How have you learned from your overeall experience?

I have learned that being a teacher is not easy at all, not only do you have to teach students; I have learned that sometimes you have to make sure everything is okay in their home life.  Sometimes teachers spend money that the school will not give them in order to reward their students or help them understand a concept better.  They have alot of responsility and stress on them.  I have realized that it takes a special person to be a teacher and I have also learned that I am not one of those special people.  I look up alot more to the teachers that are trying their best to teach their students in the best way possible.

How do classroom management philosophies and techniques influence how teachers resolve classroom discipline issues?

Every teacher has a certain method they use to discipline students.  Some methods work really well, and some do not work as well.  As a teacher, you just have to experiment and see what method would work best for you.  These management techniques give all students equal discipline, if any students does something he/she is not suppose too then they will have consequences.  Most teachers for the younger grade levels put kids in time out or take a toy away, but for the older students it is either a write up or a phone call home to the parents.  Many of the techniques that teachers use are very effective.  As a student you just have know what to expect from your teacher, and always follow the rules.

What are some signs of a good day in class? What things happen in your opinion to constitute to a good day in the classroom? What are some signs of a bad day and what do they look like?

I think a good day in class is when students start to understand a subject that they have been struggling with.  Even if students just pay more attention to you as you try to teach, and seem to be eager to learn.  Depending on what great level a good day could be not having to send anyone to time out or not have to write anyone up.  A bad day in my opinion would be just the opposite.  If everyone is looking at me like I am speaking another language when I am teaching them something new.  It would be a bad day for me if students are too busy talking to each other to pay me any attention.  If I have to use bad consequences for my students actions then it would not be a very good day, because I think that students should come to class ready to learn.

If you were to describe your ideal classroom, how would you describe it, and what are your reasons behind it being ideal in your opinion?

My ideal classroom is a place where students are eager to learn and teachers love to fill students with knowledge.  You can always tell when teachers love their job, or when they feel as if you're a burden on them.  Teachers have a huge responsibility; I think that they should everything in their power to help the students understand the subject better. This might mean that they spend some of their own money, but I think the greater price is knowing that they helped a student understand a difficult subject. When I think of a classroom, I think of students posters that they have completed in class or at home all over the walls. This just illustrates the work that students have done and that it is good enough to go on the walls. 

What are things that you can honestly say contributes to you continuing to want to go into the teaching profession, and so that you may not?

Just knowing that there are so many kids out there that need help makes me want to go into the teaching profession.  They really need someone that has a lot of patience, and I have learned through experience that that someone is not me.  It has made me realize that I cannot deal with children especially not the special needs children.  They are the cutest kids I have ever seen but I really just cannot handle it.  I loved it before my car accident, but I think that now the main reason why I don't want to go into the teaching profession is because of the major headaches I am still having and going over to Oakwood only makes it worse.  I have no idea what I want to major in, but teaching is still in the back of my mind.

How have you been able to contribute to the student's understanding of topics within the classroom, and do they respomd well to younger adults?

I am not in the classroom when the teachers have learning time, as they call it.  Therefore, the most learning I have seen the students participate in is when they are too loud with their toys Mrs. Goots makes them clean up so she can read to them.  I personally think that they do respond well to me when I tell them to put the toys up or whatever it might be.  I think that since I have the younger ones they think I'm as old as the teachers because I am as tall as the teachers. 

What have you learned about differentiation in your classroom?

There is many types of differentiation in my classroom, because I have students with many different types of disabilities.  With so many different disabilities it's really hard for Mrs. Goots to prepare a lesson, because they are so many different ways she needs to teach.  She has two teacher aides that help her, so they split up and put the kids into groups that are on the same intellectual level.  I've only heard about them doing this; I've never seen from experience of being there because they do not have time to teach when I am there! I have observed that the students learn at very different paces so we as teachers or teacher cadets have to be very patient with the students. 

Current Event #3

Title:  Dr. Beverly Emory Named New WS/Forsyth County Superintendent
Newspaper:  myfox8.com
March 26, 2013

Dr. Emory New Superintendent


Who:  Dr. Beverly Emory


What:  Dr. Emory has been chosen to be the new superintendent.


When:  July 1st is when Emory will start her new position.


Where:  Winston Salem and Forsyth County Schools


Why or How:  When the current superintendent retires on June 30th, Emory was the one the chosen to take his position as the superintendent.


Dr. Beverly Emory is currently the superintendent of Pitt County Schools, but she applied for a job as the superintendent of Winston Salem and Forsyth County Schools.  The Board of Education voted and they unanimously decided on Emory to be the next superintendent.  She had the experience and the right attitude that they were looking for.  She now has a four year contract and makes $190,000 annually.   She's eager and ready to start her new position July 1st.

How My Week Went

Well last week I missed two days because I am still having really bad headaches, but when I was there I was pretty bored honestly.  I mean all they do is play with toys and the teacher aids tell me to let them play by themselves because they are trying to teach them independence.  I can understand where they are coming from but I just get really bored, and I don't find it as fun as I thought it would be.  It has made me realize that I do not want to be a teacher when I grow up, all the teachers I've talked to at Oakwood just complain about how much they don't want to be there.  If it's anything like what teacher cadet has been, then I don't want teaching to be my profession.  I don't want to talk bad about the teachers, because they really do help the children.  I just wish I could come at a different time, because when I go now there is no teaching at all.

Current Event #2

Title:  School Prayers Challenged in Stokes County
Newspaper:  MyFOX8.com
Date:  March 13, 2013

Prayers in School


Who:  Advocacy group


What:  The advocacy group believes that Stokes County schools have been “unlawfully promoting religion, promoting Christianity, forcing students to listen to religious speeches or prayers at school ceremonies."  


