Week 12

My final paper is going to be set up in the way that a real paper should be turned in. i dont feel like listing my reasons and giving my testimonies in a form that feels like youre reading from a list is going to get my point across. so im going to tell it in a real paper type fashion, one that intrigues the reader to keep on reading and hopefully to become interested enough to look deeper even than my paper only goes. im just hoping to give the insight into my group that they deserve, and by realling immersing the reader into my paper i feel that i can pull their attention there.

Worries for Final Paper

The only real worries i am having about my final paper are, when and how am i going to get it finished? i have a lot of other things going on right now and i am kinda swamped with work right now, but i think that i can fit it into my busy schedule seeing as how it is probably the most important paper i will write my freshman year. so no real true worries, just stress more than anything.

Week 11

So far i have found in my research that the hardest thing is simply finding the information itself. just going around asking people their opinions is fine and dandy, but the thing that is hardest to me is actually going thru and finding professional sources and opinions that actually have something to do with my topic. one of the easiest things is putting my findings into writing, because its easier to tell peoples true feelings in writing then trying to convey the ideas of a professional into your own terms. if i could start over i might have chosen a different topic, even though this one still interests me, because i am changing my major. keeping a blog has helped me because this way all of my ideas and thoughts can be easily found and pulled up at any time. i also get hep from my peers and their ideas i then pull in and evaluate and use in my own way. all this will help me to finish my final paper and then to get a good grade.

Box 30

When it comes to the use of archival information about teaching, there is a lot out there to find. i began searching through the ball state library and daily news archives to look for information that would be helpful to me in my research. the problem that i encountered though was that there was plenty of information, just none of it was relative to my subject matter. everywhere i looked i only found where a teacher had gone on strike, or been fired, or had went to court about something or another. what i need is a teachers account of their teaching experience in their own words. it's hard to gain insight about what makes a great teacher if you dont get an actual account from the teachers themselves. archival information could be helpful to me if i was needing simple information, but what i need is a detailed and personalized account. so the archives didnt really help me out too much

Week 10 Def

Teacher's Edition- the book with all the answers to the textbooks questions

Classroom- the room where a teacher educates students

Pupil- another term for students

Text- the textbooks themselves

Mascot- something that represents a school, or teacher, or class

My words were easily found out because everyone is in this type of culture throughout their own lives. the words have been in place through all of their lives so they know what they mean as soon as they see them

Box 25

Teacher's Edition

Classroom

Pupil

Text

Mascot

Week 10

Teacher's Edition

Classroom

Pupil

Text

Mascot

Week 9

The things that i hope to give back to my community is basically recognition for what it is that the teachers themselves have to go through everyday, something that many people dont understand or realize. What i hope to give back to the teaching community is a little bit of light shed down upon the things that are normally not perceived by the general public, and to give teachers a little bit of pride in that people will respect their decisions to teach. I plan to contribute the knowledge that i have pooled from multiple sources in order to show people the lives of not just one teacher, but many so that they can realize that teaching is a global community not just one tied down in a single town. all teachers go through the same trials and tribulations throughout their careers, and i simply hope to show people some of these problems.

Week 8

As i step back and look at what i have found out so far, i find that there are a few running themes associated with teachers in general. First it seems that they all love their jobs and that is the reason why they do what they do, they dont do it for the money or the recognition, they do it because they love to teach and they love children. secondly i realized that they are more than happy to share their knowledge to those around them who are wanting to pursue careers in teaching of their own. in this way everyone learns from everyone elses mistakes and successes. i am still a part of this community i feel, even though i have decided to change my major. by still being in an EDSEC 150 class i feel attached to the community still, also i feel connected through my relationships with my old teachers.

Week 7

my plan so far on my ethnography is simply to keep gathering my information and present it in a way that would make sense to the general public. i need to gather more research on my topic specifically because i have a lot of broad information, and i also need to give more time devoted to my community. i need to finish up my research by doing more interviewing than anything else. i plan on doing that the week before, or the week of spring break im not sure yet how ill go about it though.

