Paulette's Synthesis Essay
The Start
I graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from Michigan State University and completed my full year teaching internship. I was excited to get started and look for my dream-teaching career. However, at that time the teaching job market was extremely competitive and there were very few jobs available. I knew I wanted to further my education so I decided to enroll in MSU’s Masters of Arts in Education program online.
I was a little uneasy about taking online courses, due to the fact that, I enjoyed going to class and sitting with my peers and instructors. I appreciated being able to have “real” discussions and conversations. However, through after my first semester, I realized that online classes offered many opportunities of discussions with classmates and my instructors. I also found my instructors extremely accessible and ready to assist. I appreciated the opportunity to contact my classmates and instructor through email or discussion forums. The quick response and feedback was very helpful. My online program was better than expected and I continue to tell my fellow colleges about my experiences.
The MAED program at MSU has offered me a varied education with a selection of courses that have benefited my needs as an educator. During my education, I learned the importance of inserting the most current technology into my own classroom, how to educate my students using children’s literature, and the significance of taking a closer look and viewing my students as individuals. The program allowed me to grow as an educator and reflect on my teachings and learning.
I was a little uneasy about taking online courses, due to the fact that, I enjoyed going to class and sitting with my peers and instructors. I appreciated being able to have “real” discussions and conversations. However, through after my first semester, I realized that online classes offered many opportunities of discussions with classmates and my instructors. I also found my instructors extremely accessible and ready to assist. I appreciated the opportunity to contact my classmates and instructor through email or discussion forums. The quick response and feedback was very helpful. My online program was better than expected and I continue to tell my fellow colleges about my experiences.
The MAED program at MSU has offered me a varied education with a selection of courses that have benefited my needs as an educator. During my education, I learned the importance of inserting the most current technology into my own classroom, how to educate my students using children’s literature, and the significance of taking a closer look and viewing my students as individuals. The program allowed me to grow as an educator and reflect on my teachings and learning.
Creativity....Technology...our Future
Using technology in a creative and productive form is the key to our future. Technology has and will always be important to me. I thrive on learning new technological skills and concepts. As I entered into the field of teaching I was disappointed to see how far behind many teachers were with the use of technology. I noticed many were very uncomfortable with basic concepts such as, email. It upset me to see that the people, who teach the importance of world events, mathematical concepts, and the process of the scientific method, did not know how to use what is basic technology today! This has kept me motivated to be the teacher who incorporates technology into every learning opportunity I can for my students.
CEP 818 creativity in teaching and learning was a course I took later in my program. I enjoyed this course very much and I felt that I was able to learn a lot. CEP 818 introduced me to various new tools of technology and how I could use them in my classroom. I was also encouraged to look deeper at my work and with a more creative lens. During this course we learned about easy to use and cost effective technology. It was wonderful to be introduced to free programs that I could use within my classroom. Some teachers are intimidated by technology because it is a foreign concept to them. However, the importance of educating ourselves about the different tools available through the Internet is vital. It is beyond important that educators have a strong grasp on everyday technology in order to engage and motivate their students’ learning. When taking CEP 818 we spent a great deal of time discussing technology and how it is incorporated in our everyday lives. Technology does not go unused in my world I use it for enjoyment and work. I was able to understand that as an educator I need to make my students aware of the technologies available to them and teach them how to use it as a learning tool. There is no way to escape new and upcoming technology, it will always be ever changing. As teachers, we are responsible to teach this great resource and have students practice applying technology to each learning opportunity possible.
In CEP 818, I enjoyed researching different forms of technology, and programs I was unfamiliar with. I learned the importance of expanding my horizons in terms of the media I used. The most common form of technology is obviously the Internet, I feel like Google is my best friend. However, I became familiar with podcasting, social networking, tweeting, blogging, and much more. Each week we were asked to take a creative look at our work and I felt this forced me to look at technology and creativity hand in hand. I appreciate creativity and try to incorporate it in all aspects of my life. In CE 818, I learned to dig deeper and use it within my classroom through the means of technology.
