Take your Education Seriously

Entry One:

In high school I often procrastinated everything. When I started college I made a promise to myself to complete my work early and also put a lot of time into each class. Some of the ways that I have decided to take my education seriously is by making a daily list of what I have going on that day and also what homework I need to complete. I make sure to accomplish each homework assignment at least 2 days before it is due so that if something comes up I will have extra time to work with. I find that making lists pushes me to complete what is on the list. Another method I have to make sure that larger projects get done on time is a board at my desk that tells me the due dates of my next big activities. This board allows me to plan my time accordingly and also reminds me daily of what is coming up.
I also participate in the Math study group that was set up on a weekly basis. Our teacher set up a group so that we could work through any problems we are having with the class load. I am a part of the "Mathletes" group. We meet on Wednesday night at 9 pm. At this time Hugo also comes by to check in and see if we are having any problems. Our group has also taken it upon ourselves to meet outside of this time to do our homework together and study for any quizzes or tests. Mathletes is made up of Eliza H., Jenna Z., and I. Working with them has made me feel like I have a support system and a place to go to ask questions.
By getting into the habit of working ahead and preparing I have learned an important strategy that will help me plan my time accordingly when I get out into the work field. I now know that scheduling time to relax or even time that I don't have anything planned is important so that I can be sure that rearranging is possible. One thing that is really helpful that I have learned is that I can't control what I can and cannot get done; meaning that if something doesn't get accomplished when I want it to get accomplished I have to just move on. My schedule is structured to guide me but it is not what I necessarily live by. It was difficult for me at first to go out of my realm of the structured schedule but once I realized that it was possible I became less stressed. Going with the flow is an important part of becoming a Teacher. When I become a teacher it is important for me to know that I cannot control everything. If my class is struggling with something I need to be able to go away from my lesson plans and take more time working through the issues my class is having with the lesson. The biggest lesson I have learned about taking my education seriously is that I can't control everything and having people to fall back on when you need help is really important; as well as having a plan to my day.


Entry Two:

While I was student teaching, I had the opportunity to participate in a DIEBLES palm pilot training session. Although it was not required for me to attend I found it important to take the time to learn more about the specialized training that is being offered to our teachers. I feel very strongly about the important of literacy in school and progress monitoring our students. The palm pilot offers an effective way to easily record the tests and then sync the device directly to your computer to provide for data to be easily transferred and stored. The training taught us how to administer a test individually using the palm pilot. With prompt the palm pilot would explain exactly what needed to be said and scored the assessment immediately. The immediate response allowed for us to continue with testing or stop and analyze the data.
I very glad that I had this opportunity and I look forward to many more opportunities to learn something new and to help me with my teaching. I was very lucky to have this training and I will definitely encourage the school district I work in to invest in DIEBLES palm pilots.