Version 2

The diagram that I made up was of the structure of teaching from a high school standpoint. First, there is the classroom which has not only the teachers, but the students themselves as well. To the right of the classroom, I included the community which houses the parents of students, alumni, and the taxpayers from around the county. Finally on the bottom is the administration, which contains the principal and the superintendant of the district. All three sections are connected to each other in a certain way. The administration is connected to the classroom laying out a curriculum, and laying down rules and guidelines. The classroom in turn is connected to the administration by following those guidelines and teaching the curriculum. The community is connected to the administration by voicing their opinions and keeping an eye on the system so that their tax dollars are spent wisely. The administration then follows what is asked of them by the community. The community is connected to the classroom the same way that the classroom is connected to the community; they each affect each other either positively or negatively through the other’s actions. All of these things bring the entire group together as a whole and enable them to function through each other.

Version 1

The diagram that I made up was of the basic structure of teaching from a high school standpoint. To begin with, there is the classroom which has not only the teachers to consider, but the students themselves as well. To the right of the classroom, I included the community which houses the parents of students, alumni, and the taxpayers from around the county. Finally on the bottom is the administration, which contains the principal and the superintendant of the district. All three sections are connected to each other in a certain way. The administration is connected to the classroom by dictating what it is that should be taught, and laying down rules and guidelines. The classroom in turn is connected to the administration by following those guidelines and teaching the appropriate material for the class. The community is connected to the administration by voicing their opinions and keeping an eye on the system so that their tax dollars are spent wisely. The administration then follows what is asked of them by the community. The community is connected to the classroom the same way that the classroom is connected to the community; they each affect each other either positively or negatively through the other’s actions. All of these things bring the entire group together as a whole and enable them to function through each other.

Box 18

One of the focal points of my field site would most likely be the connection between the teachers and their students. Many people don't simply judge a teacher by what they learned, but by the connection they have felt and responded to from that teacher. Teachers have to be careful as to how close they get to students because they want it to remain on a professional level and not allow for any personal feelings to get in the way of the teaching process, such as giving better grades simply because someone has a rougher home life.

Box 16

Walking into the room, you automatically can tell what subject is taught. Maps line the walls, pictures of past presidents, a poster of the order of the courts from supreme all the way down to local. Yeah, this room has a purpose. That purpose is to study and learn social studies, plain and simple. In the front is a chalkboard that normally is covered from top to bottom in notes from previous classes, or maybe an assignment that is due that day. The opposite side from the door has a row of small windows looking out upon the school parking lot, and the American Flag, coincidence? In the back of the room is a set of tables loaded with all sorts of material over whatever topic is being discussed at the moment, from pamphlets to articles all the way down to good old worksheets. The desks are lined up in rows of 5x6 with the teachers desk smack dab in the front middle of the room so that all eyes are focused on the front. A good learning environment for anyone, but especially those who wish to learn a thing or two about the past.

Week 6

In general, my community and culture is giving me a different perspective than what i was originally figuring on finding. instead of finding information on how many people didn't like to teach, or how they were trying to discourage new teachers from joining the ranks, i have found that the people involved in this community are more than happy to help out in any way shape or form with any problem that has arisen. by extending their knowledge of past years to those of us who have are just now getting our feet wet, they are allowing us to learn from their mistakes, and to not make those same mistakes again. we are all in the same community so it makes sense for us to all work for the greater good and to really look at what were doing not so much as a job, but as our lives in general. and we should live these lives to the fullest in every possible aspect.

Box 12

I am privileged first and foremost to be a student at BSU
My educational grants and scholarships that allow me to be here
To have a car
To have a family as close-knit as mine
To have lived and worked on a farm my whole life
To have the friends that I have
To have the chance to be in college and become what i want to be, and to better myself

Week 3

I have chosen my site that i want to do my fieldworking research at. I have chosen to study the culture of teachers and teaching. i have chosen to do this site because i plan on becoming a teacher someday and i really think and feel that it will help me in the long run to become the kind of teacher i plan on being. i can take notes on practices that i enjoy, and also those that the students don't enjoy so in that way i don't make the same mistakes as others have in the past. if i were to stop someone walking down the street and ask them what they thought about teaching then i would probably get a positive reaction because many people look at teachers as people who should be respected, and who are fit to teach the next generation of our civilization. people who are in this subculture include not only the teachers themselves, but the students that they teach as well.

