Starting the Journey; Education

I’m sure most of you are wondering, “Why even both with a blog?” Well I am blogging publicly because I am a new and upcoming teaching who is studying at Millersville University. I am half way through my Junior year and I am on my way to Seattle after college. My dream has always been to help children with their educational journey. Making school and education worthwhile and touch the hearts of many young children. I’m hoping that with this blog, other colleagues will learn about this awesome technology! The education world is a scary place, but a place of great love and passion. All I want to do is to make the education world a better place. Its a BIG mountain, but hopefully together we can!

My mom reassures me and pushes me. My mom motivates me to study, work hard and keep pushing through my stressed out times. She is my sunshine on my dark days. Sometimes it’s not a who but a what that reassures and stretches me as an early educator. What drives me is knowing that I will shape my students minds and can create a positive outlook on education for the rest of their journey. Everyone has “that teacher“. My third grade teacher Mrs. Hoffman was “that teacher” for me. I would love to be “that teacher” to all of my students at some point. 

I really enjoy Vygotsky’s perspective on how children need their environment to learn and how important it is. The Zone of Proximal Development is commonly used in classrooms and I think can help children immensely. I also am fond of positive reinforcement in the classroom. I think the high scope program is really inventive and I love how children are learning problem solving tasks at an early age and are learning it independently.  I really enjoy physical activity and movement in classrooms. 

Past professors have taught me the Why and How. Past experiences working with children have also taught me some of the ins and outs of early childhood (Senior Placement, Daycare, Summer Camp). I have had experiences in a classroom thanks to Millersville University. I have been in three different diverse classrooms in my three years here. I have observed a pre-kindergarten class for three weeks, observed a special education classroom for three weeks and actively participating in a third grade classroom for four weeks in a low income school community. Each new classroom environment gave me a new outlook and perspective on teaching. Some things Ive learned along the way…

  1. Burnout is real and it will happen. Be on your toes and create an exciting new environment fo you and your students.
  2. If there is no passion, there is no learning. Anyone can teach a child anything, but having a passion for the child to comprehend and truly learn is a different experience. It takes passion.
  3. When teaching in a Low-Income school community, do not assume any students capability of learning. Students are forever wanting to learn more. Knowing what excites them and creativity in the classroom is different for everyone but every child wants to learn if given the chance.