Anita's Podcast #1 & 2. Fieldwork #1

Chapter 2.  Podcast.  Teacher Interview - Fieldwork #1 

Anita's Podcast on NCLB:      Anita Woolfolk's Podcast on NCLB

In the example given by Anita Woolfolk, one particular school that she attended demonstrated what we as future educators may expect to see in the future. In accordance to the NCLB act, the school provided a power point presentation of the 'weaker' areas of academics and implemented a year long staff development plan to encourage a system of checks and balances and more importantly, emphasis on improvement in the test scores. 

Here are the issues: No school is 100% proficient. While NCLB incorporates strict measures, it overlooks the problems with standardization. No education is considered universal. No child is considered the same so the testing that we implement should be cognizant to that. As educators emerging into the field, we are challenged with the task of providing all students with equal and fair access to quality education. While the jury is out on standardized testing, we as educators must fulfill our obligation to make certain that every child is provided with instruction that is individualized geared toward their needs. 

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Anita's Podcast #1  The Important of Teachers 

Research indicates that students that had an effective teacher 3 years in a row clearly indicated scores that were ahead of everyone else. Importantly, teachers are considered a lifeline to students from K-12 grade. Again, it's important that teacher make certain that the environment they foster provides a sense of belonging. The teachers care about them and their lives. Classes are interesting. Fair and respectful even in times of discipline. 

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FIELDWORK Teacher Interview: 

During my observations, what I often wondered is how do you reach out to each student. How do you effectively engage every student? How do you connect?

What I found throughout all of my observations is the common theme of belonging and enthusiasm. I asked my teachers; How do you connect? How do you keep them engaged?

The answers were simple. Practice. Students are motivated by motivated teachers. You can walk by a classroom and determine within the first 10-20 seconds whether or not learning is going on. New material can always be challenging but if it is presented in a way that is engaging and exciting, students are likely to latch on. More over, a good teacher gets a decent vibe and read of the classroom. Which student is confused, unclear of the material or not paying attention. The secret in my interview was motivation. Without motivation, the teacher is doing most of the cognitive processing.