When:  January 2012


Where:  Stokes County NC


Why or How:  The chairman of Stokes County Board of Education believes he has done nothing wrong and will not make any changes.


The advocacy group believes that Stokes County schools have been forcing religion on some student and staff members.   The schools pray at every school board meeting and graduation ceremonies.  The head chairman does not believe that anything is wrong with praying before these special events,  but the advocacy totally disagrees.  The group has already changed one county, so maybe they will change Stokes County as well?

First Week Jitters!

I was very nervous my first day back.  I already know the students from last semester, but I didn't know if they would remember me or how it would go.  They were sweet as usual and welcomed me back with smiling faces and many hugs.  That definitely made me feel better about being there.  As soon as I walked in they all tried to grab me so I could help them with a puzzle or whatever they were working on.  I feel in love with this new kid that I had never met before.  His name is Zion, and he doesn't talk; he just smiles about everything.  I was nervous for about the first ten minutes, but then I was fine.  Even if they are four, they know exactly how to make you feel welcome.

The Biggest Problem in Education???

I believe that the biggest problem that we face in education is the lack of funding.  I know that in my school, we use a lot of money for unnecessary items.  We bought a flat screen television to put in the cafeteria that I have seen turned on maybe twice in the past two years.  I believe that our administrators need to really consider what they buy first.  We could have used that money to go towards a field trip that would be very helpful in a difficult AP class, or for advanced technology in our AG classes.  I had a teacher my freshman year, and no one understood what she was teaching at all.  She had a meeting with the principal and asked if she could donate some money because she saw something in a magazine that she thought would help our class understand better.  Well the principal said we didn't have the money, so my teacher paid for it out of pocket.  All that I know is everyone passed the test with high scores.

Current Event #1

Title:  Group Wants to End Sale of Candy, Cookies at Wake County School Fundraisers
Newspaper:  MyFOX8.com
Date:  March 5, 2013

End Sales of Candy


Who:  The School Health Advisory Council


What:  They want to ban all unhealthy foods from school fundraisers during school and out of school including concession stands for sports.


Where:  Wake County NC Schools


When:  March 4, 2013


Why or How:  They are banning schools from having unhealthy foods at fundraisers.  They made it to where the fundraiser has to have two healthy foods and drinks to serve to their guests.


The School Health Advisory Council made the decision to make healthier food choices for their students.  In Wake County, students are not allowed to sell unhealthy snacks as fundraisers not even at a concession stand.  This is a health issue that should be pushed a lot more in other counties.  They may not make a lot of profit at the concession stand, but at least they will have healthy athletes.

Inspiration!!

Inspiration is what motivates you to do the things that you do.  It can come in many different ways, someone can be a positive influence on you, or you can work really hard for a material item.  My brother is a youth pastor now, but he use to be just normal teenager.  He would always influence me to do the wrong things, and of course I would fall in with peer pressure.  Now that he is a youth pastor, he inspires me to do the right thing and be the best person I can be.  I believe that the people that inspires us the most are the ones that we are really close too.  My mom and brother are probably the two people that I will listen too and learn by their example.

Useful Links

http://www.ncwiseowl.org/
It's good to look at if you need to research a topic.

http://www.corestandards.org/
It tells you what you need to teach for each course.

http://www.caswell.k12.nc.us/
Useful to stay connected with your school.

Favorite Quotes

"You will never be happy if you continue to search for what happiness consists of. You will never live if you are looking for the meaning of life."
-Albert Camus

We can create our own happiness.  No matter what is going on in life we can always look at the bright side of things, and continue to stay happy.

"It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light."
-Aristotle Onassis

Always look at the bright side of things.  Never focus on the negative!


"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says "I'm possible"!
-Audrey Hepburn

We can do all things that we set our mind too!

Favorites

My favorite basketball team is Carolina, I hate Duke with a passion!  My favorite music is country, I could listen to it all day long.  My favorite singer is Luke Bryan and Carrie Underwood. I love to eat mexican food. I like to travel and see the world!  I love New York City.  I love sweatpants and a hoodie.  My favorite sport is softball and my favorite animal is a zebra and my favorite color is pink. My favorite family member is my dog, because he never complains about anything I do and he is always there to listen to me vent.  Ice cream is by far my favorite dessert, I could eat it all day long!!  School is my least favorite place to be, I would have to say I love spending time with my grandpa that is probably my favorite place to be.

When I Grow Up

When I was a little girl I looked up to my aunt a lot and wanted to be a physical therapist just like her.  Throughout the years my opinion has not changed and I still want to be one.  I thought I was going to maybe change my mind and decided to take teacher cadet to get a better feeling of the field but in taking this program I have seen being a teacher is not what I want to do.  I cannot handle all the little screaming kids, every single day for the rest of my life.  While I've been recovering from my car accident, I've had a lot of time to think and I have decided that I want to help people the way I have been helped.  Many doctors and therapists have helped me so much more than I can imagine, not only physically but mentally.  If I just needed someone to vent too my doctor was there for me.  If it wasn't for them, I think I would be a much different person right now.  So I want to be able to help my patient recover to their maximum ability, to be just like they were before there accident.

About Me

Heyyy, my name is Jamie Woods, I'm a senior at Bartlett Yancey High School.  I'm so excited to graduate and become a physical therapist and get my CNA license.  I love softball and have been playing since I could walk.  I also used to play volleyball but then became more focused on softball.  My favorite color is pink and I love zebra, my whole room is pink and zebra.  Food is my best friend.  I love to spend time with my family most of the time, even if they do drive me insane!  I am starting to play slow pitch softball, since my doctor said fast pitch is out of the question.  I have been trying to exercise more and start eating healthier but that is not working out too well for me.