Post #3 Reflections of the Inquiry Celebration

After attending the Inquiry Celebration, I feel that I learned a lot about the inquiry process.

The  first session that I attended outlined the importance of using technology to review for tests and assessments. I think this was a great study because it allowed me to see that students love the chance to use technology whenever given the chance. Another study I viewed was using manipulatives to aid content in of Mathematics. Although the study did not directly look at tests scores, it was important to note that students seemed to stay more engaged  throughout the entire class period. I found this to be very important because as an upcoming math teacher, I want to do whatever I can to keep my students attention and help them learn the content so it makes sense. Kinesthetic learners learn best by doing, so if you manipulatives helps them succeed, I am going to do it.

I also learned about an intern who used math games in her daily routine to help her students have fun while learning math. I thought this was every helpful as well  because all kids like playing games, and even though they may not know it, they are still learning while playing the game.                              

I feel that the inquiry celebration was very beneficial for both the presenter and the viewers. I feel this way because it gave me a chance to learn about things that work in the classroom, but also things that didn't work. This is equally important because as a young teacher, I want to stay away from practices that do not have a positive outcome or aid in teaching content effectively.

Blog # 2- Novice Teacher Characteristics

Characteristic #2: Effective Communicator
For this characteristic, there are multiple artifacts one can use in order to describe myself as an effective communicator. One of the artifacts I plan to use for this is the co-teaching strategy that was implemented in my Sped 460 course. During this course, I planned a lesson and wrote a plan with two peers. Then during the class, we actually taught the lesson to our entire class. This co-teaching is a great way to show my skills as an effective communicator because it is important to be able to work with colleauges and not become repetitive. The lesson plan that was created was created for 2nd grade reading and language arts content. It also uses various activities and student involvement so that all students are able to participate and succeed.
Another artifact I will consider using is the powerpoints and prezi's I have created for lessons plans in the past. I have created multiple prezi's for certain content. I have also created powerpoints and prezi's that have been implemented to my college level courses. These powerpoints and perzi's show my understanding for certain content. It also is a way to effectively communicate with my students, and also colleagues.

Characteristic #3 Teaching is a Professional, Moral, and Ethical Enterprise
For this characteristic, there are multiple artifacts I can use. The main artifact I am going to use for this characteristic is my educational philosophy. I think this document is extremely important because it show my beliefs and understandings of teaching and how my character as a person will be brought out in my classroom. I think this philosophy is a great thing to show future employers and also the parents of my students whenever I get hired.
The second artifact that I will use for this characteristic is the character education lesson plans I have created for my Educ 450 class. These plans are a great way of showing how I want my students to act because it gives them a chance to learn how they should act when working in small groups, but also how to act when simply sharing supplies. I have created these lesson plans so that the students practice character traits but they are not explicitly taught. What I mean by this is that since the characteristics that I want my students to learn are embedded with content driven instruction, I am essentially killing two birds with one stone.

Characteristic of a Novice Teacher

1. Have a commitment to and skills for lifelong learning.
For this characteristic, I am using the state Science convention I attended in Fall 2012 in Martinsburg Virginia. This contributes to lifelong learning because this conference is something I will attend once I get hired as a teacher that will help me stay up to date with Science.

10. Be Liberally educated.
For this characteristc, I will use the portfolio I made for the art class I took in the fall of 2011. This course helped me to integrate art in the classroom for the content areas. This art class was very labor extensive and provided me with many ideas to use for all different content areas to many learning hands on.