Blog from Google

Tools for the TEKS Updates - http://www.speedofcreativity.org

Response to Fieldnotes

The field notes i have taken so far have been more for another purpose other than this class. in the past two weeks in my EDSEC 150 class, i was asked to write a letter to the teacher who i held above all the others i had ever had. so i wrote to the teacher who inspired me to pursue my career, my 6th grade teacher Mrs. Dye. she was an amazing teacher who did so much for our class for the sake of us being able to learn and study things more in depth. no matter the added stress that it caused her, she always put us above herself and her problems. she was pregnant my 5th grade year but came back half way through the year simply so she could be with us and we wouldn't miss out on what she had to offer. i then had her again in 6th grade because of the program in my school system, long story. at any rate i felt that i gained valuable knowledge about the culture of teaching through talking to her. she said i couldn't even believe how much it meant to her that i sent this notice to her and that it couldn't have come at a better time. i felt good about what i had given her, and i felt that it made a great difference in her life.

Research terms and where?

To research the questions that i want answered i am mainly going to be actually talking with the professionals themselves. a lot of my questions deal with the profession itself, and who better to ask then the people who are already there and doing what i hope to do. a few of my questions can probably be answered online, in areas such as CNN.com, or anywhere that does statistical information. many polls show who and what im looking for so those would be helpful as well

10 things I want to know

Teaching
1. What kind of people are teachers?
2. Where is the ideal place to teach?
3. What subject is the most sought after?
4. What area is looked down upon by most teachers?
5. What level of education is preferred?
6. What salary range is considered good?
7. Where is a hot spot for teachers to get a job?
8. What is in demand now?
9. Are male teachers preferred, or are they simply thought as coaches?
10. What does it take to attain a principals license?

Response

In response to my personality being assigned the letters ENTJ, i must say i agree with the test. It said that these types of people have strong leadership and management potential and that fits me to a T. i am always trying to lead whatever group i am in, and i always try to take the lead in any kind of project or work place.

Jung Test

ENTJ

Week 2

As i start to branch out and look into what i want to be studying this semester i'll be taking into account a few different factors. first ill be taking into consideration my own personal interests in the matter at hand. do i like what im studying? am i interested in the people in this subculture? Another aspect I'll be looking into is the availability of the topic that im studying. is there enough information to actually study this group? Is the information given worth using? my own personal interests are what is going to bring the most influence to light. because what really matters to me is my own feelings and interests, nothing else really can spark my interest unless it's my own. all of these factors will influence my decision on what topic i plan on studying

Box 11

Walking into a practically ancient farm supply store in a town of about two hundred and fifty can give one mixed feelings. Nostalgia, pride, and relaxation are some of the feelings i feel right away. Being inside this old comfortable setting is something i look forward to every time i come home from break. I take pride that im a part of this small farming community and am always welcomed by those around me with questions about my life at college so far, and in regards to my future. Being in one of my childhood homes gives me a sense of belonging, and that i have earned my right to sit down with the farmers of past generations and play a good old fashioned game of euchre, which moves at the speed of light i might add. As for my own fixed positions, im normally very suspicious of what is said in this hallowed building because from day one i learned to not believe a word these old men might say to me. most of them were only looking to trick me into believing some far off tale or story that they pulled completely out of thin air. in my own field study i will need to be able to distinguish fact from fiction, and therefore i will go into this line of study with an open mind and a sharp mind at that.

Box 2

Coming in from the long day behind me i eagerly sprint up the stairs to my dorm room. after putting all my books away and stripping down into clothes more befitting my activities i open up the portal to my own world away from reality. as i enter into this new world i meet and greet my friends who are already there and i begin to go off on my own and find my place in this world. playing world of warcraft gives me some peace of mind, as well as an outlet from the stress of the world around me

Me, as in Gabe

Irish sorta somehow
Farmer- farming family for 4 generations
New Castle Chrysler High School graduate
New Castle Football Alumni
Detassling Extraordinair
BSU Student
EDSEC Major
1 of 5 first male cheerleaders at NCCHS
Resident of good ole New Lisbon