Wednesday, 28 September 2011
Where are your students from?
Vancouver is an amazing city with a mosaic of cultures.
The majority of students entering schools today are from all over the world. It's important to know where our students are coming from to gain a better understanding of their background and traditions in order to help them cope in a new learning environment.
To find out more about their culture, the cohort I am in at UBC has put together presentations of some of the countries our students come from. Thank you TELL (Teaching English Language Learners) cohort for putting these together.
Cultural Profiles
China
Hong Kong
India
Iran
Pakistan
Philippines
Punjab
Sri Lanka
Vietnam
Columbia - a Prezi presentation
Serbia
Hong Kong
Monday, 26 September 2011
RESP - Registered Education Savings Plan
http://reader.metronews.ca/digital_launch.aspx?id=b4d5ffbf-55e8-4207-9a22-f645bdd87f06&pnum=20
The article states that according to a 2010 Statistics Canada report, average student debt on graduation is $18,800. And the total cost of school for students living away from home at a hefty $80,000. It also says "that more than half - 58 percent - of post secondary students feel anxious or stressed when they think about how they're going to pay their way through school."
Most parents aren't able to cover tuition costs and some students don't qualify for loans. The article suggests some tips for saving. A Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP) is suggested. Parents, grandparents, family members can start putting money into childrens' RESP at a young age. I recommend even starting before your child's born. Put a set amount aside every month, deposit gifts (monetary) from friends, grandparents into this account so that your child has access to the money to use for his/her post- secondary education. This would definitely ease students stress levels and allow them to shift their focus onto their schoolwork.
Sunday, 25 September 2011
My Personal Philosophy
I believe…
P- Patience, don’t give up. Be supportive. Help students to comprehend and promote
understanding by making meaningful connections and providing clear examples. Try not to take things personally if you receive
a negative reaction. Overcome barriers
by setting goals and by having a positive attitude.
A - Appreciate each individual’s uniqueness and
differences. Respect and embrace the different
levels of abilities within the class. Present students with opportunities that allow them to express their creativity.
S- Social experiences. Work together with your students to build a classroom
community based on trust and respect. Make
sure each student feels included and involved.
Learning is everywhere. You can
learn through social experiences and individually. Be approachable and in constant communication
with your students.
S- Solutions.
If students have problems whether it’s behavioural or motivational, a
teacher should consider various solutions to help students by combining several
techniques. Teachers should also be
aware that there may not be a ready solution and ask colleagues and
administrators for support. Experiment,
further inquire and utilize strategies.
Teachers are problem solvers, academically and personally. Make adjustments, accept errors and welcome
suggestions. Develop specific solutions
to help students achieve their goals.
I - Inner drive. Invite students to think critically. Motivate students to want to learn and you as
the teacher should want to learn with your students. Incite curiousity. Be enthusiastic when teaching lessons and
show students that you want to be there and work with them. Be prepared and plan lessons accordingly.
O- Open- minded.
Be open to learn. Allow students
to have an opinion and care what they say and contribute to the class. Broaden their thinking and be flexible, non-biased,
and non- judgmental. Learning outcomes
are not always the same. Recognize that
there are different learning styles and adapt you’re your teaching method to fit the constantly
changing learning environment of the classroom.
N- New ways of learning. Invite exploration, discovery, reflection,
and engage students in the classroom. Foster
an inquiring attitude. Make the effort in educating yourself. Attend workshops and collaborate with other
teachers on what works and what doesn’t.
Modify lessons. Learning is a
life- long process and it is always changing.
Welcome new techniques and strive to always improve your teaching
practices and acquired skills.
Tuesday, 20 September 2011
Digital Tattoo
Today, I attended a presentation conducted at the auditorium in Scarfe building at UBC. The presenters discussed our roles as teacher candidates. We are just a small step away from being teachers, therefore we need to "Think Like a Teacher!"
Several years ago, a student teacher in the United States was denied her teaching certificate for having posted a public image of her on a social networking website. Here is a link of the story:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/student-denied-teaching-degree-over-myspace-photo/
Social networking sites are popular amongst friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and family members, however we do need to take into account that being a teacher places us in the public eye. Whether you're in a grocery store, on the bus, you need to watch what you say and if you are ranting about your school life, it's better not to do it in public. We all like gossip, but there is a time and a place for it. Most importantly, we also need to watch and monitor what we and others post online. Because like a tattoo, once it's posted, it's permanent and is out there and your information could be seen by potential employers looking to hire you!
More information on digital tattoo:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/student-denied-teaching-degree-over-myspace-photo/
http://collegechoicesforadults.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/have-you-checked-out-your-digital-tattoo/
Here are some sites how anyone is able to search you.
http://www.pipl.com
http://www.spezify.com
http://personas.media.mit.edu/personasWeb.html
Several years ago, a student teacher in the United States was denied her teaching certificate for having posted a public image of her on a social networking website. Here is a link of the story:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/student-denied-teaching-degree-over-myspace-photo/
Social networking sites are popular amongst friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and family members, however we do need to take into account that being a teacher places us in the public eye. Whether you're in a grocery store, on the bus, you need to watch what you say and if you are ranting about your school life, it's better not to do it in public. We all like gossip, but there is a time and a place for it. Most importantly, we also need to watch and monitor what we and others post online. Because like a tattoo, once it's posted, it's permanent and is out there and your information could be seen by potential employers looking to hire you!
More information on digital tattoo:
http://www.barbarafeldman.com/student-denied-teaching-degree-over-myspace-photo/
http://collegechoicesforadults.wordpress.com/2011/03/24/have-you-checked-out-your-digital-tattoo/
Here are some sites how anyone is able to search you.
http://www.pipl.com
http://www.spezify.com
http://personas.media.mit.edu/personasWeb.html
Friday, 16 September 2011
the beginning...
Hello!
I'm quite new at this! This is my first blog I've ever made! How exciting!
This blog is dedicated to the world of teaching. I am a teacher candidate at UBC. I hope to share my experiences with everyone and hopefully be able to provide some useful tips and resources throughout my journey during my one year program.
I'm quite new at this! This is my first blog I've ever made! How exciting!
This blog is dedicated to the world of teaching. I am a teacher candidate at UBC. I hope to share my experiences with everyone and hopefully be able to provide some useful tips and resources throughout my journey during my one year program.
Some people walk in the rain, others just get wet.
~Roger Miller
~Roger Miller
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