CEP 818 creativity in teaching and learning was a course I took later in my program. I enjoyed this course very much and I felt that I was able to learn a lot. CEP 818 introduced me to various new tools of technology and how I could use them in my classroom. I was also encouraged to look deeper at my work and with a more creative lens. During this course we learned about easy to use and cost effective technology. It was wonderful to be introduced to free programs that I could use within my classroom. Some teachers are intimidated by technology because it is a foreign concept to them. However, the importance of educating ourselves about the different tools available through the Internet is vital. It is beyond important that educators have a strong grasp on everyday technology in order to engage and motivate their students’ learning. When taking CEP 818 we spent a great deal of time discussing technology and how it is incorporated in our everyday lives. Technology does not go unused in my world I use it for enjoyment and work. I was able to understand that as an educator I need to make my students aware of the technologies available to them and teach them how to use it as a learning tool. There is no way to escape new and upcoming technology, it will always be ever changing. As teachers, we are responsible to teach this great resource and have students practice applying technology to each learning opportunity possible.
In CEP 818, I enjoyed researching different forms of technology, and programs I was unfamiliar with. I learned the importance of expanding my horizons in terms of the media I used. The most common form of technology is obviously the Internet, I feel like Google is my best friend. However, I became familiar with podcasting, social networking, tweeting, blogging, and much more. Each week we were asked to take a creative look at our work and I felt this forced me to look at technology and creativity hand in hand. I appreciate creativity and try to incorporate it in all aspects of my life. In CE 818, I learned to dig deeper and use it within my classroom through the means of technology.
The Fundamentals
When I entered the MAED program I knew I wanted my concentration to be in literacy. When I did my undergrad I focused on social studies and I didn’t enjoy it, my heart has always been with literacy. In my opinion, literacy is the foundation of all learning. If one is not literate, all learning becomes difficult. I enjoyed every literacy class I took during my masters program. One of my literacy classes TE 836 Awards and Classics of Children’s Literature has had a major impact on my perspectives and influence on the way I view classics children’s literature.
At this point, I am still on the fence of what aspects deem a novel a classic. I think it is subjective each persons opinion influences what makes a piece of literature a classics. This course taught me the significance and reasons behind those differences, along with the influence a book can have on different generations. Some classics were awarded due to the era they were written in, such as Little Women. Others have a lesson that has continued to be relevant. These interpretations have been beneficial to me as a teacher, because I am able to teach my students those understandings and perceptions can vary, making literature they may not feel is a classic, worthy of holding that title. Becoming more aware of classic books and series has encouraged me to make my students more interested in reading and literacy as a whole.
As an educator, I discovered that if various interpretations can affect the award a book receives, and then it probably affects the way my students perceive the novels as well. We worked in groups and discussed our opinions of many classical pieces of literate. I was able to learn the importance of discussing books and looking at others viewpoints. I then transposed this idea into my classroom literacy block. Book discussions helped my students understand the text more thoroughly and gave them the chance to share their interpretations of the text. I felt this gave them a connection with their books. TE 836 has been influential in helping me understand and practice the skills of teaching my students the importance of literary discussions, and perceptions of literature.
TE 8386 taught me to get my students involved in their reading and hold discussions. As teachers it is vital that we expose our students to classic literature.
At this point, I am still on the fence of what aspects deem a novel a classic. I think it is subjective each persons opinion influences what makes a piece of literature a classics. This course taught me the significance and reasons behind those differences, along with the influence a book can have on different generations. Some classics were awarded due to the era they were written in, such as Little Women. Others have a lesson that has continued to be relevant. These interpretations have been beneficial to me as a teacher, because I am able to teach my students those understandings and perceptions can vary, making literature they may not feel is a classic, worthy of holding that title. Becoming more aware of classic books and series has encouraged me to make my students more interested in reading and literacy as a whole.
As an educator, I discovered that if various interpretations can affect the award a book receives, and then it probably affects the way my students perceive the novels as well. We worked in groups and discussed our opinions of many classical pieces of literate. I was able to learn the importance of discussing books and looking at others viewpoints. I then transposed this idea into my classroom literacy block. Book discussions helped my students understand the text more thoroughly and gave them the chance to share their interpretations of the text. I felt this gave them a connection with their books. TE 836 has been influential in helping me understand and practice the skills of teaching my students the importance of literary discussions, and perceptions of literature.
