learned that I am fairly patient working with students and that I need to allow them time to think about the problem. I feel that as long as I focus on my future I can and will make an excellent teacher for future students.
/uploads/7/2/8/5/7285013/mississippi_trip_s3.pdf