Closure

My Animoto: Please enjoy, Senior Year: Came and went too fast!

My wonderful students this year:

My last day in the class room was actually pretty calm, which surprised me. Mrs. Panfil did her lesson and I helped with it too. My kids were sad to see me leave. One boy actually came up to me and said "is it really your last day?" with the saddest face I have ever seen and gave me a huge hug. I have connected really well with the students this year and I have connected with the teacher more too. This year has truly been a gift to me and I appriciate everything the students and the wonderful Mrs. Panfil have done for me.

School is amlost out and for me college is coming very fast. I never thought this day would come so soon. Once I hit junior year everything flew by so fast its like I blinked and literally everything was over and done with. Through this fast past years I have grown so much as a future educator.

Last year was not what I was expecting, yes it was easy but I did't try my hardest when I should have. This year I pushed myself to do more and I am more this year. I am prepared for anything.

I know teaching si for me, I always have known this. I haven't always known what type of teacher I wanted to be. I have always loved theatre but being an intern for Mrs. Panfil this year has made me check yes to being a theatre teacher as I go on to Tarleton State.

As my class room experience ends for high school I know there is a new beginning for me in college. Yes I am going to miss the experience I have recieved for my past intern teachers but everything comes to an end and sadly it must end in order for me to move on. I thank each and every teacher who has ever changed my mind or my life to better myself. I look up to you and hope to influence someone as I go into the fantastic field of a future educator.

Smart Technology

Technology has been increasing through out the years. So do you ever look for fun educational games on the ipod or ipad? click here to view some games from itunes.

Here are some that I believe are awesome:
No Fear Shakespeare : Shakespeare is the beauty of language and art but not everyone can understand it. This is basically our slang transtlation from Mr. Shakespeares awesome writing. Did you know more than half our language words were developed from Shakespeare himself?
Alphabet Tracing : Little kids don't want to just sit down and write on plain ol' paper like we did. They know technology is out there because they probably have it in their own house hold. So how about changing it up a little bit? This is a fun new way to teach them handwriting and watch it come to life.
Spanish for Dummies : Our world is becoming more bilingual speaking and the second language is spanish so what better then teach it early?

                                                          
Are you lost on what to do on your smart board? Here is a link for you

I have a group of middle schools (6-8) and they are absolutely delightful. Although they don't have a smart board in the class room. If they did I would do something a long the lines of this fallowing link: Walking in Someone Elses Shoes. I would use this to get them up and moving around the room and also to interact with each other because they are a very shy group. This lesson will not only help them get out of their shell but to learn something new in a fun way.

Financial Literacy can pay off!

Here is a link to an article that I read to find out more information: Click here

Being a senior I reflect back onto my classes from middle school to now and I think: classes would of been much more interesting if they were something I wanted to learn or if it related to me.

The classes that I take at the Birdville Center of Technology and Advance Learning have helped me focus more in school because they are relavent to things that I want to learn.

If more classes were like the BCTAL classes then everything would be wonderful and students would be eager to learn more because they can relate to them or because it catches their interest due to it being something in their field of study.

In my Advanced Math and Decision Making class I was taught to manage money at the minimum. I believe that I know enough to be okay with financial situations but I don't know as much as a high school graduate going into college should. If I was taught more in school I would feel tons better because it would have helped me for the rest of my life. I would have felt safe dealing with my money instead of scared about how I am going to figure things out.

Mrs. Stevens blog

What Teachers want Parents to know

Mrs. Stevens blog
What teachers really want to tell parents: Article from CNN
Ron Clark video representing passion

Teachers need parents to understand that they are educators not baby sitters. Teachers are here to help not to hurt, teachers do the best they can to give students the best education possible. 

Also the parents need to know that they should work with them not against them, it would make life so much easier. 

Parents as partners not prosecutors means they need to work on making the students life better. The teachers are doing their job in teaching the student and helping them understand what is begin taught, the parents need to do the same, they need to be a at home teacher. 

Glogster in the classroom

Please view my glogster about lighting in tech theatre My Glogster

The Rules

Ron Clarks rules: #1: We are family

He made this rule number one because it helped the children become one. Family is the most important thing in life. He stressed this rule because he wanted the students to understand that each and everyone of them is important and that they should respect each other because of that. 

Rules in my class room:

1. Give respect to gain respect.

2. Think before you speak

3. Learn something new every day

4. Be honest

5. Be punctual

Mrs. Stevens blog

The High Cost of Education

                                                            

College is a very stressfull time for teenagers and their parents. I plan to pay for my college out of my savings, through grants and scholarships. I have filled out my FAFSA so that will help Mr out a lot. FAFSA is a miracle for kids like me!

Just like Obama was saying, there should be more money for kids who want to go to college but I think there should be high requirements for students to get that money. If all students could get that money then students who don't care much could waist it, but there are students out there that deserve it and would work hard towards gettng thats money. So yes Obama go for it!

Hire Me, Please!

1.) I have been interviewed before for a job. This past week actually and I succeeded. My strengths were my great attitude and perky self but I think I did bad on quick reactions to the questions and I always said "um" and "uh" which probably wasn't the best thing to do. I am in theatre so that is an absolute strength that I have.
2.) I get nervous easily and I believe thats why I use the words "um" and "uh". I have not yet over come my weakness but I know with practice I will..
3.) I have applied for a job before, it was at laser quest, and I did succeed in getting the job. They said it was due to my loud voice and perky personality.

Digital Learnig Day

Mrs. Stevens blog

Skype

Skype can be used in the class room a lot for theatre. One way is to Skype another school to do a improv competition with. Also so they can get tips on what to do best and perhaps to even interview a professional actor/actress and even perhaps a techies OF some sort to get both perspectives.

Mrs. Panfil loves to use the over head and videos on YouTube. She uses them all the time and on Wednesday she used them again. It was mostly to copy down notes but she always has her own twist to everything to make it fun.

Make It Happen in 2012!

Mrs. Stevens Blog

1. I have ambition but I believe I can do better! Ambition is a big part of getting things done and this last semester I am kicking it into gear. WORK WORK WORK

2. Study for test more often. I make good grades on daily paper but tests I don't do so hot. I will make sure to take out the time to study for tests when it is needed.

3. Procrastination. I get things done and I get them done on time but I wait till the last minute do everything and it is absolutely horrible. I don't know why I do that to myself but I will not longer.

The Ideal Classroom

An Ideal Classroom? ->Lewisville I.S.D
I believe that the ideal classroom should be a place where the kids feel safe, not only from the obvious, but I want them to feel like it's a second home. I believe if it is possible to make this happen students would learn more. The classroom these days are taking away from the fun and I know people need to grow up but makinf everything so strict isn't the way.
Students pay attention a lot if it's about technology, having something fancy and shiny in their hands is like a bran new feeling. They feel they can be trusted and that they can do something right and learn something new.
In my idea classroom it would be like home but better!

Grinch or Santa!

Two articles that I have read before posting this blog:
Bah, Humbug
Santa Claus can

I believe that schools should be able to celebrate the holidays in the class room to an extent.

Cards never did anyone wrong! They are just a simple thing to make someone smiling by letting them know someone cares. Cards in the class room is one thing compared to santa being there. Now it's understandable that he is kind and teaches kindness and generosity, but they can always see him outside the class room and it wouldn't be taking any of the teachers time out of the classroom.

Also I think having a little fun towards the break like a small party would be good for the kids. It shows that its not all "boring" and that they can have fun, but to an extent of learning something at the same time.

The holidays is a special time to anyone and everyone, rather they be religous or not. The celebrations don't have to be celebrated in a religous way, but just a fun way, the right way!