TE 8386 taught me to get my students involved in their reading and hold discussions. As teachers it is vital that we expose our students to classic literature.
Digging Deeper
During my student teaching I encountered a few situations that involved challenging students. I had to learn through experience and my colleagues how to handle these difficult events and scenarios, which served as my motivation to enroll into TE 846 Accommodating Different Literacy Learners. While guest teaching and in my first years of teaching, encountered challenging students. I quickly realized that there are many different learners and that this is a universal educational issue, and I wanted to be trained. I knew that I would have to differentiate my teaching to accommodate the different literacy learners within my room. No matter where one teaches, there are students in every building that learn differently regardless of their cultural make up or their socio-economic status. This course offered a range of strategies and techniques that were applicable in real classroom settings.
One aspect of the course discussed the importance of knowing and understanding your students as literacy learners. After graduating, attending various literacy conferences and classes I thought I had a decent understanding of my students as literacy learners, but quickly realized that I had so much more to learn. Through our readings and class discussions I learned that I needed to look past the surface and look deeper into what type of instruction my students needed in order to be successful. Our course project was to complete a case study on individual students, this challenged me dig deeper and discover my student’s issues, reflect on my teaching, their learning and interventions throughout the experience. This case study went hand-in-hand to what I learned from the course by helping me investigate deeper understanding my students as writers. This projected required a great deal of time and reflecting. Many of the concepts I learned from TE 846 played into how I formulated my case study. Pre and post assessing my students writing guided my teaching very much, it helped me to focus on what my different leveled learners required during literacy instruction. I chose to work with a high, middle, and low achieving student, each required support in some way. The case study also helped me recognize the significance of reflection, because I realized some of the instruction or interventions were not working and I needed to go back and use different methods. TE 846 influenced and forced me to be a better writing teacher for all my students. Effective writing instruction requires using a combination of strategies in order to benefit my students.
Taking TE 846 was an extremely beneficial course for me as an educator, because it taught me diverse strategies to use during instruction, how to plan effectively through assessment and the importance of getting to know my students as literacy learners. This is something I have carried and will continue to carry with me throughout my professional career.
One aspect of the course discussed the importance of knowing and understanding your students as literacy learners. After graduating, attending various literacy conferences and classes I thought I had a decent understanding of my students as literacy learners, but quickly realized that I had so much more to learn. Through our readings and class discussions I learned that I needed to look past the surface and look deeper into what type of instruction my students needed in order to be successful. Our course project was to complete a case study on individual students, this challenged me dig deeper and discover my student’s issues, reflect on my teaching, their learning and interventions throughout the experience. This case study went hand-in-hand to what I learned from the course by helping me investigate deeper understanding my students as writers. This projected required a great deal of time and reflecting. Many of the concepts I learned from TE 846 played into how I formulated my case study. Pre and post assessing my students writing guided my teaching very much, it helped me to focus on what my different leveled learners required during literacy instruction. I chose to work with a high, middle, and low achieving student, each required support in some way. The case study also helped me recognize the significance of reflection, because I realized some of the instruction or interventions were not working and I needed to go back and use different methods. TE 846 influenced and forced me to be a better writing teacher for all my students. Effective writing instruction requires using a combination of strategies in order to benefit my students.
Taking TE 846 was an extremely beneficial course for me as an educator, because it taught me diverse strategies to use during instruction, how to plan effectively through assessment and the importance of getting to know my students as literacy learners. This is something I have carried and will continue to carry with me throughout my professional career.
The Closing
As the end of my career in the MAED program comes to an end, I am excited to say I am accomplishing my goal of furthering my learning. However, I am also accomplishing my goal of displaying my work electronically for others to see. The things I have learned from the MAED program at Michigan State University’s have impacted my career as an educator and have encouraged me to continue to value my education and learn from my colleagues, take advantage of professional development opportunities, attend workshops/conferences and reflect on my current teaching techniques. I discovered the importance of always-staying op top of my education and staying current with my teaching methods. The field of education is ever changing and it is our responsibility to adapt with it in order to benefit our young learners.